What Does It Mean When A Person
Grief and Dreams
Losing a loved one is painful, and many people continue to feel their presence in dreams.
These “visitation dreams” often bring comfort during mourning.
What Experts Say
Patrick McNamara, a Boston University neuroscientist,
describes them as “dreams of the bereaved where the dead appear…
and look to be very much alive.”
He admits even he once felt he had communicated with his late parents, writing:
“If I… could not shake the conviction that I had just communicated with my dead parents,
how much stronger must be the conviction of someone with a less skeptical approach?”
Research Findings
A 2014 study in the American Journal of Hospice and
Palliative Care found such dreams “can be highly meaningful and further healing from a loss.”
In 2016, Canadian researchers reported that 70% of mourners felt these dreams were true visits.
Common Traits
Psychologist Jennifer Shorter notes that visitation dreams often show the deceased looking healthier,
sharing reassurance, and creating a calm, peaceful atmosphere.
