Verified by 
Dr. Deirdre Barrett of Harvard University has noted broad new patterns of dreaming that expose anxiety, fear, and uncertainty about the pandemic. She observes, “I’ve just seen dozens and dozens and dozens of every kind of bug imaginable attacking the dreamer. . . . When we say ‘I’ve got a bug,’ that means ‘I’m sick’ and ‘I’ve got a virus.’ . . . I see every other bad event possible being plugged in as a metaphor for the virus.”
But today the anxieties have shifted, with many dreamers feeling uneasy about going back outside. Barrett now remarks: “Dreams mirror people’s fear about going back to work or school as states gradually roll back restrictions. . . . Basically, they’re about the workplace, or school, being as scary as an infectious environment.”
Jennifer’s Dream
I was standing on a high platform between two bodies of water, the bay and the ocean, and for some reason I had to jump into the ocean side with my clothes and my bag on.
I went to jump off (before my parents woke up, so they couldn’t see) and I jumped, but my bag got stuck on the platform. I had to go back and climb the platform and jump again, except this time, while I was jumping, I had to grab my bag that was hanging off the ledge.
Then, in a separate dream, I met you! I was waiting in line for a bus, and you were standing there! We casually hugged and I said “OMG! OMG! I’m so happy we got to meet.” And you said, “I’ll be back.”
The Discussion
I asked, “How did you feel for the first jump?”
Jennifer offered, “I was anxious and scared, running and trying not to show I needed my bag because my weed was in it!”
“Oh!” I responded, “How about for the second jump, when you had to jump and grab your bag at the same time! Did anything change?”
Jennifer answered, “I needed to get the bag! Inside, I was feeling frustrated because I had to do it again, but also, I needed to do it quickly, because I needed to be sure I had my bag with my weed before anyone saw it!”
“Okay,” I continued, “let’s bring in the second dream. How did you feel in this part?”
Jennifer said, “I was so excited to see you, but then I felt, ‘OMG! How did she come to New York and not tell me?”
I said, “So, there was a change in your feelings. How did you feel once you realized that I was in new York City and hadn’t told you?”
“I felt excited at first, followed by disappointment, but still happy to see you.”
I offered, “Jennifer, I think we may be looking at a situation in your life in which your feelings have movement. Did you start something that made you feel anxious and scared, then frustrated?”
Jennifer made a connection: “I think this is about me going out now that New York City is back. I’ve been anxious about going out, after all this time of staying in.
“In fact, yesterday I brought my dog Coco with me, but then I had to bring him back home because the streets were way too crowded. That was very frustrating.
“Coco comes with me everywhere. I’ve been with him all year. Last night, I left him home because it was too hot for him, but I felt anxious doing something with my friends without him.”
I observed, “Now I understand you having to take ‘the jump’ twice. It was reflecting the two times you were out and anxious before the dream.”
Continuing with the symbols, I inquired, “Can you tell me what comes to mind about weed?”
Jennifer responded, “Weed makes me feel calm and free and like nobody is judging me.”
I noted, “Your associations to weed and to Coco are very similar, in that you associate both with calm and a freedom to relax. In the dream, you leave your weed behind while you jump, which mirrors the situation when you left without Coco. It’s like saying you left your calm and freedom behind when you started going out.”
Jennifer connected, “Yes! Everything is turned around. I used to hate being home, and suddenly, home is where I feel the safest! Now going out is worrisome!”
Finally, I asked, “What personality traits come to mind when you think about me?”
Jennifer said, “I think of motherly and open. I am not afraid to share things with you. You are comforting, and I also think you’re funny!”
I repeated Jennifer’s words back to her. “So, it is the motherly, comforting, and a funny aspect of yourself you are hugging in the dream. Perhaps you are allowing yourself to be closer to the part of you that can treat yourself kindly, as opposed to harshly.”
What We Can Learn
Everyone is adjusting to being out and about, after being shut-down for so long. Dreams can help you recognize your feelings and manage the adjustment.
Jennifer dreamed of me as someone “motherly and open,” comforting and funny. My appearance in Jennifer’s dream helps her embrace the calm, loving, non-judgmental part of herself to carry her through change.
This internal acceptance does not prevent feelings of disappointment, as Jennifer experienced in her dream. However, it can help you remain “still happy” through the stress and anxiety of transition.
