What does a dream that we experience multiple times tell us?

Recurring dreams can indicate unresolved fears and issues that we are unable to overcome, as well as health problems of which we are not aware

You’re walking down the street and everything is going according to plan, when suddenly you realize you’re wearing a bathrobe and house slippers, or even worse – nothing at all. This is one of the typical recurring dreams, and of course, there are also the boring ones like falling, running away from a pursuer, being late, or losing control of a car.

Psychologists mostly agree that dreams recur when there is an unresolved issue, and they represent one way for a person to relieve tension.

Recurring dreams as signals of illness

What is even more fascinating about such dreams are the studies that link them to hidden illnesses in the body. Russian psychiatrist Vasili Kasatkin explains this by stating that every part of the body is connected to the brain through nerves, which transmit signals about an impending illness, and the subconscious then translates these signals into dreams.

Nightmarish and recurring dreams should not be considered our enemies; instead, they should be embraced as faithful allies that tell us the harsh truth.

It is known that before the onset of migraines, patients report dreams in which they are shot in the head or struck by lightning, as noted by Varnes, Finkelstein, and Gutel. Meanwhile, Ronald Postuma, in a neurological study, shows that aggressive dreams accompanied by physical activity can indicate neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s up to 10 years before the first symptoms appear. Dreams often also point to cancer as well as the common flu.

The meaning of dreams is never literal

Before you panic after a dream about illness and rush to the nearest health clinic, keep in mind that dreams are metaphorical and should not be interpreted literally.

Some dreams indeed support Aristotle’s thesis that dreams can indicate physical ailments long before symptoms appear. This sounds quite like something we might read in a dream dictionary, but it makes more sense when we consider that appropriate medical examinations can reveal changes in the body long before the first symptoms manifest.

However, a recurring dream is most likely indicative of a psychological problem. Therefore, if a particular dream troubles you with its frequency and content, consider consulting a psychotherapist to work together on finding a solution.

How to overcome dreams that last for decades?

A dream can manifest in the same form for decades, without resolution or logical conclusion. Then, at some point, with the help of a psychologist or even independently, a person resolves the conflict that the dream was indicating, after which the scenario changes or the dream simply stops occurring.

For this reason, nightmarish and recurring dreams should not be seen as enemies to be pushed under the rug, but rather as faithful allies that tell us harsh truths.

The key role of such dreams, no matter how unpleasant they may be, is to strengthen us, helping us to overcome what we fear by confronting our fears time and again.