Dreams: Typical situations and the body
Articles about typical situations and the body in the Dreams section: what sleep science observes and what popular tradition links to each theme.
Typical situations and the body (41)
What it means to dream about crying (and what it does not)
A baby crying in the dark, sobbing in despair, someone weeping at a funeral: what sleep science, Freud, Jung and faith say about crying in dreams.
Dreaming about surgery: what it means and what it may reflect
Surgery on the belly, head or heart, or watching someone being operated on: what sleep science observes and what Freud, Jung and the traditions say.
Dreaming about dancing: what this dream usually reflects
A crowded room, the music starting and someone holding out a hand to you. Or the opposite: everyone moving in perfect sync while your feet stay frozen. Dreams about dancing tend to bring joy, embarrassment or an urge to let go, and they say more about where you are now than about anything to come.
Dreaming about a bath or shower: what it usually reflects
Hot water pouring from the shower, an icy bath, the water running out halfway through or a lack of privacy in the bathroom. Dreaming about a bath or shower usually speaks of cleansing, relief and new beginnings, and sometimes of exposure.
Dreaming about a tattoo: what this dream usually reflects
In the dream you find a tattoo you do not remember getting, or you decide to ink something huge without thinking. Dreaming about a tattoo usually speaks of identity, of marks that stay and of decisions that are hard to undo.
Dreaming about the dentist: what this dream usually reflects
A bright light in your face, the sound of the drill, a tooth pulled without anesthesia. Dreaming about the dentist is usually uncomfortable and mixes fear of pain, a sense of exposure and concern for your own appearance.
Dreaming about being sick: what this dream usually reflects
You dream that you are sick, that you got bad test results or that a loved one suddenly fell ill. The dream leaves a strong worry when you wake up, but it usually reflects fear, care for the people you love and health concerns, not an illness that is about to appear.
Dreaming about work or your boss: what it usually reflects
You fall asleep and you are still at the office: emails, meetings, your boss pressing you, a layoff with no warning. Dreaming about work is one of the most common dreams among adults, and it usually reflects the load of the day, not what will happen at the company.
Dreaming about school: what this dream usually reflects
You are an adult, but in the dream you are back in the classroom, looking for the right room or running into old classmates. Dreaming about school is one of the most common dreams, and it usually speaks of pressure, evaluation and memory.
Dreaming about eyes: what this dream usually reflects
A fixed stare you cannot shake, eyes everywhere, blurry vision for no reason. Dreaming about eyes tends to leave a strange feeling, and it speaks more of attention, being watched and insecurity than of health or the evil eye.
Dreaming about fingernails: what this dream usually reflects
A nail that breaks at the worst moment, falls off without pain, grows nonstop or gets painted calmly. Dreaming about fingernails gets less attention than the teeth falling out dream, but it follows the same logic: it speaks of appearance, self-care and loss of control.
Dreaming about the police: what this dream usually reflects
A police car with its siren on, being stopped on the street, the feeling of having done something wrong without knowing what. Dreaming about the police stirs up guilt and fear, but it can also bring relief, when the police show up to help.
Dreaming about poop: what this dream usually reflects
Stepping in poop, getting dirty, looking for a bathroom and finding none that is clean. It is an embarrassing dream, but a very common one, and it usually says more about shame, control and your own body than about luck.
Dreaming about being trapped or locked up: what it usually reflects
A door that will not open, a room with no windows, bars, an elevator stuck between floors. Dreaming about being trapped is distressing and more common than you might think. What it usually reflects and when it needs attention.
Dreaming about blood: what it usually reflects
Blood on your hands, a cut that will not stop, a red stain out of nowhere. Dreaming about blood is startling and tends to stick. What it usually reflects and why it is not a health warning.
Dreaming about hair falling out or being cut: what it usually reflects
Strands coming out in your hands, a haircut gone wrong, a head shaved by accident. Hair dreams stir up appearance and control. What they usually reflect and how they relate to teeth falling out dreams.
Dreams about being late or failing a test: what they usually reflect
The final you forgot to study for, the bus that drives right past you, the high school you left twenty years ago. These dreams are among the most reported in research. What they usually reflect.
Dreams about being naked in public: what they usually reflect
You walk into work, school or a party and realize you have no clothes on, or the wrong ones. Nobody seems to notice, but the embarrassment is huge. What this typical dream usually reflects.
Dreams about being chased: what they usually reflect
Running in slow motion, hiding, feeling someone right behind you: being chased is the most reported dream theme in research. What it usually reflects and when it deserves attention.
Dreams about falling and the jolt as you fall asleep
Two different things get mixed up here: the falling dream and the hypnic jerk. See what each one is and what reduces them.
Dreams about flying: what happens in the brain
Flying is among the most reported dreams in the world and usually feels good. See what research observes and the link with lucid dreaming.
Dreams about teeth falling out: what science found
It is one of the most common dreams in the world. A study tested two competing explanations and found support for one of them.
Dreaming about running: what that dream says
Running, running without moving forward or taking part in a race. See what research observes about effort and chase dreams and folk readings.
Dreaming about a mouth: what it means (and what it does not)
A mouth that will not open, sewn shut, hurt or talking on its own: what sleep science observes and what Freud, Jung and tradition say about it.
Dreaming about feet: meaning, variations and what science says
Bare feet, an injured foot, feet covered in mud or washing feet: what sleep research observes and what Freud, Jung, the Bible and dream books say.
Dreaming about hands: what this dream usually says
A hurt hand, dirty hands, an outstretched hand, a handshake, someone holding yours: what sleep research observes and what tradition associates.
Dreaming about a zombie: meaning, variations and what science says
Shuffling steps in the hallway, a crowd of pale faces in the street, a door that will not lock in time. Dreaming about a zombie is usually a flight nightmare, and many people wake with a racing heart after a whole night of hiding. The scene frightens, but it speaks more about the tiredness and pressures of the moment than about any real threat.
Dreaming about a UFO or alien: meaning and what science says
A light hanging in the sky that suddenly moves too fast to be a plane. A silver disc landing in the yard, big-eyed figures peering through the window, a whole fleet covering the city. Dreams about UFOs and aliens mix wonder and fear, and almost always speak of the dreamer's moment.
What it means to dream about drugs (and what it does not)
Hidden drugs, the police, someone close using: what sleep science observes and what Freud, Jung and the traditions say about this dream.
Dreaming about the end of the world: what it means and what it may reflect
A tsunami swallowing the city, a sky on fire, a falling meteor: what sleep science observes and what Freud, Jung and the Bible say about the end of the world.
Dreaming about soccer: meaning, variations and what science says
Scoring a goal, missing a penalty or watching a packed stadium: what sleep science observes and what Freud, Jung and the traditions say about soccer.
Dreaming about war: what it means and what it may reflect
Bombing, gunfire, a world war or a tank in the street: what sleep science observes and what Freud, Jung and faith say about dreaming of war.
What it means to dream about a nose (and what it does not)
A bleeding, stuffy or oversized nose: what sleep science observes and what Freud, Jung and the traditions say about dreaming about a nose.
Dreaming about ears: what it means and what it may reflect
A dirty, cut or bleeding ear, or one with an earring: what sleep science observes and what Freud, Jung, A Dictionary of Symbols and tradition say.
Dreaming about robbery or being robbed: meaning and what science says
A phone taken in the street, a ransacked house, a car gone from the garage: what sleep science, Freud, Jung and the traditions say about dreams of robbery.
Dreaming about a kidnapping: what it means and what it may reflect
Being taken by strangers, watching a child disappear or managing to escape: what sleep science observes and what Freud, Jung and faith say about this dream.
Dreaming about a concert: what it means and what it may reflect
A packed concert, your idol on stage or you singing to the crowd: what sleep science observes and what Freud, Jung and the traditions say about this dream.
Dreaming about a shadow: meaning, variations and what science says
A black shadow in the bedroom, a figure watching you or a shadow trying to grab you: what sleep science, Jung, the Bible and the traditions say.
Dreaming about a gunshot or firearm: what it really means
A shooting in the street, a gun pointed at you or a shot in the back: what sleep science observes and what Freud, Jung and the traditions say about this dream.
What it means to dream about vomit (and what it doesn't)
Your stomach turns, you run to the bathroom and do not make it in time. Or it is someone else who gets sick in the middle of a party, in front of everyone. It is an unpleasant dream that almost always speaks of something that weighed on you in recent days, and not of a loss scheduled in the future.
Dreaming about urine: meaning, variations and what science says
Looking for a bathroom, wetting the bed, a pet's accident on the floor, dark urine: what sleep science observes and what Freud, Jung and traditions say.