Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUnderstanding Dream InterpretationsDreams About FallingDreams About Being Naked in PublicDreams About Being ChasedDreams About Losing TeethDreams About DyingDreams About Taking a TestDreams About InfidelityDreams About FlyingDreams About Pregnancy
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Understanding Dream Interpretations
Dreams About Falling
Dreams About Being Naked in Public
Dreams About Being Chased
Dreams About Losing Teeth
Dreams About Dying
Dreams About Taking a Test
Dreams About Infidelity
Dreams About Flying
Dreams About Pregnancy
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The subject of dream interpretation has been of interest for many years, and for good reason. Understanding thedeeper meaning of dreamscan help us realize how we feel and think, which can be good for providing personal insight.
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Dreams are the time in our life when we’re creating new neural connections and processing the experiences we’ve had in our waking life.—JESSE LYON, HYPNOTHERAPIST AND DREAM INTERPRETER
Dreams are the time in our life when we’re creating new neural connections and processing the experiences we’ve had in our waking life.
—JESSE LYON, HYPNOTHERAPIST AND DREAM INTERPRETER
What your dreams tell you and whether they reveal your true feelings depends on various factors. While somemodern theories of dreamssuggest that the answer is no—that dreams may have a more biological componentor even be due to sleep position—this hasn’t stopped interpreters and analysts from attempting to identify what common dream themes and symbols mean.
7 Most Common DreamsResearchers have found that the sevenmost common dreamsinvolve being attacked or chased, being late, loved ones dying, falling, flying, school, andsex.
7 Most Common Dreams
Researchers have found that the sevenmost common dreamsinvolve being attacked or chased, being late, loved ones dying, falling, flying, school, andsex.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common dreams and what dream interpretation books have to say about them.
1:409 Common Dreams and Their Interpretations
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9 Common Dreams and Their Interpretations
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Dreams about falling from great heights are very common. While there is a popular myth that if you hit the ground in your dream you will die in real life, it simply is not true. So what exactly could dreams about falling really mean?
According to many popular dream interpretations and at least one study, falling dreams are a sign that something in your life isn’t going well.It might suggest that you need torethink a choice, for instance, or consider a new direction in some area of your life.
“Dreaming of falling is very common. It is a symbol of fear in real life— perhaps of failing at work or in your love life,” says Russell Grant, author of “The Illustrated Dream Dictionary.” He adds that “Falling often expresses a need tolet yourself go moreand enjoy life more.”
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Have you ever had one of those awkward dreams where you show up at school or the office in your birthday suit? Don’t worry. Dreaming about being naked is hardly unusual.
Penney Peirce, the author of “Dream Dictionary for Dummies,” suggests that dreaming of public nudity might indicate that youfeel like a phonyor that you are afraid of revealing your imperfections and shortcomings.
AnastasiaRasstrigina/ Getty Images
Dream interpreters often suggest that such dreams mean that you aretrying to avoid something in your daily life. Tony Crisp, the author of “Dream Dictionary,” suggests that being chased in a dream might indicate a desire to escape from your own fears or desires.
The key to understanding what such a dream might mean depends partly on the identity of your pursuer. If it is:
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What do dreams mean if your teeth fall out? Penney Peirce, the author of “Dream Dictionary for Dummies,” suggests that dreaming about losing teeth can have multiple meanings.
It might mean that you areworried about your attractivenessor appearance, for instance. It may also indicate that you are concerned about your ability to communicate, or that you are concerned that you might have said something embarrassing.
“The real essence of teeth is their ability to bite through, to cut, tear, and grind,” she explains. “If your teeth fall out, you lose personal power and your ability tobe assertive, decisive, and self-protective.”
Igor Ustynskyy / Getty Images
Death is another commonsubject of dreamsand one that can be particularly disconcerting. Dreamers sometimes dream of the death of a loved one or even ofdying themselves. Popular dream interpretations suggest that such dreams reflectanxiety about changeor afear of the unknown.
“Like death, change can be scary because—also like death—we do not know what is ‘on the other side’ of the change, which is why the dreaming mind equates change with death,” suggests Lauri Loewenberg in her book “Dream on It: Unlock Your Dreams, Change Your Life.”
Like death, change can be scary because—also like death—we do not know what is ‘on the other side’ of the change, which is why the dreaming mind equates change with death.—LAURI LOEWENBERG, AUTHOR AND DREAM EXPERT
Like death, change can be scary because—also like death—we do not know what is ‘on the other side’ of the change, which is why the dreaming mind equates change with death.
—LAURI LOEWENBERG, AUTHOR AND DREAM EXPERT
Loewenberg also believes that dreaming about the death of a loved one can reflect a similar fear of change, especially about our children. As a child grows up, a parent’s mind begins to wonder where the younger version of the child went. Dreams of dying, therefore, reflect a sort of mourning for the passage of time.
Studies have also shown that those approaching the end of life and loved ones around them experience significant and meaningful dreams, often relating to a comforting presence,preparing to go, watching or engaging with the deceased, loved ones waiting, distressing experiences, and unfinished business.
What Does It Mean When You Dream of Someone Who Passed Away?
Willie B. Thomas / Getty Images
Studies have also found that dreams of test-taking are common.According to Craig Hamilton-Parker, author of “The Hidden Meaning of Dreams,” taking an exam in your dream might reveal an underlyingfear of failure.
“Examinations are stressful experiences in which you are made to face up to your shortcomings,” he writes. “To dream of failing an exam, being late for one, or being unprepared shows that you feel unprepared for the challenges of waking life.”
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Dreaming that your spouse or partner is cheating on youwith someone else can be super stressful. In some cases, we might even start to wonder if the dream might really be true. Does dreaming that your partner is unfaithful mean that it might happen? Or that it is already happening?
While these dreams might be the reflection offears of infidelity, such dreams probably don’t mean that your spouse is cheating or will cheat, say Trish and Rob MacGregor, authors of “Complete Dream Dictionary: A Bedside Guide to Knowing What Your Dreams Mean.”
“This is another ‘what if’ dream–you are testing the limits of reality,” the authors suggest.
Eve Adamson and Gayle Williamson, authors of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide Dream Dictionary,” posit that dreams about infidelity indicateissues with trust, loyalty, and communication in a relationship. “If you or your partner cheated in your dream, one of you isn’t getting what you need from that relationship right now,” they write.
Many people experience dreams about flying.Flying dreams can be exciting and even liberating, but they can also sometimes be quite frightening (especially for thoseafraid of heights).
According to Tony Crisp, author of"Dream Dictionary," dreams about flying often have two very different sides.They can represent feelings of freedom and independence. On the other hand, they can also indicate adesire to flee or escape from the realities of life.
“Flying alone occurs most frequently,” he writes, “showing the independent aspect of flying. But because it often involves positive feelings of pleasure, flying may depict our sexuality…especially aspects of it expressing freedom from social norms and restraints.”
Maki Nakamura / Getty Images
Dream interpreters often suggest thatdreams about pregnancyrepresent everything from creativity to fear. David C. Lohff, the author of “Dream Dictionary,” believes that pregnancy dreams might sometimes represent a woman’sfears of being an inadequate mother.
More Common Dream ThemesThere are other dream themes that tend to be fairly common. They include:Discovering new rooms or passagesBeing dressed inappropriatelyBeing unable to find a toiletArriving someplace lateHaving a massive wave approaching youFinding money
More Common Dream Themes
There are other dream themes that tend to be fairly common. They include:Discovering new rooms or passagesBeing dressed inappropriatelyBeing unable to find a toiletArriving someplace lateHaving a massive wave approaching youFinding money
There are other dream themes that tend to be fairly common. They include:
Frequently Asked QuestionsPsychoanalyst Carl Jung believed that if youdream about someoneclose to you or someone who is important to you, that might represent how you feel about that person in real life; whereas if you dream about a person you are not close with (such as someone in your past) or an unknown person, that person is more symbolic.Sigmund Freud suggested that the environment around the person you’re dreaming about may matter as well, such as dreaming of your parents in places you would normally find a king and queen, which would be a sign of your respect for them.There is no way to answer this question with any certainty as dream interpretations are both individual and subjective. They are individual in that the meaning of dreams for one person may not be the same for another. Dream interpretations are also subjective in that they are based on the meanings that you assign them, and these assigned meanings can also differ from one person to the next.The self-organization theory of dreaming implies that dreams are a reflection of one’s physiological and psychological activities, thus providing important information about the person’s thoughts andemotional state. Psychoanalysts can then use the person’s dreams to better understand what is going on in their mind, perhaps on an unconscious level.Some studies suggest that havingsexual dreamsis a result of your thoughts and fantasies when you’re awake, with more frequent thoughts about sex contributing to more of these dreams.Others connect dreaming about sex with a desire to be in a sexually stimulating situation.These types of dreams are common, with more than 95% of people reporting having dreams that are erotic in nature.Some researchers theorize that regular, recurring dreams represent being frustrated aboutpsychological needsthat are unmet.Recurring dreams are also common after experiencing a lot of mental distress, such as withpost-traumatic stress disorder.Learn More:Understanding Recurring NightmaresIn some cases, havingvivid or highly intense dreamsis a result of major trauma, with some studies showing increases in these types of dreams post-9/11.Dreams that are vivid generally occur duringREM sleepand could also be due to fragmented sleep, sleep deprivation, a sleep disorder, stress, pregnancy, or a medication you are taking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Psychoanalyst Carl Jung believed that if youdream about someoneclose to you or someone who is important to you, that might represent how you feel about that person in real life; whereas if you dream about a person you are not close with (such as someone in your past) or an unknown person, that person is more symbolic.Sigmund Freud suggested that the environment around the person you’re dreaming about may matter as well, such as dreaming of your parents in places you would normally find a king and queen, which would be a sign of your respect for them.
Psychoanalyst Carl Jung believed that if youdream about someoneclose to you or someone who is important to you, that might represent how you feel about that person in real life; whereas if you dream about a person you are not close with (such as someone in your past) or an unknown person, that person is more symbolic.
Sigmund Freud suggested that the environment around the person you’re dreaming about may matter as well, such as dreaming of your parents in places you would normally find a king and queen, which would be a sign of your respect for them.
There is no way to answer this question with any certainty as dream interpretations are both individual and subjective. They are individual in that the meaning of dreams for one person may not be the same for another. Dream interpretations are also subjective in that they are based on the meanings that you assign them, and these assigned meanings can also differ from one person to the next.
The self-organization theory of dreaming implies that dreams are a reflection of one’s physiological and psychological activities, thus providing important information about the person’s thoughts andemotional state. Psychoanalysts can then use the person’s dreams to better understand what is going on in their mind, perhaps on an unconscious level.
Some studies suggest that havingsexual dreamsis a result of your thoughts and fantasies when you’re awake, with more frequent thoughts about sex contributing to more of these dreams.Others connect dreaming about sex with a desire to be in a sexually stimulating situation.These types of dreams are common, with more than 95% of people reporting having dreams that are erotic in nature.
Some researchers theorize that regular, recurring dreams represent being frustrated aboutpsychological needsthat are unmet.Recurring dreams are also common after experiencing a lot of mental distress, such as withpost-traumatic stress disorder.Learn More:Understanding Recurring Nightmares
Some researchers theorize that regular, recurring dreams represent being frustrated aboutpsychological needsthat are unmet.Recurring dreams are also common after experiencing a lot of mental distress, such as withpost-traumatic stress disorder.
Learn More:Understanding Recurring Nightmares
In some cases, havingvivid or highly intense dreamsis a result of major trauma, with some studies showing increases in these types of dreams post-9/11.Dreams that are vivid generally occur duringREM sleepand could also be due to fragmented sleep, sleep deprivation, a sleep disorder, stress, pregnancy, or a medication you are taking.
In some cases, havingvivid or highly intense dreamsis a result of major trauma, with some studies showing increases in these types of dreams post-9/11.
Dreams that are vivid generally occur duringREM sleepand could also be due to fragmented sleep, sleep deprivation, a sleep disorder, stress, pregnancy, or a medication you are taking.
Keep in Mind
Do some of these dream interpretations seem accurate? If not, don’t worry—your dreams are unique and highly personal. In all likelihood, the things we experience in our dreams probably reflect the concerns we face in our daily existence or of recent events.
How do you analyze a dream? The first step is to write down everything you can remember as soon as you wake. Dreams are often quickly forgotten, so jotting down the details can help aid in recall. Next, look at the dream’s contents and think about what it might mean in your life. What association do you have with the events of the dream? What kind of feelings did it evoke? In many cases, you may find that your dream reflects the events or concerns of your waking life.
What It Means When You Dream About Snakes, According to Dream Experts
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