Recurring Dreams: What Do Recurring Dreams Mean?

Recurring dreams, those dreams you keep having over and over, can be pretty mysterious and even scary sometimes. Everyone’s dreams are different, but on average, people have about three to five dreams every night, and these dreams usually last for around 20 to 30 minutes each.

Now, if you find yourself having recurring dreams, you might be curious about their significance. Repeatedly having the same dream, especially if it’s distressing, can cause stress and disrupt your sleep.

So, what causes these recurring dreams? What do recurring dreams mean? Could you make them stop?

Well, recurring dreams are those dreams that keep coming back with a similar theme, place, or person. Sometimes they’re enjoyable, sometimes not so much. There are lots of ideas about why we dream, and no one has the ultimate answer. However, some individuals think that recurring dreams might be linked to unresolved issues that are causing anxiety, and your brain is trying to work them out, whether you’re aware of it or not.

These dreams often show up when life gets stressful or extend over long durations, like several years or even a whole lifetime. And it’s not just the same themes; sometimes, it’s like watching the same movie every night.

It’s worth noting that nearly 75 percent of adults encounter recurring dreams. While we don’t have solid proof to explain the exact reasons behind their occurrence, research suggests that people across the globe hold the belief that dreams hold valuable insights into their own selves and the aspects of their lives.

So, let’s dig deeper: what do recurring dreams mean, and how to stop them?

What Do Recurring Dreams Mean?

Recurring dreams are those dreams that keep coming back, and they can be either pleasant or unpleasant. What makes a dream recurring is when you dream it more than once, Barrett said. It doesn’t have to be exactly the same each time; it might have the same theme, place, or feeling, or it can be the same as earlier, experts say by conducting an online survey.

Sleep experts haven’t been able to pinpoint a single cause for recurring dreams or nightmares because every recurring dream has a unique feel. Dream researcher Deirdre Barrett, who’s a psychology lecturer at Harvard Medical School, suggests that recurring dreams often revolve around significant life experiences or recurring thoughts that are bound to pop up in our waking lives because they’re part of who we are, not just one-off events.

Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist, adds that the content of the dream is crucial in understanding its root cause. “Sometimes, our unconscious mind might bring up recurring dream content as a way of trying to make sense of it.” Sleep medicine specialists often collaborate with patients to discover these dreams and, ideally, help stop their recurrence, explains Dr. Dimitriu.

Dream researchers suggest that when you have recurring dreams, it’s often linked to unresolved sources of stress or issues in your life. If you keep avoiding these problems, the chances of having the same dream repeatedly increase. Additionally, recurring dreams can be a response to past traumatic experiences, and they may fade away as you work through the trauma.

Dr. Kogan, a specialist in this field, states, “If we struggle to cope with emotional distress or life challenges, our minds may process these issues during sleep, leading to different kinds of recurring dreams.” He goes on to elaborate that “the majority of these recurring dreams often revolve around themes associated with fear, anxiety, anger, guilt, and other complex emotions.”

Findings from an online survey conducted on 500 participants in 2023 reveal between 60% to 75% of adults experience recurring dreams, and they tend to happen more frequently in women compared to men.

It’s normal to feel worried about recurring dreams due to their repetitive nature since scientific studies haven’t discovered any proof to suggest where you might be stressed in your life that is causing them. But the truth is that they usually continue until you confront the main problem and make peace with it.

Recurring Dreams Psychology

Dreams come in various forms, ranging from pleasant ones to distressing nightmares. However, some dreams stand out because they repeat themselves, known as recurring dreams. Surprisingly, a significant percentage, around 60% to 75% of people, have experienced them at some point in their lives.

A common question people ask is whether these recurring dreams have a positive or negative impact on our mental well-being. While this question deserves a more in-depth answer, it largely depends on the content of the dream itself. Considering that around 77% of recurring dreams tend to be negative, it’s fair to see them as visions that can affect our psychological state negatively.

Recurring dreams are believed to reflect important aspects of your life, like unresolved needs, past issues left unaddressed, and sources of frustration. Sometimes, they may serve as a way to process everyday experiences. For instance, when you encounter obstacles that could hinder your goals, the resulting stress and frustration might find their way into your dreams.

A 2018 study published in Motivation and Emotion supports this idea. Among 200 adult participants, researchers discovered that those who reported more unfulfilled needs and emotions were also more likely to report having negative recurring dreams.

What Causes Recurring Dreams?

When we dream, our brains might be processing and combining various memories and experiences. Some individuals find it meaningful to analyze their dreams, but it’s worth noting that the symbolism and emotions a dream elicits could be more crucial than the interpretation itself.

Recurring dreams can stem from a variety of factors, including:

1. Clinical anxiety
2. Unmet needs
3. Chronic stress
4. Complicated grief
5. Depression
6. Relationship anxiety
7. Unresolved issues or conflicts
8. Challenges with life transitions
9. Trauma

These factors can contribute to the recurrence of specific dreams and offer insights into our emotional and psychological states.

Recurring Themes In Dreams

Recurring dreams often begin when we’re young, but they can start at any age and tend to stick with us throughout our lives. A survey conducted on 500 individuals in 2023 says even if we manage to get rid of them for a while, they can come back when we’re going through a stressful period. Spoormaker 2008, referred recurring themes as “scripts.”

Below are common types of recurring dreams:

Recurring Dreams About Someone

Dreaming about a specific person can get pretty complicated, and it varies from person to person. There’s no one-size-fits-all explanation for it. According to Richard Schweickert, a dream expert and retired professor from Purdue University, one possible reason you dream about someone particular is because you’ve been spending time with them lately.

Now, as Ribeiro explains, dreaming about a particular person, especially if it’s happening a lot, might be a sign that this person or something connected to them is pretty important in your daily life. For example, if you keep dreaming about your current partner, it could mean you’re feeling strong emotions tied to love, your feelings, or what that person represents to you.

Dr. Alex Dimitriu adds another layer to it. Sometimes, dreaming about someone could be all about that specific person, or it might symbolize something or someone else. How you interpret it often hinges on your personal associations and feelings.

Recurring Dreams About The Same House

Having recurring dreams, especially those that bring memories of the past, warnings about the present, or offer insights into the future, can indeed hold significance. These dreams often serve as messages from your subconscious mind and may carry valuable lessons.

A 2017 survey involving 200 adults suggested that recurring dreams about the same house were interpreted as a symbol of numerous opportunities in life. Such dreams may suggest that multiple opportunities are awaiting you, but it’s essential to be ready to seize them when they come your way.

Recurring Dreams About The Same Place

When you find yourself repeatedly dreaming about the same place, it’s important to start by identifying the emotions connected to that place. This place might represent somewhere you visited once and wish to revisit because you had a positive experience there. In such cases, these dreams could be considered wish-fulfillment dreams, driven by a desire to revive those positive emotions.

On the darker side, your recurring dream might be linked to a traumatic experience you had at that place. Traumatic memories often take a long time for the mind to process, unlike other types of experiences. The persistence of traumatic memories serves as a mechanism for learning from them.

However, the downside of this persistence is that it can lead to prolonged negative emotions and difficulty integrating the trauma into your psyche. Consequently, recurring dreams related to trauma often manifest as nightmares, reflecting the ongoing struggle to come to terms with the traumatic event.

Recurring Dreams About The Same Thing

When you experience recurring dreams about the same thing, there are various interpretations. Some people believe that these dreams could be linked to a past life, possibly even that of a relative or ancestor. Others think they might provide insights into the future or convey symbolic messages meant for you to understand.

There’s also the idea that recurring dreams might be a way of tapping into someone else’s experiences or even exploring alternate realities within your dream world.

How To Stop Recurring Dreams

Identifying the precise cause of recurring dreams can indeed be challenging. However, even when the cause remains unknown, there are steps you can take to alleviate the distressing effects of these experiences.

Recurring negative dreams can have several consequences in your life, including:

• Daytime Fatigue or Sleepiness: The emotional impact of negative recurring dreams can disrupt your sleep patterns, leading to daytime fatigue and drowsiness.
• Mood Disturbances: Repeatedly experiencing distressing dreams can affect your overall mood, potentially leading to increased irritability, anxiety, or sadness.
• Problems Concentrating: The emotional weight of these dreams may make it harder to focus and concentrate on daily tasks.
• Bedtime Anxiety or Reluctance to Sleep: The anticipation of having another distressing dream can create bedtime anxiety, making it difficult to fall asleep or leading to a reluctance to go to bed.

Practicing certain techniques at home can be effective in reducing the frequency and severity of recurring dreams for some individuals. Here are some strategies that may help:

1. Stress Reduction: Lowering overall stress levels can be beneficial. Engage in stress-reduction practices like exercise and meditation to help manage stress, which may contribute to fewer distressing dreams.
2. Communication: Discussing disturbing dreams with someone you trust or writing them down in a journal can be cathartic and may help process underlying emotions or life stressors, potentially reducing the occurrence of bad dreams.
3. Sleep Hygiene: Maintain good sleep hygiene practices. Establish a consistent bedtime and wake-up time, even on weekends, to help regulate your body’s internal clock and promote healthy sleep patterns.
4. Diet and Hydration: Avoid consuming food and beverages, especially alcohol and caffeine, right before bedtime. These substances can disrupt sleep and increase the likelihood of waking during the night.
5. Address Underlying Conditions: If recurring nightmares are related to an underlying condition like PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), seeking professional help for the underlying condition can be crucial. Treating the root cause may lead to a reduction in nightmares.

Bottom Line

Dreams can be pretty puzzling at times, but they can give you a special insight into your feelings and desires. When you keep seeing the same things in your dreams, it might hold the key to some real-life issues you’re dealing with.

Now, here’s the interesting part: recurring dreams aren’t always bad. It’s rare, but sometimes they can bring joy and leave you with a sweet aftertaste once you wake up. But don’t be anxious if your recurring dreams tend to be on the negative side. The good news is if you’re quick to figure out what’s going on in your mind when you have these dreams, you can stop any potential psychological problems from taking root.