How to Stop a Recurring Dream

Can't shake a recurring dream?

Dreams have always been the subject of psychological interpretation. Recurring dreams are the body's way of telling us something: a message that is not being received. Still some recurring dreams are a source of stress and anxiety, causing us to lose sleep.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Be willing to accept undergoing a change or transformation of some sort. Dreams can be powerful signposts to life changes.

2. Keep a journal or notebook by your bedside. Dreams usually fade quickly upon waking, so be prepared to get down as many details as possible.

3. Read over what you've written. Be as objective as possible. Try not to get hung up on emotional responses. Instead, look for repeating patterns in your dream, as well as objects or places that hold a special significance. These are clues into your dream's meaning.

4. If your dream references real objects or places, investigate them. Is there something unresolved, a niggling problem left undone? Accomplish them and measure the results.

5. Push yourself to break out of the daily routine. Trying new things will lend perspective to your dream, and open up new possibilities of interpretation.

6. Don't negate a dream's significance. Though they can be highly symbolic, the message carried is often a direct response to something in your life.

7. Exercise within an hour and a half of going to sleep. This will relax your body and make you more perceptive to the details of your dream.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be discouraged if dreams recur even after you think you've understood them. Be patient, keep exploring and they will resolve themselves.