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Dreaming about your ex around Valentine’s Day is more common than you’d think
Although it might not be a great idea to tell your current partner, you shouldn’t be ‘too hard’ on yourself for seeing an ex in your dreams in the days leading to Valentine’s Day.
We understand the uncomfortable feeling that accompanies your dreams about the romantic past, but there are ways to get over it. Of course, you can name a cockroach after your ex for $10 and feed it to zoo animals, or simply make a note of the top tips sleep experts have to offer to eliminate the thought of your former lover.
It isn’t uncommon to dream about your ex-lover
A survey conducted by MattressNextDay found out that 69% of the total participants plan to skip Valentine’s Day celebrations as they are single, but the global searches during the week before the romantic holiday suggest that singletons still have their exes on their minds.
The search for “dreams of my ex” reportedly peaked on Sunday, February 11, around 3 A.M. in the UK, whereas people in the U.S. woke up to similar thoughts around 7 A.M. last week.
Although the stats suggest more and more people are waking up to thoughts of their previous relationships, sleep experts note that it has nothing to do with your past.
“The dream content is more likely a reflection of your current state, not a sign of missing your ex,” the email shared with The Focus reads.
Regardless of the dream – whether it’s an argument between you and your ex or the same person apologizing to you – what you see in your sleep are just games your mind is playing, which you can take control of.
For instance, you may see your ex from years ago because you’re subconsciously thinking of the missed opportunities while dating someone or may dream of being on the receiving end of an apology- suggesting that the person you broke up with did not take accountability for their actions.
But none of this should impact your present life or your plans to pursue a new romantic relationship in the future.
Sleep experts’ tips to stop seeing such dreams
Don’t let the dreams hijack your current relationship. Follow the below tips offered by sleep experts to stop thinking about your ex.
- Start journaling your emotions – This will help you narrow down the feelings you experience while asleep and fairly understand the reason they are recurring. “These can then clue you into what you need to focus on in your own life, or even what qualities youd like in future partners,” the experts said.
- Look back at your past day – You may find out the reason behind dreaming about ex by recollecting everything you did or felt the day before the dream occurred. Were you feeling lonely? Is it societal pressure on single people around Valentine’s Day? Or, an incident from your past around the same period? Talking it out will help immensely.
- Pick a takeaway from the dream – It’s up to you what you want to do about the dream as it’s already occurred. Either you can work on yourself with positive reinforcement or let the thoughts with little value win.
- Calm your mind – After all, you dream about what you think, so be conscious of your thoughts. Try to declutter your thoughts with breathing exercises or yoga, and make sure you go to bed with a calm mind.
