Why You're Having Dreams About Cheating and What to Do
- How Do You Interpret Dreams About Cheating
- What Do Dreams About Cheating Mean
- What Does It Mean If I Have Recurring Dreams About Cheating
- How Can You Avoid or Prevent Dreams About Cheating
- How Can a Professional Help Me with Disturbing Cheating Dreams
- Should You Be Scared of Dreams About Cheating

Infidelity is a delicate matter that tackles such uncomfortable issues as a breach of trust, self-doubt, and crippling guilt, just to name a few. While a life-shuttering occurrence in real life, infidelity is a puzzling nuisance when it comes to dreams.
Utterly loyal people sometimes wake up drenched in sweat wondering things like “Why did I dream about cheating on my boyfriend\girlfriend?” How about we find out right now? So put down your scarlet letter stitchwork and grab yourself a nice cup of coffee instead as we learn the meaning of dreams about cheating.
How Do You Interpret Dreams About Cheating?

Before we open our dream guide on the “What Does It Mean When You Dream About Cheating?” chapter, we first need to establish some ground rules for interpreting said dreams.
First, whenever you start dreaming of infidelity, you need to take some sort of relationship inventory. What is going on in your union? Are you happy with the way your relationship is evolving?
Once you have a clear understanding of your romantic status quo, it is time to have a closer look at your dreams about cheating on your partner. What emotions are you experiencing? Is it guilt, relief, or anger? Such strong feelings are clear indicators that there could be underlying concerns involving trust, commitment, or even self-worth.
Once you get the gist of the emotions you are feeling both during the dreams and upon waking, try to assess their intensity. If dreams about being unfaithful cause a strong emotional response, this might mean that whatever issues plague your relationship are likely to be quite significant.
If you desperately want to find the answer to a question like “Why do I cheat in my dreams?”, you might find the clues laid bare in the dreams. Pay attention to specific details, both eye-catching and subtle. For instance, who are you cheating with? Or are you the one being cheated on? Where do these dreams about affairs take place? Such details might seem insignificant but they’ll later play a crucial role once you sit down to interpret your nightmares about cheating.
Here is an important side note. Whenever you find yourself asking things like “Why do I cheat on my boyfriend in my dreams?” (or girlfriend for that matter), don’t jump to the conclusion that you secretly wish to do that! Keep in mind that dreams about infidelity don’t mean that someone in your union is actively cheating or planning to. These dreams are more about deeper psychological processes.
What Do Dreams About Cheating Mean?

Now let’s get to the very core of the issue of “What does it mean when you dream your partner is cheating?” and vice versa. Since there is no straightforward answer to this question, we are going to review all the meanings that can hide behind these unpleasant dreams.
- - You have a fear of abandonment. Here is a painful punch. Instead of asking yourself things like “What does it mean to dream your husband is cheating on you?”, ask yourself this - “Who has let me down once? Who wasn’t there to take care of me?”
- You see, dreams about cheating - especially if it is your partner being unfaithful- mean that you might have an unresolved abandonment trauma that chooses to manifest through heart-breaking dreams.
- If there is anything good to take from these unsettling dreams, it is the tip that you need to establish better communication with your partner. It’s finally time to let them know that you have some trust or abandonment issues you can’t quite work around.
- - There is an internal conflict going on. What does it mean when you dream you cheated on your boyfriend? Well, believe it or not, it might mean that you are dissatisfied with a certain aspect of your life that has nothing to do with your SO.
- Your internal conflict of need vs want might cause dreams of infidelity. You are probably not particularly happy with your professional life or some recent personal choices. Cheating on your partner in dreams might also indicate that you crave changes or excitement in your life.
- - You are struggling with self-worth. If you are curious whether it is normal to have dreams about cheating, it could be, especially if you are in the midst of significant life changes. Such dreams might easily reflect issues you are currently having with your identity and self-worth.
- Your disloyalty in your dreams might stem from your doubt regarding your life choices and shifting values. Don’t see these dreams as torture. See them as a nudge in the direction of self-reflection and eventual growth.
- - You have unmet emotional needs. How about this trick question - “Should I tell my boyfriend I had a dream I cheated on him?” If you have a strong bond and communicate clearly, then it could be a great idea. After all, dreams of infidelity hint that you feel unappreciated in your relationship.
- You might be drifting apart or having fewer eye-to-eye conversations, and that bothers you enough to manifest through infidelity dreams. Perhaps it’s time you sat down with your SO and talked about your minor issues.
What Does It Mean If I Have Recurring Dreams About Cheating?

Since you now know what it means when you dream of cheating, we hope your mind is finally at ease. It is not? Are you bothered by the frequency of such dreams? Well, then this requires a thorough examination. Let’s do it.
If dreams about cheating on someone become persistent, this signifies that there are underlying but poignant psychological issues that require your immediate attention. Here are the more common reasons behind recurring infidelity dreams.
- - Unresolved traumas. Instead of wondering things like “Why do I have dreams of cheating?”, make an effort to recall your previous relationship. Could it have inflicted quite a trauma on your psyche?
- If you have dealt with infidelity before, your subconscious mind might see recurring dreams about cheating as a way to process the emotions you might have suppressed. So even the slightest hint that your current SO is disloyal can easily trigger old wounds, prompting more unpleasant dreams.
- - You are unhappy with your current relationship. It’s not like you are heading straight to a divorce or a breakup, but you still feel emotionally disconnected from your partner. You are concerned but unwilling to work this out. The only way the stress can relieve itself is through pesky cheating dreams.
- - You have personal insecurities. What does a recurring dream of cheating mean if not your struggle with the very concept of self-worth? If you don’t address the persistent issue of self-doubt, it will have no other choice other than manifesting through recurring dreams about being unfaithful.
- The sad thing is that you are not being disloyal to your SO. You are cheating on the real you. If you find the strength and resilience to work through your self-worth issues, this will significantly reduce the frequency of cheating in your dreams.
Here is a piece of advice - if you are having recurring cheating dreams, see if they change over time. If your emotions, the dream scenarios themselves, or even the slightest details are subject to a change, this might as well reflect a certain process - or lack thereof - that you are having in dealing with your unveiled psychological issues.
How Can You Avoid or Prevent Dreams About Cheating?

Well, we are almost through with the pressing issue of “What does it mean when you cheat in your dream?” Well, pressing is the wrong word. Unpleasant, unsettling, downright disturbing - these seem to fit better.
If you agree with our stance on cheating dreams, then you might be wondering - is there a way to finally stop them? Or at least reduce their frequency? Well, thanks to Sandman, there are. Let’s discuss them.
Another important side note - do not expect to be able to control your dreams like a video game. What we are going to discuss are the methods to improve your overall mental well-being and sleep hygiene. These minute things will have a great impact on you regardless.
- - Improve your interpersonal communication: Since dreaming of cheating on your partner usually stems from unresolved issues, talking to your SO about your needs, concerns, and feelings does wonders. A stronger bond between the two of you will lead to more sound sleep.
- - Improve your sleep hygiene. You need to establish a consistent bedtime routine. Couple it with a comfortable sleeping environment - lack of electronic devices, blackout drapes, proper room temperature - and you’ll have your slumber improved in no time. And the better the sleep, the more tranquil the dreams are.
- - Manage your anxiety. Reducing stress is crucial if you want to reduce the frequency of disturbing dreams. Try regular exercises, slow walks in the evening, or even warm bubble baths. Seek help from a therapist if you feel like your stress levels are way too high to handle on your own.
- - Build self-confidence. By addressing your insecurities, you’ll help minimize anxiety-driven dreams. Work on developing a strong sense of self-worth through journaling, art therapy, and meditations. Make sure to maintain healthy boundaries with your SO.
How Can a Professional Help Me with Disturbing Cheating Dreams?

Even though you are now fairly versed in what a dream of cheating means, you might still be somewhat vulnerable when it comes to it. If you feel like there is no way you can deal with such dreams on your own, it might be time to seek professional help.
If your dreams of being unfaithful do not go away despite your best efforts, consider therapy. Since your persistent dreams are likely caused by an unusually high level of stress, a mental health professional will help you explore the underlying meaning of these dreams.
If unpleasant nightly occurrences stem from a deeply hidden trauma, a professional therapist will help you finally process it and heal. What’s more, a therapist will provide you with surefire coping techniques that will significantly reduce anxiety and, by extension, nightmares.
Couples counseling also works wonders in improving your communication with your SO. A counselor can facilitate important conversations about trust, communication, and even intimacy that you have been putting away for a long time.
In case you feel like couples counseling isn’t your cup of tea, be sure to turn to AdAstra’s psychics for help. They will help you work with your unspoken issues and strengthen your bond. Just after a couple of sessions would result in infidelity dreams diminishing.
If you feel like you need a deeper and more nuanced look at your cheating dreams, consider contacting AdAstra for a dream interpretation. We will offer you valuable insights into your psyche based on your dreams. Psychics at AdAstra would be able to properly decipher the things that your subconscious is whispering to you through such visions.
Support groups can be an unexpected place where you can find help if you are tormented by unsettling dreams. Sharing experiences and tips often helps people see similarities in their dreams and provides a healing environment.
In case you are not sure whether you need to seek help from an AdAstra reader for your disturbing cheating dreams, here is a little checklist that can help you.
Please seek a mental health professional's help if you experience this:
- Your cheating dreams severely impact your sleep quality, up to crippling insomnia
- Your dreams cause your anxiety level to skyrocket, preventing you from living a normal life
- You know for sure that such dreams are the result of a traumatic experience you haven’t yet processed
- Unpleasant cheating dreams do not vanish even after you have worked through your issues
Should You Be Scared of Dreams About Cheating?

We hope that your questions like “Why do I have dreams about cheating on my boyfriend/girlfriend?” have been answered. Now what? What issues have we yet to tackle? How about the way you should view dreams about infidelity?
Since we already know plenty about cheating dreams and what they mean, we shouldn’t be all that apprehensive of them. While genuinely unsettling, these dreams haunt us for a reason. Such dreams, if handled properly, can be a great catalyst for both personal growth and the bonding of a couple.
With our guide at your disposal, you can bravely see into your infidelity dreams and discern the issue that is troubling you. Knowing the reason behind some malady brings you halfway to its cure, right?
So don’t chase such unpleasant dreams away but rather find the courage to accept that something is not right either within you or your union and strive to find ways to fix it.
By the way, it bears repeating that having dreams about cheating or being cheated on has very little to do with the real possibility of infidelity. These dreams occur when your interpersonal communication is slightly off or your sense of self has been compromised, So next time you see your boo making out with someone else in your dream, do not bash them on the head upon waking. Instead, ask yourself “Where did it all go wrong and how can I fix it?”