This is what your dreams about your ex really mean

Love is in the air on Valentine's Day, and no wonder it makes us think and dream about our past, present and future relationships more than any other day. In fact, research from MattressNextDay has revealed that the number of people dreaming about their ex-partner will double this week.

Though having dreams about your ex can be a bitter-sweet experience, learning their true meaning can help you understand yourself better and move on.

Why do we dream about our exes more on Valentine’s?

According to Martin Seeley, the CEO at MattressNextDay, sleep helps you process and understand your emotions, particularly those you may find difficult in real life. It leads to you dreaming of your past relationships around this romantic holiday. But there are other reasons behind it too.

It may be so that you have been thinking about your ex a lot recently or are still grieving for them. Both scenarios result in you seeing more of the past object of your desire show up in your sleep.

Even if you're over your ex and have moved on, there's always a chance that a part of you regrets the end of your relationship and wonders what could have been if things had turned out differently.

You may also be feeling guilty for moving on so quickly after the split, especially if they’re still hurting over the breakup. Your dream may subconsciously tell you that you need to feel more remorse or guilt over your new relationship.

Read more: Are you dreaming about your ex-partner? Here are 6 reasons why

The meaning of different dreams

Dreams hold powerful knowledge, and dreams expert Inbaal Honigman reveals what these night sources of information tell about your subconscious.

Dreaming of an ex from long ago: You’re thinking about missed opportunities

If you dream of an ex from a long time ago, this is a sign that you are wondering about your missed opportunities of youth.

Perhaps you feel that you should have taken a different path in life, from the career you picked to the area you live in. If these decisions are connected to your long-gone ex, this may be why they are on your mind.

If you have one of these dreams, upon waking, check whether you feel fearful or serene - this will tell you whether your past choices were preferable to your present or not.

Read more:

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Dreaming of your ex apologising to you: You’re craving closure

An apology in a dream is your mind's way of bringing peace to a turbulent situation. Your sleeping subconscious is going over unfinished stories from the past.

If this love story ended badly, and the other person never took responsibility for their actions, your mind still craves that apology. And at least in the dream, your ex is mature enough to deliver one!

Dreaming about intimacy with your ex: Your sexual needs are not met

Your dreams stem from your mind. If your body is going through a bit of a sexual drought, the natural human desire will transcend body and mind and burst right into your dream.

There is no shame in having physical desires, and it's certainly perfectly natural to act upon them in a dream.

Dreaming of your ex cheating on you: Your mind is trying to make sense of it

One of the most upsetting love-related dreams one can have is where cheating occurs. The sense of betrayal, shame and hopelessness that go along with infidelity can ruin a good night's sleep. This kind of dream are you trying to make sense of the split.

You could be worried that their loyalty was never for you, and you may be suspicious that they were cheating in real life too.

The dream shows your own insecurities rather than any unfaithful thoughts from the ex.

Dreaming of an ex in a new relationship: Were they ever loyal to you?

This is very similar to dreaming of an ex-partner cheating and questioning whether their loyalty was ever with you and if they ever loved you.

It's a dream of insecurity, but it's also an opportunity to find out how you feel. Did it make you feel jealous, upset, or secretly relieved that they're not with you anymore?

Dreaming of a past argument with an ex: Your way of having the final say

A dream of arguing with an ex is a wishful dream.

You've gone over your old arguments so many times, and each time you thought of a better come-back, a better answer you could have shouted. In your dream, you can finally get to win that argument, slam that door, and have the final say.

This dream can be a great stress reliever, allowing you to set the record straight, at least in your mind.

Read more:

⋙ This is why you should never go to sleep after midnight

⋙ Hygiene: The body part you wash first in the shower reveals a lot about your personality

Sources used:

- Martin Seeley, mattress and sleep expert in MattressNextDay

- Inbaal Honigman, dreams expert