The main reasons why people can't remember their dreams include waking up outside of the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep phase, high stress levels, poor sleep quality, and brain chemistry. Dreams primarily occur during REM sleep, and if one wakes up during this phase, dream recall is more likely. However, if waking occurs during other sleep stages, dreams tend to fade quickly. Stress can impair memory during sleep, making it harder to remember dreams. Certain neurotransmitters that help with memory storage are at lower levels during REM, which also contributes to forgetting dreams. Additionally, age and some sleep disorders affect dream recall. Many people do dream every night but simply don't remember them upon waking due to these factors. To improve dream recall, maintaining consistent sleep cycles, reducing stress, and keeping a dream journal can help.
