Psychologists explain the meaning of almost everyone’s dreams

Humanity throughout its existence has always tried to unravel the mysteries of dreams. Currently, there is even a special science that studies dreams: oneirology. Those who prefer esotericism to science love to interpret their dreams, based on various dream books and believe that with them they can predict the future.

But psychologists understand that dreams accurately reflect the person’s inner state at the moment they are living and are often a way for the subconscious to say something very important.

At the awesome.club we discovered that there are some dreams common to almost all people. These dreams are inspired by our ancient instincts, the experience of our ancestors and the personal experience of almost everyone.

The psychologist who specializes in the field of dreams Patricia Garfield calls them “universal dreams”: “Different people cook meat differently, but everyone prepares meat. The same is true of dreams: everyone has different dreams, based on common plots. They are as old as humanity itself.”

As we get older, we dream much more that we fall than we fly. According to psychologist Ian Wallace, the dream of falling symbolizes the fear of loss of control. This means that you are not being able to control something in your life, perhaps drastic changes are taking place that you were not prepared for and you feel that you have lost the ground under your feet. Think about what area of ​​your life (work, relationships, finances, health, etc.) you feel sad or vulnerable right now and how to resolve it.

But some scientists link dreams of falling to a simple physiological reaction. As the body falls asleep, the nervous system begins to calm down, blood pressure and heart rate decrease and this physiological change causes our sleeping brain (especially if it was overloaded during the day) to perceive this moment as a danger, as the approaching death and that’s why we wake up abruptly.

The opposite version of this dream, that is, flying, means the release of a heavy burden, the feeling of freedom.

Unconsciously teeth are, above all, our weapons, a sign of strength, the ability to “take a piece of the world”. It is possible that recently you have felt helpless and helpless in the real world. This is how psychologist Penney Pierce explains this type of dream.

In contrast, the aforementioned Patricia Garfield, who has also devoted many years to the study of dreams, connects the dream of losing teeth with hidden anger. When we suppress anger, we often clench our jaws and make our teeth crack and wear down. This dream can warn us that it is time to get rid of negative feelings.

We often dream that someone of our loved ones is injured, sick or dying. Such a dream causes horror, but in terms of psychology, it is not considered so frightening. It is nothing more than the fear of the future, of the inevitable changes that occur with loved ones. If you dream of your own death, it means that some part of you will stay in the past to make room for something new.

On the other hand, dreams about someone’s birth and recovery usually appear when we start something new, like a job or a project, which symbolize a new experience.

You’re taking an exam and suddenly you realize you don’t remember anything or you find yourself in front of a large audience and you can’t say a word. Such dreams can be common both in students and schoolchildren, as well as in people who have graduated a long time ago. It is very likely that are under stress or very worried with something before going to bed. In this case, it is worth taking a few days off to relax.

You find yourself in a public place with the wrong clothes on or nothing at all. It is important to pay attention to the feelings you experienced in the dream. Such dreams are often accompanied by feelings of shame. “So in real life you feel vulnerable, maybe in your new job or in your relationship. Perhaps you are afraid that other people will discover your weaknesses and shortcomings,” says psychologist Ian Wallace.

But if in your dream you do not feel shame, but pride of yourself, then the dream carries an opposite meaning. Perhaps you are lacking recognition and admiration and want to be treated as you feel you deserve.

If you are getting ready for an important event and you dream that you or someone you know will attend this event poorly dressed or inappropriately, it means that you have doubts about this event. For example, the bride on the eve of her wedding dreams that the groom is wearing a clown costume.

Dreams of this type can have several interpretations. “People who tend to avoid conflict, who run away from problems instead of solving them, will have a recurring dream that they are being persecuted,” explains Lauri Levenberg, a dream specialist.

Look at who’s chasing you. Does the person behind you convey an unpleasant feeling, of fear, bringing a bad emotion or leading you to a terrible situation like a dependency on something or some debt? Does an acquaintance stalk you? Think about what or who you usually associate it with. In your dream, this person could symbolize someone other than yourself or even a part of your own personality that you do not yet recognize, such as a hidden talent or aspiration.

There’s also a theory that someone’s dreams of escaping are just echoes of primitive instincts that are built into our genes, coming from distant ancestors. After all, they had to face the attacks of large predators all the time.

Each of us, at least once in our lives, has dreamed of natural or man-made catastrophes (tsunamis, fires, explosions, etc.). In such a dream, we feel fear not only for our own lives, but also for the lives of our loved ones, and even our property.

These dreams could signify personal problems that have gotten out of control, as well as feeling some kind of threat in real life. Naturally, the constant reporting of catastrophes and terrorist attacks in the media, for example, encourages this feeling that we are very vulnerable.

Sometimes in a nightmare we try to scream, but we feel that we have lost our voice, which makes us even more horrified. Psychologists explain this phenomenon as sleep paralysis. During the rapid phase of sleep (the so-called Rapid Eye Movement (or REM sleep), our brain paralyzes the body so that we can effectively be at rest, and not “live” our dream: running, jumping, etc. People who sufferers of sleep paralysis usually wake up towards the end of the rapid phase and for a short period of time, when they are half asleep and half awake, realizing that they are unable to move, speak and, in some cases, not even breathe.

You are trying to use some kind of electronic device, but it stops working in your hands; for example, your cell phone fails and you are unable to make a call. According to Patricia Garfield, dreams of this type are more frequent in women and symbolize the worries caused by relationships or the loss of emotional connection with someone.

This category also includes dreams in which you are trying to drive a vehicle but it is broken. Chances are you’re not getting enough support or that you can’t handle a difficult situation in your life.

Interestingly, women and even men can dream about pregnancy. “Pregnancy in a dream symbolizes something new growing inside you,” believes psychologist David Bedrick. Subconsciously you dream of giving birth to a new creative project. It could be anything: writing a novel or renovating the house. It’s time to set a new goal and show your talents to the world.

Once you have such a dream, if you are not pregnant in real life, think about your talents and unfulfilled dreams as they need to be put into practice.

You run after the train as it leaves or arrive late for an important meeting. These dreams are quite frequent. According to Michael R. Olsen, a dream expert, they can symbolize the fear of missing something very important as, for example, something related to your relationship or your children’s education. If in reality you are constantly busy and lack time for anything, then with the help of such a dream the subconscious tells you that it is time to review your schedule and find time for the really important issues.

Dreams of unfamiliar places are a kind of manifestation of self-awareness. If in a dream you see yourself in a house you have never been to before, it means that you do not know yourself well and you are trying to deny some side of your personality. A separate, unfamiliar room symbolizes that you have a hidden talent, skill, or opportunity, but you are not taking advantage of it.

Psychotherapist Eddie Traversa believes that, unconsciously, some places are associated with certain processes. The kitchen is where food is transformed into a meal. You may be going through some internal changes. The bathroom is a symbol of liberation from all that is unnecessary. It’s time to get rid of what you don’t need. The shower or bathtub is a symbol of cleanliness. You have a need to clarify some situation. A fourth talks about what matters most to you in a love relationship.

Have you ever had dreams with these themes? Or dream of other things? Tell our team in the comments.