Sleep and Dreaming How to Know That You Had a Vivid Dream By Katharine Chan, MSc, BSc, PMP Updated on May 08, 2023 Reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by mental health professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by David Susman, PhD Print Marcos Calvo / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Causes Harmful Side Effects How to Avoid Vivid Dreams Trending Videos Close this video player Have you ever woken up from a dream that felt so real, it’s hard to shake it off? A vivid dream is one that feels so real that you can recall it very clearly when you wake up. They can be happy or sad, based on your real life, or completely fabricated. Vivid dreams are ones that stick to your memory. Press Play for Advice On Dream Interpretation Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, featuring therapist and dream interpreter Jesse Lyon, shares science-backed strategies that you can use to better understand your dreams. Click below to listen now. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / Amazon Music Causes Scientists aren’t exactly clear on what causes vivid dreams; however, there are a few things that have been shown to increase their likelihood. Medications: Some medications have been shown to cause vivid dreams. Anti-depressants are medications that can help relieve the symptoms of depression. One of their side effects is that they can cause vivid dreams due to the effect they have on REM sleep. Beta-blockers are medications that treat high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. They have also been shown to impact sleep and contribute to nightmares. Sleep Disorders: Waking up often during the night means you are interrupting your sleep cycles and are more likely to remember what you were dreaming. Certain sleep disorders can cause this to occur such as insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea. Major Changes To Your Sleep Schedule: Changing when you sleep and how much you sleep can increase the risk of vivid dreams. Some examples include transitioning to a job that requires night shift work, travelling across different time zones and pulling all-nighters frequently for an extended period of time. Anxiety and Stress: Ruminating over stressful situations such as issues at work, struggles at school, relationship problems and financial strain can cause most people to lose sleep. Major life events take a toll on your emotional and mental well-being. Experiences such as the death of a loved one, job loss, moving to a new city, getting married, and the birth of a child can trigger vivid dreams. It’s been shown that people with anxiety are more likely to have nightmares. Substance Abuse: Vivid dreams and nightmares can be triggered by alcohol misuse and substance abuse. A study showed that individuals who are in recovery often have vivid dreams that involve drinking and drug use. Mental Health Conditions: People with certain mental health conditions are more likely to have nightmares. Some conditions include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression. Pregnancy: The physical body changes and increased hormone production that occur during pregnancy can affect sleep patterns and contribute to vivid dreams. 9 Common Dreams and What They Mean Harmful Side Effects of Vivid Dreams Generally, having a vivid dream once in a while isn’t a cause for concern. However, if you are having vivid dreams frequently and it is interfering with your day-to-day life, it can cause harmful effects on your overall health and well-being. Some of these include: Fatigue: When you’re not getting sufficient quality sleep, you have a reduced ability to focus and retain information which can cause issues at work, school, and at home. Having trouble staying awake and feeling sleepy during the day can be dangerous especially if your job requires you to operate machinery or do manual labor; you drive to work or you are responsible for the safety of children. You may not be able to react as quickly and can be easily distracted. Your judgment may be altered, putting yourself and others at risk. Mood Issues: Recurring vivid dreams that are distressing can negatively affect your mood. If the dream is especially traumatic, it can trigger depression and anxiety, and other mental health conditions. You are more irritable and easily aggravated which can drain your energy, making you feel awful and affecting your ability to function throughout the day. Avoiding Sleep: Having a persistent vivid dream that makes you feel anxious or overwhelmed may cause you to consciously or subconsciously resist sleep. Bedtime becomes something you dread because you’re worried you will have another nightmare. However, resisting sleep will contribute to poorer sleep and exacerbate negative health consequences. Nightmare Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment How to Avoid Vivid Dreams Identifying and treating the underlying cause of your vivid dream can help reduce them. Contact your doctor and/or mental health professional and they can provide appropriate advice, treatment options, and effective lifestyle changes. However, sometimes, it can be difficult to determine a specific cause of your vivid dreams. Here are some tips to help you reduce the frequency of them: Practice Good Sleep Hygiene: Having good sleep habits can help improve your sleep. Some include going to bed and waking up at the same time, limiting caffeine, large meals, and alcohol before bedtime, shutting down screens once in bed, and ensuring your bedroom is optimal for sleep (dark, quiet, and comfortable). Develop Healthy Habits: Being physically active, having a sensible diet, staying hydrated, and maintaining a healthy weight can help improve brain function, regulate your mood and reduce sleep disturbances and vivid dreams. Try Stress Reduction Strategies: Everyone experiences and manages stress differently. However, there are some ways to help reduce and cope with stress. Some examples include breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, yoga, tai chi, and guided imagery. Seek Therapy: Working with a therapist or mental health care professional can help you understand your emotional triggers, identify ways to improve your mood, treat underlying mental health conditions and make you feel more in control of your life to help improve the quality of your sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to feeling productive and well-rested for the following day. Certain medications, sleep disorders, mental health, and medical conditions can cause vivid dreams. Vivid dreams can affect your quality of life if they are persistent and distressing. Changing your lifestyle and following the advice and guidance of your healthcare provider can help reduce these dreams and allow you to get a better night’s rest. How to Lucid Dream, According to a Psychologist and a Dream Analyst 10 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Tribl GG, Wetter TC, Schredl M. Dreaming under antidepressants: A systematic review on evidence in depressive patients and healthy volunteers. Sleep Med Rev. 2013;17(2):133–42. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2012.05.001 Riemer TG, Villagomez Fuentes LE, Algharably EAE, et al. Do β-blockers cause depression? : systematic review and meta-analysis of psychiatric adverse events during β-blocker therapy. Hypertension. 2021;77(5):1539–1548. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.16590 Medic G, Wille M, Hemels ME. Short- and long-term health consequences of sleep disruption. Nat Sci Sleep. 2017;9(1):151–161. doi:10.2147/NSS.S134864 Johnson B. Drug abuse, dreams, and nightmares. APA. 2012;1(1):385–392. doi:10.1007/978–1–4614–3375–0_31 Drinking and drug-use dreams in recovery tied to more severe addiction history: Frequency of these relapse dreams decreases as the body and brain adapt to abstinence. ScienceDaily. Sleep Foundation. Nightmares. Admin APA. Pregnancy dreams. American Pregnancy Association. Sleep Foundation. Healthy sleep tips. How sleep works — why is sleep important? | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH. Six relaxation techniques to reduce stress. Harvard Health. By Katharine Chan, MSc, BSc, PMP Katharine is the author of three books (How To Deal With Asian Parents, A Brutally Honest Dating Guide and A Straight Up Guide to a Happy and Healthy Marriage) and the creator of 60 Feelings To Feel: A Journal To Identify Your Emotions. She has over 15 years of experience working in British Columbia's healthcare system. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! 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