Psychologically Explained: The Reality Of Deja Reve

Have you ever been shocked and realized you’ve dreamed something like this before? One day, I spent my entire day thinking about the dream I had already experienced. No, it was not Déjà vu, but this particular phenomenon is known as déjà rêvé. Do you know that we all tend to experience déjà rêvé, it’s a common situation we all go through!

Scientists are trying to figure out the exact science behind the occurrence of déjà rêvé. I could find few studies that explore the possibility of déjà rêvé. In this blog, we will understand the psychology behind déjà rêvé.

Let’s get started!

What is Déjà Rêvé?

The term Déjà rêvé is a French saying that means “already dreamed.” Déjà rêvé encompasses various explicit experiences that we all experience usually. It explains a feeling or a situation wherein we feel like we have already dreamed something relatable or something exact has already happened in reality.

Scientists are still trying to uncover the main reasons behind this phenomenon. I could find some studies that support the occurrence of déjà rêvé. A study published in 2010 shows that the experiences of déjà rêvé are common and get less common with age. Many people believe that dreams get buried with memories, and are only recalled when something similar happens. This leads to people thinking or recalling the specific dreams or situations they have experienced before.

A study published in 2018 shows that dream recall and déjà rêvé are actually induced through electrical brain stimulation (EBS). This study suggests that our brains develop special memory systems that are responsible for storing dreams.

Another study published in 2010 shows that, people who lack boundaries with mental stress experience déjà rêvé or déjà vu more as compared to people with mental toughness. According to psychologists, the occurrence of déjà rêvé is possible because of the track of multiple things in the brain that tends to overlap sometimes.

How Déjà Rêvé is Different from Déjà Vu?

Déjà rêvé translates to already dreamed, meanwhile, déjà vu translates to “already seen.” The experience of déjà rêvé is more common than déjà vu. However, déjà vu is a well-understood concept in psychology as compared to déjà rêvé. Research shows that people who struggle with seizures or epilepsy are prone to experiencing déjà vu more.

Concerning this, the two circuits present in the hippocampus are activated which makes people experience déjà vu even more. Research from 2018 shows that people with epilepsy tend to experience déjà rêvé more but you don’t have to be diagnosed with epilepsy to experience déjà rêvé.

What is the Psychology Behind Déjà Rêvé?

According to studies, déjà rêvé covers three distinct types, such as:

• Episodic-like déjà rêvé: According to studies, episodic-like déjà rêvé occurs due to the huge collected memories of a specific dream.
• Familiarity-like déjà rêvé: This type of déjà rêvé is connected with a vague dream. Such dreams remind people of a familiar scene, place, or character. Research shows that such dreams are induced by EBS which plays a major role in emotions and memories.
• Dreamy state déjà rêvé: This type of déjà rêvé is quite different from all types of déjà rêvé. The dreamy state type of déjà rêvé makes people experience a dreamy state, sensation, or a situation similar to night dreaming.

According to a dream expert, the idea of déjà rêvé can be fascinating as it allows people to predict their future. Dreaming does not follow any kind of rules, dreams are a mixture of present, past, and future. A close phenomenon similar to déjà rêvé can be precognitive dreams. In many cultures, déjà rêvé allows people to read history, guide people spiritually, and process knowledge through such processes.

What to do After Déjà Rêvé?

The next time you experience déjà rêvé, try to differentiate the type of déjà rêvé and know that it’s always helpful to pay attention to the clues. According to psychologists, if something repeats again and again, you must give it extra attention to protect or to endure (based on the situation).

If the experiences of déjà rêvé scare you or make you feel uncomfortable, you can connect with a mental health professional to learn about your dreams and their meanings. An experienced and certified mental health professional can also help you maintain a sense of reality and refer to the diagnosis of an underlying mental health condition as well.

I hope this blog helps you understand the psychology behind déjà rêvé. Comment down and share your views on the same. For more such content, connect with us through social media platforms.

Thanks for reading!