What does it mean when you dream that you can’t breathe?

It all begins when you’re asleep and you get that awful feeling that you can’t breathe.

Your heart is racing; you gasp into the air, but nothing seems to be able to fill your lungs.

You wake up gasping and soaked in sweat, pangs of terror still shooting through your chest, and a sense of panic permeating every corner of your mind.

I know the feeling. It’s scary, to say the least.

But let me tell you this:

The feeling of not being able to breathe in your dream can be due to a variety of reasons, and no one person’s interpretation will fit all cases.

However, if you’ve been having this dream regularly, there is probably really something going on in your life that needs attention.

So, let’s decipher the dream of not being able to breathe!

Here are 17 possible meanings:

1) It can be an indicator of stress, anxiety, or tension

Look, everybody gets stressed from time to time.

Maybe you’re dealing with issues at work, or your child just got into trouble for the umpteenth time, or the bills are piling up and you’re running out of money.

Even if that’s not the case, everybody has problems in life. There’s bound to be something in your life that’s causing inner upset.

Well, when you’re stressed, then it’s very possible that one of your dreams is projecting these feelings.

Simply put, when you dream you can’t breathe, it means you feel like something is getting the better of you, and you need to take a break.

So, try to control your anxiety levels by finding ways to cope with the situation. Find time for yourself, or talk to someone who can help you get a different perspective on the subject.

2) It could be a manifestation of your subconscious mind

When you dream that you can’t breathe, it could be that your subconscious mind is trying to express itself through your dream, as though it’s trying to get your attention.

Maybe it’s trying to guide you in some way to where this issue lies in your life and how to fix it.

For example, if you dream that you can’t breathe while running around in an intense workout, then there’s a good chance that you’re trying to tell yourself to stop overworking yourself and get some much-needed rest.

Or, another example could be dreaming you can’t breathe underwater.

In this case, maybe you’re trying to tell yourself that you can’t keep going on the path that you’re on. Something might interfere with the flow of your thoughts.

3) It can be a sign of deep emotional pain or trauma

Yeah, I know the thought of your sleep revealing deep emotional pain sounds scary.

But it’s true. Sometimes, this is one of the reasons why you dream you can’t breathe. It means that no matter how hard you try to mask these feelings, they’re still there inside you.

And if left unaddressed, they’ll continue to fester until they finally come out in full force.

In this case, your subconscious mind may be trying to help by making your conscious mind aware of what’s going on in there – and then giving you a chance to deal with it and move on.

4) What would a gifted advisor say?

The explanations above and below will give you a good idea about what dreaming that you can’t breathe means for you.

But a surefire way to know for sure is to speak with a gifted advisor.

They can answer questions like, Why do you keep dreaming that you can’t breathe? What changes do you need to make in your life? How can you stop having this dream?

The problem is finding someone you can trust.

That’s why I recommend Psychic Source. When I signed up for a reading, they provided me with a unique insight into where my life was going, including who I am meant to be with.

Having tried several online advisors, I think they’re the most caring, compassionate, and helpful network of gifted advisors out there.

Click here to get your own personalized reading.

Not only will a genuine advisor tell you more about your dream, but they can reveal the true meaning behind it.

5) You’re feeling smothered in a relationship or at work

Have you ever been in a situation where you feel like you can’t breathe?

Maybe it’s because there’s someone or something out there that’s suffocating your true self with demands, expectations, or obligations.

Well, when you dream of not being able to breathe, it means you’re feeling the same way subconsciously.

You’re feeling suppressed by something. You’re feeling as if something is suffocating you, trying to take away your freedom or your independence.

This could be happening in your relationship, at work, or in any other situation in your life.

The point here is to find out what’s threatening to suppress you and learn how to deal with it.

6) You are exhausted by everything you do

Ever feel like every day is a marathon, and every step forward is a mile?

You’re exhausted by all the work you need to do, but somehow you keep pushing on.

But then, you start dreaming that you can’t breathe.

This could mean that you’re feeling overloaded and that you need to slow down or take a break.

Maybe it’s time to take some time off and get some rest because pushing yourself too hard can only end up making you feel worse down the line.

So, take this dream as a sign to catch your breath and relax for a day or so.

7) It means you worry too much

Want to know another meaning of your dream of not being able to breathe?

Well, simply put, it could mean that you worry too much.

Maybe you’re taking everything in your life so seriously that it’s starting to weigh on you.

Or maybe, everything seems to be going wrong, and you’re worried that it can’t possibly get better.

When you dream that you can’t breathe, it means there’s some source of worry in your life that’s so overwhelming, it’s choking the air out of your lungs.

The best way to deal with this feeling is by identifying the source of your worry and addressing it.

8) You sabotage yourself with your negativity

Ever find yourself dreaming of not being able to breathe?

If you dream that you can’t breathe, chances are it’s because your negativity is seeping into your subconsciousness and messing with your mind.

You see, your mind doesn’t like negativity and will oftentimes try to get rid of it. One way your mind does this is by manifesting it in your dreams.

For example: maybe you’re holding yourself back from doing something because of a negative belief that you have about yourself, or that you have about life in general.

So, your mind is likely to project the feeling of being unable to breathe when it’s time for you to take a leap of faith.

In this regard, I want to share something with you that changed my life.

At a time when I was stuck in a rut, my emotions running wild, stress, and anxiety closing in daily, I was introduced to an incredibly invigorating breathwork video, created by the shaman Rudá Iandê.

Now you might be wondering, how can breathwork help you understand your dream?

Well, through the breathwork sequences Rudá has created in this life-changing video, you’ll learn to empower your emotions instead of letting them rule you. You’ll be given the tools to dissolve your negativity and stop sabotaging yourself.

And most importantly, you’ll learn to reconnect with every fiber of your being.

And yes, it really is as simple as taking a breath.

So why am I so confident this will help you?

Well, Rudá isn’t just your average shaman. He’s spent years combining ancient shamanic healing traditions with breathwork techniques to create this unique flow.

And if it could bring me out of the rut I was stuck in, I’m sure it could help you too.

Click here to watch the free video.

9) It may point to real health issues

Unsurprisingly enough, the dreams you’re having could actually point to health issues.

Some people say that this is rarely the case, but it can happen.

The good news is that it’s usually related to sinus issues, so there’s not much to worry about.

However, there’s also a small chance that you’re suffering from sleep apnea, which is when you have a medical condition that makes it so that you’re having trouble breathing during your sleep.

To be more precise, sleep apnea is a disorder where you stop breathing or your breathing becomes very shallow during sleep, which causes you to stop sleeping properly.

This is a serious issue and can lead to other health problems, like heart disease or even death.

In this case, it’ll help to talk with a doctor about the best way to get treatment and make sure you don’t have any underlying conditions.

10) Something or someone is pressuring you

When you dream that you can’t breathe, it could be because someone or something is pressuring you in some way.

For example, maybe someone’s demanding you to do something that you’re not comfortable doing, but they just keep on pressuring you.

Or, maybe you’re feeling pressured by your own guilt or obligation to someone.

In any case, your subconscious mind is reminding you to stand up for yourself. It’s saying that it’s time to stop letting people or things get the better of you.

11) It means you’re blinded in some way

Look: if you have a dream that you can’t breathe because there’s a lot of smoke, dust, or other substances covering you, then it means that you’re blinded in some way or that you’ve lost perspective.

To be more precise, it means that you’ve lost sight of what’s most important in your life.

Or, it could mean that you’re seeing things the wrong way and that you need to take a step back and reevaluate.

For example, if you rely on someone to help you in some way and something goes wrong, then you may end up feeling like you can’t breathe because you realize that you can’t do something on your own.

12) If someone is trying to suffocate you, it indicates conflict

What does it mean when you dream you can’t breathe because someone is trying to suffocate you?

Well, as they say, it’s not a good thing. It could mean that there’s some sort of conflict between you and that person.

Or, if you don’t know the person who is trying to suffocate you, the meaning of this dream will surprise you even more!

Here’s the explanation: If a stranger is suffocating you in your dreams, that person could be… you! To be more precise, you might have problems accepting a certain part of yourself.

Your subconscious mind is basically trying to help you accept that part of yourself and understand why you’re afraid of it.

But if you want more clarity on this, I’d suggest speaking to a gifted advisor at Psychic Source.

I mentioned them earlier. They have helped me out in the past and I’ve always found them honest and compassionate in their readings.

So instead of trying to solve all your love problems on your own, speak to an advisor who’ll give you the answers you’re looking for.

Click here to get your own personalized reading.

13) You’re unable or unwilling to break free from your comfort zone

When we try to do something new in life or make changes, a lot of times we block ourselves unintentionally. We are afraid our dreams won’t come true, so we stop ourselves from even trying.

Can you relate? If so, your subconscious mind might be trying to help you take a step out of your comfort zone by showing you that it’s okay to do something different or make a change.

However, it might do it in a pretty aggressive way, like making you feel suffocated by your current circumstances. But that shouldn’t discourage you!

On the contrary, it should empower you to make the changes that are necessary to break free from the blocks of your comfort zone.

14) If you are holding your breath, it means you have to give up on something

Are you holding your breath and that’s why you can’t breathe in your dream?

If so, then it means that you have to break a bad habit or give up on something that’s not good for you. In other words, you have to stop doing the same “stupid” thing over and over again.

Give this some thought the next time you have a dream like this. It will help you figure out what bad habits need to be changed.

In addition, you might be able to find ways to solve your health problems by changing some of these habits.

15) You’re trying to mask a painful feeling

Have you ever dreamt that you can’t breathe because of something that’s painful?

If so, then it means that something in your life makes you feel bad, but you’re trying to mask it from yourself and others.

You might be holding in a lot of anger or you could be struggling to deal with the end of a relationship. It’s also possible that you feel like your life is just out of control.

The solution?

Try and figure out what exactly makes you feel this way. And remember that sometimes, you have to let things go and accept that they hurt you in order to move on.

16) If you dream you can’t breathe underwater, it’s a sign of…

… an emotional turmoil.

Let me explain: A lot of people dream that they can’t breathe underwater. But if it’s a new element in your dreams, that means you’re going through a hard time emotionally.

Perhaps you’re feeling like there’s no point to life and you’re drowning in your own depression.

Or maybe you believe that there’s something wrong with you and you think that it’s too late to change.

But the truth is that it’s never too late. You just have to stop thinking that the only possible response to your problems is feeling bad.

17) Something is making you feel trapped

Another possible meaning of your dream is that you feel trapped.

This meaning applies just in case you can’t breathe for a short while in your dream. So, if the feeling of suffocation is only temporary, then you have to think about what makes you feel trapped in your daily life.

If your dream is recurring often, then it could indicate the existence of some problems in your life, such as someone being too harsh on you.

So, if you don’t know what makes you feel this way, try to discover what your problems are so that you can deal with them as soon as possible.

What is the spiritual meaning of not being able to breathe in a dream?

If you’ve dreamt that you can’t breathe in your dream, then there are some more meanings that you should know about.

Spiritually speaking, if you find that you can’t breathe in a dream, it means that you are lacking some aspect of your life.

You may feel like something is missing in your life, but you’re not sure what it is. So, you try to breathe and live without it. But the reality is that you will never be able to live without it.

While there’s no way I can figure out what exactly is missing from your life, you should definitely think about the dream. By doing so, you’ll be able to focus on the things that are important in your life.

What does it mean when you dream you can’t breathe or move?

Having a dream about not being able to breathe is one thing, but dreaming that you can’t move? What does it mean?

Well, there’s no general answer to that question. But it could indicate that you’re feeling paralyzed and helpless in some part of your life.

Basically, if you feel like something is holding you down in your dream then, chances are that there is something unfortunate in your life that’s making you feel like this.

If you are having a dream where you can’t move and your subconscious mind doesn’t know what to say about it, then there are two possible meanings.

One meaning is that you’re feeling trapped in your daily life (see meaning #17). The other one is that there’s something wrong with your health. In other words, something prevents you from moving.

However, don’t confuse this with sleep paralysis.

Sleep paralysis is defined as a feeling of being conscious, but unable to move. And it can be quite scary, especially if you experience it for the first time.

Even so, this doesn’t happen while you are having a dream. It’s actually a medical condition.

You dream that you can’t breathe. What now?

Well, the first thing you should do is analyze the situation and try to figure out what it means.

It won’t be easy, but it will be very helpful in figuring out the actual meaning of your dream.

Hopefully, the points above will shed some light on what it means when you dream that you can’t breathe.

But if there’s a part of you that still wants to know more, I recommend speaking to a genuine advisor.

And there’s one company that I always end up recommending, Psychic Source. Not only did they blow me away with their accurate reading, but they were also kind and understanding of my situation.

So if you’re tired of wondering why you keep having the same dream, get in touch with a gifted advisor and take your future into your own hands. I did, and I’ve never looked back since.

Click here to get your own professional reading.