Our dreams can feel incredibly real, which can be wonderful when you dream of something pleasant but just as terrible when you have a nightmare. If you have ever dreamed about getting shot, you might be wondering what it means.
There are a variety of emotions you potentially experienced from this dream, such as fright and anxiety, and it’s a troublesome dream that can leave you in a heightened, uncomfortable state for awhile after waking.
Dreams about being killed or killing are more common than you may assume, and they don’t necessarily mean that there is violence in your actual waking life.1 They can be disturbing regardless, though, and science is still in the process of attempting to fully understand why nightmares ever occur at all.2
Let’s look at why you may have dreamt about being shot, and how you can deal with it.
Symbolism of Being Shot in Dreams
There are two main reasons why you might experience being shot in your dream. “When dreams involve being shot, particularly if the imagery is vivid or recurring, it could point to past trauma or unresolved experiences,” says Dr. Sanam Hafeez, Neuropsychologist Director of Comprehend the Mind. She notes that “
Trauma can leave a lasting imprint on the subconscious mind, and dreams often serve as a way for the brain to process and integrate these experiences.
Even if you weren’t shot in the past, you may have experienced a trauma where you felt unsafe or in danger. “In the case of being shot in a dream, it’s possible that the event itself mirrors a past incident where you felt deeply threatened or endangered,” explains Hafeez.
She says that “the act of being shot can symbolize not just physical harm but also emotional or psychological wounds inflicted by past events,” and that “these dreams might resurface during times of stress or when something triggers memories associated with the trauma.”
Common Themes
Because this is a dream that may people have, there are some common threads that run through it.
Fear
Fear is a consistent theme in these dreams, as is a sense of anxiousness or worry. “This theme can signify underlying worries or anxieties that you’re grappling with in your waking life, such as concerns about safety, security, or the future,” says Hafeez.
You may also feel like you’re lacking personal power, which could be happening within the context of being anxious and scared, or entirely on its own.
Trauma
Having unresolved trauma can both cause these dreams and make for central themes that run through them every time. Hafeez says that’s because “this theme may manifest as recurring dreams or flashbacks to traumatic events, serving as a subconscious attempt to process and make sense of these experiences.”
Just like your waking mind tries to process and settle what you have been through in life, so does your subconscious mind. It makes perfect sense that your subconscious mind would perform this work through your dreams.
Vulnerability
Lastly, being shot in a dream may be centered around you feeling vulnerable or exposed, or possibly both at once. “Being shot in a dream can symbolize feelings of vulnerability or exposure,” explains Hafeez.
She says “this theme may arise from situations in life where you feel emotionally or psychologically exposed, whether it’s due to personal insecurities, social pressures, or other external factors.”
Psychological and Emotional Interpretations
Most people have experienced traumatic events in their past, though some of us have more traumatic histories than others. Even if you think you have fully processed your past trauma, if you are having recurring dreams about getting shot, there may be more work to do.
If you simply do not have a sufficient amount of trauma in your history for it to make sense that you’re having this dream, it could be caused by you feeling vulnerable or exposed in life, or you could be in the midst of major changes.
It’s normal for this dream to be highly upsetting, even after you awaken. “The imagery of being shot can trigger feelings of terror and panic, even long after waking from the dream,” says Hafeez, who notes that you might also experience anxiety from it well after waking up, too.
You may also be left feeling sad because of this dream. “Dreams of being shot can evoke feelings of sadness or grief, especially if the dream is linked to past trauma or unresolved emotional wounds,” Hafeez explains.
Can You Always Interpret a Dream?
Why you are having this dream may not be completely clear to you, and in turn, it may cause further confusion as you grapple both with the dream itself and the reasons surrounding its occurrence. “Dreams can sometimes be disorienting, and the surreal nature of being shot in a dream may leave the dreamer feeling confused or perplexed about its meaning or significance,” says Hafeez.
If this dream is a one-off situation, it may not be worth thinking too long about it. On the other hand, if you having this dream repeatedly, it is worth looking into why. Perhaps you have unresolved trauma you need to deal with, or are in a situation professionally or personally where you’re feeling vulnerable or exposed.
Making sure you care for your emotional wellness in both of these instances can keep you from continuing to have this dream over and over.
Coping Strategies
The most important thing after having a bad dream, whether it is about getting shot or anything else, is to do whatever you can to return yourself to a relaxed state. “When coping with disturbing dreams, such as those involving being shot, prioritize self-care and emotional well-being,” suggests Hafeez.
Engaging in relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, can help alleviate immediate feelings of distress and promote a sense of calm.
Working on your sleep hygiene can also be beneficial to reducing nightmares of all kinds. “It’s also important to maintain a consistent sleep schedule and to create a calming bedtime routine,” says Hafeez. She adds that good hygiene can promote restful sleep.
If you’re unsure about where to begin with sleep hygiene or how to enhance yours, don’t worry: It’s pretty straightforward. Tasks like avoiding screens for an hour or two before bed, engaging in relaxing activities like taking a bath or reading a book late in the evening, and going to bed at the same time every night are all core elements of proper sleep hygiene.
It can help you get rid of nightmares, and it’s great for your overall emotional and physical wellness, too.
Seeking Professional Help
As much as you might want to be able to deal with this dream alone, you may come to a point where a professional can assist you better than you can handle it alone. How to know when you’ve hit that point? “Seeking help for disturbing dreams is warranted when they begin to significantly disrupt your daily life, causing distress, anxiety, or impairment in functioning,” says Hafeez.
She says that “iIf disturbing dreams persistently recur, interfere with your ability to sleep well, or evoke intense emotional responses that linger throughout the day, it may be beneficial to consult a mental health professional.”
Any type of therapy can potentially be beneficial, but someone trained specifically in this arena is ideal for best results. “Therapists trained in dream analysis or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help you explore the underlying causes of the dreams, develop coping strategies, and address any unresolved issues contributing to their occurrence,” Hafeez recommends.
Conclusion
Getting shot in a dream can be stressful and scary. It can leave you feeling anxious or frightened, and those feelings may persist. This dream may happen because you have unresolved trauma, or you may be going through changes that your subconscious is having a hard time settling and that are leaving you feeling exposed or vulnerable.
You can deal with it on your own by working through past trauma and improving your habits and practices around sleep and bedtime. If it’s too much to contend with alone, a professional may be of service. If possible, seek out someone trained in CBT or dream analysis. Getting shot in a dream is upsetting, so give yourself grace with your emotions afterward, and focus on your emotional wellness