Khaberni - Some wake up in the morning with the dream still alive in their memory, and may need a few minutes to recall where they are and whether it was real. Others open their eyes and remember nothing, just a calm feeling that they have been asleep.
Those who don’t remember their dreams might think they never dream, but science confirms that everyone dreams, often having several dreams throughout the night. The real difference lies in each person's ability to remember their dreams and how often this happens.
To understand this difference, one must first understand how sleep works. Throughout the night, humans go through cycles of light sleep, deep sleep, and Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, with a full cycle lasting about 90 minutes.
In the first half of the night, deep sleep prevails, which helps restore energy, repair tissues, and consolidate memories. In the second half, the duration of REM sleep increases, which is the phase most associated with vivid and emotional dreams as it helps process emotions and consolidate memories.
The secret to remembering or forgetting dreams lies in the timing of awakening. If you wake up during or right after REM sleep, the likelihood of remembering the dream is very high, while waking from deep sleep reduces the likelihood of recollection, even if you were dreaming just before.
Many factors influence the ability to remember dreams, including age (as the ability declines with age), gender (some studies suggest women may remember more dreams than men), and medications like antidepressants and sedatives. Also, waking up during the night, as happens with parents of young children or those who are light sleepers, offers a greater chance to remember dreams.
The way of waking up also matters: a sudden rise might immediately erase the dream, whereas a gentle awakening gives it a chance to linger. Some people have a natural ability to remember dreams, as their brains are better at capturing them before they vanish.
As for emotional or disturbing dreams, they stem from brain activity during REM sleep, where areas of emotions such as the amygdala and limbic system are more active, while logic and emotional control areas are less active. Daily stress and strong emotions lead to sharper dreams, often reflecting the brain's attempt to process events of the day and store them in long-term memory.
Experts affirm that remembering dreams does not necessarily mean your sleep was bad, and forgetting them does not mean it was perfect. The most important indicator of sleep health is how you feel during the day; if you wake up refreshed, relaxed, and have sufficient energy throughout the day, that is the real measure.
It is advisable to consult a doctor if you feel continuously exhausted despite sufficient sleep, if nightmares are frequent and troubling, or if your sleep is regularly interrupted by panic or difficulty returning to sleep. However, if you feel rested and energetic with emotional stability during the day, your dreams, whether you remember them or not, are a natural part of healthy sleep.
