Dreaming of Falling: Discover the Spiritual Meaning and Interpretation

Men love failure Falling down
© Abhilash laddu Laddu 123/Shutterstock.com

Written by Alanna Davis

Updated: November 20, 2023

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Have you ever had a nightmare and wondered what it means? Some of the most common bad dreams include themes like being chased, losing your teeth, realizing you’re nude in public, and most common of all, falling from a great height. For many people, having a dream about plummeting through the sky is scary and jarring. However, this is fairly common, and most people will experience this at some point in their life. Let’s explore the meanings and interpretations behind dreams about falling.

Multiple negative experiences and emotions can resurface in one’s dreams in the sensation of falling.

A Loss of Control

Man falling down. Mid-air shot of handsome young man falling against grey background

Depending on the circumstances of your fall, the meaning of your dream may be different.

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The most common reason behind having dreams about falling through the sky is that you feel out of control. As you’re dropping down to the Earth, you’ll likely encounter feelings of helplessness or vulnerability. Unlike other nightmare scenarios, there’s little you can do to change the circumstance that you’re in. You might be having this dream as a reflection of how you feel in your day-to-day life. Maybe you’ve been struggling in your career, or you’re making a huge transition in your living situation or social life. Whatever the case may be, strategizing some ways to regain control of your circumstances will likely put an end to these types of dreams.

Unaddressed Anxiety

Dreams about falling could also represent feelings of anxiety that have been left festering for too long. If you’ve been ignoring your own mental health in favor of things like work, family, or other day-to-day commitments, you may begin dreaming about falling as a wake-up call. It’s not uncommon for those who are suffering from untreated anxiety or depression to see it manifest as nightmares, so in order to make these dreams stop quickly, take some time to address these issues and reach out for help. If you’ve been dreaming about falling into a body of water and subsequently drowning, this could mean that you’ve been “drowning” in your emotions.

A Fear of Change

Have you entered a new chapter of your life? For many, this can be a very exciting period of time, but for others, change can be scary. No one likes to have things disrupted, especially if you’re happy in your circumstances. If you weren’t in control of this change, the intensity can be amplified. In order to adjust to your new situation, try grounding yourself by meditating or engulfing yourself in your hobbies. Although it won’t reverse the change, it will make the transition period much smoother. Dreams about free falling through the sky are particularly representative of a big change happening soon.

Indecisiveness or Uncertainty

Men love failure Falling down

Dreaming of falling can be remedied by addressing the underlying issues causing these nightmares.

©Abhilash laddu Laddu 123/Shutterstock.com

Being unable to make a decision can inspire feelings of helplessness and panic in many people. If you’re in a situation where a choice you make can impact your foreseeable future, it’s natural to feel a bit like a deer in headlights. It doesn’t matter if there are two options or two thousand, if feelings of uncertainty have come bubbling up, you may begin to dream of falling. Being unable to come to a decision is a lot like free-falling through the air in that both situations leave you completely paralyzed.

Holding on to Negative Relationships

Sometimes, it’s important to take stock of our lives and reflect on if we’re living a healthy lifestyle. This could mean indulging in toxic habits or hanging on to relationships that make us feel negative. Whatever the case may be, if you’re dreaming about falling, the source could be a nagging feeling that you’re complacent in this behavior. It’s best to address these issues and cut them off before they damage you any further. If you dream about the floor falling out from under you, this compounds the meaning further.

Practical Reasons

Ancient times were not very kind to humans. Unlike the modern day, the luxuries we take for granted like shelter and safety were much scarcer. Because of this, humans used to sleep in trees. Keeping themselves off the ground allowed them to feel protected while they were in their most vulnerable state. This could be a potential cause of why so many people dream of falling. In order to keep us alert enough, our brain would jolt us awake at even the slightest disruption. If none of these other causes resonate with you, perhaps it’s just your biology.

Dreaming About Others Falling

people, relax and comfort concept - young african american woman in eye mask sleeping in bed at home at night

Many people believe that the things we dream about are reflections of our subconscious mind.

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If you’ve been having dreams about falling but you’re not the one doing so, this could have a slightly different meaning. The individuals falling in your dreams are likely people that you fear losing. According to PsychCentral, “This may represent tension in your relationship with that person. It might also suggest that you’re trying to help someone but can’t.”

Final Thoughts

If you’re unable to determine the cause of these dreams, take some time to quiet down and think about what’s been happening in your life lately. If you address the source of these dreams, they’ll likely slow down or stop occurring altogether.


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About the Author

Alanna is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering insects, animals, and travel. In addition to writing, she spends her time tutoring English and exploring the east end of Long Island. Prior to receiving her Bachelor's in Economics from Stony Brook University, Alanna spent much of her time studying entomology and insect biology.

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