Another cheating dream? Your mind isn’t warning you about infidelity — it’s telling you something far more surprising.
Dreams are a way for our subconscious to tell us something. Dreams about cheating on your partner can suggest feelings of guilt or dissatisfaction within the relationship. Conversely, dreaming about being cheated on may point to underlying trust issues. Ultimately, such dreams can have multiple interpretations depending on your emotions and experiences.
What does it mean to dream about cheating?
Dreams about cheating on your partner can cause a lot of anxiety. However, this doesn’t have to mean that anyone in the relationship is cheating or will cheat. More precisely, such dreams often have nothing to do with actual infidelity. What’s more, dreams about sex or kissing people other than your partner are extremely common and normal.
Why you might be having those cheating dreams
There’s a lack of trust in the relationship
Regardless of who is being cheated on in the dream, this can indicate a lack of trust in the relationship. If you’re the one cheating, it suggests you feel your partner doesn’t trust you, while on the other hand, if your partner cheated on you, then you’re the one who lacks trust.
According to Freud’s theory of dream analysis, they are often a way for your mind to process repressed concerns. Some experts believe that disturbing dreams can occur while your brain tries to cope with stressful or negative events. If either of you has cheated in the past, knowing about it can affect dream content and trust. Consider whether there’s a valid reason for the lack of trust. If so, it would be best to talk about it with your partner.
You feel guilty about something
Guilt or shame often manifests in dreams as cheating because they’re frequently associated with these feelings. This dream may indicate you want to confess something to your partner. This can relate to anything – you broke their favourite mug, you can’t stand their best friend, or anything else you’re hiding.
If you felt relief after being caught cheating, then it might be time to talk about what’s bothering you. Suppressing guilt and other negative emotions isn’t good for your health and can lead to high blood pressure, poor memory, and reduced self-esteem. An open conversation with your partner can resolve this issue.
Your relationship isn’t fulfilling you
If dreams about cheating happen frequently, it means your relationship isn’t fulfilling you. It’s natural for your feelings in a relationship to change over time. It’s possible your partner doesn’t want to try a new sexual position, so naturally, this will lead you to dream about it with someone else. This is a natural way for your subconscious to process your desires and waking life reality. Ask yourself what you’re missing in the relationship and talk to your partner about it. That’s the only way to break out of the routine and monotony you’ve found yourself in.
Read also: “He stood me up three times”: Four women share their traumatic relationship experiences from dating apps
You have a fear of abandonment
Dreams involving cheating can relate to fear of abandonment. It’s common to worry about your partner leaving you, especially if you’ve previously experienced neglect, rejection, or abandonment by a partner or parent. This fear can develop as a response to trauma.
On the other hand, this dream may indicate your relationship has reached a crossroads. It’s natural to feel insecure in the relationship and worry about your partner leaving if they don’t seem ready to take the next step.
What if you dreamt about cheating?
Experts claim that dreams about cheating usually aren’t cause for alarm because they often relate to ongoing daytime stress. If these dreams really bother you, this constant worry can start seeping into your everyday thoughts, which can cause distress and affect your relationship. If you’re struggling with hidden thoughts or fears, it may be helpful to talk with your partner or a therapist who can support you in addressing and overcoming them.
This article was originally published by Snežana Vranić on the Marie Claire Serbia website.
