If You Dream About Someone, Are They Thinking of You?

• Dreaming about someone is typically a sign that your brain is processing information, not necessarily that the person in your dream is thinking about you.
• A person appearing in your dream could have manifested themselves there or may be trying to send you a telepathic message.
• If a deceased loved one appears in your dream, they could be thinking of you and trying to send you a message.

If you dream of someone, are they thinking of you?

Possibly, but it’s more likely related to how your brain processes information. Experts have a lot of different theories on why we dream, but the majority of them revolve around the way the brain creates memories, handles emotions, and processes information—not a mystical connection between 2 people. All in all, the field of dream interpretation isn’t fully understood by sleep experts. With that being said, there’s nothing wrong with believing that your dreams could have more mystical and/or spiritual implications for your life. Dreaming about a close friend often relates to your own personality traits that the friend embodies. Dreaming about an old acquaintance could be your brain’s way of processing a moment when you passed by a similar-looking stranger on the street. Dreaming about an ex could simply mean that your subconscious hasn’t quite let go of them (and what they represent to you). Dreaming about a random male stranger could signify your brain working through combative impulses and desires in your memory.

Spiritual Interpretations

The person is trying to tell you something. Some people believe in the potential power of dream telepathy, or the power to broadcast a message to someone in their own dream; in fact, some scientists even studied this potential phenomenon in the 60s and 70s. By this school of thought, dreaming of someone could very well mean that someone’s thinking of you—or, more specifically, trying to send you a message. There are some pretty compelling arguments both for and against dream telepathy. Some people doubt the human brain’s ability to “mesh” with another person’s mind, while other people have offered firsthand evidence of their telepathic dream experiences.

The person managed to manifest themselves into your dream. According to some spiritualists, it’s perfectly possible to manifest yourself into someone else’s dreams with steps like creating clear intentions, visualizing your success, and repeating affirmations. By this logic, it’s totally plausible that someone has manifested themselves to appear in your dreams. The idea of someone manifesting you in this way can be flattering, but also a little overwhelming and violating. To counteract this person, try repeating positive affirmations to yourself as well as visualizing a protective barrier surrounding you.

You’re connecting with your twin flame. Some spiritualists believe that twin flames can get in touch with one another through dreams—especially when you’re separated. Your twin flame might be sending out strong enough vibes to be popping up in your dream; or, they might be astral projecting their way in. What is a twin flame? Twin flames are 2 separate people who each make up one half of a soul; because of this, they have a very unique, strong, and profound connection. Check out this guide to see if your potential twin flame is real or not. Not sure if you’ve met your twin flame yet? Take wikiHow’s “Have I Met My Twin Flame?” quiz to find out.

There’s a soul connection linking the two of you. A soul tie is essentially a profound spiritual, mental, and emotional connection that tethers 2 people together (like friends, loved ones, lovers, and even business associates). If a certain person pops up in your dream unexpectedly, it could be proof that this individual is your soul tie—in fact, you could very well be popping up in their dreams, too! Thinking and worrying about a particular person a lot is another key sign that someone could be your soul tie. You might also feel like you’ve known them for an extended period of time.

A loved one who passed is getting in touch. Many people have reported cases of “visitation dreams,” or experiences where a loved one appeared to them in a dream and passed along a message. If a deceased friend or loved one makes an appearance in your dream, they could also be contacting you from beyond the grave. Some people observe the presence of a deceased loved one through certain fragrances, voices, and special symbols. Some people even report visits from angels in their dreams.

Common Dream Scenarios & Interpretations

Dreaming about an ex Dreaming about an ex can represent different things in a dream—the most obvious one being past pain and trauma. As you recover from the uncomfortable events that happened in your old relationship, your ex can make an unwanted appearance in your dream. Some other interpretations could be: You crossed paths with your ex and your brain is processing the memory of seeing them. You’re struggling with an issue that your ex represents, like infidelity or abuse. Your ex personifies negative emotions that you associate with that individual, like irritation. If you’re dreaming about an ex in a romantic way, it could be a sign that there’s something about the relationship you need to uncover and process.

Dreaming about someone you don’t likeIt never feels good when someone you dislike pops up in your personal dreamland—but they might be showing up because of some negative, unresolved feelings that you’re experiencing. Dreaming about this individual could also be your brain’s way of analyzing the reasons you dislike them so much. Some other interpretations include: You shove down your strong negative feelings for someone during your waking hours, so the feelings manifest in your dreams instead. You’re anticipating crossing paths with this person in the future and are preparing for it. You’re processing the regret of a lost friendship or relationship. The hated person symbolizes a fear that you don’t want to face.

Dreaming about cheatingDreams about cheating tend to represent fear more than the act of cheating itself. For instance, a prior victim of infidelity might have dreams that revolve around cheating as they continue to grow and heal from the experience. For some people, dreams about cheating might represent something more abstract, like a desire to enter a polyamorous relationship.

Dreaming the same thing again and againRecurring dreams are often linked to personal fears and experiences—because of this, they tend to revolve around frequent themes like falling, being completely nude in public, getting chased, and so on. With that being said, these dreams don’t have a universal theme across everyone’s psyche, and can mean different things for different people. Some experts believe that recurring dreams give the brain a chance to practice being in dangerous situations. Another popular theory highlights recurring dreams as a means of working through something traumatic. In some cases, recurring dreams could be a symptom of a mental health disorder such as generalized anxiety disorder or PTSD.

Dreaming about someone unknownDreaming about someone you’ve never met before can be a definite sign that this mystery person is thinking about you—but it can indicate other things, too. An unknown figure, for instance, might represent the universe extending a message to you, or it could symbolize a spirit guide that’s trying to get in touch. An unknown person might just be personifying some of your innermost desires, like the type of relationship you’d like to experience. Ask yourself what it is about this person in the dream that you’re attracted to. Chances are, they’re highlighting something you need to bring or express in your life right now.

Dreaming about someone you lost touch withIf an ex-friend appears in your dream, it could symbolize that you’re still grieving and recovering from the break-up itself. Their appearance could also highlight the negative emotions you associate with this person, like the frustration or humiliation you felt when the relationship ended. This type of dream doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s time to reconcile with your ex-friend. Ultimately, you have to take a moment of reflection and decide what’s best for your mental health.

Dreaming about having a conversation with someoneDreams about conversations are often meant to shed light on your current relationships—so, take a closer look at who the person is, as well as the message they’re communicating. Your brain might also be conjuring a fictitious conversation as a way of helping you process certain difficult emotions. There’s a good chance that your brain is disguising your own wisdom and knowledge as guidance from a friend or loved one.