Dreams of Being Chased

Do you ever dream you are being chased by a dark, shadowy figure or an animal? Do these dreams leave you feeling restless and agitated? If yes, then it is possible your subconscious mind is telling you to acknowledge and deal with your insecurity, fears and/or lack of confidence.

Chase dreams are like a metaphor for running away from something. Adults who have recurring chase dreams generally have some hidden fears they are unwilling to acknowledge: it could be fear of failure, of a person or of an adverse circumstance. Chase dreams also occur when people feel threatened by someone or some situation in their life. The person/object/animal chasing them in the dream is a symbolic depiction of the threat in their waking lives.

If in your dream you feel as if your legs are too wobbly or you are unable to run as fast as you would have liked, then it could mean you have fear or insecurity that is literally paralyzing you, and you are therefore unable to realize your full potential in your waking life. Another variation of this dream is when you scream in your dream while being chased but no sound comes out. Loss of voice or personal expression can be representative of being concerned over your voice not being heard or not being able to speak your truth and have it respected.

To figure out the symbolic meaning of the person, object or animal chasing you, write down your dream as soon as you wake up and try to remember every detail about it. See if you can identify in any way with whom or what was chasing you; you may find your answer.

Children who have disturbing chase dreams may be victims of abuse or bullying at school. So if your child talks about such dreams, you need to take them very seriously. Make sure you are providing a safe environment for him to express his experiences at school or day care. Pose your questions as open ended and have the questions invite more than just yes or no responses.

If you are the chaser in your dream and are unable to catch the person, animal or object you are chasing, then it could mean there is something you are trying to banish from your life but have been unable to do it so far.

Metaphorical dreams (like chase dreams) are stories woven by our subconscious through which it tries to send us messages we are unwilling to acknowledge or listen to during our waking hours. If you see yourself being chased in your dreams often, then it means the subconscious issue is extremely important—and the sooner you resolve it, the better it will be.

As always, if there is an underlying theme to your dreams causing you distress, then seek the support of a counselor or therapist to support you while walking through the metaphors.

Until next time, embrace your inner wisdom.

Namaste,
Karen