Dreams can get pretty weird sometimes. When you wake up from one that was particularly bizarre or vivid, you might feel relieved it was only a dream, one you’ll never have to experience again. Well, that last part might not always be the case. Some dreams come back not just once, but again and again. If you have recurring dreams, you might wonder what they mean and whether your brain is trying to tell you something. Having the same upsetting dream regularly can even start to stress you out or make it tough to get a good night’s sleep. Why do these dreams happen? Is it possible to get rid of them? Do they have any significant meaning? Here’s what we do (and don’t) know about them. While you probably won’t experience the exact same dream as someone else, some dream themes do remain pretty consistent from person to person. They may not always feel frightening, but they’re more likely to involve negative or stressful experiences than positive ones. The most commonly reported themes include:
Your dreams may not be completely identical each time. For example, you might regularly dream about driving on bridges that drop suddenly. This still counts as a recurring dream, even if you don’t drive along the same bridge in every dream. Since recurring dreams sometimes begin in childhood, they might change a little over time to reflect your changing experiences and worldview. In fiction, especially fantasy genres, recurring dreams often suggest a character has supernatural powers, the ability to see the future, or other special talents. Scientific research hasn’t found any evidence to suggest recurring dreams have any deep or significant meaning beyond exposing potential areas of stress in your life. But that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Dreams are notoriously difficult to study, and there’s still a lot we don’t know about them. Experts believe recurring dreams generally reflect important themes in your life, including:
You’ve probably had some variant of the “forgetting a final exam or research paper” dream. While very real stress related to final exams and research papers may have triggered this dream initially, it can easily come up again later in life, long after graduation. Since this dream most likely relates to your desire to succeed and your worries about failing, you might have this dream anytime you face an event that provokes similar feelings. This could be an event like a job interview, a big date, or a research proposal. Daily frustrationsSome theories about dreams suggest they help you process day-to-day experiences.
This idea is backed by 2017 research linking negative recurring dreams to unmet psychological needs. A group of 200 adult students were asked to evaluate whether their psychological needs were met or unmet. These needs included:
Then, they described the recurring dream they had most often. Researchers asked them to rate how positive or negative the dream was, using terms like “hopeful,” “exciting,” “sad,” or “frustrating.” Those who reported more unmet needs tended to report negative dream themes and describe their dreams with negative emotions. Unresolved issuesUnpleasant or traumatic events from the past often remain in your memory. People often don’t realize, however, that distress associated with trauma can also linger in bodily and emotional responses. These traumatic events can include:
Dreams of drowning, for example, might reflect an overwhelming sense of helplessness, while a dream of being trapped or running in slow motion might suggest you still feel unable to escape. Recurring dreams can also reflect more everyday internal conflicts. Maybe you’re struggling with an important decision or feel uncertain about a recent choice you made. Until you make your choice and come to terms with it, you might experience recurring dreams of being lost, failing a test, or otherwise making a mistake. Current eventsHave you had any recent dreams about wearing masks or people without mouths? Maybe you keep dreaming about being stranded alone somewhere or of giant insects. Stress related to current events can show up in your dreams. If COVID-19 news and updates permeate your waking life, there’s a good chance you’ll experience some of this tension in your dreams, too. These themes may show up clearly (masks and isolation) or more symbolically (bugs, which your brain might translate to virus), according to dream researcher Deirdre Barrett, PhD, in an interview with The Harvard Gazette. You’re more likely to experience upsetting dreams when you feel anxious or distressed during the day. If you feel more worried about the future than usual, that’s perfectly understandable. But you may not be able to ease that fear and tension when you sleep until you take steps to manage it during the day. If a bad dream upsets you the first time you have it, having it multiple times probably won’t make you feel any better. You can’t always directly control dream content, but it’s often possible to take more indirect action by working to resolve any problems causing stress in your life. No matter what challenges you’ve faced — from unmet needs to work stress to racism-related trauma — a therapist can offer guidance on self-care strategies and tips for managing distress productively. In therapy, you can: It’s generally not possible to eliminate all stress. Changing the way you respond, however, can help reduce any associated frustration and lead to improvements in your mood, your outlook, and your dreams. Barrett also offers lucid dreaming as a potential strategy for managing unwanted recurring dreams in a 2013 interview with Popular Science. In a lucid dream, you recognize your dream as just that. Some people use this awareness to control the dream and alter its course. Others might simply watch the dream as a bystander, knowing that whatever happens, they’re safe, because it’s just a dream. Interested in lucid dreaming? Try these tips. Dreams don’t always make a lot of sense, but they can still offer some insight to your emotions and desires. Recurring themes in your dreams can sometimes provide a key to more concrete issues you’re facing. Taking the time to explore these challenges, with the help of a professional, can improve your sleep quality and mental health. Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues.
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Which statement best describes how Gilgameshs dreams affect the plot of Gilgamesh a new English version the dreams lessen any tension in the plot?
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