The water is rising and you’re falling, deep, even deeper still. You’re running out of oxygen and there’s no escape. You’re drowning, plain and simple. And there’s nothing that can be done. Well, besides waking up. But that’s easier said than done.

There’s actually one way to stop yourself from having dreams about drowning, and that’s by figuring out exactly why you’re having these dreams. Getting to the root of the issue is the first step in releasing yourself from the shackles of your subconscious. 

In this article, we’re going to cover the basics of what it means when you’re drowning in your dream. But if you’re worried about drowning in waking life, this article may not be for you.

Drowning in the Ocean

Drowning highlights your ability to push things into the unconscious, only to have them emerge as a force that can overcome you. So what does it mean when you’re drowning in the sea? The ocean itself represents a chaotic state, a thirst for understanding. 

If you’re drowning  near the shore, in a shallow state of the ocean, this could represent superficial emotion, because the waves in the sea represent emotions and passion [1]. 

The deeper you go, the rockier the waters, the more your emotions run rampant in your waking life.

When you’re drowning in a dream, this usually indicates you’re being overwhelmed by your emotions, so be sure to be aware of the state of the sea when dreaming. 

Drowning may also indicate a perceived inability to handle a stressful situation around you. Maybe you were put in a situation where you don’t have any control. This dream is telling you that you need to escape from this situation. 

If you find yourself struggling to swim against a current, it suggests inner conflict and the force of opinion against you in the waking world. In your dream did you swim with the tide or continue to storage? To fight for breath? If you found yourself out of your depth, literally, while swimming, this may mirror a sense of being out of your emotional depth. 

Drowning in a Pool

Drowning in a pool signifies a more controlled emotion or restraint. Being in a swimming pool may remind you of the importance of relaxation. Perhaps you’ve been too busy to take the time to connect emotionally with loved ones. It may be wise to slow down and devote more quality time to you or your family in waking life [2].

Think of the pool in which you were drowning. Was it an urban swimming pool [3]? This could be because of your need for structure in your relationships with others. But if it’s a pool in the wild, it could signify that you need to understand your desire for peace and tranquility. If the pool is in the road, this suggests an emotional problem that must be worked through before carrying out your plans.

Drowning in a Storm/Natural Disaster

Drowning in a flood in a dream is as frightening as it sounds. If you’ve just dreamt this, you’re probably wondering what it means. They suggest a release of energy or pent-up frustration that needs to be set free before progress can be made. Dreaming of a flood could help you come to terms with your anxieties and insecurities. You’re in danger of being overwhelmed by emotions you can’t handle. This could also indicate an ability to handle stress and a feeling that you have no control. 

The natural disasters of flooding or tsunamis show that a dreamer is enduring great hardship. But don’t be alarmed, hope is on the horizon. 

Drowning by way of tsunami  often represents a cascade of emotions brought on by impending change. It’s not unusual for someone struggling with a tough situation (like the loss of a job, an illness in the family, etc.) to dream of being threatened by a tsunami. This massive wave depicts the emotional devastation that occurs when situations change in unexpected ways. Whether the wave represents emotion, change, or something else, the implication is that you are in the thick of it now. And you have little to gain by running away or denying what’s ahead of you. Your best approach is to ride the wave instead of letting it overcome you. Accept that you’ll feel overwhelmed for a while, but know that this isn’t permanent. The storm will run its course, and you’ll emerge stronger. 

Drowning in Specific Circumstances

If your house is flooded, this indicates the emergence of a personal crisis. However, if adequate precautions are put into place, or you heed warning signs of impending disaster, it’s possible to avert or overcome the looming disaster. 

If the person who drowns in the dream is heavily intoxicated, it can represent that they have been in denial or using unhealthy methods to cope with emotional stresses and loss [4]. Or let's say you’re driving a bus or car and it veers off the road, plunging into a lake or river, and you drown. This can be a warning to slow down in life, and that you’re taking too big of risks that can compromise your health or well being. 

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.