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Ernesto
Liz
The Meaning of Dreams About Feeling Despair header image

Did You Dream About Feeling Despair? Here's What It Means

A subject like feeling despair can be a complex one to explain. Because dreams are like mental echoes of our subconscious mind, and they often represent specific references to our waking-life, no single dream interpretation fits every dream about feeling despair or any other symbol.

Below are three different perspectives on dreams about feeling despair, taken from three different angles.

Which of these insights works the best for you?


What does feeling despair mean in dreams?

1. The traditional interpretation

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Mary Leyen
Dream Expert,
Contributor: "3 of Dreams Book of Dreams"

A dream about feeling despair points to things like feelings of powerlessness or fear in waking life. But the specific meaning of feeling despair in a dream obviously depends on your present circumstances.

It may be a reflection of your current emotional state or a situation that you find overwhelming.

Alternatively, witnessing someone else in despair in a dream can indicate your empathy towards others. It might also suggest that you are neglecting your own needs while trying to help others. Both of these dreams urge you to address your emotional health and seek support if needed.

Feeling despair is a very very deep dream symbol to really clarify. To really know for certain, I would need to take a deeper dive into the dreamer's background and current mindset.

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2. The psychoanalyst's interpretation

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Ernesto Andrahi
Psychoanalyst,
Contributor: "3 of Dreams Book of Dreams"

Dreaming of personal despair can be a manifestation of the psyche's struggle with unresolved conflicts or unfulfilled desires, a reflection of the Freudian concept of the 'pleasure principle'.

With that being said, feeling despair can be more complicated than that. It may also represent the ego's attempt to reconcile with the harsh realities of the 'reality principle'. Witnessing despair in others, however, might be an externalization of your own suppressed despair, a projection in line with Freud's defense mechanisms. It could also symbolize your unconscious recognition of the collective human suffering, a nod to Jung's concept of the 'collective unconscious'. Both instances call for introspection and possibly professional help to navigate these complex emotional landscapes.0

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3. The spiritualist's interpretation

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Liz Morrison
Shaman and Spirit Guide,
Contributor: "3 of Dreams Book of Dreams"

Dreaming of personal despair can be a spiritual call to awaken and confront the shadows within your soul. It's a divine nudge to face your fears and insecurities, and to seek spiritual growth. Witnessing despair in others in your dream, by contrast, might be a spiritual invitation to cultivate compassion and empathy. It's a reminder that we are all interconnected in this cosmic journey, and that by helping others, we heal ourselves. Both of these dreams are spiritual opportunities for growth and transformation, urging you to delve deeper into your inner self and to connect with the divine energy within and around you.

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Whose analysis of the dream matches your dream?

Which interpretation of feeling despair fits with your unique situation?

Only you can say for certain. Remember that our higher mind can be a convoluted puzzle. Just about any dream concept can signify many different things — or result from multiple activities in our conscious lives.

Got a better dream analysis for dreams about feeling despair that you'd like to share? We'd be thrilled to hear and discuss your personal interpretation in the comment area at the bottom of this page.

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