# Pls check the Types of dreams you've had. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 9, 2014, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703 "2014-04-09T11:11:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/1 "2014-04-09T11:11:13Z")
I would prefer not to go into _details_ of the above listed dreams. Having diner with some friends the other day and this subject came up. I was rather surprised to learn that three people in my group have dreams involving lights not working properly. Ditto dead people. Poll to come. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/2 "2014-04-09T11:20:27Z")
Some that I have regularly but aren’t listed here: - infinite amount of chewing gum in mouth - teeth shattering, falling out - back at school but don’t know class schedule or haven’t studied for test ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/3 "2014-04-09T11:25:59Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > Some that I have regularly but aren’t listed here: > > - infinite amount of chewing gum in mouth > - teeth shattering, falling out > - back at school but don’t know class schedule or haven’t studied for test Dammit! I forgot Teeth and Hair thing! which was something we talked about. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/4 "2014-04-09T11:30:44Z")
Yes, I have the teeth one too. Also very common (to me) is having to hand in a very important essay for university and not having done any work. Or sometimes it’s a project for secondary school. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/5 "2014-04-09T11:42:55Z")
I guess I should state: Sex in the above poll means; dreams of a sexual nature. It doesn’t have to involve actual sex. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/6 "2014-04-09T13:34:15Z")
Related to “I can fly”, I occasionally have a dream where I jump over something small, say a brook, and can’t come down, I just keep falling upward. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/7 "2014-04-09T13:39:26Z")
Similar to the first one about the fists, I just can’t seem to move when needed. The ground becomes too slippery to get traction, or I get up off the ground and just fall over again, stuff like that. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/8 "2014-04-09T13:44:09Z")
Definitely had the “teeth crumbling and falling out” dream. Also the “stuck in school as an adult”. Worst one of those was when I was teaching, and I was told that I had to take history with the same kids I taught English to. \>shudder\< ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/9 "2014-04-09T13:58:28Z")
I may vote in the poll, but am I the only one who read the OP as ‘Private Investigators check the types of dreams you’ve had’, instead of ‘Please check…’? (I was thinking, they could ask, but that’s not really the same as _checking_…) Also, why no option for ‘None of the above’? ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/10 "2014-04-09T14:14:12Z")
I was a bit surprised to find “you have to go back to high school/you are back in high school” not included. What a nightmare! Everyone I know says these dreams will never end - you’ll be 50 and still freaking out in your dreams about failing senior year or something. I said yes to “You’re dead or talking to or interacting with dead people.” because that read two different ways for me. I have died in my dreams, rather often in the past. I have also had dreams occupied with people that are now deceased, however the dream isn’t that “they are dead and I am talking to their ghost” but “in dreamworld they’re alive”. So I just checked yes for that one because why the heck not. Addendum to the fists weighing 100lbs is the trying to run but it ends up like molasses. Every now and then I grab nearby architecture with my arms to haul myself along faster than my legs are taking me, and instead of going faster the buildings are pulled apart instead! I forgot to check sex with unnattractive person because I was thinking of sex-positive dreams but I’ll just phrase it lightly to say - those were not sex positive dreams. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/11 "2014-04-09T15:21:57Z")
Voted. Refrained from discussing dream details. (You’re welcome. :p) **Shakes** , you might find [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=406763) interesting, though it only asks about bad dreams, so it doesn’t cover quite the same ground. I posted a [tally](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8239274&postcount=109) near the end of the thread with all the dreams up to that point. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/12 "2014-04-09T15:29:50Z")
Two common ones for me: 1) trying to dial 911 on my phone and being unable to complete the call for many many attempts, and 2) in a plane crash (that always ends with miraculous landing with nobody hurt) Here’s the weird part, my brother has the exact same type of plane crash dreams. I assume it’s an unusual one. Genetic link to type of dream? I also dram about swimming underwater and being able to breath. Feels like flying. And burglars in the house. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/13 "2014-04-09T15:54:24Z")
I picked the ones that have been, at one time or another, recurring dreams. Lights not working is a nightmare I used to have as a kid, and have had occasionally since. I checked “naked in public” even though for me it’s usually “dressed inappropriately in public” (in underwear or pajamas)… also I checked “win large amounts of cash” although it’s usually “find large amounts of cash”. I didn’t check the one about fighting, although I do sometimes have dreams that are somewhat similar… mainly, walking but you feel like your feet weight 100 lbs. each. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/14 "2014-04-09T16:18:47Z")
I don’t know who hired the electrician in my dreams, but the lights are extremely unreliable. Either they don’t turn on when you flip the switch, or they’re uselessly dim. Either way, it’s usually precursor to something bad happening, usually getting ambushed by some miscreant. As a kid, these were serious scary dreams. As an adult, my semi-involuntary dream reaction is to go all Samuel Jackson: “I have had it with these motherfuckin’ lights in this motherfuckin’ dream!” As often as not, this seems to result in nothing bad happening, a nice change from childhood. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/15 "2014-04-09T16:23:32Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Similar to the first one about the fists, I just can’t seem to move when needed. The ground becomes too slippery to get traction, or I get up off the ground and just fall over again, stuff like that. This is a common one for me, and in my dream I have to bend over and use my hands to crawl, digging my fingers into the crack between slabs of sidewalk. Kind of like scaling a ladder horizontally. It doesn’t really make physical world sense, but it does in dreamworld. Teeth dream I’ve had a zillion times. I remember how surprised I was to read this is a fairly universal dream. School stress dreams (can’t find class, have a final for a glass I’ve never attended, forgot to drop a class, have no idea of my schedule or where I should be, etc) also occurred many times a year, but are now being replaced by work-related stress dreams. (I’m at an assignment and realize I didn’t load up on batteries for my camera, I don’t have any memory cards, none of my lenses work, I totally missed the event, etc). Also, I have a lot of dreams where I dream about places I’ve lived, but they’re “dream world” places, loosely modeled after the real place, but quite different. And there seems to be an internal consistency to it, so when I revisit dreamworld Scotland, for instance, it seems to be the same “Scotland” I’ve visited in dreams before, but with only tangential similarity to the real place I’ve been. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/16 "2014-04-09T16:26:34Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > School stress dreams (can’t find class, have a final for a glass I’ve never attended, forgot to drop a class, have no idea of my schedule or where I should be, etc) also occurred many times a year, but are now being replaced by work-related stress dreams… I yeah, those school dreams. I still get those, 35 years after high school. (and I don’t remember high school as being particularly stressful) ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/17 "2014-04-09T16:27:33Z")
I checked sex with an unattractive person, but that’s not really what they usually are. Most of the time it’s just someone I know who is not unattractive, but not close enough to me that I would call them a “platonic friend.” ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/18 "2014-04-09T16:29:42Z")
I’ve had the “naked in public” dream. Actually, I was wearing underwear, but it was several sizes too small, and failed to cover me up. So, close enough to naked. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/19 "2014-04-09T17:30:52Z")
I’m 51 and still have the “forgot to study/can’t find my class” one. Another common recurring one is “I forgot to throw my paper route.” I assume that only former paperboys have this one. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703/20 "2014-04-09T17:31:35Z")
My wife has a recurring dream in which she is barefoot in a nasty public bathroom, like at a gas station. I’ve had the flying one and “can’t find my class / forgot to go to class” one. Also sometimes I dream I am showering or on the toilet with other people wandering around. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pls-check-the-types-of-dreams-youve-had/685703.md?page=2)