Have you ever dozed off and had a dream about someone unexpected, like your school friend, crush, ex, or even a celebrity? If so, you’re probably curious to know: “What does it mean when you dream about someone?”
There’s a lot of discussion behind the meaning of dreams, with the universal belief that they reveal the innermost parts of our subconscious, particularly our desires and fears.
Some say that they reflect messages to your unconscious self. But what does it mean dreaming about someone? To be honest, it’s still a mystery!
But worry not! In this blog, we have covered the general explanations of what it means to dream about someone, be it your crush, partner, ex, or stranger.
Why Do We Dream?
Before attempting to understand what it means when you dream about a person, let’s understand the context.
Dreams are generally thought of as sensory, emotional, or mental occurrences that occur while you sleep. They are common and very intense during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep when your brain activity elevates.
Dreams are viewed differently across cultures, religions, and scientific fields. But Psychologically speaking, it refers to the “mind’s way of processing information.”
There’s a lot that experts don’t know about why we dream and where dreams come from. One study suggests that dreams derive more from your imagination than perception.
Several psychologists and therapists believe that dreams are a bridge between your conscious and subconscious mind. On some level – consciously or subconsciously – your mind is focused on a person, and your brain is dumping that image as you sleep.
Here’s an interesting fact:
Research shows that all of us dream every night (approximately 4 to 6 times). We spend merely over 1.5 hours – About 20% of our sleep time dreaming!
Dream analysis can be understood from an environmental, psychological, philosophical, or religious perspective.
This makes dream interpretation extremely personal since not every person will have the same life experiences and emotions.
In essence, dreams are compilations of your memories, fantasies, and both joyful and serious themes. What’s more, your dreams can be influenced by depression, anxiety, illness, or medication.
What Does it Mean When You Dream About Someone?
When you dream about someone, your subconscious is trying to tell you something. It means they are special to you on some level.
According to famous certified dream analyst Lauri Loewenberg, “Your dreams are messages from you to you, about you, in order to improve you.”
Let’s explore the meaning of common people you see in your dreams.
1. When you dream about your partner or loved ones.
You may dream about your partner (lover or spouse) several times in your life.
Dreaming about your loved one means that you want to be close to them at that moment. It means you miss them and are not spending enough time with them.
The reason could be because they live far away from you, or they are busy working. You will see them often in your dreams, especially if you’re in a long-distance relationship.
One of the core reasons for this kind of dream is that your loved one is your current romantic interest, so it’s obvious that your dreams may carry out an element of desire and lust for your significant other.
Besides, any dream about your lover in a romantic sense may also signify that you’re not expressing yourself properly in a relationship. In such cases, you must pay close attention to their behavior and talk in the dream. It will help you understand what they truly want from you in real life.
2. When you dream about your ex.
Exes are one of the most common dream cases that people come across.
Honestly, this kind of dream can be quite scarier than connecting with a ghost. When you’re dreaming about your ex, it can indicate many things, depending on the status and duration of your relationship.
Dreaming of an ex could also mean that you’re missing your first love, or it could be a sign you’re ready to move on. It can also mean that they are missing you. They either want you back or are just reminiscing on your relationship.
Reports say that dreaming about an ex is usually a sign of unprocessed feelings or unresolved rage. If you’re dreaming about your ex, it means you want to make up something that occurred in the past, or you want to confront something.
They often show up in dreams when you are in a dry spell and haven’t been in a relationship for a long time.
But the rule of thumb is that it never means you should get back with your ex, especially if it were a toxic relationship, even if it was your first love.
Regardless, try not to overthink. Ex’s dreams are just about the past. Just leave it there.
3. When you dream about your crush.
It often means you’re always thinking about your crush and want to be with them romantically. To be honest, spending a lot of time daydreaming about a person you like or have a crush on could create an imprint of them on your subconscious mind. This could mean they have made quite an impression or struck an emotional cord.
You might be excited about the idea of being with your crush, but it can also mean you’re excited about anything else that lies ahead.
If you’re dreaming about kissing your crush, it means you’re feeling a little stuck in your life and find yourself in a holding pattern. This might signify that you’re waiting for something good to happen to you.
In addition, you might be hoping that it ‘just happens,’ but you aren’t taking the steps required to feel more ownership over your life.
4. When you dream about a stranger
Dreaming about a stranger or someone unknown is even creepier than dreaming about your crush or ex. Surprisingly, about 50% of people dream about someone they don’t know or have never met.
But here’s the catch.
When you’re dreaming about an unknown person, it could mean that there’s something that’s out of place in your life. In this case, chances are they are causing some kind of change to happen in your life for good.
When you dream about someone you don’t know, it also signifies that you are not fully aware of yourself at all. In such a case, your subconscious is trying to speak up for you, and dreams of strangers can be a call to explore your hidden potential.
5. When you dream about someone chasing you.
Ah, here comes the nightmares!
Chasing dreams tends to involve heightened anxiety and fear. As horrifying as these dreams can be at times, they are not always as awful as they seem in appearance. It means you are running away from acknowledging the source of that anxiety.
Your subconscious is giving you a warning that there isn’t much time left to turn around and face whatever is chasing you before it becomes impossible to avoid and your hand is forced.
Put differently, the person you are running from might be a version of yourself that you must run to.
But this isn’t always true. If you feel a dominating person is chasing you, this may be a characteristic you own, are guilty of, and thus run away from in your dreams.
6. When you dream about someone who already died.
We’ve all had dreams like this at least once. If you dream about someone you know who has already died (eg. a relative), it often means that you miss them and may need their advice/ counsel in your difficult times. Their spirits are trying to communicate with you.
Dreaming of a deceased person also symbolizes unresolved emotions and a longing for closure. If you see a dead person alive in your dreams, they might be trying to give you advice, reassure you, or even warn you about something serious in your life!
7. When you dream about someone dying.
Don’t freak yourself out if you see someone dying in your dreams. Yes, it may look scary, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they are dying or about to die.
As said before, dreams are the subconscious mind’s way of talking to you through symbolic language. That said, the death of someone in a dream is usually a metaphor for the big change or end of something or a life-changing event such as a relationship.
In fact, it’s a positive thing when you dream about death. It is how your subconscious is giving you a hint that some aspects of yourself or the relationship must die in order to grow as a good human being.
8. When you dream about having sex with someone.
It may look weird, but sex dreams are normal. In fact, most people have had sex dreams at least once, even if they don’t admit it.
Sex is all about intimacy and bond rather than the act itself. As a result, dreaming about having sex with someone tends to occur when you’re feeling alone, isolated, or in the process of starting afresh.
Interestingly, such dreams are not usually about the physical act of being sexually active, but they represent a situation where you feel out of control. And sex is the way to control the situation or even yourself.
Sex dreams also mean you want an intense connection with the person you dreamt about. It also signifies that your subconscious is probably starting to recognize that you are capable of making better decisions and acting with greater maturity.
What if I’m unable to remember my dreams?
If you’re one of those people who forget their dreams after waking up, it is very normal. In fact, we only remember 10-20% of our dreams and forget 90% of them, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
If you’re unable to remember your dreams, it means there is something serious going on in your life that’s keeping you from sleeping properly. For that, you need to figure out the root cause and overcome it.
Moreover, if you dream about a particular person who features frequently in your dream, then it’s definitely no coincidence. You might wake up remembering absolutely nothing else about the dream, only the person.
But again, what happens in your dreams stays in your dreams.
Takeaway
Hopefully, you got your answers to the question: “What does it mean when you dream about someone?” But one thing is clear: We usually dream about people who hold meaning for us. Be it a lover, a dead person, or a stranger.
Indeed, dreaming of someone can be a mystifying and emotional experience. It’s no secret that dreams and our emotions have unique connections and attachments. However, it is not necessarily a sign of anything deep or supernatural.
Since dreams are usually influenced by our emotions, memories, and current events, they may not always have an intense meaning.
But everyone’s interpretation of dreams is different. What one person sees as an important message can be totally different from another’s perspective.
So, what you can do is pay attention to your emotions and intuition and use your dream as a sign of self-reflection and personal growth. Also, if you don’t remember your dreams, don’t pressure yourself! Just get over it.
FAQs
1. Is it true if you dream of someone, they dream of you?
Ans: No, If you’re dreaming of someone, it’s a sign you’re thinking of them all the time. But it doesn’t mean they dream about you.
2. What does it mean when you dream about a specific person?
Ans: When you dream about a specific person, it means that person or something associated with that person plays an important role in your life. If you’re dreaming about your partner, it indicates you have strong feelings and love toward that person.
3. Why do I keep dreaming about a person?
Ans: If you keep dreaming about someone every night, it means that you think a lot about them and have a strong connection. Seeing the same person in your dreams might be a sign that there’s something your subconscious mind wants you to know about the person, and until you understand its meaning, it will recur.
4. Is it true that if you see someone in your dream, they miss you?
Ans: No. If you dream about someone, it does not mean the person misses you or has feelings for you. It’s just that they happen to be on your mind when you doze off, and they are a significant part of your life.
5. Can two people have the same dream?
Ans: Maybe. Dreams are unique to everyone. While two people can surely have similar dreams, their dreams would differ in ways. Some people believe these similarities are due to shared experiences, connections, and cultural influences.
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