How to Interpret Your Dreams (2024)

Theories of Dream Interpretation

People have tried to decipher the meaning of dreams since the dawn of civilization, though scientific research on dreams is relatively new. The most prominent theories of dream interpretation include pioneers Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source from the early twentieth century to modern neuroscientists Trusted Source SpringerLink SpringerLink provides researchers with access to millions of scientific documents from journals, books, series, protocols, reference works, and proceedings. View Source .

Freud

Freud, the most cited psychologist of the 20th century, published The Interpretation of Dreams in 1900. This book represented a significant milestone Trusted Source American Psychological Association (APA) APA is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, with more than 121,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members. View Source in the field of dream interpretation.

According to Freud, dreams represent a form of wish fulfillment Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source and hold the key to a person’s desires. He indicated that the subject of a person’s dreams stems from reality, but dreams are not identical to waking life and cannot be taken at face value. Instead, the underlying meaning of a dream is hidden in a person’s unconscious mind, the thoughts and feelings that lay outside of their conscious awareness.

Jung

Carl Jung was a contemporary of Freud and was greatly influenced Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source by Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams. But as Jung matured, his thoughts on dream interpretation began to diverge from Freud’s.

Jung believed people experience different types of dreams that can be viewed through the lens of “compensation.” According to his theory of compensation, dreams are a mechanism that allow the unconscious mind to fully develop or balance parts that are in conflict with one another.

Hall

Psychologist Calvin S. Hall theorized in the 1950’s that dreams were images that represent a person’s thoughts or ideas. Hall proposed that dreams are akin to plays or enactments based on the ideas a person has about themself, other people, conflicts, impulses and urges, and their external environment.

Hall suggested that dream interpretation could help a person better understand themselves and inform their behavior in daily life.

Domhoff

William Domhoff’s career spanned from the 1960s to the publication of The Emergence of Dreaming in 2018 and combined the analysis of dream content with brain imaging techniques Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source and electroencephalogram (EEG) .

According to Domhoff’s research, dreaming is similar to the daydreams most people experience in waking life. His work suggests that dreams do not serve a specific function and are likely a byproduct of the way the brain works.

Modern Theories

The complex theories developed by early pioneers of dream interpretation have largely been replaced by a neuroscience-focused approach.

• Emotional processing: One prominent theory suggests that the contents of a dream may help the dreamer process Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source difficult life experiences. In particular, the vivid dreams of REM sleep may help the brain process waking experiences and regulate emotions.

• Memory consolidation: Dreaming may also play an important role in forming Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source new memories. This theory asserts that dreams are a key part of the nervous system process that converts short-term memories formed during the day into long-term memories.

• Performance and creativity: According to the overfitted brain hypothesis, the typical experiences of daily life do not prepare the brain for unexpected events. Dreams offer people a hallucinatory narrative that serves to improve cognitive performance and boost creativity during waking hours.

Common Dreams and Possible Meanings

Individual personality and interests can influence Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source the narratives of a person’s dreams. However, certain consistent themes are known to arise in dreams for many different people.

Teeth Falling Out

Dreams about teeth falling out are one of the most common Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source dream narratives. Numerous theories have been proposed to explain the deeper significance of dreams involving teeth.

The ancient Greek Artemidorus believed these dreams could be interpreted based on which specific tooth or teeth a dreamer loses. The early twentieth-century psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud theorized that dreams about teeth had a sexual basis. Other experts have proposed that this type of dream represents anxiety around aging. However, recent research suggests that dental irritation or tension in the jaw while sleeping may contribute to dreams about teeth.

Sex and Cheating

Dream narratives that include sexual content are frequently reported, with more than 70% of people Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source experiencing dreams about sex. These types of dreams may mirror a person’s feelings about sex or reflect unsatisfied desires. Similarly, one study found that dreaming about a cheating partner may be linked to low levels of intimacy or feelings of jealousy in a relationship.

Natural Disasters

Dreams about natural disasters may involve a flood, fire, earthquake, or apocalyptic narrative. Natural disaster dreams may be related to the traumatic events Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. View Source and stressors of a person’s lived experience. People affected by natural disasters such as hurricanes Trusted Source The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) SAMHSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. View Source and tornadoes Trusted Source The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) SAMHSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. View Source may experience feelings of depression, anxiety, or fear about the storm in the form of nightmares.

Falling

The feeling of falling through the air while dreaming is a frequent theme that has emerged from dream research. Falling is a common sensation people experience before a hypnic jerk. Hypnic jerks are involuntary lurches that can involve a part of the body or the body as a whole.

What Do Nightmares Mean?

Nightmares may signify that a person is struggling with stress, trauma, or a sleep disorder. Nightmares are vivid dream sequences that involve distressing events and often wake a person from sleep. They can invoke feelings of fear and anxiety, but nightmares can also cause embarrassment, anger, and disgust.

Nightmares occur in people of all ages from time to time, though they are more common in children. Occasional nightmares can be disturbing but many people who experience nightmares do not require treatment. They may be a sign that a person is experiencing a stressful life event like a move, starting a new school or job, or having troubles at home.

Other reasons a person may experience nightmares include starting or stopping a prescription medication, the use of illegal drugs, drinking too much alcohol or sudden alcohol withdrawal, using non-prescription sleep aids, or having an illness accompanied by a fever.

People who experience repeated nightmares may want to speak with a health care provider. Frequent, distressing nightmares can be an indication of sleep apnea or another sleep disorder. Persistent nightmares may also be a sign of a mental health condition such as an anxiety disorder, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Tips for Analyzing and Interpreting Your Dreams

Interpreting dreams is far from an exact science. But a few tips can help people better understand their dreams.

• Keep a dream journal: Using a journal Trusted Source American Psychological Association (APA) APA is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, with more than 121,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members. View Source or smart-phone app to record your dreams shortly after waking up can help you document the details of your dream. Researchers have used dream journals and dream diaries to help study participants recall their dreams with more accuracy Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .
• Consider your biases: Research suggests that your interpretation of a dream may be influenced by religious beliefs and interpersonal relationships. When reflecting on a dream, consider whether you are looking for information that confirms Trusted Source SAGE Publishing SAGE produces high quality educational resources that support instructors to prepare the citizens, policy makers, educators and researchers of the future. View Source your current beliefs.
• Talk with a professional: Consider speaking with a health care professional if you have recurring dreams or nightmares that negatively affect your well-being. These may be a warning sign of another medical condition such as anxiety, depression, or a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea or nightmare disorder. A health care provider can help make a diagnosis and discuss treatment, if needed. If you feel that your particular situation does not warrant the help of a medical professional, you can consider speaking with a sleep consultant. Sleep consultants are trained to handle a number of sleep issues and can guide you in the right direction toward a better night’s sleep.