Althoughwe dreamanywhere fromtwo to five timesper night, we rarely recall our dreams.
Still, most of us remember at least a few dreams and some of them may be downright confusing.
This is especially true when we’re dreaming of someone other than ourselves.
Since the days of Aristotle, experts have been looking into the meaning of dreams.
But, it’s not exactly a hard science.
“There may not be a right answer.”
Nevertheless, today’s leading experts have offered their best guesses on the meaning behind specificdreams.
Here’s what they think your subconscious is trying to tell you when you have a dream about another.
Of course, much of a dream’s meaning depends on what the dream was about.
When you dream about people you know, Stout explained that you’re not actually dreaming aboutthem.
Rather, the people in your dreams actually “represent aspects of yourself.”
If you think of them as being humble then you are dreaming about the humble side of yourself."
Yes, even in our dreams, we’re all a little self-obsessed.
As it turns out, this kind of dream might not be all that deep.
This may have happened without you even realizing it, but your mind stored the information regardless.
“That’s why it can sometimes make people uncomfortable.”
“We all have a cast of characters who play in our dream theatre.
It may surprise you to learn thatabout 50 percentof the people we dream about are strangers.
That is, people who are unfamiliar to us.
An older study (viaPsychology Today) found that these strangers tend to be male.
McNamara revealed that this is further proof that dreams do not necessarily mimic our everyday lives.
“We tend to be afraid that we will never find them again,” the expert added.
But, what does it mean?
Well, according to Stout, the meaning changes slightly depending on who exactly is the person getting lost.
Either way, though, losing someone in your dream signifies losing a part of yourself.
Dreaming about someone dying
Dreaming ofdeathmay leave you feeling frightened upon waking.
But, try not to worry.
It’s not a bad omen.
“It could be a potentially life-changing event that creates anxiety and fear of the unknown.”
This could be atoxic friendshipor anunfulfilling job.
You will want to pay attention towhois dying in your dream, though.
Are you dreaming of someone with whom you have some deep-seated issues?
If so, you’ll likely want to address those feelings in real life.
Yep, the person you are runningfrommay actually be a version of yourself that you should runto.
However, this isn’t always the case.
Dreaming about someone criticizing you
Your dreams contain many versions of you.
“I am not I,” he wrote.
“I am this one walking beside me whom I do not see.”
This doesn’t just apply to those sorts of dreams though.
This may call for some changes in your real life.
Although more women than men have dreams about pregnancy, both sexes have experienced pregnancy-related dreams.
Yet and still, there is a difference between having a dream about being pregnant yourself versus someone else.
“This could be as small as a home-based renovation project or a large-scale artistic work.”
If you dream about someone else being pregnant, however, it’s probably not steeped in personal growth.
Dreaming about someone in your family
Ifyour momhas been invading your dreams, you’re not alone.
But, she may not represent yourrealmother.
Fathers, too, play a symbolic role.
Your dad in you dream reflects “your inner knower, decider, disciplinarian, and financier.”
If you have recurrent dreams of being suffocated, though, you should consult your doctor.
There’s something your subconscious identifies from it that applies to you and your life right now.”
Perhaps you andIron Manare more alike than you thought.
To figure out what that is, use the same formula [highlighted above]."
Not every dream about a lost loved one is comforting, though.
Depending on the dream and the person, dreams of the deceased can be frightening.
But, as it turns out, it’s not all that uncommon.
However, this punch in of dream doesn’talwayssignify losing your power.
Of course, the meaning may vary depending onwhoyou’re getting it on with in your dream.
Dreaming about an intimate encounter with a stranger could literally just be about sex.
As such, you may encounter this dream if you’retrying to quit smoking.
Anger is also an underlying theme of these types of dreams.
There’s also a lesson to be learned from thinking about which coworkers hopped into your sleeping-mind palace.
“What two or three adjectives would you use to describe them?”
“Then consider that you are connecting with that part of yourself.
Your subconscious is saying that you want to become more of that.”
Stein advised jotting down the details of this kind of dream to discover its theme.
Certified dream interpreter Claire Harrison agrees.
The identity of the person who’s mad at you may also matter.
It’s not unusual for dreams to stem from a place on anger.
Otherwise, she said, “your dreams will continue to nag you” about it.
Dreaming about someone drowning
As horrifying as they may be, dreams about drowning are common.
“Alternatively, it represents a sense of loss in your own identity,” the site noted.
“You are unable to differentiate who you are anymore.”
Successfully helping someone who’s drowning in your dream can point to your ability to accept help.
The site advised looking into areas of your life where fear may be interfering.
The meaning of cheating dreams can also vary depending on the person with whom you’re having an affair.
You may be going into too many directions and as a result, are spread too thin."
However, the meaning of the dream varies depending on who’s behind the wheel.
Dreaming about marrying someone
What does it mean when wedding bells are ringing in your dreams?
Well, much depends on whom you’re marrying.
She continued, saying, “Maybe they are always volunteering and doing charitable work.
If the person is someone you know in waking life, think about their outstanding qualities.
