A few weeks ago, I started having really scary dreams.
Although the dreams changed somewhat in context, the main theme was always the same: I was trapped.
This made me wake up with a startle each day, feeling as if a pile of rocks had just fallen on me.
I was sick of feeling tired every day, so I started to take matters into my own hands and found out what my dream could possibly mean.
As I can imagine that I’m not the only one with such terrifying dreams, I decided to write down what I found during my research.
Here are 11 meanings when you dream about being trapped!
What happened to me?
Before I dive into the different meanings of dreaming about being trapped, I just wanted to give you a heads-up and tell you about my experience with it all.
You see, after weeks of dreaming about being trapped, I felt so frustrated and confused.
It seemed as if I was being punished for something.
I had no idea what could cause such a strong reaction in my body, but I knew it had to be something important.
I did some research and found the different meanings behind feeling trapped.
But I still didn’t understand fully what was happening.
That’s when I talked to a psychic, who really helped me uncover what was going on inside of me.
The good news?
As soon as I realized exactly why I kept having that dream, it was easy for me to do something about it.
I was no longer trapped!
But I’ll tell you more about that psychic and their help later. For now, let’s take a look at the different meanings behind dreaming about being trapped.
1) You don’t like your job
If you dream that you are trapped, you might be feeling trapped in your job in general.
Dreaming about being trapped at your job can be a way to express frustration with your current situation.
Dreaming that you are trapped at a job you hate can be a way to remind yourself that you don’t have to stay in an unfulfilling situation forever.
If you dream about being trapped at work, the dream is your subconscious trying to tell you that there are things you need to change in your life.
Now: your dream might have nothing to do with work at all, and still, the source could be your underlying unhappiness about your professional life.
When you feel unfulfilled in your work life, that can manifest as a dream about being trapped.
2) You are afraid of a loss of control
If you dream that you are trapped and fighting to get out, you might be dreaming about a situation or relationship in your life that makes you feel out of control.
If you dream about being trapped in a burning building, this may be a metaphor for the feeling of being trapped in a controlling relationship.
If you dream about being trapped in a car you can’t get out of, this may be a metaphor for feeling trapped in a situation that you can’t control.
You see, as humans, we like to be in control. We like to be able to predict things and make things happen on our own.
It can be a scary feeling to feel that you can’t control where your life is going, and so the dream of being trapped may symbolize your fear of losing control.
Now: even if you have no idea what is causing your dream about being trapped, you may still want to work on finding ways to let go of the need to control your waking life.
If you feel like you are out of control in some area of your life, that may be a sign that there is something important missing from it.
This was definitely something I was struggling with, I wanted to be in control of everything, but I didn’t know how. (spoiler alert: it’s impossible!)
Learning how to let go of this need to control everything is what will ultimately help you to be in control of your life.
3) You feel stuck in life
Dreams about being trapped can be a way of your subconscious helping you overcome feelings of being stuck in life.
If you dream that you are trapped and can’t find a way out, you might feel stuck in your current situation and have the feeling of needing to break out of it.
This dream can be a metaphor for repressed feelings of resentment towards people who have made you feel like you can’t move on in life.
You might not be happy about something in your life and feel like there is no way out.
4) A relationship in your life isn’t healthy anymore
If you dream that you are trapped, then the dream is your subconscious trying to send you a message: It’s time to get out of an unhealthy relationship.
Dreams about being trapped in an unhealthy relationship can be triggered by real life experiences such as feeling trapped in a relationship, or witnessing a relationship that is unhealthy.
Being trapped in a relationship can also be a metaphor for feeling trapped inside your own emotions, or feeling trapped inside your own head.
Now: when you dream about being trapped, even if it’s trapped in a room or a cave, it can signify that something about your current relationship is unhealthy and you need to find a healthier way to relate with your partner.
The thing is, relationships can quickly become unhealthy when one of the partners starts to feel trapped in the relationship.
5) Repressed memories are coming up
Dreams about being trapped can be a sign that repressed memories are coming to the surface.
If you are trying to get out of a place that triggers memories, you might be trying to overcome an issue from the past.
If you are trying to get out of a place where you have an emotional reaction, you might be trying to overcome a repressed emotion from the past.
You see, if you dream about being trapped in a place where you have an emotional reaction, you might be trying to overcome a repressed emotion from the past.
Emotions can feel trapping, so when you dream about being trapped, it could signify that a part of you feels like there is something from your past you can’t let go of.
6) You have too many obligations
If you dream that you are being chased and can’t find a place to hide, you might be feeling overwhelmed with too many obligations in your daily life.
This dream can be a metaphor for feeling pressured to do too many things or feeling like you have too many responsibilities.
If you dream that you are being chased by people with obligations, this can be a metaphor for feeling pressured by people who want you to do too many things.
If that is the case, you need to figure out a way to establish personal boundaries.
You see, it’s important that you do things that are important to you first, and then do things that are important to others.
7) You are too busy and don’t have time for yourself
This relates to the previous point.
If you dream that you are trapped in a place where you can’t find the exit, you might be feeling too busy to do the things that make you feel fulfilled in life.
You are dreaming about being trapped because you have too many obligations, or because you have let other people take up too much of your time.
You see, when you are too busy and don’t have time for yourself, it will eventually manifest in you feeling trapped.
We need to take care of ourselves if we want to feel fulfilled and happy.
When I was dreaming about being trapped a lot, part of it was because I was loading way too much on my plate and had no time for myself, let alone to be with the people I love.
Once I got my priorities in check and made more time for myself, I was able to feel more fulfilled.
And the best part?
The dreams disappeared!
8) You are making commitments for things you hate
If you dream that you are trapped where you have to do something that you hate, this can be a metaphor for making commitments to things you don’t want to do.
This dream can express repressed feelings of resentment towards people who have made you feel obligated to do things you don’t want to do.
Are you doing things in your daily life that you actually really don’t want to do?
If so, you may be dreaming about them.
This dream can also be a metaphor for having to do things that you feel forced to do or doing things that you don’t really want to do.
If this is the case, try to figure out why you are doing these things and why you are resenting them.
Maybe you can find a way to stop doing them.
9) You are a people pleaser
If you dream that you are trapped where you have to do something, you might be a people pleaser who works too hard and takes on too many things.
Speaking as a fellow people pleaser, I know how difficult it can be to say no to other people.
But if you are a people pleaser, then you might be dreaming about having to say no to other people and to not taking on too many things.
If this is the case, try not to take on too many things.
When I got my priorities straight, I was able to start saying no more often and actually put my needs first.
And the best part?
The dreams stopped coming!
10) You have a fear of abandonment
If you dream that you are trapped and someone leaves you, this can symbolize feelings of abandonment.
But it can also work the other way around! When you dream that you are trapped and you abandon someone, this can symbolize repressed feelings of guilt or shame about abandoning someone.
Abandonment dreams can be triggered by events in your life that make you feel insecure, lonely, or helpless.
If you have recurring dreams of being abandoned, you may want to look at how you are feeling in your life, as such dreams may be a metaphor for your feelings.
Now: having a fear of abandonment is nothing to be ashamed of or feel bad about.
Abandonment in a dream can be a sign that you feel that someone is abandoning you in your waking life, and this can make you feel insecure or vulnerable.
Trust me, if you want to move on, you need to figure out the root cause of your abandonment wounds.
Once you get to the bottom of that, your dreams will start to disappear!
What now?
If you are dreaming about being trapped, don’t panic.
These dreams are often triggered by real-life experiences and they can be resolved with a little self-reflection and insight.
By understanding what your dream is trying to communicate to you, you can break the cycle of feeling trapped and let go of the negative feelings that are holding you back from moving forward in your life.
