At some point in life, everyone experiences the pain of losing someone they care about. It’s a difficult part of being human, and the grief that follows can take many different forms. For some, tears come easily. Others might withdraw, keeping their feelings locked away. Some people might not show any visible signs of sadness at all. But one experience many people share is dreaming of someone who has passed away.
Dreams are deeply personal and often mysterious. When a person who is no longer alive appears in your dream, it can leave you with strong emotions and many questions. Could these dreams mean something more than just random thoughts while we sleep?
Patrick McNamara, a professor of neurology and psychiatry at Boston University, has spent years studying dreams. He describes these kinds of dreams as “visitation dreams”—experiences where the deceased seem alive and well, showing up in our dreams with a clear presence. According to McNamara, these dreams may serve a deeper purpose. They can help people process grief and begin to heal after a loss.
McNamara shared a personal story in one of his blog posts for Psychology Today. After his parents passed away, he had a dream that felt so real, it shook him. Despite being a scientist who usually approaches things with logic and skepticism, he couldn’t deny the feeling that he had truly connected with his parents during that dream. That powerful experience led him to believe there might be more to these dreams than science can fully explain.
This idea isn’t just personal—it’s also been studied by researchers. In 2014, a study published in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care explored the topic of grief-related dreams. It revealed that many people dream about those they’ve lost, and these dreams can be deeply meaningful. Often, the deceased appear healthy, peaceful, and sometimes share comforting messages. These dreams might reflect memories, or they might offer new, symbolic experiences.
In another study from 2016, Canadian researchers examined the dream experiences of 76 middle-aged people who had recently lost someone close to them. An overwhelming majority said their dreams helped them feel closer to the person who had died. Many of them believed these dreams were actual visits, and more than two-thirds reported that the experience strengthened their belief in an afterlife.
Jennifer E. Shorter, a psychologist from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, also looked into this phenomenon. In her research on visitation dreams, she found that these dreams often share specific characteristics. The person who has passed usually looks just like they did in life—sometimes even healthier or younger. They often communicate that they’re doing fine, not always with words, but in a way that feels deeply understood. The dreams are typically calm and emotionally powerful, leaving a strong impression that lingers even after waking.
Interestingly, these dreams can happen shortly after someone dies, or they might appear years later. There’s no fixed timeline, and no guaranteed way to know when—or if—they’ll happen. But for those who do experience them, they often bring comfort, peace, and a sense of connection that’s hard to explain.
Have you ever dreamed about a loved one who has passed on? Did it bring you peace, or maybe help you through your grief? Everyone’s experience is unique, but many find meaning in these moments that feel as real as waking life. If you’ve had such a dream, you’re not alone. And if you believe that dreams can carry messages, perhaps these special encounters are more than just imagination—they might be reminders that love never truly disappears.
