The short answer
Dream interpretation is not prediction and not diagnosis. This article separates what sleep research observes from what popular interpretation associates with the theme.
Dreaming about illness is not a diagnosis or a prediction. The dream tends to appear when you are worried about your own health, are caring for someone who is ill, have had recent tests or have been following news about diseases. Dreaming that a family member fell ill usually reflects love and a fear of losing them.
Read also: Dreaming about a hospital and Dreaming about someone who died.
What research observes
Under the continuity hypothesis, dream content follows what we live and feel while awake, and worries show up even more strongly. An upcoming appointment, a test result you are waiting for or a relative in the hospital often bring the topic into the night.
When the dream turns into a recurring nightmare, it joins the group of threat dreams, which can be treated when they disrupt sleep.
Source: Schredl and Hofmann, Consciousness and Cognition, 2003.
The most reported variations
| Scene | What it usually comes with |
|---|---|
| Being sick in the dream | Health worries, tiredness |
| A family member falling ill | Love, fear of losing them |
| Receiving a diagnosis | Anxiety about test results |
| Being hospitalized | A sense of fragility, dependence |
| Getting better | Relief, the end of a hard phase |
If the scene takes place in a hospital, see dreaming about a hospital.
When to seek help
Dreaming about being sick is common and harmless. If it turns into a recurring nightmare and you wake up frightened several times a week, it is worth talking to a health professional: see how to have fewer nightmares.
Source: Morgenthaler et al., Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2018.
What dream books say
Livro do Sonho, a popular Brazilian dream dictionary, reads this dream the opposite of how it looks: dreaming about illness would be a sign of good health. Seeing other people ill would speak of passing annoyances and sadness. None of these readings replaces a medical visit when there are real symptoms.
Freud described dream books as a kind of dictionary that translates each image into another with a fixed meaning. Artemidorus of Daldis, author of the oldest dream interpretation book that has survived, advised looking at the dreamer's life before interpreting. If you see the dream as a message, both paths suggest the same thing: ask what this image brings to mind in your life right now. See dream meanings according to science and culture.
Source: Livro do Sonho, Brazilian dream dictionary; Freud, Die Traumdeutung, 1900.
What folklore says
In folk readings, dreaming about illness is sometimes read "the other way around", as a sign of good health, and in other readings as a warning to take care of yourself. These are cultural interpretations with no evidence. If you have real symptoms while awake, see a doctor, regardless of the dream. See dream meanings according to science and culture.
Sources
- Schredl M, Hofmann F. Continuity between waking activities and dream activities. Consciousness and Cognition, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1053-8100(02)00072-7
- Nielsen TA et al. The Typical Dreams of Canadian University Students. Dreaming, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1023/b:drem.0000003144.40929.0b
- Morgenthaler TI et al. Position Paper for the Treatment of Nightmare Disorder in Adults: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Position Paper. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2018. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.7178
- Freud S. The Interpretation of Dreams (Die Traumdeutung), 1900. Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66048
- Livro do Sonho. Sonhar com doença. https://www.livrodosonho.com/significado-dos-sonhos-sonhar-com-doenca-1329.htm
Frequently asked questions
Is dreaming about illness a warning that I will get sick?
No. The dream usually reflects worries, not diagnoses.
Why do I dream that a family member is sick?
It usually reflects love and a fear of losing them.
Does dreaming about a bad diagnosis mean something?
It usually comes with anxiety, for example before a test.
Should I see a doctor because of the dream?
Only if you have real symptoms while awake. The dream itself does not indicate illness.
