An expert has provided advice for those experiencing the common dream of having ‘sex with an ex.’
Getting a good night’s sleep should generally be uncomplicated unless something is troubling your mind.
Dreams, particularly nightmares, can negatively impact the quality of your sleep. Not only can restless nights leave you feeling unrested and even anxious, but the dream’s content might also affect your mood for the rest of the day.
One of the more unsettling nightmares may involve fantasizing about an ex-partner. Experts caution that this could signal underlying issues in your subconscious or unresolved feelings about a past relationship.
The Sleep Foundation notes that dreams about exes are quite common. Research indicates that around five to eight percent of dreams involve former romantic partners.
Ex-partners often appear unexpectedly, as 25 percent of people surveyed admitted to having sex dreams featuring a past romance. Similar to common nightmares like losing teeth or being naked in public, dreams about exes can leave an unsettling feeling the next morning.
Experts suggest that while the ‘sex with an ex’ dream’s meaning varies based on past relationships, current relationship status, and emotional well-being, it often signals unresolved issues.
You might dream about an ex if there are unresolved matters between you, and even if the dream is sexual, it doesn’t necessarily indicate romantic feelings.
The Sleep Foundation posits that lingering frustration, jealousy, or anger may be at play, or you might need closure. Such dreams might allow you to express unspoken words or hear what you wish your ex had said, helping you achieve some closure.
Another interpretation involves trauma, as studies show that waking stress can affect dream content.
This is particularly relevant if you’re dealing with grief from losing a former partner. Alternatively, bumping into an ex recently might trigger their presence in your dreams due to memory consolidation.
Research shows that dreams often incorporate real-life events within a week of experiencing them.
A recurring sex dream about an ex may indicate various things, from adjusting to a new partner to unresolved issues with the ex, according to Healthline.
It might also simply reflect a desire for intimacy, as the Sleep Foundation suggests that past pleasurable experiences with an ex could be desired again, not necessarily a wish to reunite.
Experts recommend allowing time to adjust to a new sexual relationship.
If months or years have passed since the breakup, it might be time to seek professional guidance. You could be feeling ‘unfulfilled’ in your current relationship or dealing with unresolved past grief.