Waking up after a particularly vivid dream can affect the rest of your day. You’ll spend the whole drive to work, time at the office (sorry, boss), and probably the rest of your evening pondering just what that meant. Chances are, the scarier the dream, the more it sticks with you. For example, being chased by alligators or driving down the freeway without a steering wheel. Or maybe, just maybe, you were shot. And it wasn’t by a gun. It was an arrow or a bomb or in war or maybe you even died during your dream.

Don’t you deserve to know why your subconscious is screaming?

There are practical ways to understand and interpret exactly what this dream means, especially if these types of scenarios are recurring. And don’t worry, you’re not the only one who’s dreamt something like this. A 2007 Time article found the same dream themes occurring across different populations and radically different cultures is not all that unexpected, since what human beings have in common is often far deeper and more primal than what we don’t.

In this article, we’re going to cover what it means when you were shot, what you were shot with, and whether you lived (in your dream, of course). Let’s jump in, guns blazing.

Dreams about being shot and their expert interpretations

Dreams about getting shot by a gun: what they mean

Guns are powerful, both literally and symbolically. They’ve shaped our history. And now they’re being used to shape your subconscious. In dreams, guns represent power struggles or a fight for survival. Ray Harris, author of Dream Interpreters Dictionary, said to see a gun in your dream is a warning that you have an enemy you don’t know about. And to be shot by a gun conveys a sense of caution. Something bad could happen, and your subconscious is preparing you for it.

But to be the shooter means something totally different. To load or fire a gun yourself, according to J.M. DeBord in the Dream Interpretation Dictionary, is like taking the easy way out. Rather than taking through conflict, you use a gun to impose your will. Guns are used to point, and pointing can be a way of indicating guilt, blame or responsibility. 

Dreams about getting shot by an arrow: what they mean

Arrows mean something a little different in the dream world. Allamah Muhammad Bin Sireen's “Dreams and Interpretations” article found that a bow and arrow symbolizes power and strength. To be shot with an arrow signifies the death of something, most likely a relationship. If an arrow is being shot at you, watch out for someone working against your interests. However, if you’re the one doing the shooting, this means aiming for a goal or target. Ask yourself who or what you’re aiming for, and why.

Dreams about getting hit with a bomb: what they mean

Via: Pixabay.

Getting bombed sounds terrifying. Dreaming about being bombed seems even scarier. But the meaning behind it isn’t as bad as it seems, no matter how catastrophic you think it could be. At least, for you it’s not. Let us explain. Explosions in a dream is essentially a warning that a relative or friend is placing themselves at risk, and it’s up to you to dissuade them from their present path. Failing to do so, according to Harris, brings on feelings of sadness and guilt. If you can’t think of a relative or friend in a predicament like this, then the dream could indicate a sharp improvement in your own circumstances. For this dream, take into account not just what you’re dealing with, but also what your friends are battling. 

Dreams about getting shot at in a car: what they mean

If you’re in a car and being shot at, then it shows you’re moving through a situation that could be a really close call with someone or something with whom/which you’re in a conflict. Depending on if you get away determines the outcome or projected outcome in real life. It's a narrow escape. Or, if you’re in a parked car and shooting at a target who can’t see you, this indicates your need to confront someone or something. This is more of an emotional release dream to release frustration over a situation you’re conflicted by. Much like your life, cars can move forward, stall out, go in reverse or just idle. When something as threatening as a shooting is added to the car aspect of a dream, take this as a sign to face the conflict that’s been looming over you.

Dreams about getting shot in war: what they mean

Conflict resolution is the name of this game. Sometimes people dream of being shot in battle, even if they’ve never been to war. That doesn’t mean that you aren’t currently fighting your own battles. War can be associated with conflict, violence and eventual resolution. According to Alice Ann Parker, author of Understand Your Dreams, when you’re shot in war in your dream, ask yourself what parts of you are in conflict. Figure out what needs to be decided, despite the cost. Remember though, much like in a war, you’re not alone. You have people fighting alongside you in waking life too. 

Dreams about getting shot and killed: what they mean

Via: Pixabay.

Death signifies the end. But that’s not all. It can also herald a new beginning. If you dream of being shot and dying from it, it often means that you are now facing a conclusion or an ending or a finality of whatever conflict you have been at war with. If you are the shooter and the target is killed by your shot, it shows that they are one who is ending whatever conflict you’re experiencing.

Conclusion: what dreams really mean

Scientists at Brown University and the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg, Germany, found dreams act as a way of clearing that day’s memories to make space for new ones. Even though dreams can seem random, more often than not, they match your mood at a subconscious level. If you’re lucky enough to remember your dreams, listen to what they’re trying to tell you. Interpreting dreams is, of course, not an exact science, but there is plenty of evidence that suggests dreams are all about issues we face in our day-to-day lives. Your dreams can tell you a great deal about what’s concerning you. It may be difficult to use your dreams to face your reality, but once you do, you have the chance to move forward with your life, with way less shooting involved.

Buying guide

• Therapy might not be the answer to all of life’s problems — but it might just be the answer to most of the dream-related ones. With BetterHelp, you get therapy in an app. You’ll be matched with one of the 22,000 licensed, board-accredited counselors for live therapy sessions at times that work for you. They may not be dream experts, but they’re trained to help with solving issues brought up by your dreams.

• If you’re having trouble getting out of your head, especially when it comes to analyzing last night’s dreams, check out Headspace. It’s a meditation app that teaches you life-changing mindfulness skills in as few as three minutes every day. With Headspace, you can develop skills necessary to combat anxiety and stress. 

• The best way to keep track of your dreams is by using a dream journal. Magic of I sells a pocket-sized leather dream journal to help make the personal symbols in your nightly adventures conscious.

• The time you take to acquaint yourself with sleep before bed is super important. Hatch has created a Smart Sleep Assistant that acts as a sound machine, sunrise alarm, smart light and meditation app all in one. Get in control of your night’s sleep with this product.

• Fall asleep faster and easier with the Verishop Calming Sleep Patch. These patches fight insomnia, support stress relief and improve the overall quality of sleep. Don’t let another subconscious shooting stop you from sleeping well.