Traditionally, a ghost is the soul or spirit of someone or something who has died, appearing among the living. Ghosts are described in a wide variety of ways, from invisible presences to wispy, translucent shapes to realistic, lifelike forms. It makes sense that ghost dreams are so common since it is believed that there is an afterlife and that dead spirits manifest themselves.
Generally, dreams about ghosts mean unfinished business you need to handle, as it is ‘haunting’ you. If you dream of ghosts, you need to examine your life to see if there are any loose ends you need to tie up that might be weighing on your subconscious.
Although many believe that seeing a ghost in your dream may simply indicate that you have some unfinished business, some psychics believe you can actually be visited by an actual ghost or spirit — particularly if you find the dream experience more vivid and real than usual. Read on to find out what dreaming about ghosts means.
What Does It Mean to Dream About Ghosts?
Perhaps the most mysterious and mystical aspect of human experience is dreaming – but it is even more bizarre when you dream of ghosts or other supernatural phenomena. The mystery surrounding the existence of our dreams, plus the inability to explain why we dream makes it a strange phenomenon in and of itself. When you add seeing a ghost in your dream, it’s quite valid to question whether spirits can actually contact you through your dreams.
Whether or not you believe in the existence of spirits that visit us while we sleep, it’s interesting to know what it means for our subconscious to dream about ghosts. A dream state allows us to leave our conscious and rational minds behind, so we may be more open to metaphors and spiritual symbolism. Even though seeing a ghost in a dream can certainly be spooky, it could simply be your subconscious communicating with you — and with a little self-reflection and dream interpretation, you can figure out exactly what it is trying to tell you.
Let’s take a deep dive into the different experiences and different interpretations when it comes to dreaming of a ghost.
Dreams About Ghosts Attacking You
Getting attacked by a ghost in your dream means that you feel overwhelmed or overpowered by certain situations or certain people in your life. When you are someone who is emotionally vulnerable, comments and criticisms tend to affect you more deeply than others, that you take them negatively instead of taking the time to ponder on how these can help you become better.
If you feel easily feel threatened by situations not going your way, a dream about ghost attacks can be common. It makes you feel out of control, and this manifests in your dreams. The idea of change or compromise overwhelms you, and you feel defeated that things aren’t going according to plan.
A ghost attacking you in your dream can also be a symbolism of your fear of the unknown. If you are someone who is constantly worried about what is yet to happen, this can be a common dream for you. You tend to feel anxious and have a sense of impending doom like something bad is going to happen very soon.
You need to understand that ghost attack dreams are only representations of your vulnerable, emotional state. You need to learn to be strong enough to deal with negative emotions head-on. Furthermore, don’t let your emotions, worries, or fears control your mind. You are in control of your emotions, which make you in control of your life.
Dreaming of Being Stalked or Haunted by a Ghost
When you dream of stalking or being haunted by a ghost, it indicates that you are refusing to deal with issues of the past that are affecting your present life. It means that you are caught up in the past and it’s stopping you from truly living in the present. It signifies that in order for you to fully appreciate and live your present life, you need to resolve whatever issues you have in the past.
It’s also common to dream this dream if you ran away from someone or something in the past. Instead of dealing with whatever issues caused you to ran away, you chose to run from them, and this unresolved feeling manifests in your subconscious. Your past haunts your dreams like a ghost and unless you confront it, you’ll always feel like something is stalking you.
Being stalked or haunted by a ghost in your dream can also signify Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). If you ever had to deal with trauma in your past, that can manifest itself in your dreams. The best step you can take if you have PTSD and dreaming about haunted ghosts is to seek professional help.
Dreams of Ghosts Talking to You
When you dream of a ghost talking to you, it means you may have unresolved issues with someone from your past. This can be an old relationship, a friend you no longer talk to, or even a family member you have cut ties with. What you can do is to evaluate and dig deep, and reflect on any relationship you may have in the past that was left without closure for any or both of you.
A ghost talking to you in your dream can also be your subconscious trying to tell you something. It can be to give you advice on a dilemma you’re currently dealing with or to reason out with you about an issue you find yourself trying to contend with. This can symbolize your own self having a conversation with you to help you come to a resolution over a certain issue in your life.
Dreaming of talking ghosts can also represent loved ones you’ve lost that you miss talking to. Perhaps your father died and suddenly you dream of his ghost talking to you. This type of dream is not unusual for those coming to terms with losing someone. We all want one last conversation with someone we lost, and this dream might just be your subconscious telling you how badly you long for that one last conversation.
Dreaming of Being Strangled by a Ghost
To dream that a ghost is choking you or strangling you means that something is preventing you from fully expressing yourself. Perhaps your home situation makes it difficult for you to be who you are. Perhaps there is someone at work that constantly makes you feel bothered or worried about saying or doing the right thing. Perhaps your shyness makes it difficult for you to tell people how you truly feel.
Dreaming about getting strangled by a ghost can also mean that you can’t move forward in your life because something is stopping you. Perhaps you want a divorce but your love for your kids is stopping you. Perhaps you want a change or career but you’re tied in a contract in your current job. Perhaps you want to travel and see the world but you have a debilitating disease.
Getting choked by a ghost in a dream indicates that something is blocking you and unless you confront it, you will end up losing your breath, and in essence, losing your chance to be who you are and do what you want to do.
Dreams of Becoming a Ghost
Dreaming about becoming a ghost symbolizes feelings of guilt and fear of something from your past. This dream can be something bad you did in the past, or an old habit, or even a past version of your personality that has come back to haunt you in your dreams. In this dream, you are being challenged to deal with the issue that is causing you to dream such dreams.
The dream of becoming a ghost is a sign that you need to pay attention to your inner voice. This dream challenges you to look deeper within yourself and confront your emotions. Perhaps you are feeling miserable, guilty, or anxious. This dream symbolizes the innermost feelings that you need to contend with.
If you are battling a serious disease, it’s not unusual for you to dream about dying and becoming a ghost. When you constantly think about death and dying, it takes a room in your subconscious and manifests itself in your dreams. Your fight with life and death is very much real, hence dreaming of becoming a ghost is valid.
Dreaming About a Crazy Ex-girlfriend or Ex-boyfriend As a Ghost
An ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend appearing in your dream as a ghost simply means you have unresolved feelings or issues with them. If the relationship ended abruptly and bitterly, this dream will come as no surprise. You didn’t get closure in ending the relationship, so you feel haunted by them.
When you have this kind of dream, it doesn’t mean your ex suddenly died and his or her ghost is now tormenting you. It simply means that at the back of your mind, there are still lingering thoughts or feelings about this relationship. There is still an unfinished business and unless you resolve it, your subconscious won’t rest.
What you can do is to introspect within yourself. Figure out what you still need to settle with your ex, in order for you to move forward with your life. This dream reminds you that in order to face your future, you need to first overcome your past.
Dreams of Ghosts in Your Home
A dream about a ghost appearing in your house means that you are experiencing some internal turmoil. You feel that your internal life is out of order. You feel that there is an imbalance in your self-worth. If you feel that you are finding it difficult to value yourself or find your purpose, you might dream of ghosts in your home.
If you see the presence of good ethereal shadows in your home appearing in your dreams, this can signify that good fortune and happiness are waiting for you. If you dream of ghosts in your home that feel sinister or evil, it means that difficult and challenging times lie ahead.
Dreaming of a ghost in your home can also indicate that you, the one having the dream, are trying to make a change in your life. It can mean that you recognize that there are things that you need to change or let go of, in order to remove any setback in your life.
Dreaming of a Ghost Child or Ghost Children
Dreaming about a child ghost in your dream can symbolize your inner child. Perhaps you are set in your childish ways. You have complexes and behaviors that stop you from living a normal life. This kind of dream is a sign for you to evaluate and get rid of your childish ways in order for you to become a responsible adult.
A ghost child appearing in your dream can also be interpreted as being innocent despite your being an adult. It means you might be someone that is easily deceived, and you need to be wary of bad people tricking you.
A dream about a ghost of a child can also represent your childhood trauma. If something happened to you as a child, it can haunt you like a ghost of a little girl or boy in your dreams when you become an adult. This dream tells you that it’s important to resolve any childhood traumas you have in order for you to become and live a full, adult life.
Dreams of an Evil Ghost or Spirit Paralyzing You
If you find yourself dreaming about an evil ghost or spirit visiting your dreams and paralyzing you, chances are, you are experiencing sleep paralysis. Paralysis during sleep is extremely frightening, especially the first time you go through it. A person suffering from sleep paralysis is paralyzed and unable to move or speak when falling asleep or waking up from sleep.
Dreaming of an evil ghost looming over you, and not being able to move because you are paralyzed in fear, is nothing but a product of your half-awake brain, and is more common than you think. The key to stopping having this kind of dream is to stick to a routine bedtime schedule. Healthy bedtime habits are also good ways to avoid this kind of dream.
If your dream of an evil ghost paralyzing you persists, it’s best to set an appointment with your physician. There might be an underlying medical cause to this dream which can only be resolved if you seek medical help.