Having the same dream again and again is a well-known phenomenon — nearly two-thirds of the population report having recurring dreams. Being chased, finding yourself naked in a public place or in the middle of a natural disaster, losing your teeth or forgetting to go to class for an entire semester are typical recurring scenarios in these dreams.
But where does the phenomenon come from? The science of dreams shows that recurring dreams may reflect unresolved conflicts in the dreamer’s life. Recurring dreams often occur during times of stress, or over long periods of time, sometimes several years or even a lifetime. Not only do these dreams have the same themes, they can also repeat the same narrative night after night.
Although the exact content of recurring dreams is unique to every individual, there are common themes among individuals and even among cultures and in different periods. For example, being chased, falling, being unprepared for an exam, arriving late or trying to do something repeatedly are among the most prevalent scenarios,
- The majority of recurring dreams have negative content involving emotions such as fear, sadness, anger and guilt.
- More than half of recurring dreams involve a situation where the dreamer is in danger.
- But some recurring themes can also be positive, even euphoric, such as dreams where we discover new rooms in our house, erotic dreams or where we fly.
In some cases, recurring dreams that begin in childhood can persist into adulthood. These dreams may disappear for a few years, reappear in the presence of a new source of stress and then disappear again when the situation is over.
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Why do I keep dreaming the same dream over and over?
What does a recurring dream symbolize? – Sadly, science hasn’t allowed sleep specialists to nail down just one cause of a recurring dream or nightmare — as no two frequent dreams feel the same. Alex Dimitriu, M.D., psychiatrist, sleep medicine specialist and founder of California-based Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, explains that the root cause of a recurrent dream hinges on the dream’s content entirely.
There’s some chance the unconscious mind may be surfacing content in recurrent dreams, so it helps to try to analyze,” explains Dr. Dimitriu, adding that sleep medicine specialists often work with patients on demystifying and (hopefully) ceasing troublesome recurrent dreams. If a recurrent dream is negative enough that you are dwelling on it while you are awake, sleep specialists have a better idea of what’s commonly causing you to experience these night terrors.
Julia Kogan, PsyD, a psychologist providing sleep and cognitive behavioral therapy and an insomnia specialist within the Department of Veterans Affairs, says these three mental health conditions often drive recurrent dreams:
- Chronic stress, which may cause periodic bouts of recurrent dreams
- Clinical anxiety, which often contributes to recurrent dreams over a lifetime
- Depression, which may lead to both factors
- Unresolved issues or conflict
These persistent dreams often occur during our REM sleep cycle, which has long been linked to our body and brain’s emotional processing and memory production — unresolved issues and emotional distress are thus usually processed during this time in the form of a recurrent dream.
“If we do not well with emotional distress or problems in our lives, we are likely to process these things while sleeping, which can result in various types of recurrent dreams,” says Kogan, explaining that previous research indicates that up to 65% of dreams may be associated with things that happen when people are awake,
“A majority of recurring dreams tend to have themes related to fear, anxiety, anger, guilt, and other difficult emotions.”
What does it mean when you have the same dream constantly?
What Do Recurring Dreams Mean? – The idea that dreams have hidden meanings in their content was a popular component of Freudian dream theory, But, there is little evidence to support the idea that dreams with the same content or themes have the same meaning for everyone.
- However, examining what your dreams mean to you personally can still be meaningful, particularly in a therapeutic context.
- Experiencing recurring dreams may point at underlying issues regardless of the dream’s content.
- Adults who experience frequent recurring dreams tend to have worse psychological health than those who do not, and many experts theorize that these dreams may be a way to work through unmet needs or process trauma,
Another theory is that recurring nightmares may have given our ancestors the chance to practice detecting and avoiding danger. People who are under more psychological stress tend to have more negative recurring dreams, although a lack of stress is not related to having more pleasant recurring dreams.
What does it mean when you have the same dream over and over about the same person?
Are you repeatedly dreaming about the same person? There is a lot of discussion behind the meaning of dreams, with the general belief that they reveal the depths of our subconscious, including our fears and desires. But what does it mean if you dream about the same person regularly when you hit the hay? According to a clinical psychologist, having recurring dreams about the same person shouldn’t be taken too literally,
- Whether it’s our partners, close friends or family, we create emotional bonds with people that give us security and safety.
- Having recurring dreams is a common phenomenon, with two-thirds of us experiencing them.
- These dreams may not mean that you are obsessed with this individual but may symbolise your feelings and worries.
Some of us may dream about the people we spend a lot of time with, while others may dream of those we miss — such as those who are no longer with us. 
Karl Tapales Getty Images “The model of the mind is very true to the idea of a computer,” clinical psychologist Dr John Mayer told Elite Daily, “When we go to sleep, that little computer will keep churning. It doesn’t just turn off and stop. We have a perception that we’re blank when we sleep – but keeps going.” Dreaming can help our brains sort through information while we sleep.
Dr Mayer also said that dreaming about someone over and over again shouldn’t be interpreted in a literal way, That person might actually be symbolising certain stress or anxiety we are going through. For example, if you dream about the same colleague, you might not have an issue with that particular individual but a more general work situation to work through.
“The dreams are usually not exactly the same each time, but the recurring theme is usually something in your head that is somehow unresolved. It just keeps repeating over and over again in that computer,” he said. “So if the data is the same in the machine, you need to replace it with other data, or resolve that conflict, or solve that problem.” Some of the reasons we dream about the same people may be:
We see them a lot during the day (such as a family member or colleague) Their bond is particularly strong with us, such as a parentYour dream may be a way of dealing with loss and grief, especially if someone close has passed awayIf you have nightmares about someone, it may signify that you are trying to keep them safe (such as a child)Dreaming of someone from your past may be a sign that you want them back in your life
Time to start dreaming.
What do recurring bad dreams mean?
– Recurring nightmares usually have an underlying cause. Sometimes, this cause can be related to stress or anxiety, medication use, or even substance abuse. If you feel that recurring nightmares are affecting your quality of life, reach out to a doctor or mental health professional. Once you treat the cause of the recurring nightmares, you may be able to reduce or eliminate them for good.
Why do I keep dreaming about the person I like?
You finally work up the nerve to tell your crush you like them. And great news: They feel the same way. You’re leaning in for the kiss, but then. poof! You wake up in bed. Alone. If this sounds familiar, you’re in good company — sleep-time fantasies about your romantic interest are common,
But what does it mean when you dream about your crush ? Short answer: It probably means that something to do with said crush is top of mind. “We tend to dream about what is on our mind the most,” says certified dream analyst Lauri Loewenberg, “Dreaming of your crush is absolutely normal and is often the way the subconscious mind explores the possibilities.” These dreams aren’t necessarily just about the person you’re actively crushing on, she adds.
You might encounter a former sweetheart, celeb crush, or an unfamiliar lover in dreamland — the scenarios vary (as is the case with, well, all dreams). These nighttime experiences can also take a more sinister turn if you dream about your crush dying or getting rejected by your beloved.
How often do PTSD nightmares occur?
In a cross-sectional study of 32 veterans with PTSD, 88% of participants reported at least one nightmare per week.56 While 82% had frequent awareness of nightmares, only 24% had nightmare content control indicating potential role of LD therapy in controlling distressing dreams.
What does it mean when you start dreaming again?
A Cleveland Clinic psychologist says more stress and lack of human interaction can cause an increase in dreams They’re calling it “quarandreaming” An increase in dreams tends to happen after major traumatic life events
– 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.
