What It Really Means When You Dream About Someone
Lifestyle - News
By BRITTANY BROLLEY
Someone You Know
Carder Stout, a licensed psychotherapist and dream analyst, believes dreams play a significant role in our lives. When you dream about people you know, Stout explained to Goop that you're not actually dreaming about them; rather, the people in your dreams actually "represent aspects of yourself."
Old Acquaintance
What does it mean when you dream about someone you used to know? Although the dream may have seemed completely random, it's likely that you saw someone earlier in the day — possibly without you realizing it — who made your brain remember your ex-friend, thereby preserving the memory in your brain.
Old Flame
Even if you've gone no-contact with your ex, that person may still occupy a part of your brain — especially while you're sleeping. Dream expert Kelly Sullivan Walden told Bustle, "This is partially due to (mental) habit, partially due to what your ex represents to you, and partially due to an attempt to heal unresolved issues."
Complete Stranger
It may surprise you to learn that about 50 percent of the people we dream about are strangers. An older study found that these strangers are male, with neuroscientist Patrick McNamara, summarizing the study, writing, "Male strangers appear to be a 'code' for aggressive impulses that are being processed in memory."
Losing Someone
According to Carder Stout, "If you dream that you are losing your child, it refers to ignoring those childlike qualities in yourself," and you should "play more and stop being such a grown-up." If you dream about losing your spouse, Stout said, "there may be a need for you to address the masculine or feminine
energy that pulses through you."