Given that the average person spends about 26 years asleep — which equates to 9,490 days or 227,760 hours — it’s little wonder that as a nation we’re not only obsessed with shut eye, but also what happens when we’re asleep. And if you’ve ever wanted to understand the meaning behind a recurring dream, you’re not alone. In fact, dream analysis is believed to date back a whopping 3,000 years — but exactly what dreams mean is still up for debate.
While not as common as dreaming about being chased, chances are – at some point in our lives – we may experience an unsettling dream about ending a relationship with a loved one. Whether platonic or romantic, it can be disconcerting to say the least, and it might feel like an ominous look into the future, which might have us wondering if a break-up is in the cards.
Sound familiar? We spoke to a dream expert and psychologist to find out exactly what it means to dream about ending a relationship with a significant other.
RELATED: 10 Reasons Why You’re Dreaming About Your Ex
You might not be in the right relationship
If you’re currently in a romantic partnership and are having dreams about ending it, this could in fact mean there are underlying issues that you haven’t addressed.
Manuela Schmitten, a psychologist at Inner Space Psychology, notes that “a dream in which you break up with your spouse could be your subconscious sending you a red flag and indicating that you need to take a closer look at your relationship.”
Try to use your dream as a prompt to do some brave self-exploration, and ask yourself whether you’re really happy with this person and if the relationship feels aligned with your values and needs.
Something might be missing in your relationship
Another reason you might dream about breaking up with your partner is because you subconsciously feel that something is missing from your relationship.
Health and wellbeing expert Tyler Woodard of Eden’s Gate says, “It’s hard to be specific regarding an exact issue you might be experiencing, but some examples can be lack of communication, lack of sex, and overall, an absence of effort.”
If any of these sound familiar, this could be an indication as to why you’re dreaming of a breakup — and it’s important to address any wants or desires that aren’t being met with your significant other to avoid distress in both your waking and sleeping life.
It could come down to insecurity
Insecurity and lack of confidence is, sadly, part and parcel of life for a lot of us — and sometimes such uncertainty can manifest itself in our dreams.
“If you’re feeling insecure about yourself, and aren’t confident in your bond with your partner, it might be that you find yourself dreaming about taking the lead and ending your relationship to avoid being the one who gets dumped,” says Woodard.
A good way to squash this negative thought is to work on cultivating your own happiness and interests, build your own sense of self and independence, and learn to enjoy spending time by yourself. These practices will help boost your self-worth and confidence and therefore bring less insecurities into your relationship.
