What Does It Mean If I'm Crying In a Dream?

Crying is a normal emotion that we all experience. It is a release of all the overwhelming emotions that we have been keeping to ourselves. But what happens when it gets too much and you experience crying in a dream?

Find out what it means to cry in a dream and all the common crying dreams that you can have and what they could mean.

Why Do You Cry in Sleep?

Crying during sleep is observed for both adults and infants for various reasons. Babies tend to cry during their sleep due to hunger, tiredness, or a need for diaper change. Adults, on the other hand, may cry for reasons such as nightmares or REM sleep behavior disorder.

However, the most common reason why people may cry while asleep is strong emotions. Negative emotions such as stress, grief, sadness, or frustration can influence the occurrence of crying. Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety can also contribute to such dreams [1].

Crying In a Dream Meaning

If you find yourself crying in a dream, this could mean that you are processing suppressed emotions such as stress or sadness that you have been holding on to in real life.

It could also be a symbolic representation of healing from an unresolved grief or trauma. Alternatively, crying in a dream may be a symbol of new beginnings and starting things anew.

In the next section, we will explore the common crying dream types and what they could mean.

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Common Types of Crying Dreams

1. Crying in a dream and waking up with tears

If you happen to have such a bad dream where you were crying uncontrollably that you woke up with actual tears, it may suggest an intense emotional release. You could have had some grief or past trauma that you were suppressing and not actively addressing. This led to an overwhelming emotional experience hence why you woke up with tears.

Crying in a dream can also mean that you are still working through unresolved issues. The tears indicate that you need to pay more attention and focus on the way you feel.

2. Crying in dreams because of death

Crying in a dream due to someone’s death is a reflection of your own fear of loss or grief from the past. It could be that you have lost someone recently or you are afraid of losing someone that you hold close to. Dreams like these urge you to reflect deeply and to accept endings or changes that may happen in your life.

If you happen to see a dead person crying, it could reflect unresolved grief or guilt connected to the person who passed.

See also: Dreaming Of Someone Dying: What Does It Mean And How To Interpret?

3. See a stranger crying

Dreaming about a stranger crying may symbolize aspects or emotions of yourself that you are not acknowledging. The stranger represents the parts of you that you are not addressing and is an encouragement for you to do so.

4. Seeing your loved ones cry in a dream

Witnessing your loved ones cry in a dream means that you have worries or fears regarding their well-being. Perhaps they may be getting older or that they are ill, which leads to this sense of worry.

Additionally, it may also mean that you are feeling a sense of helplessness about the struggles that you know they’re facing. Otherwise, it is a reflection of your sense of empathy towards their struggles.

If you see your mother crying in a dream, it can be a rather heartbreaking experience. This may mean that you have some worries or concerns about her well-being. Additionally, it could mean that you need emotional support or guidance from her.

A father crying in a dream may mean that your hopes or expectations may not be fulfilled. Alternatively, it may mean that you are about to receive help from a supportive figure soon.

A partner crying in your dream may mean that there is an emotional disconnection in your relationship. There may be underlying resentment or lack of emotional balance within the relationship, which should be addressed.

When you see your son or daughter crying in a dream may suggest that you want to be closer to them and to be there to help them in times of trouble.

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5. Baby crying in a dream

Seeing a baby cry in a dream suggests that you may be neglecting a part of yourself or you are not meeting the needs of your inner child. A dream like this suggests that you should pay more attention to your personal goals or emotional needs.

6. Crying hysterically

Crying loudly and hysterically is a sign that you are struggling to deal with overwhelming emotions in real life. It indicates the need for you to confront your feelings healthily and learn ways to manage your emotions properly.

7. An animal shedding tears

When you see an animal shed tears in a dream, this symbolizes your empathy and concern for those who tend to be much weaker or vulnerable.

Such a dream could also represent your instinctive side being neglected. A crying animal in this case signals the need for you to nurture these aspects of yourself.

Psychological Meaning of Crying in a Dream

According to Sigmund Freud and his 1899 book ‘The Interpretation of Dreams’, our unconscious mind can influence the way we dream. Dreams can reveal our hidden desires and repressed emotions [2].

Crying in a dream psychologically means that our subconscious mind is trying to process emotions and experiences in our waking life. It is a reflection of our emotional state and the need to release bottled-up emotions.

Spiritual Meaning of Crying in a Dream

In a spiritual context, crying may symbolize spiritual growth or transformation. It suggests that you’re about to let go of past emotions or behaviors that no longer serve you.

You are about to undergo a new journey towards spiritual awakening and you should be ready to embrace this.

You may also like: Common Dream Symbols

Conclusion

Crying in a dream may represent emotional release or a reflection of unresolved issues or fears in your waking life. While it is normal to cry in your sleep when you are feeling overwhelmed, it is also important to take steps to process and release these emotions well.

Discover more dream meanings and interpretations on the ShutEye® app. ShutEye® is a patented sleep-tracking app that not only monitors your sleep cycles but also analyzes your dreams with an artificial intelligence feature.

Uncover the secrets of your dreams with ShutEye App

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References

[1] deBara, D. (2024) Why Do You Cry in Your Sleep? [online]. Available at: https://www.saatva.com/blog/crying-in-your-sleep/

[2] Spollen, M. (2022) What Crying In A Dream Means Spiritually & Psychologically [online]. Available at: https://www.yourtango.com/self/what-crying-in-dreams-means