What Does It Really Mean If You Have A Dream Your Partner Is Cheating On You?

We've all had those dreams so vivid we can't shake them in the morning. Some of the worst may feature running from someone, falling, or moving so slowly that it feels like you're underwater. However, the nightmare that shakes many to their core is one of the ultimate betrayal. Having a dream about your significant other cheating on you is one of the hardest to get over, especially if it feels too real. Although it's not your spouse's fault that your subconscious went in this direction, such dreams can cause conflict in your relationship.

Because we have no control over our dreams (and more importantly, neither do our spouses), it leaves many of us wondering what these visions actually mean. Although dreams like this don't mean that your S.O. is actually cheating, they can point to underlying issues that may need to be addressed. "It's something you should be curious about because every single thing in our dreams means something. Likely, your subconscious is telling you — or trying to work through — something," certified dream analyst Lauri Loewenberg tells Healthline. So if you're having dreams of your significant other betraying you, there could be more at play than you know.

If you have a dream where your spouse or significant other has cheated, there may be more going on psychologically than you think. For instance, this event in your dream could be your subconscious way of addressing an issue of neglect in your relationship (via Refinery29). These dreams can point to places where you aren't getting enough of something, such as physical attention. Or maybe you're unfulfilled emotionally. Although some people have these dreams because they are unsatisfied sexually, many of our cheating dreams aren't actually about sex at all. These dreams can instead point to some kind of dissatisfaction with your relationship, indicating that you are unhappy with your intimacy in other ways. You may feel insecure about how your spouse feels about you. According to PsycholoGenie, feelings of inadequacy and poor self-image can make you wonder why your partner would want to stay with you, potentially leading to cheating dreams.

In addition to feelings of inadequacy, these dreams could stem from a fear of betrayal. If your partner has a history of infidelity or you have been cheated on in the past, your feelings about this may be coming out in your dreams. This may be a sign that you need to discuss your worries and work on building or rebuilding deeper trust together (via Insider).

If these dreams are plaguing your sleeping hours, there are things you can do. Sometimes talking to someone about the dreams is beneficial. Seeking out advice from a friend or a therapist is a good way to put your feelings out there. It's important to address the feelings of betrayal so that they don't perpetuate into something bigger (via Dream Moods). In addition, try talking to your partner about your dreams. Your conversation could lead to unveiling underlying issues that are present in your relationship. If nothing else, it can help you calm your fears and move on.

Although dreams where your partner is cheating don't necessarily mean your partner is guilty, they do expose some feelings of betrayal, neglect, and insecurity within your relationship. If these dreams have made their way into your subconscious, don't lash out — instead, use the dream as a conversation starter to begin working on these nagging feelings in your relationship.