Sleep is supposed to a be a restorative time that allows our bodies and minds to recharge from day-to-day happenings. But having a nightmare changes all of that. Dreams involving scary, stressful, or triggering scenarios can leave us gasping for air upon waking up — which is obviously upsetting. But dreams are simply a manifestation of our subconscious minds, so understanding the meaning of the most common nightmares is important.
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In most cases, common nightmare meanings relate to fears that we experience in our waking lives, both symbolically and directly. While some night frights are simply the result of watching too many horror movies before bed, many can actually be used as a subconscious compass that’ll point us toward areas of our lives that need some attention or healing. Discovering the meaning of your nightmares can help to illuminate your repressed or unchecked fears — and once you figure out the meaning of a bad dream and address the underlying issue, you’re less likely to experience it again.
“Nightmares are actually the most important dreams of all, as they’re caused by our most difficult and uncomfortable real-life issues,” Lauri Quinn Loewenberg, professional dream analyst and author of Dream On It, tells Bustle. “They’re shining a light on something your subconscious wants you to correct — so instead of fearing nightmares, look at them as a brutally honest best friend who may be telling you something you don't want to hear, but is [ultimately] for your benefit.”
Next time you wake up from a creepy dream, channel the stress into a subconscious study by writing down the details and doing some DIY dream interpretation work. Read on to find out the most common nightmare meanings and what they’re trying to tell you about your waking life.