# Hitting people in dreams **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 28, 2002, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitting-people-in-dreams/106054 "2002-04-28T03:20:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RaginAzn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@RaginAzn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaginAzn)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitting-people-in-dreams/106054/1 "2002-04-28T03:20:28Z")
I’ve noticed that when I get into fights with people in my dreams (doesn’t happen often), when I try to punch them, it feels as if I’m trying to swing my arm through water, and I can never seem to land a solid blow. This happens _every_ single time I throw a punch, in _every_ dream I’ve ever had in which I got into a fight. Is this just something that happens to everybody because you can’t physically “feel” anything hitting you–and vice versa? Or is this some subconscious thing that I have against hitting people? ---
**Author:** ![Tabeitha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b3f665/32.png) [@Tabeitha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabeitha)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitting-people-in-dreams/106054/2 "2002-04-28T03:36:23Z")
This happens in my dreams sometimes. Although I usually feel as if I am swinging at air, and just can’t connect to anything, or I feel as if I am too weak to do any damage. Only once or twice can I recall having a dream where my punches were anything close to real. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitting-people-in-dreams/106054/3 "2002-04-28T04:27:44Z")
That happens to me sometimes. The feeling of resistance comes from my arm dragging along the sheets when I’m punching the person in my dream. I know this because I often wake up when I end up punching the wall. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitting-people-in-dreams/106054/4 "2002-04-28T04:30:47Z")
Every time I shoot a gun in a dream, it misfires. _Every time_. It’s eerie. If any of you starts getting Freudian on me I’ll kick your ass. ---
**Author:** ![Arken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@Arken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arken)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitting-people-in-dreams/106054/5 "2002-04-28T04:36:40Z")
Am I the only person who never dreams about doing something violent to another person? ---
**Author:** ![Road\_Rash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Road\_Rash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Road_Rash)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitting-people-in-dreams/106054/6 "2002-04-28T04:48:50Z")
I have that same problem when I am trying to run toward, or from something in a dream. I kicked a terrorist leprechaun in a dream just two nights ago. It was a pretty effective kick. When I woke up, my toes were sore. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitting-people-in-dreams/106054/7 "2002-04-28T05:19:35Z")
Terrorist Leprechaun? I gotta get on some of that. A lot of times, I’ll try to run or even just walk and it won’t work (in a dream, damnit). It’s like I have trouble doing real actions, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitting-people-in-dreams/106054/8 "2002-04-28T08:14:41Z")
My body functions very oddly in dreams. For example, if there is an instance where I need to run _away_ from something, such as a hazard or monster or whatnot, my legs become as heavy as lead. I’m not completely stopped, but moving in agonizing slow-motion. However, if I am _chasing_ something, the opposite is true; I have incredible speed. I have the same effect when I dream of hitting someone. However, if, during the dream, I am visualizing what I am going to do (punch, roundhouse kick, knife stab, etc) I will do it exactly as I have visualized it. But if I just spontaneously try to do it, its like punching through water.