To dream of being strangled – what does it mean? (Dream interpretation suffocation / strangulation)
Dream interpretation strangulation/suffocation
Suffocation in dreams is not a rare thing to dream about. There are several angles to it; these are reviewed below.
Dreams about suffocation can mean that you are simply too busy. Similar to dreams about drowning, dreams about suffocating can symbolize that your current (hectic) life style will quite simply be the death of you.
If you find this interpretation relevant to your situation, it is critical that you take your dream seriously – you simply cannot keep up anymore, and your brain and body needs you to slow down.
Dreams about being strangled as an image of something within yourself that is ”strangling” you/hinders you from thriving and developing. This interpretation is the most common – you can even dream that you are strangling yourself!
…a very clear indication that you in a some way – in what you say, think or do – limit yourself in a way that is “killing you” (that is to say mentally, because you lack vitality).
A 30-year-old woman for instance repeatedly dreamt that a very old woman was going to strangle her. At this point in her life, she was single and often stayed at home and isolated herself, and because of previous experiences, she did everything she could to avoid contact with men, who were actually interested in her.
It was clear from the dream that she, way too early in her life, had habits more suited for an old woman. In the same way, there may be things within you that are quite simply “strangling you” and which therefore prevent you from realizing your true potential; things you may be unaware of.
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When trying to understand your dreams it is important to know that your dreams are… your dreams. As such, you are the best person to figure out the true meaning of your dreams.
However, it is important to learn how to generally approach your dreams. Dream dictionaries like this one are only a supplement, and if you want to fully utilize the potential of your dreams, you should start at a different place.
My online course “Unlock your DREAMlife” gives you a great foundation for understanding (and recalling) your dreams.
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In addition to this, it may also be the case that your current life situation, how you see yourself, your social circle, or your job, is “killing you”. There are numerous things – within yourself and in your surroundings – that can “strangle” you and prevent you from unfolding and developing.
Finally, there are also cases which suggest that a dream about being strangled simply can occur because you are having difficulties breathing during your sleep – perhaps you have been uncomfortable, or you may have a physical disability that makes it difficult for you to breathe.
Dream dictionaries are a very helpful tool when interpreting dreams. However, generally learning how to approach your dreams, will give you a better foundation for understanding them. My online course “Unlock your DREAMlife” teaches you how to much better utilize – recall and understand – your dreams.
Return to the index of dream themes and symbols:
Dream interpretation A-Z ↵
Also read: Why I no longer interpret dreams for free
Have you had a dream about strangulation or suffocation? Please share your experience in the comments below.
NB: Dream interpretation is not easy – especially because dreams are always 100% individual. For this reason the above scenarios might not be relevant to your suffocation dream.
Michael
Hi!
My name is Chelsea…. Last night I dreamt putting my friend’s baby to sleep and I was locked in the living room with him… I then heard my mom screaming and I came out of the living room and went into the bedroom where she was mad and started strangling me until I could hardly breathe I remember in the dream my grandma was present and told us to go to the police and I woke up after feeling my neck was hurting.
What does this mean?
Hi Chelsea,what a terrifying dream! Unfortunately I am no longer able to help out on interpretation for free, as I get way too many requests. I am in the process of setting up a payment system so I can help you out. Best regards – Michael
Hello Michael. I have recently had a strangling dream where my ex boyfriend does it, I am still traumatized by the fact we broke up and it does hurt. I have also started new topics in college, studying art and trying to find what is suitable for me. The dream was were I couldn’t move an inch on my body, my arms were pinned down I was being strangled and it felt like I could not scream or say anything out loud.. Thank you
Hi Angel, what a frightening dream! Very interesting dream! Unfortunately I am no longer able to help out on interpretation for free, as I get way too many requests. I am in the process of setting up a payment system so I can help you out. Best regards – Michael
I had a dream that a was driving on the motor way then the car crashed and this american police officer who was about 7 feet tall picked me up with one had by the throat but i could still breath and he started walking around i kicked punched but nothin would work and people where shouting at him to put me down.
Very interesting dream John! Unfortunately I am no longer able to help out on interpretation for free, as I get way too many requests. I am in the process of setting up a payment system so I can help you out. Best regards – Michael
Hi Michael,
So I rarely remember vivid dreams but there was one in particular that I question. I was in a small clustered bedroom. The bed was facing the bedroom door. All around me were masks, of all types, just everywhere. I remember in the dream figuring out when to just fall asleep. As I closed my eyes, one mask in particular slowly moved to face me and from that moment I was being strangled. Kind of in a head lock hold but I was sleeping on my side so it was a weird feeling. I wasn’t exactly choking, I was just well aware of the sensation in my dream of something putting me in a hold around my neck and I couldn’t break free. As it stopped that was when I woke up.
Hej Savanny,
and thank you for your interesting dream! I have realized that I have no chance (not enough time) in terms of getting back on all the comments I now get, so I have decided not to offer free interpretation any longer. Very soon I will have a payment system on the website, so that I can offer dream interpretation against payment, at that time I would be glad to help you out! Best regards – Michael R Olsen.
My husband woke up last night… After sleeping 10 minutes… And said he had a very vivid dream of being at Home Depot. He was walking to the checkout lines, and a couple went to one line and the husband started choking another lady. He asked the wife is she was gonna stop him and she said no. So he tried to and then he woke up.
Hi Tci,
and thank you for your interesting dream! I have realized that I have no chance (not enough time) in terms of getting back on all the comments I now get, so I have decided not to offer free interpretation any longer. Very soon I will have a payment system on the website, so that I can offer dream interpretation against payment, at that time I would be glad to help you out! Best regards – Michael R Olsen.
Lately I have been having a dream that a shadow figure that seems to be a woman is standing beside me while I am choking or suffocating. I tend to wake myself up because I am snoring and am wondering if that is the cause of the dream.
Hi Alma – it is hard for me to know what this woman might signify, as I do not know anything about you/your life situation. She might be an illustration of an unconscious side of you; it is also important whether she is the one choking you, or whether you feel she is helping you in that situation. Best regards – Michael
I dreamt that I was sleeping face down. I glanced back and saw a male kid grinned at me with black cloth in his hands. Next thing I knew he has taken the cloth and shoved my head inside. He was choking me from behind and it was getting harder and harder to breathe. I kind of knew it was a dream so I focused to wake up and eventually did. I was gasping for breath and was very nervous of how horrible the dream was.
I am single and have no kid so I am a bit clueless as to who that male kid represents.
Hi Jocel – what a scary dream! Since the cloth is black, and most likely the kid is someone you don’t know, the dream might portray a “shadow” in yourself – a side of yourself you are not to familiar with (conscious about). Could you think of any thoughts or behaviour you might have, that actually are highly destructive ways or behaviours? The kid could also represent something very positive – and since you are not integrating/using this side of yourself, it is slowly “killing” you. Best regards – Michael
I dreamt about being strangled by a girl wearing all black clothing with long hair. In my dream I woke up and there was blood all over the wall where I was sleeping and a red dress hanging at the door. In real life when I woke up none of these things were there. What does this mean???
Hi Danielle – what an interesting dream! Since she wore all black clothing I would immediately think along the lines of her representing your own “shadow” as it’s called in dreamland – i.e. sides of yourself that are somehow unconscious to you. This might be less attractive sides of you (e.g. how you are jealous, envious, maybe dominant sometimes etc.), and that fact that you are not realising this is giving you a hard time. She might also represent a part of yourself that is very hard on you – i.e. thoughts you have about yourself that are very demeaning – but has nothing to do with how you truly are. The red dress on the other hand is clearly something else – red is a strong/forceful color – blood is red, and blood often is a symbol of life. The dream thus could be saying that you have been to harsh on yourself lately – it is now time to put on the red and lively/forceful dress. I.e. you DO have this kind of force in yourself, a force you are not using now however. Best regards – Michael
Thanks so much!! That makes sense.
Best,
Danielle
Hi,my name is jason,and i had a weird dream last night about my classmate asking me for a bro fist,which i did ,he then told me im to far i should come closer ,afte that bro fist at the same time he pressed my fist straight to my nek,i was unable to remove my fist,i was like ok challenge accepted ,i tried to say something but my voice was demped by that hold
Hi Jason,
what an interesting dream! Hmm – it’s hard for me to know exactly what this dream might symbolize since I don’t know your or your situation (or what characterizes your classmate for that matter). But it might be about how that person in real life is putting a pressure on you – or how something inside you – resembling your associations to that person – is putter a pressure on you right now. What are your associations to your classmate? Best regards – Michael
I dreamt my boyfriend, who I have only gotten together with recently, strangled my 14 year old daughter! What does this mean? My boyfriend was also the best friend of my ex husband.
Hi Sasha,
this is really hard for me to have any qualified guess about since I don’t know much about your situation, your relationship with your daughter, your boyfriends relationship with her etc. The dream might e.g. be saying – all the thinking you are doing about him (how you are maybe currently preoccupied with him), or all the time you simply spend with him – might mean that you forget about your daughter, or at least have less focus on her and her needs. Again – only guessing since I don’t have much to work with 🙂 Best regards – Michael
Hi,
Last night i had a dream about being strangled by somebody who wasnt there so like a ghost and i was saying to my mum to call for an ambulance. The other half is currently in the Navy and has been deployed recently for 9 months so assumed this is something to do with that?
Hi DLM90,
terrying dream! Well – it might be about that, only you would know since it is your dream. If it is about that, then the dream might be saying that you really need to accept that this is now the situation, if not – constantly thinking your partner might slowly “kill you” mentally. Or that other person in the dream might also symbolize a side of yourself (a specific thought pattern or behaviour) that has a destructive effect on you, OR it is someone who has a positive mission; kill the current and “out-of-date” version of you (again, how you currently think/live your life) – in order for a better and more up-to-date version of you to materialize. BUT – only guessing since I do not know much about you and your specific life situation. Best regards – Michael
Hi Michael
I had a dream of my father who passed away about 4 years ago, grabbing me out of a car and strangling me. When he appeared in the dream, i knew he had passed on and when he appeared i was smoking a cigarette, he then seemed to just appear exactly in front of me from the distance that he first appeared, pulled me out of the car and started strangling me with a rope, i cried and kept trying to free myself from him and when i prayed in the dream, he finally let go and i woke up.
Hi TP,
what a terryfying dream! Now I do not know anything about the specific relationship btw you and your father, but the dream might simply portray how the fact that you are “holding on” to him (in your thinking, maybe even in how you life your life) prevents you from moving on. The dream might say – you need to “die” (the current version of you, how you see the world), in order for a better version of you to be born. At least the dream to me invites you to take a close look at your current relationship (inner relationship) with your father. It could also be, that your father in real life had e.g. great expectations to you, and since you now try hard to live up to these, it might be “killing you” (preventing you from living your own life). Best regards – Michael
Recently had a dream that I was suffocating my wife using a choke hold around her mouth. We tried several times but I was unsuccessful. Then a huge person walks into the room and says he can do it and apologizes to her and asks her to tell him she’s ready. I then wake up and immediately hug my wife. She is my soul mate. My position was recently eliminated so my professional future is uncertain but my personal life has always been great. Any idea what the meaning of this dream can be?
Hi Anthony, what a terrifying dream! An immediate thought could be that you somehow are embarrased about recently being laid of, so embarrased that you cannot stand the fact that your wife witnesses this, and a part of you wishes that she doesn’t have to witness it – i.e. “wishing” she was not there. Not that you would ever do this in real life of course! Another line of thought is also – how does your wife actually respond to you being laid of – is she maybe “too” understanding and supportive?! Maybe you have gotten angry with her for this lately – but never allowed yourself to feel that anger. Again – only guessing! Michael
I had a dream last night that I was standing with my back to an open door at the mall when someone from behind started to strangle me. The stranger would wait until I was almost unconscious and then let go just long enough for me to catch my breath and regain some strength. Just when I think I’m ok he reappears and does it again. This happens at least 3-4 times. Meanwhile my very pregnant friend goes running past me in this mall screaming to me for help and to keep her husband away from her, that he’s crazy! (and in reality he’s a good guy) but I can’t help her because I’m slowly dying. Why the repeated strangulations??
Hi Shannon, and thank you for your dream/comment! It is hard for me to know exactly what this is an illustration of, since I do not know you, or the characteristics of your relationship with your friend. Are you in someway maybe envious/jealous of your friend being pregnant (is she pregnant in real life?) – maybe you some how feel you are becoming less important for your friend then (in real life), that you are “dying” from her? Well – just guessing 🙂 Best regards – Michael
Hi
I dreamt of being choked From behind every time I tried to go forward in my dream . They would grab my shirt collar so tight and pull it so I couldn’t breathe . At the end of the dream I was held down and choked this way in front of two people who wouldn’t help me ( unsure who people were ) but I knew there was someone else I’m the house who would help me ( again unsure who ) I awoke at this point never seeing who was trying to choke me but in my dream I was blaming God for doing it . I believe in God but not a religious person is churchgoer etc . Very strange dream
Hi Neil,
what an interesting (and of course frightening) dream! The people trying to strangle you might illustrate sides of yourself hindering you in moving forward/developing naturally. All the while you are blaming someone else (in this case God) for your misfortune. Now I do not know you or your specific life situation, but could it be that you do this in real life? I.e. – you want to do a lot of things in your life, but instead of actually doing it, you blame the whole world (your parents/upbringing, friends, job, current situation etc.) for this not happening? Best regards – Michael
I had a dream that I was in a maze or temple in a game and my sister was there and we were running trying to get the best of the other I got there first and she came from above and was strangling me when I was opening a chest and for some reason a lucario(Pokemon) was there with then I woke up this puzzles me ever since I had this dream I understand why my sister was there but the rest is confusing
Hi K,
what a scary dream! It is hard for me to know exactly what this might mean, as I do not know you, or how your relationship with your sister is, or how you would normally describe her (as she might illustrate the part of yourself that is like her). So – the maze might be “the maze of life” and maybe you are unconsciously comparing yourself (too much) to your sister, or you look up to her – thinking that she knows how to get through the maze. The dream might then be saying – it is time for you to find your own way in life. Best regards – Michael
Hey
I had a dream about being strangled.
I was twelve and I love this Japanese animation named Anime and I still like it.
I was walking down the street in my dream and my hood was pulled backwards from a mans grip.
He pulled me around for a bit but I kept calm thinking it was just a teenage boy being a idiot.
But then I was in the air with a hand over my neck and creepy music started to play.
I saw his face and it was my favorite character from the Japanese animation I watch named Sasori.
All he said was “sleep for now”.
I woke up and my neck felt like it had been gripped. Is this just a childish dream I dunno?
Hi Zero – what a scary dream! Now I do not know you or your specific life situation – but it seems as if Sasori is a hero character for you – so why might he be trying to strangle you? Well – what he really says is actually “sleep for now” – and might not mean “die for now” – maybe you simply need to relax more in your life? What what Sasori do in your (real life) situation? Best regards – Michael Rohde Olsen
I had a dream last night, actually I awoke to it this morning, where I was lying in bed with my husband, and for some reason I had a piece of string, ribbon or fabric tied around my throat three times. In my dream I actually awoke feeling this around my neck getting so tight that I was starting to find it difficult to breathe. I had the thought that I had put the ribbon around my neck before I went to sleep, and how stupid it was to put some thing around my neck before going to bed. I mentioned it to my husband and asked him to help me unravel it. He seemed not to worried, even though I was getting more and more panicked by the whole experience, as the ribbon was getting tighter and tighter. He started to unravel it, and I then continued to unravel what ever was around my throat. As I mentioned, it was wrapped around me three times, and as I unwrapped the final bit, it had dug into my neck so deeply it was incredibly painful to remove. There was no blood or cuts, just a very deep impression. I then Went and had a shower, with my neck feeling as if it was no longer strong enough to support my head. this was when I woke up.
Hi Holly,
what a horrifying dream! Since I do not know you or your specific life situation, it is hard for me to know what the dream might be about. Maybe you are making a fuzz out of something that is not as serious and threatening as it might seem to you? Your husband in the dream might thus symbolize how talking to your husband about this, might take of the pressure. Or he might symbolize a more male side of yourself that you need to get in contact with, in order to unravel the strings inside you. Best regards – Michael
i had a dream & in my dream everything felt so real.. my body felt so weak like I could barely do anything or move, and at one point there were these men who’s faces I couldn’t ever see, and they were trying to get me, and when they started to choke me I felt like I could actually feel it, I tried screaming for help or banging on a wall but I couldn’t hit the wall hard enough and when I screamed nothing would come out except a small hoarse sound… In my dream when I got away I ran to my mom like a little baby and got in bed with her & was beginning to fall asleep.. Then I woke up (which this felt real, I thought I really was in bed with my mom and that I had just woken up) but then all these arms started to grab me and hold me down and my mom just looked at me, I tried screaming once again and nothing would come out. I was so scared. when I woke up my throat was hurting so bad like it had really happened & I had to actually catch my breath & I busted out crying because of how real that nightmare had seemed. sorry if this dream makes no sense, or if it’s not what you were asking for, but I’m afraid to go back to sleep for fear that I won’t be able to wake myself up, but that I will feel all of this again.
Hi Emily,
dreams are not at all nonsense – no matter what the content 🙂 The language of dreams might appear strange – but what dreams try to convey mostly is not strange. Since I do not know you or your specific life situation – it is hard for me to guess what the dream might be about. But it might illustrate how you have an internal pressure from other sides of yourself (male sides), that you again and again avoid making contact with (i.e. using and integrating in your waking life thinking and behaviour). When men appear in a womans dream, they often symbolize elements of her personality relating to “knowing your direction in life”, your decision power (ability to take decisions regarding yourself) – and in this case you seem to (always?) run back to mom – i.e. in real life, hold on to what you know, and what is certain. The dream might be saying – it is now time for you to take full responsibility for your own life. You cannot use (your inner?) mom anymore – you need to stand on your own two feet. Best regards – Michael Rohde Olsen
Hi there. I had a dream where i was in bed laying down and all of the sudden a snake started strangling me. I react by pulling the snake by it’s tail and unwinding it from my neck and throwing it to the wall. All in a single calm yet alerted state. Then i wake up.
Thank you for your time
Dear William – thank you for your terrifying snake dream! Since I do not know you or your specific life situation, it is hard for me to know what this dream might be about. Did you also see the blog post on snake dreams? On the one hand, the snake might symbolize unconscious thoughts/fears/anxieties, how you maybe try to ignore relatively strong emotions that you have – and how that is “killing” you. The snake might also symbolize the unconscious in itself, how you are treating it (wanting to kill it), but maybe it is not so dangerous after all? Best regards – Michael Rohde Olsen