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9 Common Dream Interpretations to Help You Make Sense of It All
Sweet dreams are made of these
By
Kendra Cherry, MSEd
Updated on February 12, 2024
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Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
Understanding Dream Interpretations
Dreams About Falling
Dreams About Being Naked in Public
Dreams About Being Chased
Dreams About Losing Teeth
Most of us have had that dream. You know, the one where you're being chased by someone you
may or may not know. You're likely running at full speed until you realize you've run right off a
cliff. You scream, but nothing comes out, and suddenly, wake up in a pool of sweat. But what did
it mean?
The subject of dream interpretation has been of interest for many years, and for good reason.
Understanding the deeper meaning of dreams can help us realize how we feel and think, which
can be good for providing personal insight.1
Press Play for Advice On Dream Interpretation
Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, featuring
therapist and dream interpreter Jesse Lyon, shares science-backed strategies that you can use
to better understand your dreams. Click below to listen now.
Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / Amazon Music
Understanding Dream Interpretations
Famed psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud described dreams as the "royal road" to
the unconscious and suggested that by studying the obvious content of dreams, we could bring
to light the hidden and unconscious desires that lead to neurosis.2
Analyzing dream symbols and ascribing meaning to them has become a source of both
entertainment and self-reflection in popular culture. Do dreams mean anything? Can you learn
your unconscious wishes and desires by interpreting your dreams?
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 some modern theories of dreams suggest that the answer is no—that dreams
may have a more biological component3 or even be due to sleep position4—this hasn't stopped
interpreters and analysts from attempting to identify what common dream themes and symbols
mean.
7 Most Common Dreams
Researchers have found that the seven most common dreams involve being attacked or
chased, being late, loved ones dying, falling, flying, school, and sex.5
Let's take a closer look at some of the most common dreams and what dream interpretation
books have to say about them.
9 Common Dreams and Their Interpretations
Dreams About Falling
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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.6 It might suggest that you need to rethink 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 to let yourself go more and enjoy life more."7
Dreams About Being Naked in Public
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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.6
Penney Peirce, the author of "Dream Dictionary for Dummies," suggests that dreaming of public
nudity might indicate that you feel like a phony or that you are afraid of revealing your
imperfections and shortcomings.8
Dreams About Being Chased
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Dreams that feature being pursued by a known or unknown attacker can be particularly
terrifying. And many people experience these types of dreams.6 But what do dreams of being
chased say about what's going on inside your mind?
Dream interpreters often suggest that such dreams mean that you are trying 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.9
The key to understanding what such a dream might mean depends partly on the identity of your
pursuer. If it is:
An animal: You might be hiding from your own anger, passions, and other feelings.An unknown
chaser: If your pursuer is a mysterious, unknown figure, it might represent a childhood
experience or past trauma.A member of the opposite sex: Crisp suggests this means you are
afraid of love or haunted by a past relationship.
Dreams About Losing Teeth
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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.8
It might mean that you are worried about your attractiveness or 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 to be assertive, decisive, and
self-protective."
Dreams About Dying
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Death is another common subject of dreams and one that can be particularly disconcerting.
Dreamers sometimes dream of the death of a loved one or even of dying themselves. Popular
dream interpretations suggest that such dreams reflect anxiety about change or a fear 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."10
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.11
What Does It Mean When You Dream of Someone Who Passed Away?
Dreams About Taking a Test
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Studies have also found that dreams of test-taking are common.6 According to Craig
Hamilton-Parker, author of "The Hidden Meaning of Dreams," taking an exam in your dream
might reveal an underlying fear of failure.12
"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."
