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Original poster

Classic anxiety dreams… what are yours?

155 replies

SingToTheSky · 01/03/2022 21:56

I’ve had a few common ones - trying to find a toilet etc.

But a recurring one for me over the last couple of years is this:

I’m somewhere other than home, with my family. We’ve been staying, or even temporarily living, in an apartment. And now it’s time to pack and go home. I’m worrying about managing to pack everything before the deadline.

In the dream it seems to be more a worry about people thinking badly of us for leaving our stuff, rather than worry about losing particular things, but the overwhelming feeling is “How the hell can we possibly pack all this and get home with it all?”

There’s often other stuff going on in the dreams too, but all the while I’m thinking “but I need to pack!”

Anyone want to share their usual anxiety dreams? Or analyse mine? :o

OP posts:
LadyMacduff · 01/03/2022 22:17

Mine is always about being late to the thing I am anxious about. Things go continuously wrong, preventing me from getting to the correct place.

itstimeforme · 01/03/2022 22:18

It's Christmas Eve and I haven't done any present shopping.

Exam day and I forgot to revise some of the main topics or books.

biggreenhouse · 01/03/2022 22:18

Teeth crumbling out
not being able to get somewhere against the clock
having to be married to an ex

Original poster
SingToTheSky · 01/03/2022 22:18

Ah yes the teeth dream - I have that so often I forgot to mention it!

I am so glad it’s not just me with the packing.

I never really have the exam/performing type dreams.

Another one I hate is where I’m sort of flying, but it’s more like walking in the air. And I am trying to get onto the ground but I know it’ll hurt as I can’t slow down properly.

OP posts:
VashtaNerada · 01/03/2022 22:19

I’m a teacher and my anxiety dreams involve classes of about 100 children who are completely new to me just wandering around without proper supervision, knowing I’m meant to be the responsible adult but with no idea how to manage the situation!

loobylou10 · 01/03/2022 22:19

Being in a play but I don't know my lines and I can't find my script.
Looking for a toilet but they're all either really dirty or they're open so everyone can see.
Needing to call someone on the phone but keep dialling the wrong number.
Finding extra rooms in my house that I didn't know existed.
Needing to leave a foreign hotel to catch a flight but struggling to pack.
Weird that we all have similar dreams isn't it!

Justkeepon · 01/03/2022 22:19

Front teeth falling out and I'm trying to hold them in with my tongue.

Falling from a height and trying to hold on to something but losing my grip

Dreaming my children have drowned/are drawing in a pool or water - this is the worst one for me

Being in some sort of public bathroom where the toilet is completely clogged up/filled to the brim with used toilet roll and shit etc 🤢 and I'm trying to flush the chain - bizarre!

AffIt · 01/03/2022 22:21

Being back at university in halls of residence, but at my current age (early 40s).

In my dream, I'm not worried or confused perse, just a bit baffled by the whole thing and confused about why I'm there.

I will also occasionally be naked or not have any trousers on or something.

zombielady · 01/03/2022 22:21

I've had the packing one for the last 25 years!

AffIt · 01/03/2022 22:21

'Per se', not 'perse'.

Bloody lack of an edit button.

Hoolihan · 01/03/2022 22:23

Mine are:

Late for transport or missing luggage/passport/companion

Urgently need to call someone but repeatedly misdial the number

Knowing there is a tsunami/flood coming and scrambling for high ground/up a tall building - I've had this one since we were on a tiny island off Cuba during Hurricane Katrina

Escaped lions or I'm somehow caught in a lion enclosure - have had this since hearing what sounded like a lion outside the tent whilst camping in Botswana

Neves7 · 01/03/2022 22:23

I have a few…

I have to take an international flight but either I forgot something or I thing there is something wrong with my visa/passport/etc and then I have to take all these weird trains to get to the gate and I think I’m going to miss the flight. If I get on the plane it’s weird inside and not like a normal plane and I’m worried they won’t let me in the country when we get there.

Or I am at work forgot to wear my top and at first it’s ok and normal, then I start to feel slightly under dressed and gradually get more and more embarrassed/uncomfortable.

Or the ones where I am back at school and realize that I haven’t been to a class all term and have to take an exam.

Or where I suddenly realize I have a pet that I have forgotten to take care of and I am running around trying to find it.

Lol really I am not a particularly anxious person when I am awake!

YoComoManzanas · 01/03/2022 22:24

Not being able to find a private toilet.
Driving but in the back seat and also not being able to see properly whilst trying to drive. Kind of tunnel vision.
Living in a house that is an amalgamation of previous abodes plus bits of school buildings and it has a creepy attic with dolls in or a creepy hidden staircase with a creepy secret passageway.
School dreams missing/late for, etc.

YukoandHiro · 01/03/2022 22:25

Teeth crumbling in my mouth. It feels so real. Often I'm speaking and trying to hold them in so whoever I'm speaking to doesn't notice that they're all coming lose and dropping into my mouth.

Apparently it's quite a common anxiety one for women.

PartyPlan · 01/03/2022 22:26

Mine is usually always the packing one. I’m running late and don’t have time to pack what I need so I get to where I’m going and I am without the things I wanted. I have to pack days before I go anywhere to avoid this scenario

Fascinating that so many people have the same dream.

Fifipop185 · 01/03/2022 22:27

The packing dream! I thought it was just me. All our stuff, random photos in frames, kids childhood teddy bears, all need packing up to go home and the amount of stuff just increases.

I also dream I'm naked at work or can't get dressed because I can't find clothes or I fumble with the zips and buttons.

My dreams usually end with the sound of footsteps running up the stairs and the door bursting open. Never had a clue what that's about but it scares the life out of me.

Feduppluckingmychinhairs · 01/03/2022 22:28

Running round on Christmas Eve as the shops are all closing and trying to buy all the presents. I have that one about twice every year. And going back into my old house(which is now lived in by someone else). Always wake up stressed after those

Newbabynewhouse · 01/03/2022 22:28

@YoComoManzanas

Omg yes we have the same dreams! Forgot about the driving one! And the needing a loo that nobody can see you on!!!

polkadotpixie · 01/03/2022 22:30

I have 2...buying a pet hamster and it giving birth unexpectedly then I'm desperately trying to buy/source more cages before the babies start breeding, over and over

My other one is being back at Uni and realising at the last minute that I have several essays due, no time to write them and no textbooks

InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest · 01/03/2022 22:32

People chasing me trying to kill me. Unfortunately it's been a recurring dream for years.

WhiteJellycat · 01/03/2022 22:33

@CatFacePoodle

Turning up to my final exam of my degree course and realising I haven't read a single book on the syllabus or attended any of the lectures. I have this dream a lot.
Me too. I wake up thinking what a terrible waste my life has been then I remember I passed my degree. I think its because it was such a stressful time.

Needing the loo and teeth falling out is also common. Every loo is filthy or in public. Or both.

The one where your packing and miss the flight almost really happened to us on our first holiday with a baby. Dh ran to the coach in his Pjs then said we had five minutes to pack as we over slept. We literally opened the case and just swiped everything in. Even the hotel vase with the doily under it. Everything. Grab. Pack run. Then got on the coach half dressed to death stares while our 9 months old threw up constantly on the drive to the airport. We do laugh about it now.

VeryQuaintIrene · 01/03/2022 22:34

I dream that it's July and suddenly I realise that my short term academic job is coming to an end in September and somehow I've forgotten to get another one for the next year. I dream this several times a year and it's always so great to wake up and realise that I am employed!

Featuredcreature · 01/03/2022 22:37

Being back at school and realising just before the exam that I don't need to take it because I have already passed

Having killed someone and sometimes having the body stuffed in a closet. Being interrogated or trying to evade police.

Finding an extra room or wing to my house

WhiteJellycat · 01/03/2022 22:37

I also dream that my dad is alive and didnt die. He is always laughing after pretending to dead for almost 20 years.

I once read a dream book that dreaming of having sex with someone you dislike means death. That night I had THE WORST dream ever. Thinking hot sex with Donald Trump type dream. I never picked that book up again 🤣

Allywill · 01/03/2022 22:38

It’s Christmas Eve and I have forgotten. No food, no presents. I have to run around like mad trying to get everything. Used to have that dream regularly every year in November/December. Also another one I had a lot, we have bought a very large old house. It rains and water all comes in, running down the walls. We try to get a workman in and either can’t or one comes and says it’s going to cost a fortune for a new roof…..