Dreams can tell us a lot about ourselves. Think back to the last wild, mysterious dream that you woke up with—what clues can it tell you about who you are, how you’re feeling, and what the future holds?
Take this quiz, and we’ll tell you. Answer a few quick questions about a recent dream, and we’ll run it through our Dream Interpreter to come up with a possible meaning, as well as what you should do next!
Questions Overview
- Happy, warm, optimistic.
- Anxious, scary, ominous.
- Nostalgic, bittersweet, touching.
- Confusing, wacky, mysterious.
- Yes, someone I used to know, but who's no longer in my life.
- Yes, and it was someone I care about deeply, like a friend or family member.
- Yes, but it was someone who I don't really like.
- I don't think I saw anyone that I know in my dream.
- Somewhere familiar, like at my home or another place I feel comfortable in.
- Somewhere unfamiliar, or a place I've never been, but could be real.
- A fictional place that could never exist.
- I'm not sure, or I don't remember.
- I definitely felt in control, even if I was doing things I didn't want to be!
- It felt more like watching a movie. I couldn't really control what happened next.
- It felt a bit like a mix of both! Sometimes I was controlling it, sometimes I wasn't.
- I don't know, or I don't remember.
- Very clearly. It's like a real memory of something that actually happened to me.
- Somewhat clearly. I can remember major parts, but there are chunks missing.
- Not super clearly. I remember some parts, but it's mostly gone.
- I can't remember it very clearly; it's mostly just vibes now.
- There were warm colors, like reds, yellows, and oranges.
- There were cool colors, like blues, greens, and purples.
- There were neutral colors, like black, white, and grays.
- I don't remember any particular colors.
- Yes. I've had this dream many times, and it's always the same.
- I've had this dream many times before, but it changes every time I have it.
- I've had this dream a couple of times, but not often.
- I've never had this dream before, or I'm not sure if I have.
- There was an animal that flies around in the sky.
- There was an animal that spends its time on the ground.
- There was an animal that swims through water.
- There were no animals, or I don't remember.
- I dreamed I was flying or falling.
- I dreamed my teeth fell out, or another upsetting thing happened to my body.
- I dreamed I was being chased, or was looking for something.
- None of these, or I don't remember.
- I kissed or held the hand of someone I like.
- I hurt someone (even if I didn't mean to).
- I was embarrassed by something in public.
- None of these, or I don't remember.
- Super deep. I was sleeping like a rock, and didn't wake up until the morning.
- I was sleeping pretty well. I might have woken up once or twice, but got back to sleep pretty quickly.
- I wasn't sleeping very well. I woke up many times during the night.
- I barely slept at all, and had my dream during the few moments of sleep I did get.
- 10 years old or younger.
- 10-20 years old.
- 21-30 years old.
- 31+ years old.
More Quizzes
What’s Up With Dreams, Anyway?
Dreams are one of those funny mysteries that humanity has been wondering about ever since we started dreaming (which was quite a while ago). We know some things, like that we mostly dream during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is a stage of sleep where your eyes move super quickly behind your eyelids, and your brain’s activity is similar to when you’re awake. Beyond that, though, scientists and experts are still researching and debating what dreams are and why they happen.
Theories on Why We Dream
- Some say dreams are our brain’s way of analyzing recent events while we’re asleep, examining them and coming to conclusions.
- Some say dreams are when our brain processes different emotions and practices handling them while we’re asleep, so we can deal with them better when we’re awake.
- Others say that dreams are how our brains process and build memories, packaging them and storing them for later access.
- Some say dreams are a sort of spring cleaning for our brains, where our brains go through all the excess information and organize it, or get rid of unneeded info.
- Still others say that dreams aren’t really anything! They’re just a symptom of sleep and give our brains something to do when we’re not using them so intensely.
Do Dreams Really Have Meanings?
This is a tough one to answer! Most sleep experts—scientists and spiritualists alike—recognize that our dreams definitely have something to do with our waking experiences, but people disagree on exactly what, or if we can really “interpret” dreams with any sort of accuracy. Think of it like trying to interpret a really zany movie: everyone who’s seen it probably has a different opinion. Except you’re the only one who can really “see” your dreams, so things get even tougher! That said, there are some pretty widespread interpretations of common dreams.
Common Dream Interpretations
- Teeth falling out: stress, anxiety, change.
- Pregnancy: big changes, excited for the future.
- Snakes: transformation, worry.
- Sharks: confidence, stress, danger.
- Cockroaches: relationship anxiety, overwhelmed.
- Friends: security, love, happiness.
- Rain: abundance, good fortune.
- Falling: overwhelmed, out of control.
- Celebrities: admiration, ambition.
Want to learn more?
For more information about dreams and how they work, check out these helpful resources:
