Your Common Dreams Explained

by Natasha Hatherall-Shawe

Is it just me or is anyone else regularly weirded out by dreams? Some mornings I wake up and feel so uneasy about my dream that it takes me a while to come around and sometimes I feel quite uneasy all day long.

They say that every night, we will all have about five dream episodes, which can last between 15 to 40 minutes each. Dream experts have plenty to say here, but they say that our dreams mirror fundamental patterns of human behaviour and they reflect who we are, what we need, and what we believe in. The definitions of most dreams are not black and white and can all be open to interpretation but here’s the top 3 most popular dreams and what they may mean.

1. Teeth falling out

The most common dream is of teeth falling out. Hands up if you’ve had this one? Us! It’s of no surprise that dreaming of this actually stems from a fear of rejection, embarrassment or feeling unattractive. I know for me, I have this dream regularly when I’m feeling stressed and out of control at work. If you see your teeth crumble in front of you, or fall out one by one, this may reflect your anxieties about your appearance or how others perceive you. But dreaming that you are losing your teeth can also relate to communication and if you’re missing your teeth it may mean you’re struggling to talk or express yourself. Maybe your dream is highlighting the difficulties communicating with someone in your life right now. Whatever it means, the chances are one day we’ll all have this dream.

2. Being chased

The other night I woke up after hours of being chased in my dreams and I felt worn out and a bit dizzy. Not only are dreams about being chased often a bit frightening, but they also linger with us long after. This type of dream often results from stress as you feel frightened, attacked and in danger. If you’re being chased by someone you know this can make the anxiety worse too. If you find yourself being chased by a stranger, it is even possible that represents yourself. Chase dreams ultimately represent a way of coping with fear or stress. It can be a good indicator of who or what is causing stress in your life.

3. Falling

Dreams of falling from a cliff, window or any height are another common dream. Generally, when dreaming of this it means you’re feeling insecure or unsupported in your life. The meaning is very much in the details when it comes to dreams of falling though. It depends on the scenario, the people involved, were you pushed or was it an accident?

The next time you have a dream that makes you feel a little uneasy when you wake, do try and dig a little deeper and see what it may be trying to tell you.

Sleep well!