Thread: Difficulty with dream recall; normal?

Thanks for any help/criticism
I've been practicing dream recall for two nights (only) but can't seem to recall a single dream. When I was younger (3-6 yrs ago approx), everyday, I could remember 1-2 detailed dreams without making an effort. I used to also have (only about 10) extremely vivid nightmares that I can still remember today, they were pretty scary, I was messed up for hours afterwards.
So basically, I've started a Dream Journal and have been drink9ng plenty of water before bed, using mantras to wake up/remember my dreams. I read on another thread that writing a Day Journal helps with remembering the dreams/waking up afterwards to jot it down, so I've been doing that also. I know that it's only been 2 nights but it's slightly irritating although contrary to this I am a patient person. No memories of any dreams in two nights, Do I just need to try harder(I am very motivated/determined with this or just keep it up? THanks very much for the read/help.

Try meditation. I don't really what to go into it because for me, meditation is more of an art rather than rigorous techniques so it's something you should discover for yourself. The ultimate aim of it is for you to be able to focus your mind solely on your intention to have lucid dreams every night and recall them better.

meditation before and after dream. When we wake up memory is still there but we need to stir it up once we wake up and meditate and concentrate on what the dream you had last, even if it is fragments. Fragments lead to full dream recall.

When you wake up just lay there, don't move. Focus as hard as you can on remembering what happened during the night, much like meditating. Once you start to move your begin forgetting details about the dreams and eventually you forget the entire thing. Do this for 5-10 minutes and write down anything you remember whether it be a random object or even how you're feeling, as long as you write down something. You should even write down "nothing" if you still can't remember anything since this will at least get your brain working to think about what happens during your dreams.

Thanks for responses, a few hours after writing this thread yesterday, I slept and focused really hard on the task of remembering and used a technique described in Stephen Laberge's book: it's kind of meditating I guess. The various joints on your body are seperated (up to 61 points) and you go around your body thinking about that specific point. It took around 10 minutes and afterwards I kinda felt less distracted and then focused on remembering the dreams. I know it's not much but I remembered one dream quite well, half a page long, this morning. Yeah, and that was yesterday before I got this advice so with this advice ontop of yesterday's concentration I'll do better. Thanks for the help. And the dream was really fragmented but when I thought and focused hard it just kinda came. I'll get around a dozen dreams in my journal then try lucid. :p

I don't have any problem with dream recall, I barely need a DJ at all. It may be because I'm young (14), or maybe I'm just gifted with remembering dreams well but I seem to have no problem remembering what happened in my dreams with vivid emotional and physical detail. I don't know why you seem to be having trouble, but from my point of view it seems somewhat abnormal. Just keep believing your dream recall will improve with time, try to keep stress low like you described you did the other night, and hope for the best. That's my recommendation.

If it is an abnormality what can be done anyway? Probably nothing. It has improved (I think) marginally over the two previous nights in which I've remembered three dreams, puny I know. When I was your age I remembered numerous dreams without difficulty, I'm not suggesting that you'll have difficulty. Perhaps it's just that I haven't thought about my dreams properly for a couple of years, and it's a question of adjusting to recall?
It's just a bit of a pain really lol...
Thanks for the responses all though.

Originally Posted by Reader

Thanks for any help/criticism
I've been practicing dream recall for two nights (only) but can't seem to recall a single dream. When I was younger (3-6 yrs ago approx), everyday, I could remember 1-2 detailed dreams without making an effort. I used to also have (only about 10) extremely vivid nightmares that I can still remember today, they were pretty scary, I was messed up for hours afterwards.
So basically, I've started a Dream Journal and have been drink9ng plenty of water before bed, using mantras to wake up/remember my dreams. I read on another thread that writing a Day Journal helps with remembering the dreams/waking up afterwards to jot it down, so I've been doing that also. I know that it's only been 2 nights but it's slightly irritating although contrary to this I am a patient person. No memories of any dreams in two nights, Do I just need to try harder(I am very motivated/determined with this or just keep it up? THanks very much for the read/help.

Try holding your breath, No seriously I've recently read on an article about these people have been holding their breath underwater to improve their dream recall. The practice oxygenates your brain. If you don't use this than you deserve not having good dream recall.

Of course there are risk to the practice.

k thanks yondaime, can you post the url of the article here? I'm open minded about new procedures just wasn't sure about your penultimate sentence. Thanks

Originally Posted by Reader

k thanks yondaime, can you post the url of the article here? I'm open minded about new procedures just wasn't sure about your penultimate sentence. Thanks

sorry I'm new here so i'm not allowed to post links yet, Check my account for it.

Thank you, where on your profile can it be found?

Originally Posted by Reader

Thank you, where on your profile can it be found?

click on my username and view my forum post. The thread should be called increased dream recall or something like that.

Yep yondaime, not bad advice; I didn't hold my breath but had a bath instead of the preferred shower and the following morning I remembered three full dreams, not fragmented and with every last detail. :]

Originally Posted by Reader

Thanks for any help/criticism
I've been practicing dream recall for two nights (only) but can't seem to recall a single dream. When I was younger (3-6 yrs ago approx), everyday, I could remember 1-2 detailed dreams without making an effort. I used to also have (only about 10) extremely vivid nightmares that I can still remember today, they were pretty scary, I was messed up for hours afterwards.
So basically, I've started a Dream Journal and have been drink9ng plenty of water before bed, using mantras to wake up/remember my dreams. I read on another thread that writing a Day Journal helps with remembering the dreams/waking up afterwards to jot it down, so I've been doing that also. I know that it's only been 2 nights but it's slightly irritating although contrary to this I am a patient person. No memories of any dreams in two nights, Do I just need to try harder(I am very motivated/determined with this or just keep it up? THanks very much for the read/help.

You sound like you're on the right path... just keep going! 2 nights is nothing, but I noticed results after 1 week, so it's not too far off!

Originally Posted by isthisit

You sound like you're on the right path... just keep going! 2 nights is nothing, but I noticed results after 1 week, so it's not too far off!

Cheers