While dreams are often centered on daytime thoughts and concerns, they can also reflectunconscious thoughts or feelingsabout others.
In other cases, dreams symbolically represent something else entirely.
Read on to start todecode your dreamsand what they might say about you.
Verywell / Zoe Hansen
Freud believed that bringing unconscious information to light could help alleviate psychological distress.
These levels are known as the manifest content and the latent content.
Sigmund Freud famously described these two aspects of dreams in his seminal book “The Interpretation of Dreams.”
This is the imagery and storyline that you remember upon waking.
The manifest content may not, however, necessarily reflect the underlying meaning of the dream.
Or it might indicate a broader desire for more social connection and companionship in general.
Dreaming about a crush might be about the obvious meaningyou are interested in being with them romantically.
However, Lyon notes, that isn’t necessarily the whole story.
“Romantic involvementis all about connection,” Lyon explains.
They can also offer a perspective that can helpdeepen your relationshipsin ways that support connection and mental well-being.
Dream Interpretation Is Not One-Size-Fits-All
It is important to remember that dream interpretation is highly personal.
The specific meaning of someone appearing in a dream depends on factors that are unique to you.
“That’s the power of dreams!”
Frequently Asked Questions
No.
That’s why it is important not to make inferences about what others might think based on your dreams.
Similarities in dreams are most likely due to factors such as shared experiences, connections, and cultural influences.
For example, two friends who attended the same event might have dreams with similar elements.
Common dream themes do exist that often show up in many people’s dreams.
2018;42(1):50-63. doi:10.1007/s11031-017-9656-0
