All Your Questions On Recurring Dreams, Answered By Therapists & Dream Experts

Just as it sounds, a recurring dream is a dream that keeps coming back. Therapist and dream expert Leslie Ellis, Ph.D., explains to mbg that recurring dreams are often (though not always) nightmares or bad dreams "and are generally a sign that something important requires the dreamer's attention."

It's important to note that recurring dreams are not always identical but rather may have repeating elements or themes, Ellis says.

According to Ellis, this is a million-dollar question. "I think the most relevant theories suggest that dreams are helping us process our emotional memories," she says. A recurring dream, then, is about an emotional issue that has not been "put to bed," she adds.

"For example, I've worked with a client who experienced a very long grief process, and the dreams of their loss continued for years as they worked through the feelings around it. A certain amount of repetition is normal, particularly in terms of dream themes. Our dreams tend to follow consistent patterns throughout our lives, so it's normal for the same themes to circle back around again," Ellis explains.

And as dream analyst Lauri Loewenberg tells mbg, recurring dreams are also connected to recurring behavior patterns in our waking lives. If you exhibit a particular behavior repeatedly, she explains, you'll probably keep having the accompanying dream.

Stress dreams and recurring dreams certainly have some overlap, though they're not always one and the same. A stress dream may not be recurring, and a recurring dream may not necessarily be related to stress.

As Loewenberg explains, if you're engaging in a recurring behavior pattern that's negatively affecting you or stressing you out, it can certainly seep its way into your dreams.

"A good example of a stress dream that's recurring for a lot of people is the tornado dream," she says, which is often thought to represent stress and a lack of control. She adds that it's "a good example of a dream that's connected to a recurring behavior pattern and ongoing issue."

We've all had our fair share of unique dreams, but there are also a handful of recurring dream themes that have become almost universal.

Dreams about being chased or having your teeth fall out, for example, are far from unusual. As Ellis adds, dreams about being naked in public are also common.

Whether you're dreaming of your childhood home, your high school, or somewhere you've never been, according to Loewenberg, that place actually represents something to you. It's not about the literal location, she explains, but rather a part of yourself or a part of your personality.

Ellis notes that sometimes, dreaming about someone repeatedly is straightforward; you've been thinking about them a lot, so naturally, you keep dreaming about them. Other times, though, it's not so simple. Sometimes, she and Loewenberg both explain, the person you frequently dream about represents something that's important for you to assimilate.

While you might think dreaming about a particular relationship could mean you desire it in real life, this isn't always the case either. Loewenberg tells mbg that you always want to turn the dream on yourself first, so in this case (and similar to above), this person you keep dreaming about could represent a part of you.

Now that you know all about recurring dreams, you're probably wondering if there's any way to stop the one you've been having for years. And according to Ellis and Loewenberg, there certainly is.

The best way to stop having a recurring dream, Ellis says, is to take the time to figure out what the dream is asking of you—and then begin to take steps to do it.

"If it's a stress dream around an exam, for example, maybe you need to prepare better for what's coming. If it's a traumatic dream, maybe you need to spend time processing the associated memory, ideally with a trauma therapist. If it feels manageable on your own, try going back into the recurrent dream in your mind's eye, immerse yourself in it, and let it carry forward to a resolution. This usually changes things in some way, and sometimes the dream simply doesn't return," Ellis tells mbg.

As Loewenberg adds, recurring dreams indicate a "stuckness," so stopping the dream is about becoming unstuck. "When you get that recurring dream, it's the subconscious' way of nagging us. And it has to keep telling us the same thing over and over again until we get the message and act on it—so acting on the recurring dream is the best way to make it stop," she explains.

Ellis and Loewenberg are also both proponents of dream journaling, which can help you interpret your dreams right after they happen. This can be particularly helpful if a dream wakes you up, as jotting down your thoughts on the dream can help clear your mind so you can get back to sleep.

As you decode your dreams' messages and work on stopping your recurring dream, it's also important to prioritize quality sleep and less stress in general. Not only will doing so help you feel better overall, but you may just de-stress enough to stop having that recurring stress dream.

For better sleep, remember to keep a consistent sleep schedule (wake time and bedtime!), eat a healthy diet, and get plenty of movement. On top of that, avoid caffeine, alcohol, screens, and large meals before bed, have a solid wind-down routine, and try a sleep supplement like mbg's sleep support+ if you need a little extra help.*