Are you someone that falls asleep as soon as you hit the bed, wakes up the next morning, refreshed and ready to go, with absolutely no idea what you dreamed about during the night?

Or are you someone who tosses and turns throughout the night, waking up frequently, either laughing out loud from what you were just dreaming or in a cold sweat from the nightmare you were having?

Either way, I’ve got you covered. Today I am going to dig in to what goes on while we’re sleeping. We’ll take a look at the different types of dreams, some of the most common dreams we all share, the possible meanings behind them, and then I’ll share some tips on how to remember your dreams if you don’t think you have them. 

So let’s begin with the different types of dreams…

1. Standard Dream – Research has found 65% of what we encounter in our dreams is associated with what happens during our waking hours. Standard dreams are typically in color and are mostly visual experiences. 
2. Nightmares – Nightmares are standard dreams that are either disturbing or scary in some way. It is normal for all of us to have nightmares from time to time especially when we are stressed. Other causes of nightmares include sleep deprivation, eating before bed, side effects from certain medications, reading or watching something scary, being sick, sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, or having a mental health condition like PTSD.
3. Night Terrors – Night terrors are sometimes considered a sleep disorder rather than a type of dream and are more common in children than adults. With night terrors, the person usually wakes up terrified, but doesn’t remember what they were dreaming about unlike nightmares that can normally be recalled. The person having the night terror often wakes up screaming, kicking, sweating, breathing hard, with a racing heart, and may even be disoriented and confused about what’s going on.
4. Lucid Dreams – Having a lucid dream means that you are aware you are dreaming while you’re in the dream. Some people with practice can even control the lucid dream while they’re in it, which is very helpful especially if it’s scary.
5. Daydreams – The biggest difference between daydreams and all of the rest is that you are actually awake. You may still feel slightly zoned out or unaware of your surroundings.
6. Recurring dreams – Recurring dreams happen more than once. They can be pleasant, neutral, or even nightmares.
7. False awakenings – False awakenings occur when someone dreams that they have woken up, but actually haven’t. This type of dream is common alongside lucid dreams.
8. Healing dreams – Healing dreams give you the sense of joy, connection, or harmony upon awakening.
9. Prophetic dreams – Prophetic dreams occur when you dream about something, and it later happens. Some people believe that this is your subconscious mind anticipating a likely outcome and preparing you for it.
10. Vivid dreams – Vivid dreams feel very intense and real, and can be remembered more easily upon awakening. It is common to have vivid dreams when someone is stressed or pregnant.

So now that we’ve covered the types of dreams, let’s get into the most common dreams that we share and their possible meanings.

1. Falling – Falling dreams are often considered warnings from our subconscious mind about a major problem in our life. They can reflect a loss of control or problem with work, health, or a relationship.
2. Teeth Falling Out – Our teeth are often considered symbols of youth and vitality, so a dream where we are losing our teeth can represent a fear of growing older or losing our power, attractiveness or confidence.
3. Naked In Public – Dreaming of being naked in public is frequently said to symbolize our vulnerability, anxiety, or a fear of being exposed.
4. Taking A Test – Having a dream about taking a test can reflect a fear of failure or a feeling of being unprepared for a situation you are currently facing in your waking life.
5. Dying – If you have a dream about death, no need to panic. Dreaming about you or someone you love dying frequently suggests a wish that something in your life ends or changes. That you are ready for a new beginning or a new chapter ahead.
6. Meeting A Celebrity – Dreaming about meeting a celebrity can sometimes symbolize the need for personal recognition.
7. Being Chased – If you dream about being chased, it is often said to suggest you are trying to run away or avoid something in your waking life that causes you a great deal of fear or anxiety.
8. Infidelity – Remember most dreams are not prophetic, so if you happen to have a dream in which your mate is unfaithful, it doesn’t automatically mean that they are or that they are going to be. Dreams about infidelity often reflect a concern you are not getting what you need from your relationship right now, and that your significant other may be spending more time than you would like focused on something else such as work or friends leaving you feeling cheated out of their time and attention in your waking life. 
9. Showing Up Late – When you dream of being late, it can signify a feeling of being overwhelmed or lacking confidence in making a change in your waking life. It can also represent the feeling of missing out on an important opportunity.
10. Flying – A dream about flying is described as being one of the most common and most enjoyed dreams of all. To dream of flying is often said to represent things falling into place, independence and freedom, or the desire to escape reality.
11. Being Pregnant – Dreaming about you or someone else being pregnant reflects something new that is unfolding in your life. It could be a sign of a new job, relationship, or project of some kind.
12. Driving Out Of Control – If you dream about driving an out of control vehicle, it can represent a loss of control or lack of direction in your waking life that you desperately need to get back on track.
13. Water – It is very common to have water in some form show up in your dreams. Pay attention to how the water appears to have a better understanding of what it means. A calm lake, for example, can represent a peaceful state of mind as opposed to a rain storm can represent a chaotic situation you are struggling with in your waking life.
14. Sex – When you dream about having sex with someone, it isn’t necessarily as simple as some secret desire you have. Instead, the quality that is most prominent in the person you’re dreaming of having sex with is a quality you desire to have more of in your waking life.
15. Finding Money – To dream about finding money symbolizes gaining insight that frees you from negativity and allows you the power to be a happier, more capable person. It can also signify obstacles being removed and feeling surprised by new opportunities.
16. House – A house in a dream is frequently said to represent ourselves. If you’re wandering through a house, pay close attention to each of the rooms and what they look like, because the dream is like exploring your inner self. And if you find a new room that you’ve never seen before while dreaming, it is said to represent discovering something new about yourself.
17. Being Lost – To dream of being lost represents your attempt to find your way through a situation that’s unfamiliar or making you insecure. In your waking life, you may be experiencing a strange or scary situation that is unsettling and causing you an overwhelming feeling of confusion or uncertainty.
18. Unable To Scream – When you dream that you are unable to scream, it can represent mixed feelings of desperation and futility…like nothing can help you.
19. Unable To Run – To dream that no matter how hard you try, you are unable to run or that you can only run in slow motion, is said to happen when you’re suffering from a lack of self confidence and feeling like you’re completely powerless in your waking life.
20. Snakes – To dream of snakes can reflect a person’s fear of failure or a situation permanently ruining you. The snake can also represent a dangerous or tricky problem you want to avoid.

Have you had any of these common dreams?
Please let me know if the comments!