Up to 75% of adults encounter at least one recurring dream in their lifetime, a phenomenon that intrigues both dreamers and researchers alike. Despite being common, these dreams often carry negative tones, with two-thirds of adults in a 2022 survey describing them as such. Themes frequently involve being chased, attacked, arriving late, or failing at something. The reasons for the prevalence of these unsettling dreams remain elusive, yet they offer a fascinating window into our subconscious.
The pandemic has further intensified the occurrence of recurring dreams. Deirdre Leigh Barrett, an expert in the field, collected over 15,000 dream reports during this period. She observed a notable increase in themes of fear, illness, and death—appearing two to four times more often than before the pandemic. This trend aligns with findings that people who endure regional or global catastrophes often report a significant rise in negatively-toned recurring dreams.
"They're clearly somewhat linked to what's going on in our daily lives," – Deirdre Leigh Barrett
Recurring dreams are not just random nocturnal experiences; they often mirror aspects of our waking lives. This connection is well explained by the "continuity hypothesis," which suggests that dreams reflect our daily emotions and experiences. Michael Schredl points out that dreams tend to dramatize even minor feelings or situations where we feel powerless.
"In the dream, it becomes a much bigger emotion, although the connection isn't always straightforward or obvious," – Michael Schredl
For instance, a stressful day at work might trigger a nightmare about failing an exam, even for those who haven't been students for decades. Barrett explains that if we don't process our emotions during the day, our nocturnal consciousness will take on the task at night.
"If you're not processing the emotions during the day, your nocturnal consciousness will attempt to process them at night," – Deirdre Leigh Barrett
To mitigate the impact of these recurring dreams, Nirit Soffer-Dudek suggests cultivating good "sleep hygiene." This involves establishing clear boundaries between waking life and sleep to prevent anxiety from infiltrating dreams.
"The best advice I can give is to try to enforce strong boundaries between your waking time and sleep to avoid bringing anxiety into your dreams." – Nirit Soffer-Dudek
Recurring dreams are not only common but also normal. They provide insight into our unresolved emotions and experiences. By addressing these emotions during our waking hours, we can potentially reduce their nocturnal manifestations. Taking actionable steps such as practicing relaxation techniques or maintaining a consistent sleep schedule may also help control these dreams.
