90 COSMOPOLITAN APRIL 2018 FOR MORE GREAT STORIES, VISIT COSMO.INyou, you, you
Ever dreamt your teeth all fell out? What
about flying? We find out whether the worlds
we weave in our sleep tell a deeper story.
By Busang SenneI
ndian peeps get an
estimated six and a
half hours of sleep
each night, according
to a research by Fitbit.
In between dusk and
dawn, you may dream
sweetly—or wake up a
little shaken and stirred.
Across gender, race, class
and culture, the same
themes seem to pop up in
our subconscious. But if
we’re all wired differently,
how are our dreams
connected?
“Dreams are a universal
language, often creating
elaborate images out of
emotional concepts,” says
Suzanne Bergmann, a
pro dream worker. While
everyone experiences
emotions, dreams can
have different meaning
based on our relationship
with those feelings, says Photograph:SHUTTERSTOCK.COMclinical psychologist Zamo
Mbele. “Dreams provide
access to you as a person:
your aspirations, your
wishes, your fears.” Below
are 11 common dreams—
and what to make of
them.1
TEETH FALLING OUT
Teeth play a role in
identity and self-esteem,
so losing your teeth can
mean a fear of losing
control, or self-doubt.
Zamo says this dream
may signify anxiety about
self-expression. “It’s
frightening to lose your
teeth, so there’s anxiety
rooted in that.”2
FALLING PREGNANT
Starting a business
that’s pregnant with
possibilities? Thinking
about a venture that’llbirth something new?
This can mean you’re
excited for change or
craving intimacy, that
you want to create, or
things are happening
beyond your control.
“Dreaming you’re
pregnant can also signify
the fear of intimacy
or the fear of letting
anyone in, especially in
relationships,” says Zamo.3
BEING CHASED
This isn’t necessarily
about the person/thing
doing the chasing. Rather,
it could be about a
reluctance to face your
fears head on. Sangoma
Gogo Moyo, an expert
at interpreting dreams,
suggests that if you’re
being chased, it could be
that someone is looking
for you IRL. “It’s aWhat Your
Dreams Are
Really Trying
to Tell You
“Dreams
provide
access to you
as a person—
your
aspirations,
your wishes,
your fears.”