Losing a loved one deeply affects us, often in ways we don’t immediately realize. Have you ever dreamt about someone who has passed away? Such dreams may hold significant meaning.
Grief manifests uniquely for everyone. Some cry, others turn inward, and many remember their deceased loved ones through dreams. Patrick McNamara, associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at Boston University, explains that people have “visitation dreams” where the departed appear alive. These dreams, he says, help the body recover from emotional trauma.
McNamara shares his own experience, stating, “If I, someone skeptical about dreams, felt connected with my deceased parents through a dream, imagine how much stronger this belief must be for others.” Research supports his view; a 2014 study in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care found that “dreams of the deceased occur frequently, can be highly meaningful, and aid in healing from a loss.”
Jennifer E. Shorter, a psychologist, highlights that visitation dreams have distinct characteristics: the deceased appear healthier, convey messages of well-being, offer a psychic presence, and create a peaceful dream state.
Have you experienced such dreams? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments.
