CLEVELAND, Ohio — All over the world, people are reporting a large increase in their dreams. These dreams are often vivid and intense.

They’re calling it “quarandreaming,” and Cleveland Clinic Psychologist Dr. Susan Albers says there are a few reasons for this.

“Cortisol levels, which are the stress hormones that we experience when we are stressed and anxious, tend to drop and they bottom out around midnight, but when you are stressed, they remain elevated, and this makes it either hard to go to sleep, or you find yourself waking up several times throughout the night. And when we wake up in the middle of a dream, that’s when you remember them,” Dr. Albers said.

There are several theories for the increase in dreams, like more stress and our lack of human interaction throughout the day.

“Now that we have less contact with people, our subconscious has to dig deep into our memories and bring to the surface things that have happened in the past or important to us. And so they become front and center in our dreams in a place that they haven't been before,” said Dr. Albers.

This isn't the first time we’ve reported an increase in dreams. It tends to happen after major traumatic life events.

“For example, after 9/11, there were tremendous reports of people experiencing a significant spike in their dreams. So, this is not an unprecedented event. When dramatic or extreme things happen in the world, people will report an increase in their dreams,” Dr. Albers said.