Almost everyone experiences the heartache of losing someone close to them during their lifetime.
But sometimes, the passing of a particular person hits deeper than we ever expected.
Have you ever had a dream about someone who has passed away?
You might not have thought much about why they showed up in your sleep, but it could hold meaning.
People cope with loss in many different ways. Some cry for days, some go completely quiet. Others push through like nothing happened. But one thing that connects many is this:
The memory of loved ones often shows up in our dreams.
Our subconscious plays a major role in what we see while we sleep — and if you’ve ever dreamed about someone who’s no longer alive, it might be trying to tell you something.
Can the Dead Reach Out to Us Through Dreams?
According to Patrick McNamara, a professor of neurology and psychiatry at Boston University, what many people experience are known as “visitation dreams.”
He describes them as:
“Dreams in which those who have passed appear alive and well to the person grieving their loss.”
McNamara, who frequently writes under the name Dream Catcher for Psychology Today, has studied dreams extensively. He believes these dreams often serve a clear purpose — they help people process emotional wounds and find closure.
A Personal Story of Connection
McNamara has shared his own story of having such dreams after the loss of both parents. Despite being a scientist trained to question everything, he admitted feeling convinced that he had communicated with his deceased parents in a dream.
He wrote:
“If someone like me — skeptical by nature — couldn’t shake that feeling, imagine how powerful that dream must be for someone more open to the idea of spiritual connection.”
