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What Does It Mean to Dream About Being Chased? See the Truth


dreams about getting chased
dreams about getting chased


Dreams are usually our escapist mechanisms where we flee to feel safe. Until they are not. Take dreams about getting chased, for example. When the serene landscape of your dreams gets infected with some sinister entities that stalk us, there is hardly any rest to be found in them. But what about meaning? Is there a meaning that can be found?





If you are one of the curious people who wonder what a dream of being chased means, then you’ve come to the right place. Today, we are going to bravely dive into the fear-inducing chases that torment you in your dreams. It’s time we uncover the meaning behind the dreams about someone chasing you so that you can look the issue right in the eye and resolve it once and for all. 


How Do You Interpret Dreams About Being Chased?


dreams of getting chased
dreams of getting chased


Similarly to other dreams that cause quite a stir in your heart and soul, dreams about getting chased carry a psychological significance and offer a truly valuable insight into our daily lives. So before we jump onto the question “What does getting chased in a dream mean?” we need to first establish certain patterns that are found in your nightmares.


  • - First off, upon waking from a dream about being chased try to recall the emotions you experienced. How intense was your anxiety? Did you feel any fear at all or were you even the slightest bit excited? You see, the deeper the fear the more pressure the underlying issue is subjecting you to.

  • - Make sure to notice who is the person - or people - chasing you in dreams. If the identity of your pursuer is clear, then you might be avoiding this person way too much, oblivious to the lesson they have come to teach you. 

  • - See if you can recognize the environment of your dream about getting chased. If you seem to be running through some familiar territories, then you are actively avoiding something present in your current timeline. Unfamiliar locations speak of unexplored aspects of your life. 

  • - The meaning of dreams of being chased heavily depends on the manner and speed at which you are fleeing from your pursuer. Running away from someone at full speed or crawling like a paralyzed snail reveals the way you are handling your challenges. 


What Do Dreams About Being Chased Mean?


a dream about being chased
a dream about being chased


Now, let’s get to the very meat of the article. What does dreaming about being chased mean? Sadly, there is no definitive answer to the question. But there are several hints as to what a persistent stalker in your dream might represent. 


  • - You might be avoiding responsibilities or confrontations. Whether it is a much-needed but difficult conversation or a particularly challenging project at work, these things have no other option but to catch up with you in your dream. The funny thing is that these things aren’t the ones chasing you. Your reluctance to meet them head-on does.

  • - Unresolved emotions or suppressed trauma. This is a much more complex dream interpretation of being chased because it involves your subconscious. If you have past experiences that you haven’t properly processed, this might be the reason why you dream about being hunted. It is their way of encouraging you to finally deal with them.

  • - Stress and anxiety. No guide on what a dream about being chased means would be complete without addressing this byproduct of civilization. If you are tormented by work deadlines, financial troubles, or some relationship tension, these things will willingly translate into escaping dreams of pursuit to taunt you even more. 

  • - Personal growth. Unexpectedly, dreams of getting chased might also have a somewhat positive meaning. Such dreams might highlight to us the areas that could use some internal growth. The chase in this case is the nudge you need to finally move forward in life. Yes, it’s scary but it needs to be done.  


What Is the Meaning of Dreams About Being Chased by Something Sinister?


what do dreams about being chased mean
what do dreams about being chased mean


Now what if you came here seeking something more than a simple answer to a simple question like “What does being chased in dreams mean?” What if your dreams make you wake up nearly screaming? What if you are being chased by something truly malicious? Let’s find out. 

If your pursuer is a scary person or is not even a human but some kind of a monster, then you are likely dealing with your deepest fears and anxieties. If you remember your pursuer, then find them below to understand what hides behind them.





  • If you are dreaming of being stalked by a human, this means that there are specific people who have caused significant stress in your life. The pursuer might resemble the person in question giving you a hint of their identity. If you know the person relentlessly chasing you, then you have to work through the trauma this person has inflicted upon you to finally heal. 

  • Monsters and supernatural entities usually represent abstract fears or overwhelming challenges. The uglier and scarier the monsters, the more pressing and dire you assess the situation to be.

  • Faceless phantoms or shadows are the unknown aspects of your nature. Getting chased by them in dreams usually implies that you need to finally shine some light on your own Jungian shadow. Escaping from them in a dream might also mean that there are situations in your day-to-day life that you feel uncertain about. This dream prompts you to assess the situation to finally comprehend it. 


What Do Recurring Dreams of Being Chased Mean?


what does being chased in dreams mean
what does being chased in dreams mean


Here is another pressing question - what if you see dreams about people chasing you regularly? What’s the meaning behind them? Is it worth fretting over?

Well, if you see such anxiety-inducing dreams regularly, they deserve to be addressed. Recurring dreams of being chased might indicate that there are persistent issues that need to be adequately addressed asap. 

Start by recognizing the patterns. There should be common elements that present themselves in those dreams. They might deal with the environment, the pursuer identity, and the intensity of your emotions. 

The frequency of these dreams is also very telling. The more often you see them, the more pressing the unresolved issue is becoming, taking quite a toll on your mental well-being. If the intensity and frequency of dreams about running from someone increases, it is time to take decisive action. 

Keep your eyes peeled for any pattern changes, too. If the chase scenarios evolve, this might reflect your progress - or stagnation - in terms of real-life challenges. Do you run faster or start to stall? Can you find hiding places? Does your stalker stay the same? Do you finally confront them? These things are important to notice. 


Is It Possible to Avoid or Prevent Dreams of Being Chased?


dream of being chased
dream of being chased


Now that we have learned the meaning behind chasing dreams, you might be wondering - “Can I stop them altogether? I understand their importance but cannot stand them”.

Sadly, dreams are beyond our control, and you know it. However, it doesn’t mean that we are completely powerless. If dreams of someone chasing you bother you a lot, there are steps that you can take to reduce their intensity and even frequency. 


  • Address underlying anxieties. Start your healing process by working on resolving stressful situations in your life. Seek support from your dear and near, develop stress management habits, and try accessible therapy techniques. 

  • Improve your sleep hygiene. Keep a regular sleep schedule. Have an unchanging bedtime routine and make sure that your environment promotes healthy and deep sleep. 

  • Relax your mind before sleep. Try meditation or deep breathing exercises. Read a book or do a little calming yoga workout. Gentle activities like walking also calm your mind and reduce anxiety-induced dreams. 

  • Keep a journal about your dreams. Processing your dreams will be easier if you journal them. By writing your nightmares down you’ll be able to discern their patterns, changes, and frequency. Giving your dreams some semblance of structure helps you gain some understanding of your visions thus reducing their intensity bit by bit. 


When Do I Need Professional Help for Disturbing Dreams?


dream about getting chased
dream about getting chased


Sadly, there might come a time when asking things like “What does it mean when you are being chased in a dream?” just doesn’t cut it. If nightmares become distressing and persistent, you might want to seek professional help. 


This is how you know you need professional help:


  • Your dreams significantly impact your sleep quality
  • Your nightmares cause severe anxiety that affects your life
  • Your dreams stem from some highly traumatic experiences
  • Your dreams continue despite you addressing issues that might have caused them


If your dreams torment you not just at night, but during your waking hours as well, seeing a therapist might be a good idea. After all, a gifted professional will be able to help you explore the deeper meaning of your dreams of being followed.

What’s more, a mental health professional will help you develop coping mechanisms to reduce anxiety as well as techniques for better sleep and even dream management. 

On top of that, a therapist can do something that might stop these pesky dreams altogether - they can dig deep enough into your trauma and stress to help you heal. After all, bad dreams about someone chasing you aren’t the problem. They are merely symptoms of a more complex underlying issue that is waiting to be dealt with.  


Why Is It Important to Interpret Dreams About Being Chased?


what does dreaming about being chased mean
what does dreaming about being chased mean


Well, now you know what dreams about being chased mean. It was really brave of you to finally confront the meaning behind them. 

You might argue, but we firmly believe that such dreams are still a good thing. Unsettling, yes, but ultimately a good thing. After all such nightmares alert us to some unresolved issues that are compromising our lives in ways we don’t understand. 

Dreams about someone chasing us guide us toward necessary changes and give us an unfiltered look at our mental state. 





Another important side note - the interpretations that we have given here aren’t exactly one-size-fits-all. Granted, while our tips are helpful, you should still expect personal experience to add a layer of meaning to your dreams. So don’t consider dream interpretation to be some sophisticated psychological tool. Instead, see your dreams as a starting point for some much-needed self-reflection.  

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