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
summary of My life situation right now: I’m a 19 year old male. Not in school anymore. Recently I got terminated from a job. A well paying job. I am currently looking for a new job while living with my gf in her mother’s home. At the same time I have a drive to persue being a personal trainer and a proffesional musician as my ultimate goal, but I need money to do all those things so I’m focusing on looking for a job right now. My girlfriend keeps putting me down unknowingly saying I am not doing anything and that I’m falling off my game, that I’ve fallen off my game. But I’m trying to keep positive by doing what I love, teaching people fitness lifestyles by writing blogs and l myself am still learning on the way. Keeping music on pause right now. Since I don’t have the funds to record my music. So I write fitness blogs. Today I promised my gf I will only focus on looking for jobs the whole day. Also I visit my family once every two weeks and gf doesn’t like going. Can be problematic sometimes ends in arguments. Also her family really stresses me out and I am uncomfortable around them. Annoyed.
My dream: I was at my grandma’s house, family was there but not my whole family aunts and uncles mom and my brother whom I visit. There was a problem with an uncle. My grandma didn’t want him and his girlfriend around he was too problematic. But that night my grandpa let my uncle come over. But before he came my grandpa installed metal detectors at the door. Uncle came in along with his girlfriend he hears the metal detector go off and that really raged him. A fight broke out between him and the rest of my uncle’s right infront of my brother and I. We were really nervous because my raged uncle can be destructive and vicious. My brother and I were on the couch. The fight came to us and landed ony brother. My brother was getting hurt so i tried pulling them off him and my brother slipped through. Then i tried to talk some sense into my uncle who I love while my other uncles were holding him down in a struggle and he reached out to me thinking he was going to hug me but instead wrapped his hands around my neck and tried to strangle me really really hard it was really painful but I escaped. I went to another room. Picked up the phone and called 911. I tried to get the street address because I had forgotten it and asked my aunt but she didn’t want to tell me. I eventually figured it out but the operator was cutting off and she was getting frustrated and hung up. I tried about 2 times then my uncle came in because he found out about me calling the police and he said to me “You’re calling the police? Is that how you respect me?” And I said to him in rage, and hurt and fear, “Is strangling me how you respect me!?” He paused for a moment and then I woke up really shooken.
What can this mean, I’m not so much an emotional person but this dream really shook me up.
Hi Anton – and thank you for your dream and description of life situation. It somehow seems to me that all this rage is what you yourself is actually feeling, but not letting out. Instead it comes out in your dreams. You might feel angry about your girlfrien, but very much also about yourself, and the fact that you are not where you would like to be in your life. It strikes me, that you say you love writing blogs about fitness/healthy life style – are you sure you want the “professional musician dream” so much? And btw. what are your associations to the uncle that is trying to strangle you – maybe some of this can provide you a clue as to why he (the stuff in yourself that resemble him) is trying to strangle you right now? In the dream you call for help (from outside, like you contact me here), but what can you do yourself in the situation? Best regards -Michael
It’s 2:37 AM and I have just woke up from a terrifying dream. I was laying in bed and all of a sudden I felt my airways being cut off. There was nothing physically on my neck but I felt like something was squeezing. I tried opening my eyes but they were glued shut. I reached over to open the door to the room and proceeded to crawl down the hallway to my parents room. They always leave their door open so I crawl in there and try to shake my dads foot but any movement was extremely difficult since I could not breath. I kept on trying to wake him and scream but my closed passage way wouldn’t let me. My step mom walked in and put her hand on my arm and started praying over me but the feeling just got more intense and I thought I was dying. She stopped talking and all of a sudden I felt the “hands” around my throat loosen and I went to open my eyes. But I wasn’t in my parents bed room and more. I was back in my own bed in the same position I had fallen asleep in twenty minutes ago. I never thought it was a person strangling me though. I remember specifically thinking it was a demon. This is one of the scariest dreams I’ve had, which is saying something because I have experienced sleep paralysis. What do you think?
Hi Katie,
thank you for your highly interesting but terrifying dream! Unfortunately I no longer offer help for free, as I get very many requests every day. Instead I offer the following (interpretation of your dream, with payment): http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
i keep having these dreams where i believe its my ex partner straggling me at our old house we recently seperated and have 2 year old boy.everything seems so real and i could just see a body and hands but no face everything else is foggy looking. every time i wake up on back i wake up gasping for air..also im scared to sleep on my back cause i always have nightmares ofthe same cause suffacation but its been going for a week now and my mom and sister keep telling me i cry load im not sure if its health issue how i gasp for air or its my dreams.to be honest it worries me being a single mother i dont want to end up not waking up someday
Hi Michelle,
thank you for your highly interesting dream! Unfortunately I no longer offer help for free, as I get very many requests every day. Instead I offer the following (interpretation of your dream, with payment): http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
Me and my bf walked into a house there was a guylaying on a chair. I asked him who he was . he stated he was renting this house we told him we was renting This house . he then said o sorry an offered cash for the confusion I refused and I showed him a picture on my phone of a girl he said was his sister. I excused my self to the bathroom when I was getting up from the toilet I felt like someone or something was choking me from the back . it was like a cord or rope of some sort . I tried to get it off my neck to got tighter. I tried to open the door it was locked so I screamed loud to get someone’s attention that I needed help. the person outside the bathroom door was trying to open the door . once opened Iwoke up. With a tight feelin around my neck . my bf told me I was making like a grouting /howling noise I was making in my sleep. And I was smiling in my sleep .
What can this mean?
Hi Earthly,
thank you for your highly interesting dream! Unfortunately I no longer offer help for free, as I get very many requests every day. Instead I offer the following (interpretation of your dream, with payment): http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I had a dream last night that I was asleep in my dream and got woken up by Ziggy Roscoe off Hollyoaks trying to strangle me but also in my dream I found out that he had a condition that turned him into a psychopath whilst he was asleep. Straight after him it seemed I jumped into another dream which there was an unknown old man trying to strangle me. I was ready and waiting that time though to push him down some stairs when he tried to kill me. I then woke up in such a panic because it felt so real.
Hi Hayley,
thank you for your highly interesting dream! Unfortunately I no longer offer help for free, as I get very many requests every day. Instead I offer the following (interpretation of your dream, with payment): http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
My girlfriend when having a bad dream I tend to comfort her and ensure her that it was just a dream and isn’t real. Well this morning my girlfriend ended up having something happen to her. She dreamt that I was choking her and she woke up-to me doing it. I don’t recall doing anything to her of the sort at all this morning except for trying to comfort her. She told me she thinks it’s reality so she is very scared and upset with me. I personally and honestly would never hurt her and I don’t recall my hands being on her neck at all. We did have a late night laying down together. I am not sure as if she was dreaming or not or if I was when I “did what she said I did”.
Her story how she said it went down.
She woke up to me choking her, I didn’t say anything while I was doing it. She said I then tried to comfort her as if she was having a bad dream, she pushed me off and said I was crazy, then I rolled over and she went to the couch.
My memory
Fell asleep cuddling up next to her, woke up to her pushing me off her saying I was crazy, I asked what’s wrong, she then didn’t tell me, then I rolled over. 3 hours later and here we are discussing what had happened, I feel really bad I don’t ever want to hurt her I love her to much. I don’t recall hurting her. But she does have some bad dreams about me. She had a couple were I cheated on her. I don’t give her any reason to think I’m cheating I’m literally always with her, we live together she works, and I usually stay home. I’m 28 and she is 22. Any insight? Thanks.
Hi Josh,
and thank you for your highly interesting dream! Unfortunately I no longer offer help for free, as I get very many requests every day. Instead I offer the following (interpretation of your dream): http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I dreamed of happily swimming in the sea, floating and swimming when suddenly a man grabbed me and said I shouldn’t be swimming there. He put a rope around my neck and yanked, 2-3 times. It was terrifying. At the end of the dream we were kissing. I woke up feeling disturbed and confused. What could it possibly Mean?
Dear Confused,
sorry for the late response, but I had to give up helping out for free on this website, as I simply drown in requests. Instead I offer help the following way: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
Hello!
So last night I had a dream about being strangled by some guy una swimming pool because I wanted to get a book that was floating in the pool. He just grabbed me by the throat and chucked me. Once I had gotten my book. Suddenly there were more books, and one of my FRIENDS ENEMIES was there and apparently we were friends. Then it suddenly because is at school talking about it.
What does this mean!?
Hi Shaye,
and sorry for the late response, but I had to give up helping out for free on this website, as I simply drown in requests. Instead I offer help the following way: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
My dream was that I was running naked down the hallway of what I think we’re flats and my boyfriend was chasing me, trying to kill me, I tripped and fell to the floor and he pinned me down and was strangling me. I was thrashing about in the bed and woke up crying and shaking and coughing, almost being sick, like I really couldn’t breathe. I was crying so much and then realised I was in my bed and put my light on and sat up still crying and coughing. (Ironically my boyfriend heard me from downstairs and ran upstairs to find out what on earth was happening and he cuddled me and made me feel better) I’ve never had such an awful and what felt so real dream before. Any ideas???
Hi Mesha,
and sorry for the late response, but I had to give up helping out for free on this website, as I simply drown in requests. Instead I offer help the following way: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I had a dream my boyfriend choked me after we had sex then months later I had another dream that he died and I committed sucide After that I ended up in hell trying to find him but never could I kept replaying that same cycle of dying and endeing up In hell just to find him…….. The dream felt real it was dark , empty , I could feel 1000 blots of evil down there and I was crying to wake my self up ….
What does this mean ???!!!
Hi Sadawndra,
and sorry for my very late response, but I had to give up helping out for free on this website, as I literally drown in requests. Instead I offer help the following way: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I had a very freaky dream this afternoon while taking a nap. The first part was just usual dream stuff, in a room in a hotel/convention area with people in my life who had nothing to do with each other. Then I left and went to the elevator to go down. It was the 16th floor. As soon as the door closed, the elevator turned into a speeding tram. Then hands started slowly closing in on my neck. My mind was racing OH MY GOD. Then I woke up. Needless to say very unsettling.
Hi Jean,
and sorry for my very late response, but I had to give up helping out for free on this website, as I literally drown in requests. Instead I offer help the following way: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I dreamed that my grandmother was choking me in my sleep. & grabbing my rib it felt so real i couldn’t wake up i was screaming in my dream for help. That when i woke up my throat hurt my rib -& my neck. She has been dead for many years what does this mean??
Hi Jessica,
and sorry for my late response, but I have simply given up helping out for free on this website, as I literally drown in requests. Instead I offer help the following way: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I already was awake and I Fell back asleep (not completely). My hands werd right beide my throat and all of the sudden i didn’t have controle over my hands anymore and the person that had controle started strangling me. It all felt really real and it sudden all of the sudden and I was awake again. Right now my throat feels really weurd and a little closed off. Anybody have any idea what this means?
Hi Liesse,
and sorry for my late response, but I have simply given up helping out for free on this website, as I literally drown in requests. Instead I offer help the following way: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I had a dream last night that I walk to my car and the door was open when I got in the car and started to drive I was being Strangled from behind by my scaf I could not see the person but I could feel it was a man and I tried to fight but the car stopped and I woke up
What does this mean ???
Hi Lou, what a scary dream!
Unfortunately I am no longer able to help out interpreting your dream for free, as I get many requests every single day. I am in the process of setting up a payment system, and will be able to help you once this is in place. Best – Michael
In my dream last night, I dreamt that something was in some random buildingn that my family and I were in. Something came over my mom after three phone calls and no answer and she looked at me with these pure white eyes instead of thwir usual blue. A woman of whom I do not know was standinng there as my mother continually tried to wrap her hamds around my neck in an attempt to choke me and i called out to the woman and she just stated “youre mother is only trying to love you” to which my mother replied “No, i only try to choke you.” After continued attempts, she snapped out of it and the woman was gone. The dream ended when I was walking around a corner in the pitch black building. I jolted awake but could still feel the hands around my neck. Im terrified yo fall back asleep as this is the second time ive dreamt this dream. Not sure how to take this dream.
Hi Lauren, what an interesting dream! Unfortunately I am no longer able to help out interpretating your dream 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 once this is in place. Best regards – Michael
i dreamt that my ex roommate was screaming at me to give him his papers, then he started strangling me.. as he was strangling me i was trying to crawl away and get somewhere for help. (when he moved out it was not a pretty situation and we did not split up as friends, he moved in with another woman and altho she kicked him out 4 months later we are still not friends… we had purchased a truck together and he took the truck and has been hiding it from me…. we have talked several times and it never ended well. )
Hi Karen – 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
I had a dream that i was being strangled by a man…no eyes…no mouth…only blood coming down his face…it was do real that i woke up gasping for breath…who and what is it?
Hi Daniel – what a scary 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 last night where I entered an dark bedroom with only a bunk bed inside. I couldn’t turn on the light and when I did try to it didn’t work and I got worried. But I lied down on the top bunk and then it seemed like a ghost was strangling me and I tried to scream help. It felt like my mouth was moving but no words would come out. I woke up breathing very heavy and confused. I fell back asleep shortly and then the same exact thing happened again, except this time I knew it was coming. When I walked into that room I immediately got worried because I knew what was going to happen. I tried the light again to maybe save myself and it didn’t work. Even though I knew exactly what was coming I still lied and was being strangled again. I woke up and thought maybe I should have let it happen, I don’t know. Any help would be much appreciated, thank you.
Hi Justin,
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
So my boyfriend woke me up last night freaking out telling me he can’t breath and that I was choking him. He said in the dream, we were both laying there sleeping and I rolled over and had my arm on his neck. Then the weight of my arm grew stronger and stronger, he tried pinching me yelling at me and even hitting me cause he was being suffocated and right before his last breath he woke up. Thats the dream. My arm was around he waist when he woke me up.
Hi Alexis – 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
I was screen in my sleep it felt if someone was choking me I was yell help me help me an when I woke up my throat hurt what does this mean
Hi Nobleen – 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