Dreams linked to stress

If you dream of being a rock star who forgets their words, or you’re seeing tigers – it could mean you have some bottled up stress to deal with. Dreams are open to interpretation, but New Zealand experts suggest these six could give you some insight in to simmering stress levels.

Falling

This is the most common recurring stress dream, according to Margaret Bowater, president of the Dream Network Aotearoa New Zealand. She says it’s a metaphor about falling short, maybe not living up to the expectations of yourself or others.

Unprepared for a test

Finding yourself unexpectedly sitting an exam means you’re not coping, feeling unable to take control of the situation. Dreams about a test, or having to perform on stage and forgetting the words, indicate you’re under pressure, Bowater says. ’’I used to be a teacher, so my typical stress dream was about the whole classroom getting out of control. I would be feeling powerless or helpless to manage a situation.’’

House falling down

A house can signify the family unit, and how it is being affected. Dr Rosie Gibson, research officer at Massey University’s Sleep/ Wake Research Centre, conducts research related to sleep and people with dementia. ’’Depending on what their background is, we’ve had reports of having dreams of a house falling down around them and relate that to not being able to look after their family, and possibly relate that to financial changes, or changes in family roles.’’

Teeth falling out

‘‘It’s about words that have fallen out of your mouth that you wish you hadn’t said,’’ explains Bowater, who has been running dream workshops for 30 years. ’’Three people who have asked me about that dream have been radio or TV presenters... Some dreams, you might be stuffing them back in your mouth again.’’ It could also indicate not being able to find the right words to express yourself.

Tigers

Gibson says children are more likely see animals in dreams, with a ‘‘token stress creature’’ represented as a tiger or other scary animal, possibly chasing them. ‘‘My own repetitive stress dream as a child would be of a wolf jumping down my next door neighbour’s stairs and I’d wake up with that rush of stress and anxiety,’’ she says.

Driving

Not being able to steer a car is a conceptional dream that means you don’t feel in control, which you’re more likely to have as an adult, says Gibson.