Are you dreaming about your ex-partner? Here are 6 reasons why

Whether we are (happily or not) in a relationship, sometimes our ex or exes creep into our dream world. Psychotherapist Jennifer Freed explains what this can mean.

Are you dreaming about your ex-partner? Here are 6 reasons why
© Oleg Breslavtsev GETTY_IMAGES
Are you dreaming about your ex-partner? Here are 6 reasons why

Dreams are dreams, or what was that again? Our nocturnal excursions can certainly cause confusion and upset us. We don't like to admit it, but we have certainly experienced it ourselves. It can be disturbing to be haunted by yourex in your dreams. It doesn't necessarily have to be about the person themselves. Their appearance can also indicate inner, personal conflicts or trauma.

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According to Jennifer Freed, there are six different reasons why your ex-relationship appears to you at night. We'll tell you which ones they are.

1. Loneliness

It doesn't necessarily mean you're longing for the relationship back. You may just be longing for more connection, and the subconscious is remembering the closeness of that relationship.

2. Trauma

If you were abused in the relationship, this can manifest itself in post-traumatic nightmares, as Deirdre Barrett from Harvard University says, according to Insider.

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Reasons why an ex-love appears to you in a dream Christian Erfurt UNSPLASH

3. Processing the relationship

You may be more hung up on your ex or exes than you'd like to admit to yourself. The dream can be both positive and negative. Apparently, there are some issues that still need to be processed.

4. Dissatisfaction

This one is obvious: there is some longing for the positive feelings from the ex-relationship. Maybe you or your partner are in the same patterns that you have experienced in the old relationship. This can be an impulse to work on them.

5. Own conflicts

The ex represents a part of yourself. So you still have a bone to pick with yourself or a job to do.

6. Looking ahead

Most positive dreams indicate that you have overcome the breakup. You are grateful for what you have learned and have matured.

This article was translated from Gentside DE.

Sources used:

- Business Insider: 'Träume vom Ex: Eine Traumspezialistin und Psychotherapeutin geben euch sechs Gründe, warum ihr sie erlebt'

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