Having Dreams About Being Chased? Here’s What That Might Mean

There are two types of sleep humans experience. Rapid eye movement (REM), is the state in state of sleep in which muscle tone softens and vivid dreams usually occur. The other type of sleep, non-REM sleep, occurs in stages.

Stage 1 of non-REM sleep is the state of being awake to being in a very light sleep. Stage 2 is light sleep, and stages 3 and 4 are considered a deep sleep. Within the early stages of non-REM sleep, heart rate decreases, and body temperature drops.

During these stages, brain activity also slows. However, as we cycle through the final two stages, brain activity increases and the heart rate increases.

Vivid dreams occur during REM sleep as brain activity increases once again, and experts believe that this is where memories are formed and where problem-solving happens. Throughout the night, humans will cycle through all of the stages of sleep and back into REM sleep several times.

Being chased is one of the most common dreams a person can have. But to really figure out what this might mean, you need to focus more on the person or entity doing the chasing to interpret the meaning behind your dream.

For example, if you're being chased by a friend or family member, it's best to try to hash out that person's personality traits or characteristics. Dreams are often full of symbolism in that way, and may actually be revealing feelings about yourself. As they say, the things we dislike about others, often mirror what we dislike about ourselves.

And if it's you who is doing the chasing, it's important to pay close attention to who or what it is you're running after. This dream can often signify feelings of inadequacy or missing out on something.

When a stranger in your dream is breathing down your neck, trying to outpace you, it could mean that you sense something is wrong or know that there's a threat out there or on the horizon, but you're unsure of its source.

Much like dreaming about someone you know, when you dream that an animal is chasing you, it's important to look at the animal's characteristics or traits to figure out what your dream means. Elephants are known for having good memories, so perhaps if you're being chased by an elephant, you could be worried that you'll forget something important. Or if you're being chased by a fox, you may feel as though someone perceives you as sly or sneaky.

Fear and anxiety are at the root of most dreams of being chased, no matter what it is that is doing the chasing. Usually, these types of dreams represent a flight response in a fight-or-flight situation; a physiological reaction to a real or perceived threat to your well-being.

For some, interpreting disturbing dreams and nightmares and getting to the root cause is enough to make the dream go away. By facing the issue while you're awake, you relieve your subconscious of having to hang on to this problem that needs to be worked out.

Journaling or speaking with a professional may help you recognize and release fears and anxieties that are causing the dreams.

"One of the things that I like to do is reimagine the dream. In your imagination or in a journal, you can remember the dream again and then turn around and ask whatever it is that's chasing you, what it is they want," dream interpreter Caryn McClesky explained on her YouTube channel. "Whatever the answers are that come to mind, those are probably the answers. You're kind of talking with your subconscious at this point and you're communicating to find out what it is trying to tell you."

When we look beyond the act of being chased and try to understand the characteristics represented by the entity that's chasing us, we can gain a clearer sense of what the message is that our subconscious is trying to relay.