Have you ever experienced a dream where you’ve cheated on your partner with someone else? It’s a common occurrence that can leave you feeling shaken and confused, even if you have a strong and faithful relationship.
Dreams about cheating are more prevalent than you might think, according to Sarah Gundle, PsyD, a clinical psychologist based in New York City.
The Intricacies of Dreams
Dreams are an integral part of our sleep cycle, regardless of whether we remember them or not. Typically, we spend around two hours every night in the dream state, known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
Dreams can feel incredibly real, incorporating various senses and emotions such as touch, taste, smell, sound, and vivid feelings.
While the exact reasons behind dreaming remain a mystery, experts believe that dreams help us process our emotions, consolidate memories, and gain personal insights.
They often incorporate events and people from our everyday lives, especially those that cause stress or anxiety. Bad dreams, including dreams about cheating, can evoke intense emotional responses.
Decoding Dreams About Cheating
Dr. Gundle emphasizes that dreams are often metaphorical and not necessarily indicative of our desires or relationships.
Having a dream about cheating doesn’t automatically mean that you’re unhappy in your current relationship, have a desire to cheat, or want to pursue the person from your dream. Instead, dreams about cheating can have various interpretations:
1. Concealed Secrets: Dreams about cheating may symbolize hidden aspects of your life, family, workplace, or social circle that you’re avoiding or trying to keep from yourself.
2. Unearthed Truths: They could be a reflection of a truth that needs to be uncovered or discovered, suggesting that you’re aware of something significant but haven’t fully acknowledged it.
3. Unfulfilled Desires: Dreams about cheating might represent a longing for something missing in your life, such as intimacy, excitement, or adventure.
When exploring dreams in therapy, it’s essential to focus on the emotions they evoke and the subsequent discussions they inspire.
For instance, if you dreamt about cheating but felt relieved when the situation was resolved, it could signify a desire to clear your conscience regarding something unrelated to your partner.
Conversely, if your dream involved cheating because you were attracted to a particular quality in someone, it may indicate a wish for you, your partner, or someone in your life to possess that desirable trait.
What to Do When You Have Dreams About Cheating
Experiencing dreams about cheating can be unsettling, but there are steps you can take to explore their meaning and cope with the emotions they stir:
Maintain a Dream Diary
Keeping a dream journal by your bedside can help you capture the details of your dreams before they fade away. Write down everything you can recall, including the characters, events, sensations, and feelings you experienced.
Maintaining a dream diary not only aids in recall but also enables you to identify patterns, recurring themes, and emotions across multiple dreams.
Deciding Whether to Share with Your Partner
If you’re in a committed relationship, you might wonder whether you should disclose your dream about cheating to your partner. It’s normal to feel guilty, even if you’ve never entertained the thought of cheating.
However, Dr. Gundle suggests that the decision to share depends on the nature of your relationship. Exploring the dream’s personal meaning is often more important than disclosing it to your partner.
Sharing such dreams can be complicated, especially if they involve someone you know. The dream’s influence extends beyond your relationship with that person, potentially affecting your partner’s perception of them.
However, dreaming about someone you know doesn’t necessarily indicate attraction or a desire for a relationship. Often, safe relationships manifest in dreams using familiar figures.
Seek Therapy
If your dream continues to disturb you or if you need help processing the emotions it evokes, seeking therapy can be beneficial.
Therapists can help you explore your dreams, understand the underlying causes, and develop coping mechanisms. By delving into your subconscious conflicts, therapy equips you with the skills to navigate them more effectively.
Final Thoughts
Having dreams about cheating can trigger a range of emotions, including confusion, guilt, and distress. It’s crucial to remember that these dreams don’t necessarily signify a desire to cheat on your partner or dissatisfaction in your relationship.
Dreams are often symbolic and metaphorical, providing insights into our inner thoughts and emotions. Reflecting on how these dreams make you feel can help unlock their deeper meanings.
If necessary, consider seeking professional help to gain a better understanding of your dreams and emotions.
Via Verywellmind
