By Kenneth Altobello 
Some mornings leave us with an inexplicable void. You dreamt you were with someone you like. Or with friends, laughing, feeling accompanied, loved. Everything seemed so real. But you woke up… and no one was there. Just you, in your room, with a strange mix of nostalgia and emptiness.
Has this happened to you? You’re not alone.
These types of dreams have something powerful: they confront us with a deep desire for companionship, affection, or connection. And when they disappear upon waking, they can leave a very strong sense of disillusionment. Let’s talk about why this happens and what it really means.
Why Do We Dream About People We Like or Friends?
Our brain is a box of surprises, especially when we sleep. Dreaming about someone you like or about friendships can be linked to unresolved desires, to emotional deficiencies, or simply to memories that activate intense emotions.
When you feel lonely or are going through moments of disconnection, your subconscious seeks to fill those spaces in dreams. Sometimes, you don’t even realize how much you miss something… until you dream about it.
Why Does Waking Up Hurt So Much?
The sadness upon waking after a happy dream has an emotional explanation: contrast. While you were sleeping, you felt love, security, companionship. You saw yourself in situations you perhaps deeply long for.
And suddenly… it disappears.
That abrupt shift between the warmth of the dream and the solitude of the present can hurt more than one expects. Not only do you lose what the dream gave you, but that “void” upon waking reminds you that perhaps that isn’t in your real life, at least not as you wish.
Is It a Sign That I’m Lonely?
Not necessarily. Dreaming about love, companionship, or beautiful moments doesn’t mean you’re in a bad place. But it can be an internal signal that you need more connection: with yourself, with others, with what moves you.
It’s a call from the soul, in a way. And it’s okay to listen to it.
Sometimes, these dreams appear precisely when we’re in an emotional pause: when we don’t talk much with anyone, when we feel like we don’t fit in, when we miss something but don’t say it.
What to Do When This Happens?
First: don’t judge yourself. It’s completely human to wake up this way. What you dreamt was beautiful, and that’s why it hurts to lose it. But you can also transform it into something that helps you. Some ideas:
- Write down the dream as soon as you wake up. Turn it into a story, a song, a drawing.
- Talk about it with someone you trust. Sharing what we feel makes it hurt less.
- Seek real moments of connection: a message, a chat, an outing… even if it seems minimal, it adds up.
- Ask yourself: what part of the dream made me feel so good? Sometimes that reveals what you need most.
You’re not alone. This happens to many of us.
That sadness you feel upon waking isn’t a weakness. It’s proof that you are a sensitive person, with deep desires, with a longing to love and be loved.
And that, instead of hiding it, can be your engine to connect more, to create new bonds, or to nurture the ones you already have.
The next time you dream about someone you like, about your friends, about a hug that felt real… keep it as an internal message: what you dream, you can also start building while awake.