Everything Under the Moon

I have visions both awake and asleep and used to have trouble with the latter... just differentiating between normal dreams and prophetic dreams. Now I suppose people dream in different ways and perhaps have information come to them in different forms but I thought I would tell people how I seperate my visions from my dreams and ask you guys if you have had any similar experience or techniques to share.

Brevity and randomness
Sometimes I'll be dreaming or just sleeping and a vision will kind of flash through my mind. Just a couple of seconds. It seems completely random and, if I'm dreaming, unrelated.

Empathy
For me, this is a big one but I'm not sure if everyone has their visions the same. I tend to sense what the person(s) I'm seeing is feeling. Whether it be an emotion, a smell, a taste or a physical pain.

Dream disruption
Awaking after the flash, feeling like you have been startled out of your sleep.

Would love to hear about the experiences of others
Blessed Be

So.... How do you tell the difference between a dream and a vision? I am confused with your explaination.