A couple of people have mentioned to me that the word is "reoccuring" rather than "recurring". Just FYI - both words are acceptable. However, recurring usually refers to something repeated many times, where reoccuring generally refers to one or a few repetitions of something. I just chose to use the first rather than the latter, because my dreams are definitely recurring!
I had to come back to this. I do have a recurring nightmare not dream. It’s that one where I’ve made a plan and all that I’ve waited for doesn’t happen.
I have a few reoccurring dreams and mostly is running to reach the lights? Also falling from high buildings and I have dreams when I have so much on my mind and if I don’t spend long enough time of breathing and meditation that’s the occurrence . Sometimes I do feel suffocated and that’s when my panic attacks? So far it’s been two weeks since my last panic attacks and I am trying to remind myself to just breath . I never have panic attacks or anxiety until l got sick. The more I pray it has help me tremendously and with our community everyone lift each other up. I am so blessed to have all of you in my life. I used to talk to my therapist daily sometimes twice as I can reach out to them 24/7
I do understand panic attacks. My child is finally realizing why she has them. She has eliminated some of what causes them. I’m now seeing the light in her eyes turn on.
I too have had the falling of buildings dream. It's a horrible feeling & at times it jolts me awake with my heart pounding. Very scary. I also suffer from anxiety & panic attacks & they are horrible.
I pray that things continue to get better for you Lucy. 🙏💖
Cathy, this was a very interesting piece. Interesting to know why people have certain dreams and how it is relevant to something that has occurred in their life. I honesty do not dream that much and can't really remember anything that was reoccurring repeatedly. When I do dream it is usually about chasing something I can't find or running not able to get where I need to be. This is a lot of good information but at this point I can't relate fully but I enjoyed reading. Some good info for when I might start to have reoccurring dreams!! What I can say is that I remember waking up from a dream at times and wishing I could go back to sleep and finish what was happening!!
Ha! When I was a teacher, I used to dream I walked down the hall at school in my underwear; and NO ONE NOTICED. Probably meant something back then, but I'm glad to report I haven't had that dream since I retired.
Cathey, Interesting topic. I don’t seem to dream much, or at least I do not remember my dreams. What I do remember are nightmares. There’s always violence towards me or a loved one in them and I usually wake up screaming. Thankfully these are rare occurrences. I cannot watch any movies or television with any type of violence including recreations of war. Disturbing news can trigger one of these nightmares. I had to turn my head during the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan depicting the bloodshed at the landing of Allied troops on Normandy. I find it very disturbing that much of what passes for entertainment in television, movies and online games involves violence. I don’t think this is healthy for our children or society in general. Clearly I have a great fear of violence.
True confession - I never made it past the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan. Too much. I also don't watch scary movies because I never really got over "The Shining". Luckily, I don't seem to dream about that stuff. It's enough of a nightmare for me to dream of losing my car or one of my grandchildren - haha. I haven't actually ever lost either! Thanks for sharing, Joan!
I used to have dreams all the time, but in the last year I haven’t had many. In the past if I had a dream, and I woke up from it in the middle of the night to go to the restroom or get a drink of water, I was able to go back and finish my dream, but I haven’t been able to do that either this past year. I didn’t totally retire as I am working three days a week, but I used to work full-time, and maybe that is why my dreams are less. Three nights a week my brain is very tired because I work with a lady that has Alzheimer’s, dementia, & Lewy body dementia and I am usually exhausted on those nights, but I don’t dream on those nights. Dreams have always fascinated me, so I really enjoyed reading this, thank you Cathey. Blessings! 
This is interesting. If I have them, I don’t remember them. Not sure what that means. Thought I would share that any way! I enjoyed reading about this! Thanks for sharing!
I like researching things and since I have had recurring dreams for years, I was curious how many others do and why or why not. I'm surprised at how many of my readers don't seem to. Anyway, a fun little rabbit hole!
Thanks for sharing your writing. When I dream not often(we all dream) if it wakes me I just lie still and sing to myself IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. Retirement is a wonderful thing. I thank GOD that I have lived long enough to enjoy retirement. Some don't make it. Keep writing you are a blessing to many.
Interesting topic! I have several recurring dreams and certain places that serve as a the identical backdrop to other dreams. My most common dream is similar to what you mentioned. It is set in school, usually college. I find out last minute that there are one or two classes that I may have missed and therefore I can't graduate. The other is taking the bar exam again and failing and finding out that I am not an attorney after all and never was! Both are terrifying and cause me to wake up in a cold sweat and unnerved for hours after. Strange stuff!
Seems like fear of failing is a recurring theme for many of us. Isn't it so interesting in how it manifests in our dreams? I can only imagine the pressure of passing the bar exam - it's no wonder that one stuck with you!
I was struck by your essay because as you point out, so many of us have the same types of dreams and fears, particularly fear of failure and not measuring up. Such common themes! I wonder if the dreams provide a healthy outlet for these feelings. Hmm... Oh, the bar exam I took 31 years ago this month was intense and kind of melted into my being. It's still showing up in dreams! Crazy, right?
I kept having that school dream long after I was no longer in school. You wonder why things like that stick in our psyche forever. Now I don't dream about failing, I dream about losing things. Maybe it's a fear of losing my mind - haha!
I love your humor in this Footnote Cathey. I’m afraid I fall into the category of not having recurring dreams . Having said that if I do have a disturbing dream I usually wake up with a start but by the time I have un-jumbled my thoughts, it’s gone. 😂🤷♀️ Enjoyed thinking about this!
Cathey… I finally had some time to read this. It’s ironic but I have had a similar dream to the one you described about school. I haven’t had that dream for quite a while but for many years it plagued me many times a week. It was essentially that I registered for a particular semester of classes and after registration I didn’t want to go to the lectures. Week after week I promised myself that I would go and when the day for classes came about I did not go. First I made excuses and when those wore out I admitted to myself that I just didn’t want to go. I was so worried about exams so I would try to get into the texts but there was a block. I knew I would fail which would be the consequence for my failure to go to to class but even that did not motivate me to study. So I was left with this feeling of total failure of the semester. I would wake up with an anxious desperate fear. It would take me several minutes to come into the truth that it was only a dream not my reality. Even writing about this experience recreates that feeling within me. I don’t want to have that dream again.
I haven’t thought about this experience for a very long time. I’m really fine with not thinking about it for another several years..,, or ever. I’m sure that the dream was an expression of my fear I would not do well in my undergraduate years and then in law school. Even with reasoned and rational thinking I had quite a difficult time dealing with the anxiousness created by that dream. 💜🙏🏻
Those dreams can certainly leave you feeling anxious even when you wake up. I find it fascinating to hear what other people's recurring dreams are. Hopefully neither of us have to dream about failing school anymore - lol.
I used to dream I was walking in my high school halls dressed only in a slip. Haven't had that one in a while. Most of my dreams I don't remember. But I do have recurring dreams of searching for something, and I don't know what it is and can never find it . Sometimes, like you, my phone won't work when I need to desperately use it. (That part I can understand because I am not techy). The other part is a mystery to me as I am very content with my life. I am more at peace now than I have ever been and I need nothing.
Interesting writing..... and yes I have recurring dreams. When I was young it was like the scene in Fantasia, where I was being chased by the brooms because I couldn't get my chores done. Many of my dreams in adult is still about not being able to get something done. If my dream involves my children being hurt or lost, I wake up with a start and then can't go back to sleep. The one recurring happy dream is when I'm flying and I feel so good. Thanks Cathey, I enjoy your writing!
Thank you, Terry! I've always wanted to have flying dreams. Instead I have falling dreams. Maybe it's a sign I should not try airborn activities.....haha!
A couple of people have mentioned to me that the word is "reoccuring" rather than "recurring". Just FYI - both words are acceptable. However, recurring usually refers to something repeated many times, where reoccuring generally refers to one or a few repetitions of something. I just chose to use the first rather than the latter, because my dreams are definitely recurring!
I had to come back to this. I do have a recurring nightmare not dream. It’s that one where I’ve made a plan and all that I’ve waited for doesn’t happen.
:(
I have a few reoccurring dreams and mostly is running to reach the lights? Also falling from high buildings and I have dreams when I have so much on my mind and if I don’t spend long enough time of breathing and meditation that’s the occurrence . Sometimes I do feel suffocated and that’s when my panic attacks? So far it’s been two weeks since my last panic attacks and I am trying to remind myself to just breath . I never have panic attacks or anxiety until l got sick. The more I pray it has help me tremendously and with our community everyone lift each other up. I am so blessed to have all of you in my life. I used to talk to my therapist daily sometimes twice as I can reach out to them 24/7
I sometimes dream I'm falling and wake up in a jolt - lol. Praying you have a wonderful summer with few stressors and only happy dreams!
I do understand panic attacks. My child is finally realizing why she has them. She has eliminated some of what causes them. I’m now seeing the light in her eyes turn on.
I too have had the falling of buildings dream. It's a horrible feeling & at times it jolts me awake with my heart pounding. Very scary. I also suffer from anxiety & panic attacks & they are horrible.
I pray that things continue to get better for you Lucy. 🙏💖
Cathy, this was a very interesting piece. Interesting to know why people have certain dreams and how it is relevant to something that has occurred in their life. I honesty do not dream that much and can't really remember anything that was reoccurring repeatedly. When I do dream it is usually about chasing something I can't find or running not able to get where I need to be. This is a lot of good information but at this point I can't relate fully but I enjoyed reading. Some good info for when I might start to have reoccurring dreams!! What I can say is that I remember waking up from a dream at times and wishing I could go back to sleep and finish what was happening!!
It is definitely an interesting subject. Ii don't remember most dreams. The ones I remember are usually about being late to get somewhere.
That's one of mine, too. I am a very prompt person so being late is a bit of a nightmare!
Ha! When I was a teacher, I used to dream I walked down the hall at school in my underwear; and NO ONE NOTICED. Probably meant something back then, but I'm glad to report I haven't had that dream since I retired.
Retirement has helped me in this area as well. If I were able to stop waking in the middle of the night, I might be cured!
You mean those 3:00 runs to the BR? Ha!
Let's not talk about that. 😆
Cathey, Interesting topic. I don’t seem to dream much, or at least I do not remember my dreams. What I do remember are nightmares. There’s always violence towards me or a loved one in them and I usually wake up screaming. Thankfully these are rare occurrences. I cannot watch any movies or television with any type of violence including recreations of war. Disturbing news can trigger one of these nightmares. I had to turn my head during the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan depicting the bloodshed at the landing of Allied troops on Normandy. I find it very disturbing that much of what passes for entertainment in television, movies and online games involves violence. I don’t think this is healthy for our children or society in general. Clearly I have a great fear of violence.
True confession - I never made it past the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan. Too much. I also don't watch scary movies because I never really got over "The Shining". Luckily, I don't seem to dream about that stuff. It's enough of a nightmare for me to dream of losing my car or one of my grandchildren - haha. I haven't actually ever lost either! Thanks for sharing, Joan!
I used to have dreams all the time, but in the last year I haven’t had many. In the past if I had a dream, and I woke up from it in the middle of the night to go to the restroom or get a drink of water, I was able to go back and finish my dream, but I haven’t been able to do that either this past year. I didn’t totally retire as I am working three days a week, but I used to work full-time, and maybe that is why my dreams are less. Three nights a week my brain is very tired because I work with a lady that has Alzheimer’s, dementia, & Lewy body dementia and I am usually exhausted on those nights, but I don’t dream on those nights. Dreams have always fascinated me, so I really enjoyed reading this, thank you Cathey. Blessings! 
I've always been an active dreamer and I'm sure there are a lot of reasons for it. Interesting stuff, isn't it?
This is interesting. If I have them, I don’t remember them. Not sure what that means. Thought I would share that any way! I enjoyed reading about this! Thanks for sharing!
I like researching things and since I have had recurring dreams for years, I was curious how many others do and why or why not. I'm surprised at how many of my readers don't seem to. Anyway, a fun little rabbit hole!
Thanks for sharing your writing. When I dream not often(we all dream) if it wakes me I just lie still and sing to myself IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. Retirement is a wonderful thing. I thank GOD that I have lived long enough to enjoy retirement. Some don't make it. Keep writing you are a blessing to many.
Thank you so much, Susie! I feel blessed that God has called me to return to writing and so glad others enjoy it or are inspired in some small way.
Interesting topic! I have several recurring dreams and certain places that serve as a the identical backdrop to other dreams. My most common dream is similar to what you mentioned. It is set in school, usually college. I find out last minute that there are one or two classes that I may have missed and therefore I can't graduate. The other is taking the bar exam again and failing and finding out that I am not an attorney after all and never was! Both are terrifying and cause me to wake up in a cold sweat and unnerved for hours after. Strange stuff!
Seems like fear of failing is a recurring theme for many of us. Isn't it so interesting in how it manifests in our dreams? I can only imagine the pressure of passing the bar exam - it's no wonder that one stuck with you!
I was struck by your essay because as you point out, so many of us have the same types of dreams and fears, particularly fear of failure and not measuring up. Such common themes! I wonder if the dreams provide a healthy outlet for these feelings. Hmm... Oh, the bar exam I took 31 years ago this month was intense and kind of melted into my being. It's still showing up in dreams! Crazy, right?
I kept having that school dream long after I was no longer in school. You wonder why things like that stick in our psyche forever. Now I don't dream about failing, I dream about losing things. Maybe it's a fear of losing my mind - haha!
Now that is funny! These dreams are often kind of traumatic, but do you find that these dreams are sometimes comforting? Mine are a mixed bag.
Not usually comforting. I do have good dreams, too, though. They just don't tend to be recurring - darn it!
I often have the falling or running dreams, but the most common reoccurring dream I have is, all of my teeth falling out. I have this dream a lot.
I also a school dream where I try to finish year 12, but no matter what I do, I can't. I always fail.
There are others, but I can't think of them at the moment.
Teeth falling out - that's a new one!
I love your humor in this Footnote Cathey. I’m afraid I fall into the category of not having recurring dreams . Having said that if I do have a disturbing dream I usually wake up with a start but by the time I have un-jumbled my thoughts, it’s gone. 😂🤷♀️ Enjoyed thinking about this!
Cathey… I finally had some time to read this. It’s ironic but I have had a similar dream to the one you described about school. I haven’t had that dream for quite a while but for many years it plagued me many times a week. It was essentially that I registered for a particular semester of classes and after registration I didn’t want to go to the lectures. Week after week I promised myself that I would go and when the day for classes came about I did not go. First I made excuses and when those wore out I admitted to myself that I just didn’t want to go. I was so worried about exams so I would try to get into the texts but there was a block. I knew I would fail which would be the consequence for my failure to go to to class but even that did not motivate me to study. So I was left with this feeling of total failure of the semester. I would wake up with an anxious desperate fear. It would take me several minutes to come into the truth that it was only a dream not my reality. Even writing about this experience recreates that feeling within me. I don’t want to have that dream again.
I haven’t thought about this experience for a very long time. I’m really fine with not thinking about it for another several years..,, or ever. I’m sure that the dream was an expression of my fear I would not do well in my undergraduate years and then in law school. Even with reasoned and rational thinking I had quite a difficult time dealing with the anxiousness created by that dream. 💜🙏🏻
Those dreams can certainly leave you feeling anxious even when you wake up. I find it fascinating to hear what other people's recurring dreams are. Hopefully neither of us have to dream about failing school anymore - lol.
I used to dream I was walking in my high school halls dressed only in a slip. Haven't had that one in a while. Most of my dreams I don't remember. But I do have recurring dreams of searching for something, and I don't know what it is and can never find it . Sometimes, like you, my phone won't work when I need to desperately use it. (That part I can understand because I am not techy). The other part is a mystery to me as I am very content with my life. I am more at peace now than I have ever been and I need nothing.
Interesting subject.
The phone one makes perfect sense to me as well. I think I don't know about 2/3 of what my Iphone can actually do. 😂
Interesting writing..... and yes I have recurring dreams. When I was young it was like the scene in Fantasia, where I was being chased by the brooms because I couldn't get my chores done. Many of my dreams in adult is still about not being able to get something done. If my dream involves my children being hurt or lost, I wake up with a start and then can't go back to sleep. The one recurring happy dream is when I'm flying and I feel so good. Thanks Cathey, I enjoy your writing!
Thank you, Terry! I've always wanted to have flying dreams. Instead I have falling dreams. Maybe it's a sign I should not try airborn activities.....haha!