Expert says not to panic if you dream about cheating on your partner
Cheating is one of the most upsetting things that can happen in a relationship and can lead to a couple separating in heartbreak. Because of this, it is understandable that many people are fearful of infidelity as the impact does not bear thinking about. It seems that our subconscious likes to taunt us with exactly what we fear and so if you have ever dreamt about cheating on your partner, you may have been worried about what it meant.
Are you secretly thinking about cheating? Have you acted innocently but emotionally cheated without realising? Does your partner not trust you and are you picking up on it subconsciously? These are all thoughts someone might have after dreaming of being unfaithful but according to experts, you need not to worry if your dreamworld romantic endeavours do not match up to your real-life faithful relationship.
Instead of taking the dream in its literal sense, you should note that a cheating dream can mean anything and will depend on your personal understanding and definition of what cheating means. One reason that you might dream about cheating is that you feel guilty about something in your life and it could be completely unrelated to your relationship.
Lauri Loewenberg, dream analyst and member of the International Association for the Study of Dreams, told Women's Health: "In my research and experience helping my clients understand their cheating dreams, I have found the main reason you cheat in your dreams is because - deep down - you have guilt or concern about something you're doing that is taking away from the time you should be putting into the relationship."
Another reason could be that your dream is trying to tell you that you're cheating yourself - either through not being truthful to your core beliefs or to your principles. People who are not fully committed to their diet or workout regime for example have had cheating dreams.
Richard 'shuts up' GMB guest who says Hancock 'deserved' being called 'd***head'"Experiencing that particular guilt in their dreams helped to reinforce their resolve to stick to their diet or recovery", says Loewenberg. The expert also found that away from the self, the dreams might also reveal your true feelings about your relationship. Cheating on a partner in a dream could reveal anxieties about repeating past behaviours if you have been unfaithful before.
The dream analyst also notes that the dreams might suggest that you are feeling unfulfilled in your sex life. Only through analysing the dream will the true meaning become apparent. "The quality or lack of sex can be part of the dynamic the dream is commenting on", says Loewenberg. Through breaking down the elements of the dream, the pro says that you will be able to learn what it is you are seeking or feeling that your waking life is lacking.
Have you ever dreamt of cheating on your partner? Let us know in the comments...