The 7 most frequent nightmares: what does each one mean?

We have already talked in previous articles about interpretation of Dreams, on the reason why we dream, and even about lucid dreaming. But so far we hadn't dealt with bad dreams or nightmares.

It has happened to all of us: we wake up abruptly in the middle of a dream. We may even sweat and feel afraid, as if the experience had been very real. Although we try to fall asleep again, we continue to feel anguish that prevents us, and this feeling can last for hours.

An investigation called Nighmares, and directed by sleep medicine physician James F. Pagel Jr, which was published in the magazine American Family Physician, provides some relevant information about bad dreams.

Nightmares: more common than we think

We've all had nightmares, and they are much more frequent than we think. Dream of something disturbing and disturbing, according to the freudian theory, it could be a sign that our unconscious tries to bring to light some internal conflicts that we have not yet overcome.

For their part, neuroscientists

coincide in pointing out that dreams have a crucial biological and psychological function: they allow us reorganize the information that we have received during the day and find solutions for the problems that we torment.

The seven most common nightmares... and their explanation

Each person has their own internal conflicts and that is reflected in the content of the dreams and nightmares you experience. But, fundamentally, we all dream of very similar things. What are the most recurrent nightmares and what explanation can we give them?

1. Being naked on public roads

It is not a dream that is always lived with anguish, but when we perceive it as a nightmare, may indicate that we feel vulnerable to others.

It is a common nightmare among people who feel inadequate or who do not trust their possibilities to face some circumstance in their life.

2. To be persecuted

It is one of the most frequent nightmares. Feeling persecuted It is a sign that we are going through a stressful stage in our lives, to the point that reality overwhelms us. It can also indicate that we are avoiding a specific problem. The main cause of this type of bad dream is the fear of facing something.

We fear facing some situations that can mark an important change in our lives, such as a marital separation (or dating) or the need to free ourselves from some emotional burden that we dragged for a long time.

3. Fall into the void

It is not always lived exactly like a nightmare, but the truth is that it is one of the most recurrent dreams. We wake up with a bad feeling in the body, as if the fall had been real and we abruptly open our eyes at the moment when we should have hit the ground.

It is a nightmare common to all life stages. What is its meaning? Dreaming that we fall into the void it can be a sign of fear of losing control over some life situation, or experiencing the feeling that we have nothing solid to hold onto. This dream can be the product of a perception of helplessness and even fear of dying.

4. Be lost

It is a nightmare that tends to cause more uneasiness in children than in adults. It usually indicates that the person perceives that they have lost control over some relevant aspects of her life, and do not know what decisions to make. It can also be a sign that we have made a decision but we are not entirely sure we did the right thing. And it may even mean that we are fearful for the future.

5. Feeling of choking

This nightmare can be dreamed of in different formats. The most classic form is drowning in water, but also when we are in a narrow place from which we cannot escape and we feel an anguished sensation of suffocation.

In both cases, the interpretation of this nightmare is that the person is overwhelmed by some life event; maybe putting a lot of effort that something goes well despite all the obstacles. It is normal for it to appear in stages of life in which we are especially anxious in which we do not see a way out of the tunnel in the short term. It is also possible that we are too focused on our work or academic routine and we are accusing it psychologically.

6. Being attacked by someone

This nightmare is quite associated with fear. When we have decided to act in a certain way, we can be anxious and fearful of the reaction of other people.

It is not a fear of receiving physical attacks but rather of criticism, rejection and Social isolationProbably from someone we hold in high regard.

7. Lose some teeth

This is a curious but very frequent nightmare. Can be symptom of a feeling of loss of control over our life. It can also occur when we feel that we are out of place or ashamed in a specific situation of our day to day.

It can have a certain relationship, too, with not being very satisfied with personal aesthetics, not perceiving oneself as too attractive or being below the expectations that others pour on us.

Some conclusions

It should be clarified that the interpretations of each of the dreams are generic in nature and may be somewhat different depending on some details of the nightmare. Besides, of course, each person is different and we have very different life conflicts.

The interesting point about the meaning of dreams is that it allows us to realize that there are times when we can be more anxious or fearful than normal, and perhaps we need a quiet moment to reflect on what distresses us.