So, if you’re stressed or anxious when you’re awake, you might be in your sleep as well. One theory on dreams suggests that they reflect your real life. And the sleep disorder known as REM sleep behavior disorder could lead to action-filled vivid dreams. That includes sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and insomnia. Sleep disordersĪny sleep disorder that shorts you on rest can increase your chances of experiencing vivid dreams. One study even found that right-handed people were more likely to remember their dreams, for yet unknown reasons. If you’re biologically female or under 30 years old, you may be more likely to recall your vivid dreams. We all dream, but some of us may be better at remembering our dreams than others. These are some of the known causes: Age, gender, and personality Other times, it feels like a mystery, because vivid dreams kind of are. A painful breakup or other stressful event. Sometimes you can pinpoint what “caused” your vivid dream: A week straight with no sleep before finals. If your alarm goes off during a REM cycle, you may be able to recall your dreams. Thankfully, your brain tells your muscles to chill out, so you don’t start trying to “perform” your dreams. That’s why it feels like you always have vivid dreams right before your alarm goes off!Ībout 25 percent of your sleep is REM cycles, so if you’re sleeping the recommended 7 to 9 hours per night, you could spend more than 2 hours in a dream state.ĭuring REM your brain waves, breathing, and heart rate are closer to wakefulness than sleep. The REM cycles start about an hour and half after you fall asleep, and they tend to be longer and deeper toward morning. The stages repeat several times throughout the night, as our brain waves and activity change. We sleep in two basic stages: REM and non-REM. They’re the kind of dream where you wake up able to recall every last excruciating detail, sometimes leaving you with an emotional hangover as you try to figure out what in the heck just happened (and why!?).Īs with all dreams, vivid dreams happen during your deepest sleep. Vivid dreams feel more like real life than a dream. Stress, anxiety, heavy drinking, sleep disorders, medications, and pregnancy could all be to blame for those vivid dreams. And, while there’s no one thing that can explain why our dreams feel like they’re happening IRL, there are a few usual suspects. Our deepest dreaming happens during our deepest sleep (rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep).

The one thing all vivid dreams have in common is their intensity and lifelike feeling. They can be good dreams (even sex dreams!) or bad dreams (like falling off a cliff with no ’chute). Sleep professionals call these nighttime visions “vivid dreams.” Vivid dreams are just that - dreams that we can recall in vivid detail because they feel… So.

So what’s the deal? Is it an acid trip that won’t wear off? Flashes of a past life? Glimpses into the mind of a psychic being that for some reason wants you to be toothless (or the proud owner of a push broom Sully mustache)? Or you seriously just landed flight 1549 on the Hudson without any casualties (and that Sully stache looks surprisingly good on you). Ever have one of those dreams that feels so unbelievably real that you just can’t shake it off once you wake up? Like, you can’t stop checking your mouth for the teeth you swear you just pulled out.

Dreaming in deep sleep