Dream Symbol: Anxiety

Carl Jung's Interpretation:

According to Carl Jung, the father of analytical psychology, anxiety in dreams is a reflection of the conflict between our conscious and unconscious mind. Jung believed that anxiety is a transformative symbol, archetypally representing unresolved inner tensions. This could be a strong call from the unconscious, demanding for balance and adaptation. Such dreams are often a prognostic of a pivotal moment in the dreamer's personal transformation, or individuation, symbolising the pressing urge to solve inner conflicts and achieve harmony.

James Hillman's Interpretation:

James Hillman, known for his Archetypal Psychology, views anxiety in dreams not as a symbol, but a situational sense of reality. He argues that dreams are the psyche’s way of speaking, and they project what is beyond the conscious understanding. Therefore, anxiety directs attention towards a reality that is disregarded or not well-articulated in the waking life. Hillman does not see anxiety as something to be resolved; instead, it’s to be understood, experience, and engaged nervously with.

Classical Interpretation:

In the classical perspective, anxiety represents an unsettling force disrupting the tranquillity of the mind, originating dominantly from external triggers. This unsettling force acts as a cue to avoid certain actions or situations, hence serving a protective purpose.

Ancient Greek Interpretation:

In Ancient Greek thought, anxiety was personified by the deity Ananke, the force of fate or necessity, who was perceived to control the universe. She symbolised the inevitability and the bound nature of the human condition.

Morphology:

Anxiety, in its symbolic form, typically manifests as uncontrollable chaos or threat. It is shape-shifting and formless, often embodying whatever the dreamer fears most. This symbol can mutate to embody different situations, individuals or objects in the dream landscape.

Similar Symbols

Opposite Symbols

Curious what your dreams mean? Explore other Dream Symbols