Dreams

relationships

"Why Am I Having Nightmares About My Boyfriend?"

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community.

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

My boyfriend and I have been dating for a year and a half; I really love him and we generally have a great relationship, but we definitely have our share of ups and downs. The downs have mainly been due to fears and insecurities I have — it's my first really serious relationship seeing how I've been a life long commitment-phobe! — so feeling this vulnerable is overwhelming and scary for me at times.  

Since the beginning of our relationship I have had dreams about my boyfriend that range from neutral (we're out with a bunch of friends but not really talking to each other) to terrible (he's with an ex or I'm cheating on him with someone else). I get the good one on occasion, but it's rare. These dreams really mess with my head! It's terrible when you wake up in the morning and that's the first thing you think about! It can throw me into a funk and get me ruminating on something all day to the point where I pick a fight with him about it later. Really unhealthy behavior. Aside from that, it also makes me really worried about where these feelings and fears are coming from, and if any of them are legitimate. 

I should add that prior to this I usually didn't have dreams that I remembered — once a week, maybe. Now it's three to four times a week at least. And most focus on him or people I know through him. I was also never the person who had great dreams to begin with — no sitting on the beach drinking coronas in my REM cycle! They are always a little bizarre or action packed — just for some background.

So my question is: what does all of this mean? Is this normal? Is there anything I can do to stop it? I'm tired of waking up with a pit in my stomach and some nights I'm hesitant to fall asleep because of this! Thank you. 

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously in Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

community

Sunday Confessional: I'm Married and Have Been Dreaming About My Ex Lately

This week's confession comes from our anonymous Confession Booth group in the TrèsSugar Community.

This week's confession comes from our anonymous Confession Booth group in the TrèsSugar Community. Weigh in with your advice below.


I've been having frequent dreams lately about my ex, with whom I have a child. Can anyone tell me why that is or what it means? We were so young, of course. But it's been so, so many years since we broke up. I'm wondering if it's because we parted ways and just left with so many things unsaid.

There's lots of cool stuff going on in our community — join it, check it out, share your posts or advice in the great groups, and maybe we'll feature it here on TrèsSugar!

sleep

What Celebrities Have You Dreamed About?

Erotomania is dreaming that someone you don't know, usually a celebrity, is in love with you.

Erotomania is dreaming that someone you don't know, usually a celebrity, is in love with you. It's one of the most common themes in dreams, and I think I had one.

There was nothing erotic about it, but it was certainly narcissistic enough. I dreamed I was in a relationship with a celebrity I can't remember. Someone ultrafamous who I'm not particularly attracted or not attracted to — maybe Jake Gyllenhaal? He was late, I was mad, and he pleaded for forgiveness, which I wouldn't grant. And, that was it. I think he cried.

Platonic, erotomanic, or indifferent, what celebrities have you dreamed about?

sleep

10 Common Reoccurring Dreams

Whether you think dreams are a window to the unconscious or just exercise for the brain, we all dream the same things.

Whether you think dreams are a window to the unconscious or just exercise for the brain, we all dream the same things. Sure the details vary, and we interpret them differently, but studies show themes transcend culture.

A new study set out to see what dreams are the most common and which reoccur (more than three times) the most frequently only to find that dream prevalence and reoccurrence are rarely the same.

Being a child again and being the object of a celebrity's affection (aka, erotomania) are the most common, yet they almost never reoccur. However, dreaming of your teeth falling out or being physically attacked are rare dreams, but those who experience them do so often.

So let's put some dream paranoia to rest once and for all by looking at 10 of the most common reoccurring dreams below.

Poll

Bridget Moynahan Didn't Have Picket Fence Fantasy; Did You?

Not all moms need marriage and the carriage.

Not all moms need marriage and the carriage. Self magazine's August cover girl, Bridget Moynahan, didn't. Though she and ex Tom Brady split before their son John, 2, was born, the actress's social life wasn't affected. She said:

When I was six months pregnant, my belly was like an enormous watermelon. But it didn't hamper my dating life! I do look at men differently now; there's a whole category that isn't in the running: somebody who doesn't want a family. And, while I'd love to have more children, I'm not sure I want another on my own. One is portable; two are not. Anyone I date is going to have an open heart. I never had the fantasy that I was going to get married and have three kids and live in a house with a white picket fence. I couldn't ask to be in a better place right now, and there were multiple things that made all this — having a beautiful son and work I'm proud of and supportive friends — come true.

All women don't buy into the conventional dream; did you?

community

If You're a Dreamer, You're Not the Only One

Realizing and accomplishing one's dreams is often easier said than done, but the effort is always worth it.

Realizing and accomplishing one's dreams is often easier said than done, but the effort is always worth it. Inspired by a quote from True Blood's dreamy Jason Stackhouse, I recently asked Savvy readers where they fall in the lineup of "people who got no dreams, people who have dreams and don't do anything about them, and people who go out and get their dreams."

If you're a dreamer, you're not the only one — 41 percent of SavvySugar readers say they have career and entrepreneurship dreams but aren't actively pursuing them, while another 41 percent say they have dreams and are working on making them a reality. The remaining 18 percent polled prefer a completely realistic approach. Check out highlights of my favorite inspirational comments.

Poll

What Kind of Dreamer Are You?

Sexy, but simple True Blood character Jason Stackhouse isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but he occasionally offers up a poignant — albeit inadvertent — one-liner.

Sexy, but simple True Blood character Jason Stackhouse isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but he occasionally offers up a poignant — albeit inadvertent — one-liner. While explaining his hopes for a career change he recently proclaimed that there are three types of dreamers in the world, "people who got no dreams, people who have dreams and don't do anything about them, and people who go out and get their dreams." Stackhouse hopes to be the latter. When it comes to career, entrepreneurship, and success, what's your dream reality?

community

Group Therapy: Cheating in My Dreams

This question comes from Group Therapy in our TrèsSugar Community.

This question comes from Group Therapy in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

My boyfriend and I have been together for 4 years. At one time we had a long distance relationship and I developed a crush that never developed into anything because of my relationship. I have not seen this person in over a year. I was never very close to this person and he lives half way across the world!!

Sometimes he pops into my head and I have a day dream about him. Lately I haven't been thinking about him at all...untilll a few nights ago. All of a sudden I have dreams about being with him and talking to him.

I feel really creepy about it. I don't want to be with him but I cannot stop thinking about him. I really do not like this because it brings me a lot of guilty feelings!!

Tell me what to do... Why am I so fixated??

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it, anonymously, to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

Celebrity

Speak Up: What Olympic Sport Would You Compete In?

In a fun video, People asked a bunch of celebs what sport they'd like to compete in if they were Winter Olympians.

In a fun video, People asked a bunch of celebs what sport they'd like to compete in if they were Winter Olympians. The big winner? Curling! Although curling is an old-school game, it's relatively new to the Olympics, debuting in 1992. It's also seen a more rowdy crowd this year: much like you'd see at a football game, I've spotted rows of shirtless men in the stands wearing body paint of their team's colors. Celebs like Matthew Morrison of Glee, Kelly Ripa, and Megan Mullally all say they want to "sweep" some stones across the ice.

Some of the other celebs in the video include Jerry O'Connell, Valerie Bertinelli, and Robin Thicke. My favorite is Project Runway's Tim Gunn, who says he'd be a champion in the "hot chocolate drinking competition."

If I had the kind of talent these athletes do, I'd be torn between riding a snowboard halfpipe or being fearless enough for alpine skiing. How about you — what Winter Olympic sport would you compete in?