How do you avoid dreamless sleep?

Answer 1

You can't!

Bad dreams may be unpleasant, but they serve several important functions, depending on the intensity and quality of each different dream. They provide a release of stress and tension at the same time that they serve as rehearsal or practice of different ways the dreamer might react to difficult or threatening scenarios.

Answer 2

There are a few things you can try, though more than likely, you are not experiencing dreamless sleep. We forget or repress most of our dreams, since the average person has about 4-5 per night or so.

You could try to alter the GABA levels in the brain. While there are medications that cause more vivid dreams, and anecdotal evidence says that nicotine might do so, taking GABA might be a better option. It is legal as a nutritional supplement in the US, but the legal status may be different in other countries.

Another idea would be to start a dream journal. By keeping a journal by your bed and recording each dream, you are telling your subconscious mind that the dreams are important to you. According to some, you might record so many that you have to stop.

Exercising your brain while you are awake might help. You could try to improve your memory and concentration, and you could try meditating.

If you can make yourself see images as soon as your eyes close, then focus on those, perhaps even describe them aloud mentioning as many of your senses as possible. That makes you an active participant and may possibly open additional neural pathways. Some refer to these images as "image streaming." They are not dreams, but they may be related and use the same part of the brain. So if you describe them aloud, you might say, "I see a doorknob. It feels cool, it is hard, it feels round, and it is somewhat hard to turn. I see a flash of light and some shapes I can't make out. Now I see mountain range covered in snow and it is cold here and a winter smell in the air." So improving the ability to see and describe internal images while you are awake may improve the ability while you are asleep.

Answer 3

To not have a bad dream you think about positive things before you rest.You don't eat before you sleep,or watch tv before you sleep,it causes vivid dreams to happen which lead to bad dreams.