Melissa from Ogden, UT, asked:
Hi Julie,
Almost a year ago, my husband lost a lifelong friend to suicide.
This morning, he woke up disoriented, describing an overwhelming experience of vivid memories flooding his mind throughout the night. It’s as if he relived their entire 45 years of friendship in a continuous reel.
He’s shocked by this, and I’m worried about what it might mean.
Do you have any insight or advice?
Thank you,
Melissa
Hi Melissa,
I’m sorry to hear about your husband’s loss and the disconcerting experience he had last night.
It sounds like he may have experienced a phenomenon known as “dream replay” or “memory consolidation” where the brain processes and replays memories during sleep. Given the intensity and vividness of the memories, coupled with the recent anniversary of his friend’s passing, it’s understandable that this would be a powerful and overwhelming experience for him.
In addition, dreams can take us to unfamiliar realms and realities, sometimes beyond our human understanding. While dream messages may be positive, their interpretation can be unsettling when filtered through our human experiences. Considering your husband’s thoughts of his friend on the anniversary of his passing, I believe his dream offered closure and played a role in his grieving journey.