I’m a sleep expert – this is what it means if you keep dreaming about your ex

Recurring dreams about your ex may seem like a nightmare.

But these visions can provide insight into how you really feel, according to a sleep expert.

One reason your ex shows up in your dreams is because you still have feelings for them even if you don’t want to get back together, says Dr. Daisy Mae.

Whether someone cheated, wasn’t supportive, or a couple just grew apart, it doesn’t mean you stop caring for your ex overnight.

Dr. Mae, who spent 30 years as a doctor in the NHS, said: ‘This is the answer most people don’t want to hear.

“But often your ex shows up in your dream because you feel like you’re not happy with the way things turned out.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you want to get back together, but you may just be unhappy that this person isn’t in your life anymore, as a friend, or that you never had the closure you needed.

“Once you stop dreaming about your ex, it’s a sign that you’ve moved on.”

Dr. Based in Hampshire, Mae advises people to recognize and grieve the loss that their ex is no longer in their lives.

An ex showing up in your dream can also indicate that you are afraid that the breakup will affect a new relationship – because you are afraid that it will also end badly or that you will be hurt again.

Statistically, the odds are not in your favor. About four in ten couples in the UK and US get divorced.

Dr. Mae, who works at online retailer Get Laid Beds, said: “If your ex was in last night’s dream, then you might think about ways to work through what happened to you that caused you to break up.

“You may worry about these situations in future relationships, so think about what you could have done differently and how you can avoid this with your new lover.”

She added, “Every breakup is hard, and unfortunately they are something you take through life.

“Thinking about your ex in your dream may make you worry that you will get hurt again.

“Maybe your new relationship is showing signs of you going down the same path, which is why you’re starting to dream about ways you’ve been hurt in the past.”

Dreaming about a former partner could also be a sign that you miss intimacy, rather than the person, Dr. Mae says.

Couples often spend a lot of time together. When that disappears, many miss having no one else to cuddle or make a cup of tea for.

Dr. Mae said, “Dreaming about your ex doesn’t mean you still love him – it could be a sign that you’re feeling lonely.

Try to build close relationships with friends and family to improve your level of emotional intimacy.

“However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the sexual side of things. It could be emotional intimacy from a friendship group, a family member, or a current partner.”