Dreams are metaphors. Dreams are what you interpret them to be. Many aspects of dreams are still undiscovered, but what we do know is that they hold significance in our subconscious. They're like clues to deeper layers of the self. Many people believe they are strung together images detailing unresolved emotional, moral, and social issues in your life. Dreams can be meaningful if you can decipher what they mean to you. It is best to keep a dream journal near your bed if you are plagued with confusing reoccurring dreams.

What is the last dream you can remember? That one is a hard one. The longer you are awake, the less of a dream you can seem to remember, even if it leaves an impression on you throughout the day. Like trying to hold water in your cupped hands, a dream can leave as quickly as it happened. Dreams are fragile and fleeting, so it's important to pay attention. When is the last time you remember having a blissful dream? What about a nightmare?

You'll probably remember a nightmare more than a happy dream because they leave a deeper imprint of emotion: fear.

Bad dreams are categorized by their relative disturbance. A dream about being late to an exam is considered a stress dream, while something like being chased by an axe-murderer would be a nightmare.

According to Medical Daily: "Nightmares tend to occur in the last third of the night when REM sleep is the strongest. Sleep is divided into four stages: stage 1 (sleep onset), stage 2 (light sleep) and stages 3/4 (deep sleep) — the REM stages. REM sleep occurs every 90 minutes during the night, it's associated with high brain activity, rapid eye movements, and inhibited voluntary motor activity... Several studies have found age, personality type, and trauma can influence the frequency of nightmares for dreamers."

So, what symbols can we decipher about our dreams? What are the most common manifestations of fear and anxiety?

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1. Being chased.

No one appreciates being pursued by an unwanted creep. When you dream of being chased, it is pretty straightforward: you feel like there is something or someone you can't get away from that you NEED to get away from. Are there issues you'd rather avoid than confront.

2. Falling.

Freefalling suggests an acute loss of control. Being unable, or perceiving yourself unable, to control your body or mind can result in images of dead drops. Surely you've had moments where you shake awake from the feeling of hurtling through the air.

A falling dream suggests you've lost sight of, or fear losing your safety net.

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3. Teeth/body parts pulled.

Teeth stay with you. They are essential for eating, talking, and communicating. Teeth are useful to us, and we take them everywhere we go. When we dream of losing teeth, we are dreaming of a departure from the normal. Losing teeth can mean a significant change has or may be occurring in your life. This can either be a renewal (out with old baby teeth in with the new adult teeth) or it can mean a painful, involuntary burglary of your internal currency.

4. Crash.

A crash means you're coming to a head with something or someone. Perhaps you feel an impenetrable wall being built before you that you have little control over. Perhaps it means you have burned out and have lost your trajectory. Perhaps you feel like you're hurtling forward in life when you aren't ready. These dreams edge on nightmare. A car crash is violent and deadly. These dreams are serious.

5. Being Late.

Feeling overwhelmed or nervous of failure can be causes of late stress dreams. A feeling of being on the brim of catastrophe can also indicate the presence of time-related dreams. An important event or person might be coming up: a test, an audition, a date, a promotion. Whatever it is, you fear failure and not getting what you desperately want.