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Why do I keep having nightmares about a person from my past?

13 Answers
Last Updated: 11/06/2018 at 2:53am
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Polly Letsch, LCSW

Clinical Social Work/Therapist

I provide non-judgmental, person-centered, objective therapeutic treatment for individuals of all ages to improve social, emotional, mental and other areas of functioning.

Top Rated Answers
summerUndecided847
July 27th, 2015 7:23am
Depending what their involvement in your life was, it's still affecting you and you haven't gotten over it
Zebrasarcastic
June 7th, 2016 5:44pm
The nightmares maybe because that person had a great impact on your life in the past and your mind wants to resolve it
Anonymous
December 29th, 2015 9:08am
It's because you cannot let go of that person or what they did to you. My father was cruel to me and till this day, I get nightmares about him (although we haven't seen each other or spoken since 2012). I realized that I had bottled my anger and fearfulness. I spoke about it with my friends and it helped me considerably. To put it in the concept of Sigmund Freud, the nightmares are the release of the unconscious mind into the conscious mind. You need to let go of the person. You need to forgive and forget them. Repetitive nightmares are an indication of an unresolved or inharmonious mental state. If you wanna go, let go.
castielfemalevessel
December 5th, 2017 3:20am
that is deep, it can have many many reasons since dreams tell a lot about our subconsciousness ad the things that we though we forgot. So it is really important how you see that person in your nightmares. if you want to talk about it, i can listen to you.
Anonymous
August 25th, 2015 8:12pm
People who constantly appear in our dreams tend to be consciously/subconsciously on our minds when we're awake. Are there things you are really afraid of about your relationship with that person? Or regrets you have?
Anonymous
November 6th, 2018 2:53am
I understand your problem. There are thoughts which haunt us and every night is not peaceful. I might not be correct but maybe your experience with that person was traumatic. Dream is said to be the reflection of our thoughts. Maybe, deep down that memory has left a scar in your heart. I feel that if this disrupts your daily routine or affects your health in any way, you should seek professional help. Sleep is important for daily functioning and your mind needs rest. Fee free to consult and it is completely okay to do so. I hope this will help you!
Siraj90
May 29th, 2015 9:03am
Your mind unconsciously thinking about them or you have not let them go and you constantly thinking about them.
Br33zyS3tz
July 29th, 2015 10:11pm
Perhaps there is some unfinished business, some unresolved feelings, some fear or anxiety, some discomfort overall; maybe he or she is on your mind because of positive things, because its necessary to consider them, to pursue contact again, to let emotions be released, to let go! It may be time to move on, to come to terms with certain circumstances; take a deep breath.
ChairmanMeowListens
November 11th, 2015 10:36pm
The subconscious looks for reason... Dreams are also a tool of the mind that serves as a testing ground to hash out our true feelings by making situations that can not exist in real life.
compassionateEyes50
March 7th, 2016 10:10am
Because that person affected your mind in such a way that you're having a hard time letting go. That person still resides in your sub conscious mind.
SupportiveSockMonkey
April 24th, 2018 5:29pm
This is because it has created a traumatic experience which has fallen into your subconscious. You may think about that person regularly or not at all but this is your brains way of working through what has happened by recalling the events.
Anonymous
March 11th, 2015 4:57pm
Your dreams could be trying to tell you something about feelings you have towards this person, even if they are in the past. Allow yourself to think through this and your relationship to them; you don't have to reconnect, but confronting lingering emotions could still bring you some peace and put these nightmares to bed.
Anonymous
May 10th, 2015 8:10pm
Usually when we dream about people from our past it's because we have unsolved issues with them. Is there something you still need to work out with this person?