What Does It Mean to Dream About Paralysis?

To dream of paralysis represents feelings of powerlessness or helplessness in some area of your life that is stuck the way it is. Feeling stuck or unable to react to problems in a desired way. You may feel unable to respond to a person or situation that is dominating or manipulating you. Noticing that nothing you do works or helps you. You may feel unable to deal with a situation or take action to change circumstances. A dominating figure in your life that doesn't allow you to make any decisions for yourself.

Alternatively, paralysis in a dream may reflect situations that have happened so quickly that you feel unable to react rationally. Forces against you were so strong and sudden that you could do nothing about them.

Paralysis dreams can often be associated with aliens, witches, or demons usually because they reflect how unusual or terrible the paralyzing factor in your life is.

Paralysis may also be linked to feelings of depression or overpowering illness. Feeling emotionally paralyzed. Difficulties expressing your feelings. Feeling unable to end a relationship or speak to your boss about something. Feeling inhibited.

Example: A man dreamed of being paralyzed on his bed. In waking life, he felt unable to do anything different while putting up with an ignorant friend who was using him. In this case, being paralyzed may have reflected feelings of his inner conflict between wanting to assert his independence and fearing the consequences of confrontation or loss of friendship.

Example 2: A woman dreamed of leaving a mansion where everyone living in it was paralyzed. In waking life, she stopped talking to her overbearing mother. In this case, leaving people behind who were paralyzed may have reflected the dreamer�s decision to free herself from the stagnant and emotionally restrictive environment that came with living with her overbearing mother.

Example 3: A man dreamed of being paralyzed as he tried to enter a bridge. In waking life, he was depressed about a change that was occurring. In this case, being paralyzed may have reflected the dreamer's inability to move forward during a significant life transition.

Example 4: A man dreamed of his arm being paralyzed. In waking life, he was experiencing sexual impotency and didn't like not being able to have sex whenever he wanted. In this case, his arm being paralyzed may have reflected the dreamer�s feelings of frustration with being stuck with an inability to be sexually active.

Example 5: A man dreamed of seeing a man covered in black hair who was paralyzed lying on the ground in a petrified in a stone-like state. In waking life, the dreamer's father suffered brain damage from a coma and when he woke up he was unable to think or speak properly while being powerless to do anything except lose weight and become more mentally incompetent by the day. In this case, the man in a paralyzed state may have reflected his feelings about witnessing his father being stuck in a state of mental and physical decline.

*Please See Sleep Paralysis