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What are back dreams about?

This symbol is identified by words like my back, his back, their back, etc.

Backs in dreams is a relatively common dream symbol, occuring in about 3.0% of dreams. That's about 1 out of every 35 dreams.

What are the major highlights of back dreams?

Backs is a normal dream symbol. Having backs in a dream changes the dream in the same way as most other dream symbols.

Dreams with backs might be a nightmare

Dreams of backs are frequently associated with nightmares. Of course dreams that contain backs might not be a nightmare. Plenty of dreams with backs are not nightmares. But, dreams of backs are more related to nightmares than 80% of all other dream symbols. Other symbols that are like this include hair falling out, suffering, wrist, escaping, vision, back doors, Serbia, dead bodies, devouring, and worms.

How does the dream symbol of backs affect the different aspects of a dream?

Explore different elements related to dreams of backs

Who is in backs dreams?

Overall, dreams with backs are aren't really related to characters in dreams. Specifically, dreams of backs are more related to romantic partners than dreams in general. They are less related to different roles.

Animals

the same as usual

Insects

the same as usual

Different roles

less than usual

Fantastic beings

the same as usual

Distant people

the same as usual

Close people

the same as usual

Family

the same as usual

Romantic partners

more than usual
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What are the emotions in backs dreams?

Overall, dreams with backs are more related to emotions in dreams. Specifically, dreams of backs are more related to happiness, more related to grief and sorrow, and more related to confusion than dreams in general.

Happiness

more than usual

Sadness

the same as usual

Grief and sorrow

more than usual

Embarrassment

the same as usual

Confusion

more than usual

Fear

more than usual

Pain

much more than usual

Hatred

the same as usual

Fun

the same as usual

Love

the same as usual
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Who is in backs dreams?

Overall, dreams with backs are aren't really related to places in dreams. Specifically, dreams of backs are less related to human places, less related to transportation, and less related to natural places.

Home

the same as usual

Work

the same as usual

Human places

less than usual

Transportation

less than usual

Natural places

less than usual

Magical places

the same as usual
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What happens in backs dreams?

Overall, dreams with backs are more related to events in dreams. Specifically, dreams of backs are more related to sex than dreams in general.

Aggressive interactions

the same as usual

Friendly interactions

the same as usual

Sex

more than usual

Disasters

the same as usual
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How do backs in dreams related to other dream phenomenon?

Overall, dreams with backs are more related to dream events in dreams. Specifically, dreams of backs are more related to nightmares, much more related to sleep paralysis, and much more related to sleeping than dreams in general. They are less related to recurring dreams.

Lucid dreams

the same as usual

Nightmares

more than usual

Recurring dreams

less than usual

Recurring nightmares

the same as usual

Sleep paralysis

much more than usual

Sleeping

much more than usual

Waking life

more than usual
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How do backs in dreams related the senses?

Overall, dreams with backs are more related to senses in dreams. Specifically, dreams of backs are more related to hearing, more related to smelling, and more related to vision than dreams in general.

Hearing

more than usual

Smelling

more than usual

Taste

the same as usual

Vision

more than usual

Touch

much more than usual
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How can you make sense of backs in dreams?

Back dreams are relatively common. Among other things back dreams are normally interconnect and nightmare.

Do you think this is true for your dream of backs? How might your dream of backs be different?

All dreams have meaning

You can gain insight from thinking about any dream, no matter how strange. Only you, as the dreamer, have final say on what your dream may or may not mean. Each dream is unique.

Look for the differences

The DreamWell dictionary provides information on how each dream symbol appears in dreams in general. Finding how experience backs in dreams can be a key to understanding its meaning.

Return to the feelings

Our emotions in dreams can help us understand its meaning. Pay attention to how you felt in the dream. Pay attention to how you feel about backs in dreams. See how you feel about backs now, in your waking life.

What are possible meanings for dreams of backs?

The back area of the body is often associated with carrying burdens and things that weigh you down, such as regrets. “Get off my back” is a way of saying “get off my case.”

The back is associated getting work done. A strong back is meant figuratively to mean ability to carry a heavy load. For example, a man dreams he is at the gym doing back exercises such as pullups. He shows off his back muscles to people in the gym. The dream occurs after a day spent straightening up the house and working in the yard. He feels proud of the amount of work he got done.

Injury to the back in a dream can indicate inability to carry a load, or lack of confidence. Injury can indicate a physical issue with the back that needs to be addressed.

For example, a teenage male dreams about entering a horse stable and seeing a powerful black stallion and a beautiful golden mare. A man who works in the stable tells the dreamer that the mare has back problems. The teenager tells the mare, “It’s all right, I have back problems too.” He puts out a hand toward the stallion, and it reacts aggressively.

The dream is about the teen’s struggle to handle his responsibilities and carry his burdens. The mare with a bad back symbolizes the feeling that he can’t do it; he doesn’t think he has the strength. However, the stallion represents another side of the story. He does have the strength but doesn’t see himself that way. The dream is helping him to subconsciously tap into his inner strength by first making him aware he really does have it. He is delicate like the mare, and has the strength of the stallion—at least, the potential for it. See: Weakness

Something behind your back can mean it’s in the past. For example, you dream about your ex following you from behind, symbolizing that the relationship is in the past.

Anything dragged or carried behind your back can symbolize personal baggage. See: Baggage
Something positioned behind your back can be a way of expressing the phrase “go behind your back.” Be careful of betrayal, gossip, and sneakiness. You might need to “watch your back.”

The back is a blind spot, so something positioned behind your back is hidden from your awareness. For example, a man dreams he’s in his apartment and hears a knock at his front door. He asks who is there, and two voices reply in unison, “Enemies.” He opens the door, and two men enter his apartment. One of them immediately takes a position behind him, and the other stands in front of him. He hits the man in front of him, who tells him that anger will not help him.

The dream shows the dreamer two aspects of himself he needs to deal with. The man in front of him symbolizes anger. It’s an aspect of himself he knows about. The man behind him is an aspect of himself that’s in a personal blind spot. He is not consciously aware of it.

Turning the back toward someone or something can indicate withdrawal of care or attention, or turning away from needs. It can symbolize ostracism, rejection, or disapproval.

To be stabbed in the back is a classic sign of betrayal. Or it can symbolize stabbing pain in the back experienced while asleep.

The word “back” is loaded with possibilities for wordplays, such as “back to work,” “back of the line,” and “got your back.” Dreams can make obscure references through comparisons, so if you dream about the back or positioning behind something, consider the possibility of wordplay.

See also: Blindness, Body parts, Weakness

This interpretation is from ""The Dream Interpretation Dictionary: Symbols, Signs, and Meanings" and is provided by J.M. DeBord aka "RadOwl". He is the author of several acclaimed books about dreaming, the host of The Dreams That Shape Us podcast, and is a moderator of r/Dreams, one of the largest dream sharing communities on the internet.

Examples of dreams of backs

Read some real dream reports of back dreams.. These real life dream reports come from the moderated dream sharing communities of Reddit including r/Dreams, r/Nightmares, r/DreamInterpretation, or r/thisdreamihad. Please note that some of these may contain graphic, sexual, or violent images and text. Use the source link for each dream to view and join the discussion of each one.

Dark shadow/silhouette attack - sleep paralysis

Hey guys,

So I had a terrible experience. I don’t know if it was a dream or it actually happened. But here it is.
I was dreaming that a black shadow/silhouette was attacking me from behind while I was sleeping. The attack felt like it tried to enter my body through my back. As if it tried to posses me. I could suddenly feel a heavy weight in me. I was lying on my right side face toward the wall.
I got confused, because I thought I was having sleep paralysis, so I tried to wake up by moving my little finger. It worked and I woke up, but not completely. I tried screaming but my voice was too low for anyone to hear. Then I fell back into the paralysis and fought to get out.
When I woke up, I was confused and didn’t know if it was a dream or if it really happened. Still haven’t figured it out. It feels as if I was dreaming.
Somebody help me understand what is happening. Is there a demon trying to posses me or something?

Hey guys,

So I had a terrible experience. I don’t know if it was a dream or it actually happened. But here it is.
I was dreaming that a black...

Source | Show dream

My parents performed a ritual sacrifice on me because they were in a cult run by Mark Wahlberg. It was a really scary dream and i want to know what it could possibly mean.

Really strange dream last night. A loooot like a movie. I remember that it started with Mark Wahlberg describing this weird ritual sacrifice that his cult performed. The process was 1). Paralyzing the person and laying them on their back with their hands on their stomachs. 2). Installing a metallic device with a bright red tube in their arms or shoulders (i can't remember). 3). Gradually slowing their breathing and making them less conscious. It feels incredibly painful and frightening. Like slowly blinking out of existance with ever increasing struggle until you die.

To be honest i only remember three distinct parts. The presentation above being one of them. Another part was when i woke up in this very white room with a bunch of other individuals in white clothes. We had the same device but we were all awake and it was in our forearms. The devices were inflating and deflating our forearms like a balloon with some kind of liquid. We were all just sitting there. An Indian kid and i were facing each other.

The third part was what scared me and i still have slight paranoia about it. I was on the couch relaxing and my mother made me some tea. Both my parents were acting very casually. Suddenly i felt my breathing intensify and i slumped over paralyzed. Both my parents got up quickly and started speaking some weird langauge while they performed the ritual on me. I was terrified and it felt very painful. When i died i finally woke up.

Really strange dream last night. A loooot like a movie. I remember that it started with Mark Wahlberg describing this weird ritual sacrifice that his cult...

Source | Show dream

Dated an ugly red haired man and cheated on him with my current boyfriend

There is a TL;DR at the end so if you don’t want to read, and

I was sitting in a school courtyard, hugging and kissing my current boyfriend, Sandy. From my side, there is a guy whining that I never hug him. The guy has red hair and freckles and honestly he looks ugly but I assume me and my current boyfriend broke up in dream but we still were attracted to each other even though I was dating someone new. In the dream I wanted to break up with the red head man, who I have never met before in my life, but I felt guilty about potentially using him so I didn’t want to break it off yet. I did not like him more than pity him though. I will call the red head, Steve.
The bell rings and the boys leave, while two of my girl friends walk me to my class. I care deeply for both, there is none of the red head “I only pity you” stuff going on with my friends. However, I rarely talk to one because she might be depressed and doesn’t answer the phone, we will call her, Sofia, while the other is my best friend, Usagi (She loves Sailor Moon). As we walk to class, the sky goes dark with clouds and as the rain falls, lightning nearly strikes us. We run to the furthest building possible, me carrying Sofia at one point while she says she’s going to vomit. The lightning nearly strikes four times before we make it to a building with cover. I keep carrying Sofia and she throws up on my back. I’m annoyed but I understand. Usagi promises to care for her on their way to class and both leave.
When I go to class, I ask for a spare sweater or jacket since my shirt is nasty. It smells awful for obvious reasons. My friend, Aaron, offers up his sweatshirt and I take it going to the bathroom. It’s a girls bathroom but it appears both men and women are inside studying French. I studied French in high school and I am afraid I can’t speak well so naturally they speak it better than me. I then lose my phone somehow while changing out of my shirt. I try to find it when an old man begins cleaning the faucet and when I smile commending him for his work, he smiles back.
I then just end up in a car in a parking lot with Sandy, my real boyfriend. I don’t remember what happened except I ended up being chased by a bull and had to find my way back inside even though I don’t remember why I got out in the first place. I can’t remember anything else so I think it ended there.

TL;DR
• Two boyfriends, one I am dating in real life, one that is ugly and doesn’t exist but apparently I’m cheating on him with my real boyfriend
• Two friends, one needs to be carried and throws up when I carry her
• Lightning storm
• I get chased by a bull
• Lose my phone while changing shirts

There is a TL;DR at the end so if you don’t want to read, and

I was sitting in a school courtyard, hugging and kissing my current boyfriend, Sandy. From my...

Source | Show dream

Dream about a Black Scorpion biting me in the spine while I slept.

I was in bed in my dream trying to sleep, when a black scorpion was crawling on my back. I was too afraid to move, fearing it would sting me, and as I had that thought in my dream, it stung me on the back of my neck. Then the dream repeated, only it stung me in the spine between my shoulder blades. Then I woke up.

I was in bed in my dream trying to sleep, when a black scorpion was crawling on my back. I was too afraid to move, fearing it would sting me, and as I had that...

Source | Show dream

Can anyone tell me what my dream is about??

I have a dream about myself in a gta V type of place but I'm not in a game because it's a real experience as i would call it. I've made a crime of some sort and police chases after me. Later that time i found myself in the sky in a motorcycle with wings (it really looks like the ones from gta V) and i would fly around the city to not get caught, after a while i landed myself outside the map (maybe it's the game I'm in). You really can tell if it's outside the map if there's border (steel fence with barbed wire) and you can't go there unless you force or find a way to get there, the bike really did the job and as if like I can go there anytime without force. I met a girl there which i think is also lost and amazed in the place and after we met she was kinda shy and long after that i saw that we hugged each other and float slowly like we were meditating, i hugged her and it feels special like i wanted that so bad that I don't want it to end like this is the thing i've been finding for so long. She then turned her back against me while hugging her and we dolphin kick (swimming technique) at the same time floating up a bit until i woke up (the end really is a wierd twist that's why i need your help maybe there's something about it like a meaning about me). The outside map looks like a barb wired steel fence like i said with an unfinished hollow block walls parallel to it some sort of an unfinished building maybe.

I have a dream about myself in a gta V type of place but I'm not in a game because it's a real experience as i would call it. I've made a crime of some sort and...

Source | Show dream
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