Woke Up in a Panic? These Are the 10 Most Common Nightmares and What They Mean

We all look forward to a good night's sleep. After a busy or stressful day, we want nothing more than to escape into dreamland. That is, of course, if our dreams are sweet.

Unfortunately, when we finally nod off, there is no guarantee what our dreams will hold. How many times have you woken up in a panic from a nightmare that only seems too real? You may be surprised to know that many of the nightmares we have are also experienced by countless others. Why is that? We'll shed some light on this as we go through the 10 most common nightmares and explain what each of them means. 

If you thought nightmares were just for kids, think again. You may not have the same recurring nightmares that you experienced as a child, but adults certainly have their fair share. In fact, we experience so many that it warrants an investigation into what causes them and what they symbolize. Fortunately, a study was recently done by a team at SlotsMove to get to the bottom of what we are dreaming about and why.

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What Causes Nightmares?

Most nightmares are a result of negative emotions like anxiety or fear. They could be caused by either everyday stressors or a traumatic event. Some nightmares could also stem from certain physical issues resulting from sleep deprivation, medications or simple changes your body goes through as you fall asleep. And finally, exposure to something scary like a book, the news, or a movie can stay on your mind and manifest into a nightmare.

One of the reasons so many of us experience the same nightmares is that we all share common emotions that can trigger a scary dream. Those dreams of being chased or falling from a high building are actually a result of what we are feeling at the time. And different emotions will result in a certain kind of nightmare.

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10 Most Common Nightmares

To come up with a list of the 10 most common nightmares, SlotsMove surveyed 1,310 people with an even mix of males and females. Each person was given a list of 15 popular nightmare themes and asked to list as many of the nightmares, in those themes, that they have experienced with no limits on the amount of answers.

Out of all of the dreams listed, the following list was compiled of the most common. Here are the top ten.

1. Being Chased and Unable To Escape - 65.3%

There may be a good reason that so many people surveyed have had nightmares of being chased. It could stem from a situation where a person feels trapped. This could be from over-committing to tasks or maybe having a tough personal relationship. I'm sure that most of us have something that we want to avoid or run from at different times in our lives.

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2. Falling Down - 64.7%

A very close second is the nightmare of falling. It is thought that this type of dream could occur as a result of feeling out of control, inadequate or even disappointed. However, there are also physical reasons to dream about falling. As you fall asleep, your heart rate slows and your muscles relax. This could indicate to the brain that you have fallen. Usually, this type of nightmare ends with the body jerking itself awake.

3. Getting Shot - 54.8%

It shouldn't be too surprising that the nightmare of getting shot is pretty common. With all of the violence we hear about or see on TV, it could stay on our minds. However, this type of dream could also stem from being hurt emotionally.

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4. Tornados or Hurricanes - 51.4%

Similar to seeing or hearing about violence, news about storms can be traumatic as well and stay on our minds. A deeper meaning could be that a tornado or hurricane represents physical or emotional turmoil. Even when a change in our life is good or necessary, it can shake us up emotionally.

5. Feeling Lost - 46.1%

If you've ever dreamt about trying to find a classroom at your school or trying to find your way back home, you are not alone. This type of dream could mean that you're feeling insecure about something or are searching for direction in your life. Many times these dreams happen when you are about to make a big decision on which path to take.

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6. Death of a Loved One - 44.7%

Death of a loved one is a scary thing to think about and those thoughts can crop up in a dream as well. Many of the people surveyed who have had this type of dream had recently gone through the loss of a family member or friend.

7. Drowning - 39.4%

A nightmare about drowning can feel traumatic. It usually stems from being overwhelmed or suppressing emotions. However, there is also a physical reason that you may dream about drowning. People who suffer from sleep apnea have been known to have nightmares of drowning when in fact they are having trouble getting enough oxygen.

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8. Getting Physically Hurt - 38%

Although you can experience dreams about getting hurt when you are actually in physical pain, there is another reason they can occur. The most common reason for this type of dream results from being hurt emotionally. That hurt emotion is manifested in a dream as physical hurt.

9. Catching Fire - 32.8%

It makes sense that having a nightmare about being on fire can occur when you are burning in anger over something. However, it can also represent being consumed by strong emotions or desires.

10. Being Unprepared For a Test or Exam - 30.4%

No matter how long it has been since you have needed to take an exam, a nightmare about being unprepared can feel so real. It's common for people to have this sort of dream when they frequently have to meet deadlines.

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