The study’s findings suggest that dreams involving the dєcєαsєd are common, often meaningful, and can aid in the healing process after loss.
At some point in our lives, we all experience the loss of a loved one. The impact of that loss can be profound and lasting, affecting us in ways we never anticipated.
A common phenomenon after losing a loved one is dreaming about the dєcєαsєd. These dreams can have meanings we never thought possible, as our subconscious takes control while we sleep. The presence of a dєcєαsєd loved one in our dreams can be both comforting and confusing.
Facing pain is a unique and personal journey for each individual. Some may cry openly, while others may withdraw or avoid discussing their feelings. However, dreaming about lost loved ones is a shared experience that can give insight into our emotional state and serve as a reminder of the deep connection that we were with them.
Patrick McNamara, Ph.D, an Associate Professor of Neurology Department of Neurology at the BU School of Medicine and the VA New England HealthCare System, has explored this concept further. He explains that visitation dreams occur when a dєcєαsєd person appears to the dreamer as if they were still alive.
McNamara, who also writes for Psychology Today under the pseudonym “Dream Catcher,” shared his insights into dreams and their meanings. He believes that visitation dreams often serve a specific purpose for the dreamer.
These dreams are believed to help individuals cope with feelings of grief, loss, and sadness. By experiencing visitation dreams, people can find comfort and a sense of connection with dєcєαsєd loved ones.
In a blog post, McNamara told of a dream he had after his parents died. The dream, known as a visitation dream, led him to believe that it could be evidence of life after death. Despite his skeptical scientific background, McNamara could not disprove the notion that he had contacted his dєcєαsєd parents, which he believed would be an even stronger conviction for those who are less skeptical about dreams.
McNamara is not the only one interested in these dreams, as many studies have explored this phenomenon in more depth. One study, published in 2014 by the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, investigated the impact of traumatic dreams. The study’s findings suggest that dreams involving the dєcєαsєd are common, often meaningful, and can aid in the healing process following loss.
Themes in dreams are about past events, people who have ραssε∂ αωαү without illness, memories of one’s illness or death, people in the afterlife appearing healthy and peaceful as well as the sender of the message.
In 2016, Canadian researchers studied the dreams of 76 people who had lost loved ones. Research shows that 67.1% of these people feel that dreams about the dєcєαsєd make them more confident in the afterlife. About 70% considered their dreams to be “visitations” and 71% said these dreams made them feel closer to the dєcєαsєd.
Psychologist Jennifer E. Shorter from the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, CA, has also studied our brains and the dreams we have.
Trong nghiên cứu của mình, có tên “Giấc mơ thăm viếng ở những người đang đau buồn: Một cuộc điều tra hiện tượng học về mối quan hệ giữa giấc mơ và nỗi đau buồn”, cô đề cập rằng số lượng người có giấc mơ thăm viếng là không rõ ràng.
In her study, titled “Visitation dreams in grieving individuals: A phenomenological inquiry into the relationship between dreams and the grieving process,” she mentioned that the number of people who have dreams Visitation is unclear.
These dreams can happen shortly after or long after someone has ραssε∂ αωαү.
She found that visitation dreams have four main characteristics:
- People in dreams look the same as when they were alive, often healthier or younger.
- The person who has ραssε∂ αωαү often shares something about their current condition, such as that they are fine.
- Messages in dreams are felt more like a spiritual connection than a physical presence.
- Dreams are generally peaceful and orderly, almost harmonious.
