10 Most Common Nightmares That Are Actually Warnings For You

Ever wake up from a nightmare (a frightening dream), and your heart is racing? Wondered what it means? Nightmares are often ignored as meaningless, but some could be warning signs from your body, mind, or emotions, which are trying to alert you to something. So, what are the common nightmares that are actually warnings for you? Let's uncover them in this blog! We will also have a basic understanding of the nightmare, its types, and causes.

10 Common Nightmares That Could Be Warning Signs

Here, we have listed the common nightmares that can be signs of danger!

1. Falling or Drowning

Possible Warning Signs: You are feeling out of control, suppressing deep feelings, or feeling emotionally overwhelmed.

Why It Happens:

• Falling in your dream represents anxiety, a lack of stability, or fear of failure. This nightmare can be a warning sign if you are taking some risks professionally, financially, and emotionally.

• On the other hand, drowning in dreams can reflect emotions, which signals you are overly emotional and possibly struggling with anxiety, grief, and a personal secret.

What to Do:

• Reconsider those parts of your life that feel unstable or uncertain.

• Improve your support system.

• Talk to someone or write down your emotions.

• Engage in stress-reducing activities such as yoga or meditation.

2. Being Chased

Possible Warning Signs: You are running or escaping from problems or fear in real life.

 Why It Happens:

• If you have nightmares that you are being chased, it could indicate avoidance.

• Your subconscious mind may be warning you that there is something in your real life that you are refraining from confronting.

• Those can include a stressful job, jealousy, anger, a toxic relationship, resentment, or failure of duty.

 What to Do:

• Recognize what you have been avoiding.

• Take some small steps to directly manage those problems. 

 Also Read: Dreams of teeth falling out: What they could be telling you.

 3. Getting Shot

Possible Warning Signs: You are betrayed, emotionally hurt, attacked by someone, or are having emotional trauma. It could also reflect fear, a feeling of vulnerability, or being under pressure.

Why It Happens:

• You may be struggling personally, professionally, or internally, or may be feeling judged or targeted either by other people or by yourself.

• Sometimes, it can be due to traumatic events in real life or built-up fear, stress, or guilt.

• It could also indicate that you are fighting or struggling to survive daily in real life.

What to Do:

• Identify emotional conflicts, like ever felt emotionally “attacked” by someone.

• Set boundaries with those who make you stressed or feel unsafe.

• Note down your feelings in a diary to understand the root cause of those dreams.

• Avoid stressful or violent content before sleeping to calm down your subconscious mind.

• Take support from someone you trust, or a therapist if the dreams are disturbing or frequent.

4. Trapped In A Dream

Possible Warning Signs: You have no purpose or are stuck in your real life.

 Why it happens:

• Feeling lost or trapped in your dream might reflect the feelings of a lack of purpose or confusion in real life.

• You may feel uncertain about your identity, experiencing no positive changes in your relationship, or not progressing well in your career.

• Sometimes, it might indicate that you are struggling to run away from something that you must confront, whether it is a person or your emotions.

 What to Do:

• Take time and clear all your life goals.

• Seek guidance from counselors or life coaches.

 5. Suffering An Injury or Death

Possible Warning Signs: You are fighting to let go, or something big is coming!

 Why it happens:

• It can indicate the emotional pain or fear of getting hurt or humiliated, or someone has said something hurtful that damaged your emotions.

• You might be going through a transition in your real life, like moving to another place, a breakup, or a new job.

• It may also indicate bad luck, an accident, and misfortune you may have experienced in real life.

• In addition, death can represent transformation or an end to something that is important. However, continuous dreams of death can be associated with unresolved trauma or depression.

 What to Do:

• Consider what in your real life may be changing or ending.

• Seek support from healthcare providers if the dreams make you sad or leave you shaken.

• Take care of your emotional and mental health with the help of mental health professionals.

• Speak about your feelings to someone you trust or seek support from a therapist. 

 6. Blood In Dream

Possible Warning Signs: It may indicate a release of hidden anger or emotional turmoil, represent loss of energy, exhaustion, and emotional pain. Also, it can indicate a betrayal or a toxic relationship.

Why It Happens:

• It might happen because you might be feeling physically or mentally depleted.

• You may be trying to process injury, fear, or pain from the past or present.

• Moreover, you may be becoming the victim of abuse in real life.

• Dreaming about menstrual blood may signify feminine energy or improved fertility for women.

What to Do:

• Identify what is responsible for physical or emotional drain.

• Set boundaries with others or situations that stress you.

• Take rest and prioritize your care and emotional healing.

• Seek medical help if your dreams are recurring or intense, as it might indicate deep inner wounds.

Also Read: Panic Disorder Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

7. Disaster and Calamity

Possible Warning Signs: It signifies overwhelming stress, fear of losing control, and anxiety. It may also indicate a feeling that the whole world is "falling apart."

Why It Happens:

• You might be under a huge pressure- financially, mentally, and emotionally.

• You may be experiencing instability or big changes in your career, health, or relationships.

• Your subconscious mind may be reacting to personal fears regarding the future or global events.

 What to Do:

• Identify the root cause of stress or chaos in your life.

• Take action to regain your control by seeking medical help.

• Practice calming activities such as deep breathing, refraining from the digital world, and journaling.

• Talk to someone you trust if you are feeling very overwhelmed. Just do not carry it alone.

8. Being Late

Possible Warning Signs: You may be feeling pressured or unprepared in your real life. It may also indicate regret or frustration about the missed opportunity or fear of missing out.

 Why It Happens:

• You are handling too many tasks or responsibilities in your work or school life.

• You are worried about not meeting your own or others' expectations.

• It may occur due to fear of letting down others or having low self-confidence.

What to Do:

• Manage your time and prioritize your important tasks. Do not overcommit.

• Do not try to be perfect and set realistic goals that you can reach.

• Understand whether you are doing something because of fear and not out of passion.

• Engage in mindfulness to stay present and reduce anxiety.

9. House Catching Fire

Possible Warning Signs: It indicates personal challenges related to identity and family, emotional outbursts, or loss of control. Also, it can alert about hidden anger or situations that are intensifying and need attention.

 Why It Happens:

• You are dealing with tension or stress in relationships or at home.

• You might be feeling that something important in your life is changing very quickly or falling apart.

• It also occurs due to emotional overload, inner chaos, and fear of losing security and comfort.

 What to Do:

• Identify what is causing stress in your personal life and at home.

• Manage your unresolved emotions before they exhaust you.

• Set a calm environment for yourself- physically as well as mentally.

• Talk to someone or do journaling to release emotional stress. 

 10. Hurricane's Dreams

Possible Warning Signs: You are struggling with overwhelming stress, emotional chaos, and a situation getting out of your control. It may be an alert about an upcoming emotional breakdown or indicate feeling powerless in facing big conflicts or changes.

Why It Happens:

• You might be struggling with emotional issues, like loss, conflict, or major life changes.

• The feelings of fear, sadness, and anger might be building up inside you.

• You might be facing anxiety regarding unexpected issues or feeling unprepared for upcoming situations or challenges.

What to Do:

• Know about the cause of emotional chaos.

• Take steps to gain your stability back by seeking help from someone you trust or a therapist.

• Practice stress-reducing techniques such as mindfulness or deep breathing.

• Have a conversation with people you trust to share your emotions and reduce chaos inside you.

What Are Nightmares And Their Types?

What do nightmares mean? A nightmare is a bad dream that disturbs and frightens you, resulting in a sudden awakening. It causes nervousness and prevents you from having adequate sleep. Studies show that nightmares most commonly occur in people with post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD). Experts say nightmares repeat the patterns of human behavior, which are frequently linked with various life incidents.

Mostly, there are three types of nightmares:

• Recurring nightmares- occurring over and over again for more extended periods, indicating unresolved conflict or hidden desires.

• Fever nightmares- occur when body temperature is high, which gives vivid and intense nightmares.

• Vivid nightmares- occur due to extreme emotions, making you feel like you are in the dream, and tend to have a long-lasting effect.

Why Do People Have Nightmares?

Well, you might be wondering why we have nightmares. Increased stress is commonly what causes nightmares, as it is at the forefront of everyone's mind. However, several other factors also contribute to bad dreams. Those include:

• Consuming medicines like antidepressants or sleep aids

• Drinking alcohol

• Late-night snacking

These factors lead to disturbed sleep, increasing the chances of nightmares every night. In some cases, sleep apnea is also an unusual cause, a condition involving irregular breathing patterns. The patients feel an abrupt start and stop breathing while sleeping. The common nightmare they experience is dreaming of oxygen deficiency.

Moreover, some other possible factors causing nightmares include:

• Watching scary movies or consuming other terrifying content

• Withdrawal from prescription medications

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Feelings of regret or deep guilt

• Sleep deprivation

• Depression

• Restless legs syndrome

• Nightmare disorder

• Bipolar disorder

• Using narcotics

• Big life changes

What Warnings Are Your Nightmares Might Be Indicating?

If nightmares occur frequently, they may indicate about your physical and mental health. Those warnings can be related to:

• Past trauma, like childhood or sexual trauma

• Anxiety disorders, like generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder

• Prone to future trauma, like being emotionally sensitive or responsive to internal and external influences

• Excessive stressors in daily life.

• Depressive disorders

• Bipolar disorder causing manic and depressive symptoms

• Severe asthma, especially in children

• Migraine due to suppression of emotions, anxiety, and anger in wakefulness.

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (e.g., hyperactive-impulsive ADHD and combined ADHD) is associated with disturbed sleep

• Personality disorder, such as borderline personality disorder

• Eating disorders, such as bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa

• Insomnia, difficulty falling asleep

Can Nightmares Be Actually Warnings?

Yes, nightmares can actually be warnings. However, research is still undergoing on the science of dreaming.

• As per the psychodynamic theory of dreams, dreams come to meet our subconscious desires. On the other hand, according to the neurocognitive theory, dreams are simply a result of the natural evolution of the brain. None of these theories points out that nightmares are warnings.

• But nightmares might actually warn you about your physical and mental health. One study shows that up to 70% of individuals with personality or post-traumatic stress disorders experience chronic nightmares.

• Nightmares can also alert about other factors, like negative feelings, sleep duration, worry, and certain health issues, such as asthma and migraine.

What You Can Do:

• Check for repeated symbols or signs that show up in your dreams.

• Focus on what is happening in your real life that is causing stress.

• Manage the problems that are impacting your physical, mental, and emotional health early.

• See a doctor if your nightmares are disturbing, frequent, or affecting your sleep.

How Do You Prevent Bad Dreams and Improve Sleep?

By considering your sleeping habits and lifestyle, you can get rid of bad dreams and improve your sleep. Here, you can follow these measures:

• Reduce your alcohol and caffeine intake, especially before going to sleep.

• Practice relaxation techniques before bed, like meditation, yoga, or aromatherapy.

• Do not take a nap for longer than 20 minutes during the day.

• Keep your room temperature cool and use blackout shades in your room.

• Do not eat food just before bedtime, as it can boost brain activity and increase the body's metabolic rate, causing nightmares.

• Follow a strict sleep schedule by sleeping and waking up close to the same time every night and morning.

• Perform aerobic exercises such as jogging, swimming, cycling, stair climbing, etc.

• Avoid electronic devices like mobile phones at least 1 hour before sleeping.

• Do not perform any work or other activities that stimulate you before bedtime. 

When to See a Doctor?

• If you experience nightmares frequently, see a healthcare professional, as it might be a sign of some underlying health conditions.

• The doctors, therapists, or sleep specialists can help with proper evaluation and treatment plans.

Treatment Options for Underlying Causes of Nightmares

Depending on the potential causes of the nightmares, the following can be the treatment options:

• Medications: Examples include tricyclic antidepressants or atypical antipsychotics to treat nightmare disorder.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Treats insomnia if you are facing trouble falling or remaining asleep.

• Psychotherapy: Helps manage stress and anxiety and assists in identifying negative beliefs and thoughts associated with nightmares.

• Learning to cope with triggers (LCT): Treats chronic migraines and headaches.

• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): Identify the traumatic memories, reduce their emotional impact, and lower the intensity and frequency of nightmares.

• Hypnotherapy: Address the deeper cause of those disturbing dreams by working with the subconscious mind instead of managing symptoms.

• Substance misuse treatment: If misuse of substances like cocaine and amphetamine is the reason behind nightmares, the doctor can assist with avoidance and withdrawal of these drugs. 

Summing Up

From drowning or falling, and being chased, to getting shot and trapped in a dream, these are the common nightmares that are actually warnings for you. Though nightmares are regular and occasional for some people, they can be problematic if they occur frequently, affecting the quality of sleep. Excessive stress, mental health issues, specific medication intake, and significant life changes can be the potential causes of nightmares. Addressing underlying mental health or substance abuse issues can significantly reduce stress-induced nightmares. Programs like a virtual IOP substance abuse treatment offer flexible, intensive therapy sessions designed to tackle these root causes. Stress management by practicing meditation and yoga, and lifestyle changes by following a fixed sleep schedule can also provide relief. However, if you go through mental health issues associated with nightmares, seeking professional help will be the best option.