Losing someone close changes everything—the air, the rhythm of days, the way silence suddenly feels heavier.
Grief has no single shape; it moves through tears, numbness, and moments of quiet disbelief. Yet, in the still hours of night, many people experience something that feels beyond ordinary—a dream where the person they’ve lost appears alive, speaking, smiling, or simply standing near. For many, that moment feels so vivid it lingers long after waking, stirring both comfort and confusion. Scientists and spiritual thinkers alike have long wondered: what do these dreams actually mean?
According to Patrick McNamara, a neuroscientist and professor at Boston University, these moments are called visitation dreams. They often happen to the bereaved and carry a distinct emotional weight. McNamara describes them as experiences where the deceased appear “very much alive,” often to convey reassurance or peace. Though grounded in psychology, he admits that even he—a skeptic—was shaken by the conviction that he had truly communicated with his late parents through such dreams. He suggests that these dreams may serve a deep psychological purpose: helping our minds process grief, maintain emotional connection, and accept loss while softening its sharpest edges.
Research supports this healing aspect. A 2014 study published in The American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care found that dreams of the deceased are not only common but profoundly meaningful. Participants often described seeing their loved ones healthy, at peace, or sharing comforting messages. Similarly, a 2016 Canadian study showed that over two-thirds of bereaved individuals viewed these dreams as “visitations,” and most said the experiences strengthened their belief in an afterlife. These encounters, while occurring in sleep, can influence waking life—offering solace, closure, and renewed faith in something beyond what we can measure.