What Does It Mean to Dream of Your Partner Cheating on You?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDoes a Dream About Cheating Mean Your Partner Is Cheating on You?Interpreting Dreams of Your Partner CheatingWhat to Do If You Dream About Your Partner Cheating

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Does a Dream About Cheating Mean Your Partner Is Cheating on You?

Interpreting Dreams of Your Partner Cheating

What to Do If You Dream About Your Partner Cheating

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Dreaming of your partner cheating on you is a sure shot way to ruin your mood. You wake up feeling hurt, confused, and more than a little pissed off. You’re wondering what the dream means and whether your partner is actually cheating on you. You’re torn between snuggling up to them and kicking them out of bed.

Objectively, you know that it was just a dream. Subjectively, it’s a whole different story. You wonder if your subconscious mind might know something that you don’t…yet.

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Research shows us that 20% to 30% of alldreamsfeature our partners in some way.

“Dreams aboutcheatingare extremely common—they’re one of the top five dreams I’m asked about,” saysLauri Loewenberg, a certified dream analyst and author of “Dream on It: Unlock Your Dreams, Change Your Life.”

At a GlanceDreaming of your partner cheating on you can be pretty awful.Does it mean they’re actually cheating on you? The experts say that most often the dream is a sign of your own insecurities, but if your partner’s acting a bit sus, it could mean that they are actually cheating on you.Either way, the dream could be a sign of something that needs to be addressed in your relationship.

At a Glance

Dreaming of your partner cheating on you can be pretty awful.Does it mean they’re actually cheating on you? The experts say that most often the dream is a sign of your own insecurities, but if your partner’s acting a bit sus, it could mean that they are actually cheating on you.Either way, the dream could be a sign of something that needs to be addressed in your relationship.

Dreaming of your partner cheating on you can be pretty awful.

Does it mean they’re actually cheating on you? The experts say that most often the dream is a sign of your own insecurities, but if your partner’s acting a bit sus, it could mean that they are actually cheating on you.

Either way, the dream could be a sign of something that needs to be addressed in your relationship.

Experts in This ArticleLauri Loewenberg, a certified dream analyst and author of “Dream on It: Unlock Your Dreams, Change Your Life.”Jesse Lyon, LMHC, MS, CCHT, QS, a hypnotherapist and dream interpreterMichael Roeske, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist and senior director for the Newport Healthcare Center for Research and Innovation

Experts in This Article

Lauri Loewenberg, a certified dream analyst and author of “Dream on It: Unlock Your Dreams, Change Your Life.”Jesse Lyon, LMHC, MS, CCHT, QS, a hypnotherapist and dream interpreterMichael Roeske, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist and senior director for the Newport Healthcare Center for Research and Innovation

Well, that depends.

“In my experience, 99% of the time, these dreams are a sign that the dreamer is struggling with their ownself-worth,” saysJesse Lyon, LMHC, MS, CCHT, QS, a hypnotherapist and dream interpreter. “These dreams come from a deep-seated sense of low self-esteem,” explains Lyon. “Deep down, we have a fear that we’re not good enough for our partner and that they will choose to be with someone else instead.”

If there’s no history of infidelity and you have no reason to suspect they’re cheating on you, then it’s very unlikely that the dream means your partner is cheating.—LAURI LOEWENBERG, DREAM EXPERT

If there’s no history of infidelity and you have no reason to suspect they’re cheating on you, then it’s very unlikely that the dream means your partner is cheating.

—LAURI LOEWENBERG, DREAM EXPERT

But—and there’s always a but—if your partner has cheated in the past or their actions seem suspicious, then the dream could be your intuition at work, Loewenberg explains.

There have definitely been instances when the subconscious mind has picked up on subtlecuesfrom a partner that something is not right in the relationship because the partner is cheating, says Lyon.

Or, if your partner has cheated on you in the past, the dream could be a sign that trust is still an issue and you have not healed, says Loewenberg.

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We asked the dream experts to help us decode the differenttypes of dreams, to try and figure out what they mean.

Below, we explore the possible interpretations of cheating dreams.

Dreaming of Your Partner Cheating on You With a Stranger

Dreaming of your partner cheating on you with a stranger could mean that you feelanxiousthat your partner isunsatisfiedwith you and will find someone else, says Lyon.

He explains that it can also symbolize your own feelings of beingneglected or undervalued, in favor of something else in your partner’s life. It could be something like your partner’s work, hobbies, or travel, says Loewenberg.

Dreaming of Your Partner Cheating on You With Their Ex

Dreaming of Your Partner Cheating on You With Someone You Know

If you have no reason to suspect that your partner and this particular person arehooking upin real life, then the person may be a symbol for something your partner is interested in, says Loewenberg. Ourdreamsoften reflect our waking lives in metaphorical ways.

For instance, if you dream that your partner is cheating on you with someone who happens to be into chess, the dream could be a reflection of the fact that your partner has recently gotten interested in playing chess.

Loewenberg says the way to figure it out is to ask yourself what three things come to mind when you think of that person. Then, figure out whether there’s a common thread between any of those things and your partner.

Dreaming of Your Partner Cheating on You With a Celebrity

Celebritiesare a symbol of attention and recognition, says Lyon. “So, to dream of your partner cheating on you with a celebrity may symbolize that you’re not feeling valued or not receiving recognition, and this is causing issues in your romantic relationship.”

Dreaming of Catching Your Partner Cheating

The most common variation of this dream is that you catch your partner, and your partner either doesn’t care or acts like it’s no big deal, says Loewenberg. “This is a tell-tale sign that your partner is doing something that they are fine with, but you aren’t. It can even be something that they have no idea you have a problem with.”

Your mind may be showing you that it’s time to confront the issues in your relationship and “throw the covers off” of what’s hiding beneath, says Lyon.

Dreaming of Your Partner Telling You They’re Cheating on You

This one almost feels the most emotional out of all of them, says Lyon. “To hear your partner tell you that they arecheatingon you in the dream really shows that you feel they have given up on you and that they have found someone better. This communicates deep feelings of being undervalued, neglected, and struggling with feeling worthy.”

If you’ve dreamt of your partnercheatingon you, you may wonder what you’re supposed to do about it.

Unless you haveevidence of your partner cheating, just notice any feelings you have, such as anger or fear, and reflect upon why you’re feeling that way, says Roeske.

However, if the dreams recur or if they raise concerns about your relationship, he recommends communicating openly with your partner. Use the dream as a conversation starter so you can pinpoint the issue together and work on correcting it, says Loewenberg.

If the dreams disturb you and bring up feelings you’re struggling to cope with, it may be helpful to talk to amental healthcare providerwho can help you explore what they mean to you and why.

Takeaways

Dreaming about your partner cheating can stir up a whirlwind of emotions, but it’s important to distinguish whether you had the dream because you suspect they may be cheating on you or because you’reinsecurein some way.

Confronting your partner with unwarranted accusations won’t help your relationship—or help you feel more secure. Instead, it may be helpful to address these issues with your partner. Talk about your concerns or fears about your relationship, but avoid lobbing allegations ofinfidelity. You can also reach out to a mental healthcare provider if you need support.

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2 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Schredl M, Wood LC.Partners and ex-partners in dreams: a diary study.Clocks Sleep. 2021 May 26;3(2):289-297. doi:10.3390/clockssleep3020018

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