How To Stop Recurring Dreams That Are Driving You Crazy

We all know how it goes. You’re running, screaming, flying, dying—and then you wake up. You take a deep breath and think: phew, it was just a dream. Or maybe you’re someone who wakes up thinking: why do I have recurring dreams?

Dreaming is still somewhat of an abstract concept for many. Some humans say they never remember their dreams, while others spend every waking moment recounting their nighttime adventures. The truth is, our dreams can hold the key to understanding our waking lives and much more. This fact is because most dreams contain messages that help us learn about the subconscious mind, which is a part of our brains that we are not fully aware of, but it impacts our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

So what does it mean when we have the same dreams over and over again? We are here to break down just that! Get curious with mindmilk and join us as we explain why some dreams seem to be “on replay” in our minds, while others are dreamt and quickly forgotten.

What Is A Recurring Dream?

Recurrent dreams are a typical sleep behavior between 60 and 75 percent of adults will experience in their lifetime. According to Psychology Today, women are more likely than men to have a recurring dream. Typically, recurring dreams begin at a young age and persist for the rest of the dreamer’s life. However, these dreams can start at any age. 

Clinical psychologist Dr. Glenn Bilsborrow says that “dreams are not about particular situations, but rather about the emotion attached to that situation.” Here at mindmilk, we could not agree more. We believe in the power of our dreams. Symbols, colors, characters, and other elements of a dream can play into the dream’s overall meaning. They can help us identify what our subconscious minds are trying to tell us. That’s why mindmilk offers free dream interpretations and dream analysis.

What Do Recurring Dreams Mean?

Despite the notion that recurring dreams are an omen of approaching events, bad dreams can happen when the dreamer is feeling a lack of control in their life. Typically, dreamers have repeating dreams because they have ignored aspects of their waking life that are now contributing to their anxiety and stress levels. Unlike dreams with minimal meaning, recurring dreams that refuse to go away because their messages are meaningful should be addressed by the dreamer. The thinkers at How Stuff Works have a theory behind the reason for your recurring dreams. They say those who experience them are dealing with some trauma in their past and are still in the healing process. In this case, the dreams tend to reappear less and less with time.

If you’re experiencing a stressful time at work or dealing with numerous changes in your personal life, it would be prevalent and typical to notice a recurring dream. Nevertheless, these incessant anxiety dreams can leave you wishing they’d stop. Whether it’s growing tired of getting poor sleep or genuine interest in understanding their subconscious minds, many dreamers want to put their recurring dreams to bed. (No pun intended!)

How To Stop Recurring Dreams

As we mentioned, recurring dreams exist because of some underlying issue or stressor that demands your attention. Because this source is subconscious, we recommend slowing down and reflecting on your current situation. Be honest with yourself as you get to the root of your stressors.

If you have experienced a trauma of any sort, we highly encourage seeing a licensed professional and working through the ordeal with them. To get better milk for your mind, seeing a pro to optimize your thoughts is very beneficial. We’re very open and supportive of therapy.

3 Tips To Reduce Stress + Stop Recurring Dreams

EXERCISE

Getting active for a few minutes a day can have some pretty amazing effects on your mind, body, and soul. But don’t fret—choosing to exercise daily doesn’t mean you have to start training for a marathon! Simply going on a walk or doing 15 minutes of yoga may relieve your anxiety. The Anxiety and Depression Association of American reports that exercise produces endorphins—chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers—and improve sleep quality, which reduces stress. The ADAA also suggests meditation to boost endorphins and give anxiety a run for its money.

LESS SCREEN TIME

Let’s face it: 2020 has been stressful for plenty of reasons. When we check our phones, we see a global pandemic, humanitarian movements, and upcoming elections. It’s no wonder that constantly checking the news and scrolling through social media can drastically increase anxiety and stress. Limiting your screen time is one fantastic (and scientifically supported) way to reduce stress and combat harmful effects on your overall health.

NATURE IS CALLING

Take out your headphones and head outdoors for some natural stress relief! Spending your free time outdoors is proven to lower stress levels and increase serotonin. Research shows that listening to natural sounds (i.e., chirping birds or falling rain) instead of artificial sounds (i.e., music or podcasts) is a great way to improve your mental health decrease stress. If you can’t get outside, try watching a film like Planet Earth, which has plenty of nature scenes and sounds. Research shows that nature scenes positively affect acute mental stress.

We hope this article helped you learn what recurring dreams mean, why you might be having them, and how to stop recurring dreams. If you have a recurring dream, you’re curious about what it could mean; we offer free dream interpretations. Submit your dream, and we’ll do our best to analyze it for you.