Thread: Dispelling the Doubt

Hey everyone! *Group cuddle* Tamias here. Where else would I be?

Point being...

Anyone who read my first post on the Newbie boards should remember that I'm fairly motivated to get this whole dreaming thing back on track. But, like a lot of people here, I'm having a lot of trouble doing that. You see, for the last few nights I've only been able to recall tiny fragments of dreams (see my dream journal; linked in my signature), even though I've tried many different techniques. Now, unlike last time, I'm not giving up: I continue to do constant reality checks in the waking world, and I tell myself affirmatively throughout the day "don't worry about it. It's all right. Tonight, I'll definitely remember all of my dreams. Tonight for sure." Also unlike last time, I think I know what my problem is.

Every night, a suspicion worms itself into my brain and lays eggs there, and then the eggs hatch, and then all the little suspicious worms tell my brain it just isn't going to happen. Why should it happen? It's never happened before. Maybe I'm just not meant to remember my dreams.

I don't want to continue like this. I'm trying my hardest to convince myself that I will definitely remember my dreams tonight, but that seedy doubt always inevitably returns. It's as if my subconscious itself wants to keep my dreams a secret. Can you guys help me out with methods of dispelling the curse of doubt so that I can remember a dream? How do you get yourself to truly believe in something that you have no proof will ever come to pass? Help me out here, you religious folk

That was inappropriate. I apologize.

To set some boundaries, I'd like to stay away from all medications that aren't innocuous dietary supplements. Most companies don't manufacture squirrel-safe pills.

Thanks in advance! I have to go take a math exam now.

~tamias

In my opinion, you're thinking about it way too much. The more you think about it, the more your doubt and/or anxiety grows. You need to try taking a step back for a while. Start from the beginning if you have to, with dream recall/your journal and where you just remember bits and fragments. Do not set any expectations about how long until you should be able to remember more. Just let it happen. Reinforcing "I will remember my dreams" would be fine as well, but don't be disappointed if you don't suddenly start remembering paragraphs worth of your dreams. Everything takes time (and everyone is different).