But what actually qualifies as a vivid dream?

And do we know why they happen?

We asked dream experts to weigh inhere’s what they had to say.

Sarah Regan

What classifies a “vivid” dream?

(More on that later.)

“Lucid dreamingis also another category of vivid dreaming.

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When this happens, the entire dream experience is intensified,” she notes.

What causes them?

Ellis tells mbg that dreams often intensify when we’re going through particularlycharged or intense pointsin our life.

Certain substances are affecting your sleep and dreaming.

This will level out eventually, she explains.

“Some medications have this effect too,” Ellis notes.

You’re a sensitive person.

Both Ellis and Loewenberg note that people who are generallymore sensitivetend to have more intense dreams.

Ellis says light sleepers, as well, are also known to have more vivid dreams.

You simply have good dream recall.

The question then is,Was the dream “vivid” because we remember it so well?

Or do we remember it so well because it was vivid?

Are they good or bad?

As aforementioned, nightmares are often very vivid because they’re so emotionally charged.

Though as Ellis notes, we can have very positive vivid dreams as well.

In fact, Loewenberg says, the more upsetting and intense the dream, the more important the message.

How to stop recurring dreams.

Other factors like temperature or eating before bed can also influence dreams.

A sleep supplement likembg’s sleep support+can also help you to sleep more soundly.

Consider starting with these baseline, physical factors, and see if that helps.

Practice nightmare “re-scripting.”

give a shot to decipher the dream’s meaning.

From there, she says, anything that was said or thought during the dream is also particularly important.

“Whatever is saidno matter who says itand whatever is thought while in the dream areyoursubconscious thoughts.

Practice dream journaling.

“Get curious about your dreams.

Explore lucid dreaming.

Here’s our guide onhow to lucid dreamto help get you started.

The takeaway.

For better or worse, your most vivid dreams likely have an important message for you.