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Discover the cause of this common nightmare
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You wake up in a cold sweat, your heart pounding, and all you remember is the feeling of something chasing you. Nightmares about being chased are one of the most common, but what could it mean? No need to fear! In this article, we’ll help you decode your dream so you can understand what it means for your waking life and take steps to stop it from coming back.
Things You Should Know
- A dream about being chased can signal that you’re avoiding confronting a situation that’s causing you stress or anxiety.
- If you’re being chased by a particular person, think about that person’s traits or characteristics. What about them could be making you anxious?
- If you notice the environment you’re being chased through, think about how the landscape could represent what you’re stressed about.
- After you’ve had a dream about being chased, the first step is to confront the problem you’ve been avoiding so it will stop running after you in the dreaming world.
Steps
Section 3 of 3:
What to Do after You’ve Had a Chasing Dream
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Confront the problem that’s chasing you. If you’ve narrowed down what’s causing you to stress out, the best thing to do is to face your problems head-on and address any situations in your workplace, home life, or relationships that are causing you stress. You might also consider taking steps to reduce your stress . Find a way to consistently exercise, eat balanced meals, practice deep breathing , and make time in your waking life for relaxation. [13] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public Go to source
- Try putting the situation you’re stressing over into perspective. Ask yourself if the cause of your anxiety will matter a year from now, or vent your concerns to a close family member or friend and ask for their advice.
- Practicing meditation can also help you think more positively and relax both your body and your mind.
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Face the person chasing you through lucid dreaming. A lucid dream is one where you’re aware that you’re dreaming while you’re still asleep. Some lucid dreamers are even able to change the storyline of their dream. You may be able to have a lucid dream and confront your pursuer if you enter with the right mindset. While you’re in the dream, consciously ask your brain to identify the things that are chasing you so you can confront them and free yourself from nightmares. [14] X Research source
- To increase your chances of having a lucid dream, think about your dreams as soon as you wake up and record them in a dream journal . Even if you can’t remember an entire dream, writing down everything you remember each night can help you become more aware of your dreaming world. [15] X Research source
- Lucid dreaming can also help break the cycles of recurring dreams because it allows you to think or react differently than you would in a normal dream. [16] X Research source
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Develop a nightly routine. Establishing a sleep routine can help you sleep more soundly during the night, which can reduce the chance of nightmares. Set regular sleep and waking times, make sure your room is dark and cool, avoid stimulating beverages like coffee in the afternoon, and engage in relaxing activities like reading, writing, or drawing. [17] X Research source
- You can also reduce nightmares by cutting back on alcohol, avoiding nighttime snacking or larger meals, journaling your worries, and reading or watching emotionally positive and happy content before bed.
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about dreams, check out our in-depth interview with Kari Samuels .
References
- ↑ https://www.canadianliving.com/health/mind-and-spirit/article/dream-of-being-chased-interpretation-and-meaning
- ↑ https://www.dreaminterpretation.org/dream-of-being-chased/
- ↑ https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/health/a11043/8-common-dreams-and-what-they-mean/
- ↑ https://www.dreaminterpretation.org/dream-of-being-chased/
- ↑ https://www.dreaminterpretation.org/dream-of-being-chased/
- ↑ https://idreamedthis.com/dream-about-being-chased-by-a-predator/
- ↑ https://mydreamsmeaning.com/dream-about-car-chase-meaning/
- ↑ https://www.wellbeing.com.au/mind-spirit/spirituality/dreams-chased-pursued-mean.html
- ↑ https://www.dreaminterpretation.org/dream-of-being-chased/
- ↑ https://shuteye.ai/dream-about-being-chased/
- ↑ https://www.thelist.com/897534/what-does-it-mean-when-you-dream-about-chasing-someone/
- ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a39789562/recurring-dreams-meaning/
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/top-ways-to-reduce-daily-stress
- ↑ https://www.canadianliving.com/health/mind-and-spirit/article/dream-of-being-chased-interpretation-and-meaning
- ↑ http://diyhpl.us/~bryan/papers2/dreaming/Lucidity%20Institute%20Research%20Papers.pdf
- ↑ https://theconversation.com/being-chased-losing-your-teeth-or-falling-down-what-science-says-about-recurring-dreams-166006
- ↑ https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/04/health/how-to-stop-nightmares-in-adults-wellness/index.html
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