Dreaming of being chased
The psychological view
Being chased is among the most common dream themes. In a psychological view, the person or thing chasing you stands for a feeling, a responsibility or a matter you avoid. Running describes that you do not yet want to meet that feeling.
Dream research reports that events involving threat appear often in dreams; Revonsuo explains this with a theory that dreams rehearse threat perception and coping skills (Source 2). This is not a diagnosis or a forecast, but a frame for how a dream can be read.
Variations
A stranger chases you
An unknown chaser is linked to a feeling you have not named. Write how the chaser looked.
An animal chases you
Being chased by an animal is read with the feeling that animal stands for. Which animal was it and how did it feel?
Running and hiding
Hiding describes a situation whose meeting you put off. Was the place you hid in safe?
Being caught
Being caught relates to the moment of facing the avoided matter. What happened when you were caught, and what did you feel?
Ask yourself
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Keep reading
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How do you keep a dream journal? A plain guide from putting a notebook by the bed to noting feelings and tracking recurring symbols. Start today.
Frequently asked questions
What does being chased in a dream say?
Being chased does not tie to a single meaning. It is often linked to an avoided feeling or matter; your feeling in the dream sets the meaning.
Why does a chase dream recur?
Repetition offers a clue that the avoided matter goes on. Look in your journal for what your dreams share.
What happens if I am caught in a chase dream?
Being caught is a moment of facing something in the dream. What matters is what you feel afterwards.
Sources
- Palgrave Macmillan (2018). Researching Dreams: The Fundamentals
- Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2000). The reinterpretation of dreams: An evolutionary hypothesis of the function of dreaming