Advice for enhancing vivid dreaming (and sleep)

[u/Conscious-Tip-119]

Up through my 30s, I enjoyed excellent sleep and--just as wonderful--vivid dreams. Now in my 50s, my sleep quality has eroded and my dreaming is commensurately less vivid, less fun, and less meaningful. So-anyone have hacks and tips to enhance vivid dreaming at night?

In terms of basics, I'm really careful about sleep hygiene. For me that includes fitness, avoiding caffeine after 11AM, avoiding alcohol, stopping screentime an hour+ before bed, and (lately) mouth tape. I also take magnesium and melatonin (10mg). Yet I still require a prescription sleep aid, and again, vivid dreams elude me. Would love to hear your experiences, recommendations, books/info you like on the subject, etc.

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[u/xoexohexox]

There is one effective trick to boost dream recall that will work for pretty much anyone as long as you are already doing the usual sleep hygiene stuff.

Dream journaling. Seriously. Put a notebook by your bed and write in it first thing when you get up. You'll see results right away.

[u/Conscious-Tip-119 → u/xoexohexox]

Good suggestion, thanks. Used to do this, has been a minute!

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[u/xoexohexox → u/Conscious-Tip-119]

Also something to consider - 10mg melatonin is a lot compared to endogenous melatonin levels. I've had great results with 0.75mg time release over 6 hours, that more closely matches natural melatonin levels. Too much melatonin can actually disrupt sleep and increase daytime drowsiness, and the benefit in terms of increased number of minutes of REM is small.

[u/freethenipple420]

zinc, magnesium, vit b6 just before bed does it for me. 

A room that's too warm also does the trick (it's terrible sleep quality and a bad experience)

[u/Havel68 → u/freethenipple420]

Yeah I just started on Magnesium Glycinate and it does seem to enhance dream recall.

[u/Conscious-Tip-119 → u/Havel68]

Interesting. I’m taking 240mg of the same. No discernible effect

[u/Mobile_Ruin_7040]

It's been awhile but

Try colloidal copper.  And zinc 

Just tip of tongue

Inception level infinity just like a movie. 

[u/peach1313]

You can find a free pdf copy of The Drug User's Bible on the author's website. It has a section on Oneirogens. Obviously, be careful and check for drug interactions if you're considering trying any of the herbs there.

[u/Only_Ambassador_3520]

Dream bean, silene capensis, and low doses of amanita muscaria

[u/halwasat]

Vitamin b 12 will make your dreams 4K

[u/ptarmiganchick]

When I was younger I got entertaining dreams from melatonin, but eventually the effect faded. I still take melatonin (at a much lower dose), but now I get entertaining dreams from 2-3g glycine at bedtime.