There is a lot of discussion behind the meaning of dreams, with the general belief that they reveal the depths of our subconscious, including our fears and desires.
But what does it mean if you dream about the same person regularly when you hit the hay?
According to a clinical psychologist, having recurring dreams about the same person shouldn’t be taken too literally, whether they are your best friend or a sworn enemy.
Having recurring dreams is a common phenomenon, with two thirds of us experiencing them. These dreams may not mean that you are obsessed with this individual, but may symbolise your feelings and worries.
‘The model of the mind is very true to the idea of a computer,’ clinical psychologist Dr John Mayer told Elite Daily.
‘When we go to sleep, that little computer will keep churning. It doesn’t just turn off and stop. We have a perception that we’re blank when we sleep – but [the brain] keeps going.’
Dreaming can help our brains sort through information while we sleep. Dr Mayer also said that dreaming about someone over and over again shouldn’t be interpreted in a literal way. That person might actually be symbolising a certain stress or anxiety we are going through.
For example, if you dream about the same colleague, you might not have an issue with that particular individual but a more general work situation to work through.
‘The dreams are usually not exactly the same each time, but the recurring theme is usually something in your head that is somehow unresolved. It just keeps repeating over and over again in that computer,’ he said.
‘So if the data is the same in the machine, you need to replace it with other data, or resolve that conflict, or solve that problem.’
Once the conflict in your mind is resolved, the recurring dreams should end.
