What is the experience of vivid dreaming and its impact on the dreamer’s life? A phenomenological inquiry

Dreams that are impactful continue to hold significance throughout a dreamer's life, shaping their perceptions, emotions, and behaviours. Psychological research has been challenged by methodological difficulties owing to the fact that dreams can only be studied through first-person accounts. Building upon the work of Pagel & Vann (1992), Kuiken & Sikora (1993), and Olsen, Schredl, and Carlsson (2020), this study, grounded in existential-phenomenological philosophy, aims to deepen our understanding of how vivid dreamers are affected upon awakening. Through structured existential analysis (SEA) with eleven purposefully selected participants aged between 22 and 45, their profound dreams were explored, revealing three temporal themes (Dreaming as Being, Awakening to Being, and Living with the Dream) and nineteen subthemes that encompassed personal, social, physical, and spiritual dimensions. Notably, the study uncovered novel findings related to transformative encounters within their dreams, significantly altering the participants' perceptions of themselves, others, and their relationship to their dreams. The participants' psychological journeys and existential concerns, including freedom and responsibility, isolation and connectedness, death and embodiment, and meaning and meaninglessness, emerged as key themes. Unexpected novel themes, 'Accumulating Insight', 'Replaying Dreams: Assembling Meaning from Experiences', and Coping Mechanisms in the Dream's Wake: The Compulsion to Move Forward, illustrated their sense of immersion and engagement with dream content, leading to experiences of complex emotions such as shame, guilt, and anger. Moreover, the study revealed the transformative potential of vivid dreams in the participants' lives, providing them with insights that led to overcoming struggles, personal growth, and the development of strong relationships from the insights of their dreams. These novel findings offer valuable implications for counselling psychologists, suggesting that vivid dreams can be valuable tools to explore dreamers' profound lived experiences facing existential realities. By addressing existential concerns and exploring opportunities for personal growth, vivid dreams can have an ongoing impact by enhancing individuals' self-understanding and well-being, as well as psychotherapy and academic training for counselling psychologists.