My only memories of that time are hiding from tornados, she says.

While I dont recall experiencing any direct damage, I do remember how scared I felt.

When her family moved to Illinois when she was 6, their home did not have a basement.

Tornado on the Sea

koto_feja / E+ / Getty

I was always worried the garage door would somehow open and we would get sucked out!

Since she can remember, Detwiler has had dreams about tornados.

They often include her looking for a place to hide as the tornados are visible in the distance.

Sometimes she is in a car and other times she is walking while the tornado approaches.

But there is always a building in the distance that I am trying to reach.

However, there is always an issue, she says.

What Purpose Do Dreams Serve?

Think of dreams as updating both theconscious and unconscious mindset, she says.

Dreams process our emotions, beliefs, memories, patterns of behavior, and much more.

Dreams also work toward problem-solving.

Some research argues that dreams are connected to needs that are fulfilled or unfilled during waking hours.

Analyzing dreams is a large part of the work that goes on in psychology sessions with Serani.

What Do Dreams About Tornadoes Mean?

Your unique unconscious mind provides the symbols based on your personal experiences, she says.

Being weather-aware does provide me with a sense of security.

I can prepare for the weather, even if I cant necessarily control the outcome, says Detwiler.

Feelings of being out of control, blown around, or fearful of what we cant control, uncertainty.

Dreams use word play: another person might be feelingtornapart, Anderon says.

How a person feels in a dream is another way to make sense of it, she notes.

First, note that every dream has a story on the surface, what Freud called themanifest content.

Each and every aspect of your dream will have more meaning than the original story.

Instead, the story of your dream reflects something more complex.

Then look for the latent content, the deeper meaning of the message in the dream.

This should help you get a sense of what kinds of issues youre dealing with, she says.

When dreaming about a tornado, Serani says think about the tornado itself.

See if it’s possible for you to view it from your dreams perspective.

When to Get Professional Help

Having bad dreams occasionally most likely does not require professional intervention.

Some medications can cause nightmares.

Weinstein N, Campbell R, Vansteenkiste M. Linking psychological need experiences to daily and recurring dreams.

2021;24(2):540.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8451212/