We sometimes are afraid we will fall into the abyss if we look too long or too deeply into ourselves. It is important to lie still for a few moments when awakening from a dream and to stay with the feelings and images of the dream. Then record in a notebook by the bedside a few key words from the most vivid images or symbols that appear in the dream. Later that day when convenient one can fill out the plot and action of the dream in more detail. It is very difficult to try and hold a dream in memory if it is not first written down.
Dreams tend to evaporate quickly with the light of day just like the morning dew.
It may be useful too to write down any immediate associations or reactions to the dream. Start to reflect on the separate images in the dream and see what comes to mind. Take note of the feelings and associations that flood your mind as you pay attention to the images. Examine action that takes place in the dream which is often like a play or movie with a plot and sub-plots. It is important to remember too that the images in the dream are not to be taken literally.