A recurring dream is a dream which is experienced repeatedly over a long period. They can be pleasant or nightmarish and unique to the person and their experiences. Common themes in recurring dreams Through psychological analyses and studies, some recurrent themes have been identified. These include dreaming of being chased and pursued, which has been repeatedly demonstrated as being the most frequently experienced recurrent theme. The following themes below have been found to contribute to more than half of recurring dreams: Difficulties with house maintenance Teeth falling out – Sigmund Freud believed that if a woman had a recurring dream of her teeth falling out that she unconsciously longed to have children, and that if a man had this dream he was afraid of castration. Neither of these claims is substantiated. Discovering new rooms in a house – Freud believed that houses represented bodies. Others thought finding new rooms represented the dreamer finding out new things about themselves or of their own potential. Losing control of a vehicle Being unable to find a toilet Having the ability to fly The subjects of recurring dreams do vary. The following examples are also common: Being held down or otherwise unable to move (compare sleep paralysis) Nakedness in a public place Being held back in school or failing a test or exam you didn't know about Losing the ability to speak Escaping or being caught in a tornado/storm Drowning, or otherwise not being able to breathe Finding lost items Unable to turn on the lights in one's house Being with a significant other Missing a bus, taxi, plane or train, and possibly attempting to chase it Having to return to an old school due to an unfinished assignment or other unresolved issues Being chased by an animal or murderer One's house catching on fire Falling from a very high place Nuclear attack Reliving traumatic experiences Psychological disorders associated with recurring dreams Posttraumatic stress disorder: People suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder can often suffer from recurring dreams. These dreams are thought of as chronic nightmares that act as a symptom of PTSD. A study found that the degree of trauma had a positive relationship to distress related to dreams. Anxiety: Evidence suggests that recurrent dreams occur during times of stress and once the problem has resolved they will cease to recur. Obsessive compulsive disorder Epilepsy Possible explanations for recurring dreams Threat simulation theory -