Dreams about exes can be confusing, especially if you’re currently in a happy and committed relationship. Maybe you and your ex have been broken up for a while, or perhaps the split was recent. Either way, you can’t stop dreaming about them. So what do these dreams mean?

Here are ten possible explanations.

1. You have unfinished business

If you and your ex didn’t entirely end things on the best of terms, you’ve likely been dwelling on what went wrong and how things could have been different. Seeing them in your dreams may be a way for your subconscious to process these unresolved feelings so that you can finally move on.

Even if you’re over your ex emotionally, there may still be some lingering physical attraction or love. Dreams about an ex can be a way of exploring these hidden feelings and deciding whether or not you want to act on them.

2. Your ex reminds you of someone else

Maybe your ex reminded you of a person who served as an essential role model in your life, or perhaps they reminded you of someone close to the person they were associated with before you broke up. Whatever the case may be, if the thought of them pops into your mind at night, a subconscious reminder of that person likely is what’s behind it all.

3. You’re having a hard time imagining your future with anyone else

It’s normal to worry about whether you will ever find a partner who is half as good for you as your ex was. If being with anyone else makes you feel miserable, it may be because, deep down, you’re still hoping to reconcile with your ex.

If you find yourself dreaming about your ex regularly, likely, you haven’t entirely moved on from the relationship yet. These dreams can be frustrating, but they may be your subconscious way of processing the breakup and coming to terms with the new reality.

4. You’ve been thinking about certain aspects of your relationship

Perhaps the way you and you’re excommunicated, the special activities that made up your routine together, or maybe even their physical appearance has been on your mind lately. Just like when any other memory is on our mind all the time, when we dream about it, it feels very realistic and vivid because our subconscious minds work almost entirely off of memories and familiar patterns.

5. You can’t bear even to try and have another relationship

When the memories of your ex are always on your mind, you likely lack the courage or confidence to try and find someone new. If you’re having nightmares about their face, it may be because you cannot get over them.

6. You’re still hung up on someone else they used to date

Your ex may have dated someone else before they ever came into contact with you, and seeing them in your dreams could be a way for your subconscious mind to process any feelings of jealousy that you might have felt towards them at the time, or maybe they were just a friend before they became your exes.

One of the biggest fears that people have is being alone forever. If you’re scared of being single when everyone else around you is pairing up, it’s understandable that your subconscious would try to assuage these fears by giving you dreams about your ex.

7. You’re avoiding the truth about them

Maybe you’ve been struggling to resolve a conflict that you can’t seem to come to terms with, or perhaps there’s some other issue that’s been eating away at your heart, and seeing them in your dreams could be a way for your subconscious mind to process these negative feelings so that they can finally be dealt with.

8. They remind you of someone else who hurt you deeply

Your ex may have hurt the wrong person, or maybe someone crucial for them in their life has returned after their break up. Seeing them in your dreams is a way for your subconscious mind to process the emotions associated with this situation so that you can finally heal from it.

If your relationship with your ex was unhealthy and resulted in a lot of drama, your subconscious may be trying to tell you something. Dreams about an ex can signify that you need to let go of the negative aspects of that relationship to move on more healthily.

9. Your gut instincts are telling you to trust them again

Trust is one of the essential qualities in a relationship, and when the thought of your ex makes you hesitate, it may be because your subconscious mind believes that there’s something deeper to their past that you should be listening to.

If you’ve been wondering what would have happened if you’d stayed together, it’s only natural that your dreams would reflect this curiosity. Seeing your ex in a dream can be a way of working through the various scenarios that might have played out had things gone differently.

10. You’re ready for a second chance

It’s rare for two people to meet and become compatible from the very beginning, and if this is the case with you and your ex, then seeing them in your dreams may be a way for your subconscious mind to process everything that has happened between the two of you so that you can finally find the kind of love that will suit both of you equally well.

If you find yourself dreaming about your ex regularly, likely, you haven’t entirely moved on from the relationship yet. These dreams can be frustrating, but they may just be your subconscious way of processing the breakup and coming to terms with the new reality.

Dreams about your ex can sometimes be trying, but remember that they are not always bad omens. The main idea behind them is to process any feelings you may have towards your ex to move on with your life finally. If you ever feel these dreams have been going on for too long, consider seeing a therapist help you get back on the right path so that no unnecessary time is wasted.

As frustrating as it may be, dreaming about an ex can be a valuable way of exploring your feelings and figuring out what you need to do to move on. By understanding why these dreams are happening, you can work on making the necessary changes to let go finally.