Top 5 Common Nightmares Explained

Everyone dreams, but unfortunately some dreams can turn into nightmares. As with dreams, common nightmares can be interpreted in various ways. Here is a guide to the five most common nightmares:

Dogs

There are many nightmares based on dogs, but few are more traumatising than those in which dogs are forgotten about. Fear and guilt prevent you from actually checking on them in your nightmare. Dream interpreters believe that dogs signify creativity, so locking up the dogs suggests that some talent is being ignored. This nightmare is meant to encourage you to unlock your ability.

Teeth

Teeth breaking, teeth crumbling and teeth falling are common nightmares. The feelings are very real and some people report that they can actually feel the bits in their mouth and try to spit them out. As with many nightmares, this one manifests as a result of fear or worry. People rely on their teeth, which enable chewing and biting and thus play an important role in eating. It has been suggested that teeth are thought of as a powerful force. Losing them in your dreams can be indicative of losing control over life. Perhaps it is something you feel powerless to do anything about and can also be described as a way for the subconscious to tell you to be more confident.

Houses

Everyone's worst nightmare is arguably one that involves being stuck in a haunted house. The house is typically scary in appearance. It might have an overgrown landscape, creaking floorboards, a single mattress in the corner and plenty of cobwebs. As you enter, you find yourself drawn deeper and deeper into the house. Experts argue that the house seen in this nightmare represents the dreamers themselves. Whatever is found in the house can be translated into the dreamer's life experiences. An empty house can signify insecurities, a dirty house can mean that you need to tidy out your jumbled thoughts and a haunted house points to something that hasn't been tied up as it should have.

Dead people

The iconic line from the movie the Sixth Sense sums up this nightmare. The "I see dead people" phenomenon is a common yet scary nightmare that can spook many people. In many cases, people believe that they are dead during the nightmare and this feel very unnerved. Seeing dead people in nightmares can signify that you are being surrounded by some negativity in real life. It can also be a way of communicating with the deceased in an effort to bring some closure to your loss. Either way, it should not be viewed as bad or unlucky, just as a path to healing and becoming a better person.

Storms

As a popular nightmare, the race to avoid a storm can be terrifying. With the threat moving ever closer, many describe the frantic efforts they face to locate loved ones. Sometimes, the person having the nightmare finds that it is too late to save himself. He will probably experience sensations of clinging on for dear life while being blown about. The significance of this type of nightmare is that it usually relates to some event that feels out of control. The randomness and destructive power of storms can translate into something that people fear and feel powerless to do anything about.

Zoe is a health writer and blogger who has a keen interest in sleep and its impact on our daily lifestyles.