Dreams, weve all had them, as horrible as they may be.
What an extreme inconvenience, right?
So why is their stupid face creeping up on your peaceful sleep?
But wonder no more!
Weve tried to unmask all the possible reasons an ex-lover is intruding in your dreams.
Like the certified dream analystLauri Loewenbergsays, dreaming about your past flame is super common.
According toresearch, dreams often incorporate events from your waking hours.
Before you go into defensive mode, remember that these unresolved issues or feelingsdont have to be romantic.
It doesnt even mean you want to get back with them.
However, whether you alsowanted the breakup, the thing is, the moment doesnt always go as planned.
Maybe you said some things you didnt mean.
Or, perhaps you wish you had behaved differently.
Maybe, they said something that truly hurt and stayed with you until now.
Similar Concerns in Your Current Relationship
Getting over a past relationship is a complicated process for many of us.
Related:Spider Dreams and What They Mean for Relationships
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Maybe it was something you did together, like going to concerts or watchingcomedy moviesevery weekend.
You might be yearning for happiness or other positive emotions attached to that time period.
That missing piece that you want back isnt necessarily the person.
Well, this is not one of those.
Youre not actually over them.
No wonder they crowd your dreams as much as they crowd your mind in your current life.
But, that is not the case, as dreams are most often symbolic.
Loewenberg suggests that dreams are not so much about the ex-lover but what they represent.
And that can be a plethora of things.
Answering this question can give you a roadmap of what your ex represents.
Maybe, the heightened anxiety youre feeling right now brought about another anxiety-inducing event in your dreams.
It doesnt necessarily mean that you crave your relationship with your ex, but intimate connections in general.
It could be longing for emotional connections with your family or friends.
Such conflict can bring out the same negative feelings or friction from the past.
One is that an ex represents a part of your real life that is over and gone for good.
Trauma and any other stressful emotion during waking time can significantly impact your dreams.
These issues could be from childhood or your previous entanglement.
Either way, when they are left unresolved, these issues can follow you fromone relationship to another.
Finally Moving On
An ex shows up in your dreams might be because the business is actually finished.
Youre ready for better things.
Explaining Different Dream Scenarios Starring Your Ex
Sometimes, dreams are vague.
Other times, they seem so real its scary.
Dream about your first love.
According to Loewenberg, the old lover people tend to dream about the most is their first love.
But this kind of dream is not about your first love at all.
And it certainly doesnt mean youre still pining over them after all these years.
A dream about an abusive ex.
For example: dreaming about a toxic or abusive ex-boyfriend or girlfriend.
A dream about a cheating ex.
You are fighting with an ex in the dream.
Remember, its not about the ex by about you and the internal conflict you have.
Dream about an ex pregnant with your child.
Sex-with-your-ex dream.
Any sort of dream starring a recent ex.
And its totally fine!
Its just that you need time to heal and find closure.
And that doesnt necessarily mean you better talk to your ex.
A dream about stealing from an ex.
Its a sign that youre yet to find closure.
Or, youre still in the stage where youre trying to understand the other persons mindset or reasoning.
Breaking up all over again with an ex in your dreams.
First, is the breakup recent?
Cut yourself some slack.
Youre most likely still processing what happened.
Are you feeling rejected or turned down?
Maybe a friend moved to another city.
Did someone turn you down?
A dream that your ex is in physical danger.
Wait, what are you doing in the dream?
Are you helping your ex, trying to save them?
If so, the dream could mean that theres something about your previous relationships that you want to salvage.
Maybe it was your self-worth or confidence that got lost during the breakup.
But if youre not playing the hero and saving an ex in your dreams, then its good.
Its a good sign that youve finally accepted that they are out of your life for good.
And, you are okay with it.
Dream about a dead ex.
Youve moved past your ex and have let go of the past.
They are no longer living rent-free in your mind, heart, and your life!
A dream that an ex is killing you.
It could mean all sorts of things.
Murder is considered a forced end or change.
Another way to look at this dream is, how did that breakup change you?
Did it kill your self-worth?
Maybe it crushed your ability to trust?
Did it kill your belief that love exists?
A dream that youre killing your ex.
No, you dont have secret violent tendencies!
A dream about killing an exboyfriendor girlfriend is actually a good thing, at least for you.
Death in dreams usually signifies the end of something, whether in real life or within you.
If its a forced death like murder, it means youve finally found the closure you oughta move on.
Or, you have decided to shove the past where it belongs.
If its about a recent ex, odds are youre actively choosing to end all ties with that ex.
A dream about an old flame already dating someone else.
Oh, thats cool!
Youve finally got over it.
Maybe youve moved on too.
A dream about confronting an ex who ghosted you.
This dream could mean two things.
Firstly, its a psychological release for you.
Or, if it does, youll know what to do about it.
A dream about an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend apologizing to you.
This dream is pretty common and can sometimes feel incredibly real, even after you wake up.
Maybe, they are actually sorry about what they did.
But thats further from the truth.
Its just you wanting that apology or hoping to get that apology from them.
They dont always indicate a lingering love, affection, or resentment towards that ex.
Dont read these dreams like a by-the-book script of your current waking life because they are usually not.
If you want to find deeper meaning in your dreams, maybe consider writing everything in a dream journal.
It will help you identify patterns, feelings, and themes.
