Why Do You Keep Dreaming About Your Ex?

You wake up, and your ex was in your dream. You haven't spoken in years. So why were they there? We look at what dream researchers know: how common ex dreams are, why a heavy relationship gets replayed, how a song or a name can bring someone back days later, and why trying not to think about someone can make them show up at night. We also cover how these dreams feel (the evidence is mixed), what they don't mean, and what to do. General information only, not medical or psychological advice. If dreams leave you shaken, grieving, or unable to sleep, talk to someone you trust or a professional. 0:00 Your ex was in your dream 0:33 Reason 1: the relationship weighed a lot 2:04 Reason 2: something reminded you 3:21 Reason 3: you tried to forget them 4:57 How these dreams feel 5:37 What it doesn't mean 5:57 What you can do SOURCES Schredl et al. (2020), Int J Dream Res 13(2); Schredl & Wood (2021), Clocks & Sleep 3(2); Schredl (2018), Int J Dream Res 11(1); Balch et al. (2025), Sci Rep 15:15531; Domhoff & Schneider (2018), Dreaming 28; Domhoff (2017), Dreaming 27. Nielsen et al. (2004), J Sleep Res 13(4); Blagrove et al. (2011), Conscious Cogn 20(2); Eichenlaub et al. (2019), J Sleep Res 28(1). Wegner, Wenzlaff & Kozak (2004), Psychol Sci 15(4); Wegner et al. (1987), JPSP 53(1); Taylor & Bryant (2007), Behav Res Ther 45(1); Bryant et al. (2011), Conscious Cogn 20(3); Malinowski (2015), Conscious Cogn 38; Nir & Tononi (2010), Trends Cogn Sci 14(2); Freud (1900), The Interpretation of Dreams. Selterman et al. (2014), Soc Psychol Personal Sci 5(1). #dreaming #dreamsaboutex #psychology