How The Coronavirus Pandemic Could Be Impacting Your Dreams

It's been a stressful two months for most people, and unfortunately for some, that doesn’t end when they go to sleep.

“We are dreaming more, we’re more aware of it," said OU Medicine Chief of Psychiatry Dr. Britta Ostermeyer.

And that’s not necessarily a good thing.

You don’t have to search social media for long to see all the weird dreams people have reported having.

But as Ostermeyer explains, there is some science behind these weird dreams.

“Heightened anxiety is truly one reason we are dreaming and processing harder and more at night," Ostermeyer said.

But what about recalling those dreams? A recent study by a French neuroscience center found 35% of people have increased recollection of their dreams.

Working from home and unemployment could be why.

Turns out, going to bed later, and waking up later, helps with remembering your dreams.

“The sleep cycle often moves for many of us, so we’re going to bed later, we’re sleeping in, and we might actually get into the later stages, longer sleep cycles," Ostermeyer said.

Sleep experts say if you’re not a dream-lover right now, some tips to get better sleep are to wake up and go to bed at consistent times, avoid electronics before bedtime and to get outside.