We dream to forget
Most people dream from three to six times per night, although many people don’t reach the phase of rapid eye movement or REM sleep. This is the deepest sleep phase when people remember their dreams. Adults only spend about a quarter of their sleep in REM sleep a night. For some, REM sleep accounts for just 10%.
It’s estimated that people forget around 90% of their dreams, which aligns with the idea of dreaming as purging. As Nobel laureate Francis Crick wrote, “We dream to forget.”
Dreams reflect feelings, unresolved issues
Dreams often mirror our current emotional state. Seeing your romantic partner in a dream might reflect your feelings towards them, such as love, affection, anxiety, or conflict.
Dreams can bring up unresolved conflicts or concerns. If there are ongoing issues in your relationship, your subconscious might use dreams to process these problems. For example, dreams of a partner cheating reflect real-life worries in this regard.
If you dream you’re with them somewhere, and a storm starts brewing, it could symbolize underlying anxiety or fear about potential conflicts or issues in your relationship.
Desires and wishes
Seeing your partner in dreams can express your desires or wishes related to your relationship. If the dream is pleasant, it may indicate a longing for more intimacy or happiness. Conversely, troubling dreams might reveal underlying dissatisfaction or unmet needs.
Loss
Dreams about losing a partner can signify feelings of attachment and the need for security. They might be a way of reinforcing your bond with your partner or exploring fears of losing them. However, they might not be related to them at all. You might dream about someone dying if you’re making a big life change, like leaving a job.
Projection
Dreams might reveal how you perceive your partner or how you think they perceive you. If you dream about your boyfriend often, it means you want to be close to him and express your love for him. It’s the first sign that shows your relationship is growing and becoming more mature.
Processing daily experiences
Dreams often process daily experiences. Interactions or events involving your partner during the day might replay in your dreams, helping your mind to make sense of them.
If the dream involves an ex-partner, it reflects unresolved feelings or issues from that past relationship. It could be influencing your current one.
The real meaning of dreams
In a study at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 99 participants were given the task of navigating a three-dimensional maze. They got a 90-minute break. Some were asked to read or engage in another quiet activity. Others were instructed to try to take a nap. Those who napped and dreamed about the maze were ten times more successful on the task in the following session than those who didn’t.
They dreamed about the maze because they gave it their full focus. So, dreaming about your partner means you think about them a lot, maybe too much.
FAQ
What do dreams about a romantic partner mean?
Dreams of romance and sex are a way of fulfilling wishes. They can fulfill a psychological need for love and intimacy.
If I see my partner in a dream, does it mean they also want to see me?
Dreaming about a partner means your brain is processing information. It doesn’t necessarily mean your partner is thinking about you.
