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Dreamed That I Wasn't Breathing, And Actually Wasn't Breathing In Real Life

by Sergio
(Lubbock, USA)

I'm a college student and this weekend I decided to take a four hour trip home. I returned fairly exhausted and the night after I returned I had a dream where I got onto an elevator. As it went up I just couldn't seem to catch my breath whatsoever. I don't know how long I went without breathing, but it felt like an eternity. I panicked and desperately banged on the elevator door to get out and maybe catch my breath. As soon as it opened up, I stepped out as quick as I could, but the nightmare continued and I still couldn't breathe.


I eventually woke up gasping for air. I thought it was just the dream, but I actually wasn't breathing at all. This is the first time it ever happened to me and I hope it doesn't happen again. I've only had a couple nightmares in my lifetime, and this was definitely one of them.

Comments for Dreamed That I Wasn't Breathing, And Actually Wasn't Breathing In Real Life

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Nov 22, 2017
 Breathe NEW
by: Anonymous

I've had a few dreams like this before, the times it happened was ALWAYS on nights I would take benadryl or Nyquil to sleep.
Feb 08, 2019
 ... NEW
by: Anonymous

You were most probably breathing in real life, but the impact that the dream had on you made you think that you were suffocating in real life.
Jun 08, 2019
 happened to me, but I know for a fact I had trouble breathing NEW
by: Anonymous

I had a dream where I had trouble breathing. I did breathe, but it took a huge effort and was really slow. Then I woke up with my face in the pillow, which explains the breathing problem.
Apr 22, 2020
 Elevator Connection NEW
by: A

It strikes me as very interesting that as the elevator went up you increasingly couldn't breathe as more time was passing. Cutting off oxygen to the brain can be described as a form of high... I just think that's peculiar, high... elevator...
Apr 05, 2023
 The dream of being stuck NEW
by: Anonymous

The dream of being stuck in an elevator and not being able to breathe can be interpreted as an archetypal symbol for feelings of being trapped or suffocated in a situation. The elevator can represent the journey of life or the journey towards success, while the inability to breathe can represent a fear of failure or a fear of losing control. This could reflect the college student's current state of feeling overwhelmed or stressed, perhaps related to their academic or personal life. The dream may be a warning or a call to action to address these feelings and seek support or a change in their circumstances. The fact that the dream actually caused the person to stop breathing in real life could also suggest a deeper connection to the emotions and stresses being experienced.
Sep 25, 2023
 See a doctor NEW
by: Anonymous

See a doctor, could be you had sleep apnoea
Sep 25, 2023
 See a doctor NEW
by: Anonymous

See a doctor, could be you had sleep apnoea

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