In psychology, we refer to the last stage of the sleep cycle as Rapid Eye Movement (REM). According to the famous psychoanalyst also known as the Father of Psychoanalysis – Sigmund Freud, “all dreams are a form of wish-fulfilment of repressed wishes or the representation of wish-fulfilment.”
Repressed wishes are the desires that have been denied and become part of the unconscious mind. From childhood to late adulthood, we all have dreams or other things, some are beautiful dreams that we don’t want to end, but some dreams become Nightmares that are dreadful, scary, and make you want to get up.
Dreams are another world, filled with fantasy, where you meet your celebrity crush, and win the game that you always wanted to. A place where all your wishes come true for some time, or a place where you revisit the dreadful period of life. You might be wondering why you have such dreams. Is there any reason or not? But after extensive research, researchers have found that certain dreams are common, and here are the reasons why you observe them.
Here are the 7 common dreams and their meanings
1. Dream about a Teacher, School & Study
- Have you Dreamt about getting scolded in school by teachers or constantly dreaming about school or exams or studies during your school or high school days?
- It was observed in research that 38% among 1190 participants, adolescents around 19 years old experience this kind of dream, as they experience more stress at this age, as they are attending school or just finished schooling and applying for entrance exams.
- Therefore, the pressure of study manifests itself as dreams about teacher and school.
2. Dream about Death or Dying
- Have you dreamt of your close one dying or a close relative who died alive?
- According to the research, dreams about death go in two directions:
- Dreams of the loss of a living person were more frequently seen in Children
- Dreams where a dead person appears as alive were more frequently seen in older adults.
- Why is it like that?
- It’s seen that children dream about losing someone to who they are attached, for example, their parents, or siblings, the fear of losing them manifests itself as dreams about death of alive.
- In older adults, it may relate to the real loss of close relatives in his/her life, for example: spouse/mother/father/ best friend are dead but returned in their dream.
3. Dreams about being Chased or Pursued
- Have you dreamt about being chased by a stranger or a friend? It can be terrifying and according to the research, it is one of the most common dreams experienced.
- Why do we experience such dreams?
- Tony Crisp, the author of “Dream Dictionary”, suggests that being chased in your dream indicates a desire to escape from your fear or desires.
4. Dreams about losing Teeth
- After reading this, you might find it quite absurd, but I’ll tell you that people experience it as one of the most common dreams.
- We all have dreamt about losing our teeth, especially when we were young, when we had milk teeth.
- What may be the reason for this kind of dream, for instance, it might mean that you are worried about your appearance or attractiveness, what if others make fun of you?
5. Dreams About Flying
- Dreaming that you are flying like a bird with no restrictions or like a bird who just escaped from its golden cage.
- Our dreams have a very creative way of showing what to preconsciously think about, here when it comes to flying it may have two different reasons.
- It may represent the feeling of freedom and independence.
- It may also indicate the desire to flee or escape from reality.
- It shows the person experiencing the feeling of freedom away from societal norms and restrictions.
6. Dream of Being Naked
- Have you had an awkward dream where you showed up to a party wearing your school uniform? Or maybe walking on the streets and then realizing that you have no clothes on, or forget to wear your pants or shirt.
- Dreams of being naked in public can be traumatic, leaving you feeling exposed, humiliated, and embarrassed.
- Such dreams have two meanings:
- Feeling insecure or conscious about your skin represents vulnerability or anxiety.
- It can also represent that you are quite confident and comfortable with your skin to let the world see, who you are!
7. Dream about getting Jerk/ Sleep Falling
- Have you ever experienced getting a sudden jerk while sleeping? Felt like you had fallen from the bed, or drowned while swimming, especially after coming from the water park.
- Don’t worry; people do not regard these jerks as abnormal or something to be concerned about. Excess stress or consumption of stimulants may cause them.
- This is why we experience this strange but harmless sensation during highly stressful times.
Sigmund Freud famously suggested that “the dream is the (disguised) fulfilment of a (suppressed, repressed) wish,” implying that dreams often conceal deeper, unfulfilled desires. However, we can expand this perspective to include the idea that dreams also address developmental tasks and emotional processing. For instance, symbols in dreams can offer insight into our current emotional and psychological states: flying might represent a longing for freedom or liberation, while dreams of teeth falling out could signify underlying anxiety or insecurity. Similarly, dreaming of an ex-partner might indicate unresolved feelings or a need to address past experiences. These symbols and themes can provide valuable clues about our inner life, reflecting repressed wishes and ongoing struggles and growth.
References +
Li, Y., Zhang, W., Han, L., Li, M., Jing, H., Lu, H., Liu, N., Han, X., Su, M., Yang, T., Yin, F., Xie, B., & Zou, X. (2023). The relationship between typical dreams and mental health of residents in village-in-city. Sleep Medicine X, 6, 100081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleepx.2023.100081
Maggiolini, A., Di Lorenzo, M., Falotico, E., & Morelli, M. (2020). The typical dreams in the life cycle. International Journal of Dream Research, 17–28. https://doi.org/10.11588/ijodr.2020.1.61558
