Minds blown as psychiatrist explains why you never see your phone in your dreams

Now that we think about it, it seems pretty bizarre.

PUBLISHED JAN 25, 2025

(L) Woman smiling and dreaming in sleep with phone beside her in bed. (Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels| Photo by Ketut Subiyanto), (R) Phone placed on bed as person sleeps. (Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels| Photo by Eren Li)

If you bring to mind all the dreams you’ve ever had while asleep, you’d think of a wide variety of things. You’d think of people, unicorns, cars and perhaps even a monster wearing a dress. As bizarre and unhinged as dreams can be, there is one thing many might not recall having dreamed about— a smartphone. Think about it, have you ever dreamed of the device, using it or even grabbing it? Experts suggest there’s a reason behind the same and people are jaw-dropped. A psychiatrist, Dr. Sham Singh, from WINIT clinic, noted that it is normal to not see your phone in your dreams despite being so attached to it, per Tyla.

Man waking up from sleep, confused in bed. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Photo by Kampus Production)

Brigitte Holzinger, psychotherapist and director of the Institute for Consciousness and Dream Research recalled, “No one has ever told me about a dream in which their smartphone played a central role,” per World Crunch. Singh explained that our dreams are associated with the subconscious part of our brains. However, when we use our phones, we’re very much conscious and awake. "The phone is a device operated on a conscious level but it doesn't have any deeper emotional or symbolic charge; thus, it doesn't appear in our dreams,” she added.

Woman tucked in blanket using phone in bed. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Photo by Mart Production)

Another factor is that something dynamic like technology that is so vast and rapidly changing can’t make it to the “symbolic language” of dreams. Adding to the same, Singh mentioned that dreams are often rooted in fears, desires and other emotions. Our phones may not have that psychological connection with us and when our emotions are building those dreams, the device is left out. Moreover, dreams deal with more profound aspects of our lives. Deeper feelings, unresolved emotions, unanswered questions, questionable scenarios and so on. So our dreaming time is allotted for these unique thoughts rather than something tangible and basic like a phone.

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"When we sleep, our minds prioritize deeper emotions and unresolved issues over the superficial. So, while our devices consume our daily thoughts, they fade into the background when we dream,” Dr. Singh pointed out. "It may not hold deep emotional or psychological significance to be incorporated into your subconscious during dreaming,” she added. Holzinger also revealed that we dream based on what we’re feeling. For instance, if we’re missing someone, we’d likely have a dream about them. If we’re worried about something or someone, we might dream about that too.

Man using phone before going to bed. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Photo by SHVETS Production)

Our phones are always with us, so we won’t miss them; they’re not a threat and they’re just playing the side roles in our lives. That explains why they don’t take the center focus when we’re building dreams. Lastly, you wouldn’t dream about your phone because it’s an indirect medium. “Everything that our smartphone triggers in us is indirect,” Holzinger noted. If you feel anything while using your phone, it’s probably because of what or who you’re accessing through your phone and not the phone itself. So, the bottom line is, that our phones are not that important—for our dreams, that is. While they may be an integral part of our lives, we’re not so much connected with them in our subconscious to earn them a prized spot in our dreamy sleep.

via GIPHY