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First of all, it is important to differentiate between recurrent dreams that are part of a pathology and those whose cause is unknown and are not associated with a health problem.
Thus, the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) includes two disorders that have this type of repeated dream experiences as one of their main symptoms: nightmare disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Both constitute psychopathologies, that is, they cause clinical deterioration and clearly interfere with the life of the affected person.
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In the case of post-traumatic stress disorder, it is very common for people to experience the exact repetition of the traumatic event they experienced. Instead, idiopathic recurring dreams (with no known cause) are related to more general themes, such as the loss of a loved one or the breakup of a relationship.
Recurring dreams often occur during periods of stress, although some people experience them for years or even a lifetime. In some cases, they go away when the mood improves, but come back if it gets worse once more. Lack of sleep, for example, has been associated with repeated nightmares.
Therefore, although there is some hypothesis regarding the specific contents that are repeated, or regarding their relationship with the person’s concerns, we are currently not in a position to explain why there are issues that are repeatedly manifested more than others.
The continuity hypothesis states that dreams reflect states and concerns present during wakefulness. Thus, there is a greater probability that they will be negative if people present psychological distress. Recurring nightmares are more frequent in people who are anxious or have a tendency to experience negative emotions of great intensity.
It should also be noted that recurrent dreams occur more in people who feel that their psychological needs are frustrated.
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