I recall many of my dreams, which are frequently bizarre, to say the least. There are recurring themes and places in my dreams, but one of the most common and emotionally confusing things that happen is that I dream about people from my past. So I turned to a dream expert to answer the all-too-common question: Why do I keep dreaming about my ex?
Why Do I Keep Dreaming About My Ex?
Most of us have had a dream about an ex-partner at some point, but the meaning isn’t always straightforward. Dreaming about your ex may indicate that you are still not over them, but it could also be a sign of trauma, loneliness, or a conflict with yourself.
Here are six reasons why you keep dreaming about your ex:
#1. You are experiencing loneliness.
“It’s completely normal to feel lonely and fantasize about your ex,” says Jennifer Freed, a private practice psychotherapist. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you want to rekindle your relationship with your ex—you could be thinking of a time when you weren’t as lonely.
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“When we are feeling needy, we always long for connection, and we always go back to the last available memory of connection,” Freed says.
#2. Your ex was violent.
If your ex hurt you physically or emotionally terribly, you might keep having dreams about it for months. Post-traumatic nightmares are common in people who have experienced any trauma, says Deirdre Barrett, a Harvard University dream researcher.
These recurring nightmares are common symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Extreme fear and physical symptoms like sweating and a racing heart are often linked to PTSD dreams.
#3. You are still not over them.
If you keep having dreams about good times with your ex, it could be a sign that you aren’t over him or her or that you haven’t moved on from the relationship.
There haven’t been many studies on ex-partner dreams, but one from the 1980s discovered that divorcees who were depressed about the divorce had recurring themes about their ex.
Barrett claims that people who have moved on from their ex “do not necessarily stop dreaming about them, but rather have a mix of themes.”
#4. You’re dissatisfied with your new relationship.
If you’re in an unhappy relationship, you might keep dreaming about your ex for several reasons:
- You desire the return of your ex. “If there has recently been a break-up, someone may be considering leaving the new partner for the old,” Barrett says.
- You don’t want your ex back, but there are aspects of your previous relationship that you miss, such as how your ex communicated or displayed affection.
- Furthermore, you’re noticing negative patterns in your new relationship that are similar to the ways you had with your ex. For instance, both partners may be poor listeners or expect you to do all the planning.
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Dreaming about your ex may indicate that you “need to have the courage to address the conflicts and problems with the current lover,” according to Freed.
#5. It is all about you.
Dreaming about your ex, according to Freed, can indicate that you have unfinished business with yourself. The dream version of your ex may represent a part of you, allowing you to reflect on your inner conflicts.
For example, “Assume your ex was abusive, and you have dreams about them.” “What part of you is still mistreating and being unnecessarily cruel to yourself?” According to Freed.
“Each dream can be viewed as a portal to greater self-compassion and wholeness,” Freed says. Writing these dreams down in a journal or discussing them with a therapist may help you better understand them.
#6. You’ve finally gotten over them.
Positive dreams about your ex, such as dreams about fun times, may indicate that you’ve moved on from any lingering feelings for them. “You know you’ve matured and moved on when you can feel utterly grateful for what that person and relationship taught you,” says Freed.
Why Do I Keep Dreaming About My Ex Spiritual Meaning
Dreaming about your ex has profound spiritual implications. Most of the time, it’s because the universe wants you to know:
#1. You and your ex have a strong spiritual bond.
Perhaps you are spiritually connected to your ex-partner. That may be why they keep appearing in your dreams. For example, if they are your twin flame, you have a strong connection with them. After all, you are mirror images of one another.
You even communicate through dreams, which is why dreaming about your ex is so common. No matter what, your goals show that you and your ex share a deep spiritual connection.
#2. They are constantly on your mind
I understand how difficult it is to let go of someone you’ve loved for a long time. However, even if it has been years since your break-up, they may resurface from time to time. Don’t be surprised if you keep dreaming about them if they’re constantly on your mind.
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And if you can’t get them out of your head, you might continue dreaming about them for years after you’ve broken up!
#3. A gifted advisor confirms it.
The signs in this article, above and below, will give you a good idea of your dreams. Even so, talking to talented people and asking for their advice can be beneficial. They can also answer all kinds of related questions.
For example, why do I keep dreaming about my ex? What is the universe trying to tell me?
I recently spoke with a Psychic Source representative because I kept dreaming about my ex, like you. I was perplexed. Fortunately, they provided me with a unique perspective on where my life was heading, including what my dreams meant.
In a love reading, a gifted advisor can tell you why you’re dreaming about your ex. But, most importantly, they can help you feel more empowered when making love decisions.
#4. Your ex is missing you
Your ex’s twin flame may be stubborn and refuse to express their feelings. The joke is now on them. Even if they don’t want to tell you how much they miss you, they may unintentionally communicate their inner feelings through your dreams.
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It’s a sure sign that your ex is thinking about you. They care so much about you that they manage to dominate your dreams! However, dreaming is not the only way twin flames communicate. You might feel bodily sensations or even strong emotions when they’re around.
#5. The universe wishes for you to reunite.
Maybe you still love your ex, but you have no choice but to end your relationship. You can blame it on chance, circumstance, or even distance. In this case, the spiritual significance of dreaming about them is obvious. The universe knows you’re supposed to be together.
They’re sending you these dreams to remind you that you still care about this person, even if you’ve broken up with them. And there is only one thing to do if you genuinely want to know how to get your ex back. That is, to pique their romantic interest in you again!
Why Do I Keep Dreaming About My Ex and I Getting Back Together?
If you have an ex-partner, chances are they have appeared uninvited in your dreams at some point. Dreams about an ex can be nostalgic and lighthearted at times, but they can also be so unexpected that you wake up in a tizzy of unwanted heartache and confusion.
We become close to people in a relationship, so it stands to reason that these people would still have an important place in our psyche after the breakup. But what does it mean if you fantasize about reuniting with an ex?
Let’s go deep into our subconscious symbolism, shall we? According to experts, here are a few of the most common explanations for why you dream about getting back together with an ex.
#1. You still harbor romantic feelings for your ex.
The most obvious reason for dreaming about an ex is that you still have feelings for them, which can be especially true if the breakup was recent. “If you dream of getting back together with a recent ex and you miss that person, it is a good indication you haven’t been able to move on,” says dream analyst and author Lauri Quinn Loewenberg to Bustle.
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“Remind yourself that the relationship ended for a reason and that this one may have fallen apart so that something better could fall together.” When you’re still in the brokenhearted stages of separation, it can be difficult to dream about the good times with an ex — but if breaking up was the right thing to do, a dream won’t change that.
#2. You’re still dealing with the breakup.
Dreaming about an ex could indicate that you still have feelings for them, but this is not always the case. It could simply mean that you’re still processing aspects of the relationship for which you haven’t found closure. “Dreams of reuniting with an ex-lover do not necessarily imply that you still harbor feelings for that person or that you will ever be in a relationship with them,” Walden says. “Most of the time, these dreams represent unfinished business.”
By thinking about past relationships in our dreams, we can look at things from a more mature point of view, deal with feelings we haven’t acknowledged, or put an end to things that are still bothering us in our subconscious. Sometimes just dreaming about the situation and reflecting on it in your waking life is enough to close the chapter with that ex, so take the time to talk about it and write it down.
#3. There are red flags in a current relationship
Dreaming about a lousy ex or being back in a toxic relationship could be your subconscious, alerting you to some red flags in your current situation. “If you fantasize about reuniting with a horrible or abusive ex, it may reflect an underlying fear that you are falling back into an unhealthy pattern with someone else,” Loewenberg says. “Ask yourself what is going on now that feels similar to what was happening then.” The dream could be about being subconsciously warned against a potentially harmful dynamic in a new relationship or situation rather than your ex.
How Do You Know If Your Ex is Thinking About You?
For the record, I know that there are more than seven signs that your ex is still thinking about you. However, I chose these seven because they are the most common that I am seeing and can be measured.
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In short, here are some things to keep an eye out for:
- They will respond to you on social media in some way.
- When they run into mutual friends, they inquire about you.
- They access any shared accounts.
- They completely alter their social media behavior.
- Always try to contact you at inconvenient times.
- They keep appearing in places you frequent.
- They keep some of your belongings after the breakup.
What Should You Do If You Keep Dreaming About Your Ex While In A Relationship?
If you wake up from a dream about an ex while your current partner is sleeping next to you, don’t worry; they can’t read your mind. Also, you haven’t done anything wrong, and dreaming about your ex doesn’t necessarily indicate that you’re unhappy in your current relationship.
Finally, your dreams are not a scripted version of your real life. You can analyze them to elicit meaning, but they’re not always what they appear to be. If you believe you have a problem in real life and your dreams reinforce that belief, talk to your partner or seek help from a mental health professional or therapist.
How do you know your ex is thinking about you?
It may indicate they still care about you if your ex attempts to get in touch with you or even calls you at odd times. Social networking is another clear indicator. It could be a sign that they miss you if they somehow managed to avoid blocking or unfriending you.
What makes an ex come back?
The No-Contact Principle. When an ex believes you won’t be able to let go of your memories and move on, they muster the courage to make a comeback. This will help you understand why ex-lovers resurface years later. Even if they are unsure of your relationship status, an ex may return.
Why do I still think about my ex every day?
Because of residual concerns or comparisons they’re making; sometimes people continue to think about their ex for months or even years after the relationship ended. This is frequently the case when your ex has moved on before you have.
How long does it take for your ex to realize they miss you?
Today, we’ll discuss the precise length of time an ex typically needs to miss you following a split. According to our research, the average ex will start missing you 2.5 to 5.2 months following a breakup if you show signs of “moving on from them.”
Do exes ever get back together?
According to research, 40–50% of people have reconciled with an ex to begin a new relationship. Relationships that have been broken and mended repeatedly typically have lower relationship quality and worse functioning. Due to unresolved emotions, people frequently pick up where they left off with ex-partners.
Do people get back together after no contact?
They can, yes. If they know how much they miss their ex, they will find a means to contact her. This could happen if you spend a lot of time together when you’re dating. It could be difficult to let go if he continues running into anything that makes him think of you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I continuously dreaming about my ex?
“Dreaming about a long-ago ex, especially a first love, is extremely common,” Loewenberg says. “That ex becomes a symbol of passion, unrestrained desire, fearless love, and so on.” These dreams are your subconscious mind telling you that you need more spice in your life.
Is it true that if you dream about someone they miss you?
If you have a dream about someone you haven’t seen in a long time, it could be a sign that you miss them or have strong feelings for them. This does not necessarily imply that this person misses you or has feelings for you—it’s just as likely that they were on your mind when you went to bed.
Does dreaming about an ex mean they are thinking about me?
If you dream about your ex, it means they’re still in your life, whether or not they’re in a romantic relationship with you. It also implies that this person is on your mind because of an unresolved issue between the two of you. If you have dreams about your ex, it could mean that they are subconsciously thinking of you.
How can I stop dreaming about my ex?
There’s no way to guarantee that you’ll stop dreaming about your ex, but you can work through any issues that arise as a result of these dreams by talking to friends, loved ones, or a therapist. Perhaps the more closure you have, the less you will fantasize about them. It is critical to consider your objectives.
