Why Can’t I Remember My Dreams?

Everyone has dreams, but some people are better at remembering them than others. Scientists aren't sure why we dream, but remembering them has a lot to do with the activity in your brain, and with how well you sleep.

Hosted by: Hank Green
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[kittycat]

"your subconscious self is still having lively adventures" that's one way to describe my horrible nightmares.

[MK-jekz]

"When you wake up, keep your eyes closed". "When you slowly enter wake mode..." Yeah, tell that to my alarm clock.

[xcmodev]

“You may not remember your dreams...”
*But they remember you*

[sidereon]

Hank: * mentions norepinephrine *
Me: Oh yeah, I have ADHD and I remember reading about how my brain doesn't produce a lot of that
Hank: Norepinephrine helps you remember things
Me: Ah. Yeah that tracks

[BrainsApplied]

Oh so remembering a dream is a sign of not sleeping well?
That explains a lot to me :p

[masterimbecile]

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible."

T.E. Lawrence

[haileypint]

I started this SNRI for depression that helps with serotonin and norepinephrine. Now I know why my dreams have gotten more intense lol

[jamiehay]

When I was around 7 years old I remember having a dream. I was a giant monster with about 8 arms and about 50 meters away there was a massive wooden totem pole like monster. We were inside a hollow square based pyramid like in Egypt. The big monster started to run towards me so I started shooting it with some liquid coming from all my arms. It wasn't working so I tried even harder at full force.

I then suddenly woke up. Then I realised I was also peeing in real life. I still remember that after all those years.

This took me the whole 5 minute video to type this XD

[Master_Therion]

Having trouble remembering your dreams?
Try sleeping on a memory foam mattress.

[CapriUni]

I've gone through periods in my life when I use an image from a partially-remembered dream as inspiration for art or writing. And when I get into that habit, I'm more likely to remember my dreams in more detail -- probably because the experience gets sorted into the "might be useful later--do not lose!" file.

[aidanrogers]

Some time ago I had this very vivid dream and just felt this urge to write it down, which was the first time I started to do so. Now, if I’ve had a vivid and interesting dream, I will write as much of it down as I can remember. Some aren’t as detailed as others, but I’ve had some incredibly detailed dreams that seem like epic movies I was watching rather than dreaming.
Also, if I go back and read an old dream, I will still be be to picture that dream, even after months afterwards.

[YuBeace]

“Drink a lot of water before going to bed” great!! Now I’m dreaming about trying to find a working

[NewMessage]

I seem to remember my nightmares just fine....

[NadDew]

Sometimes I remember a dream maybe after one day or so
And sometimes I get confused if what I remember is a dream or just my imagination or if it really happened

[DofTNet]

First, big fan of the lobster shirt.

I've been having pretty wild dreams lately... at least that's the impression I get... the details fade almost immediately after I wake up and all I'm left with is "that was really fascinating."

[TheEmmaHouli]

I feel like my night is wasted when I can't remember my dreams

[tomraptile]

Yeah, but why even if we initially remember our dreams we forget them very quickly?

[aleesabarker]

Ah, so waking up abruptly means you have a more difficult time forming memories?

No wonder I can’t remember a thing!
*glares at the school system*

[semaj_]

The norepinephrine thing definitely explains why the dreams I always remember best are strongly emotional, but not always visually vivid.

[SuicideBunny]

I don't often remember my dreams, although I try to write them down every time I do. However, the dreams I have managed to remember and have written down, I can still remember having dreamt them when I read them back, even after years!