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The father of dream analysis -

It is impossible to discuss the purpose of dreams without first mentioning Sigmund Freud, a 19th-century neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis.

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Sigmund Freud -

Indeed, it was Freud who first suggested that the things we dream about while we are asleep have real meaning and application in our waking lives.

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Pre-Freudian thinking -

Before Freudian dream theory, the general thinking was that dreams were just nonsense nighttime imagery and that they had no real meaning.

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Freud's work - As Freud worked on his own dreams and the dreams of his patients, he began to understand, and subsequently share with the world, the value of dream analysis.

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The status quo -

Nowadays dream analysts are much more common, and it is their general belief that dreams happen as a result of processing real-life experiences.

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The subconscious mind -

Whether it be to help build new perspectives or consolidate current ones, it seems that our sleeping minds work on our waking-life experiences overnight.

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Dreaming of tornadoes -

When it comes to interpreting tornado dreams, it is important to note that the unconscious mind works on personal experiences, so no individual experience is the same.

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Literal interpretation -

That said, people often think of tornadoes and extreme weather events in similar ways, so tornado dreams may represent actual feelings, rather than something symbolic.

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Anxiety about tornadoes -

For example, people who report feeling anxious about extreme weather events while they are awake may be more likely to dream about them as well.

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Symbolic interpretation -

For other people, dreams about tornadoes may have a more symbolic meaning. They could represent feelings of uncertainty or being out of control.

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Accessing the subconscious -

These feelings may not even be perceptible while you are awake. Indeed, a tornado dream could be your subconscious mind alerting you to a buried emotion.

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How does it make you feel? -

Another way to interpret and make sense of a tornado dream could be to focus on the way you feel during the dream, before, during, and after the tornado.

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No correct way to feel -

For example, in the dream you may feel positive after the tornado, perhaps it helped to clear your path and enabled you to make a fresh start.

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Coping with tornado dreams -

If you find that your tornado dreams are troubling you, there are things you can do to help deal with the anxiety that they generate.

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Recognition -

First of all, it is helpful to recognize and remember that dreams need not be interpreted literally; rather, they use symbolic imagery to convey themes.

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The role of symbolic imagery -

For example, if something scary like a tornado happens in your dream, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will happen in real life, or that you wish it would happen in real life.

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Complexity of the mind -

Instead, the dream is more likely to be a reflection of something much more complex and layered going on in your subconscious.

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Cultural recognition -

Indeed, there are plenty of cultures that believe certain dreams, such as teeth falling out, are packed with symbolic meaning. However, it is your interpretation of the dream that is most important.

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Dream journaling -

You may also find it helpful to keep a dream journal. Over time, this can help you to get a better picture of what underlying emotions you may be dealing with.

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When you wake up -

Try to write down the basic content of your dream as soon as you wake up. Take note of the storyline in as much detail as possible but without any reflection.

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Later in the day -

Later on, during the day, revisit the dream and try to look for the latent content (the deeper meaning and message of the dream).

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Identifying patterns -

By keeping a record of your dreams, you will start to notice patterns as your real-life stressors shift and your dream-life content changes.

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Be patient -

When working to interpret your tornado dreams, it is important that you give yourself time to understand and properly grasp the symbolism.

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Ask questions about the tornado -

When analyzing a dream about a tornado, first consider the tornado itself. Ask yourself questions about the size, location, and direction of the tornado.

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Ask questions of yourself -

Then try to ask yourself some questions about how this relates to your waking life. Consider whether it might represent something uncertain in your life. Or perhaps you yourself are the tornado, feeling out of control.

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Making the connection -

By asking detailed questions you will be able to link your dream better to your waking life. It takes practice, but it’s worth putting in the effort.

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No cause for concern -

Most of the time, bad dreams are nothing to worry about. If you only have them every now and again, it’s not worth giving too much thought.

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When to see a doctor -

However, if you frequently have repetitive and intrusive dreams that interrupt your sleep, it may be worth mentioning to your doctor.

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Possible causes -

There are certain medications and indeed medical conditions that can cause people to have vivid and troubling dreams.

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Further help -

If your doctor rules this out, the next step would be to speak a mental health therapist with experience in the field of psychoanalysis. They may be able to shed some light on what is causing your disruptive dreams. 

Sources: (Verywell Mind)

See also: The most common dreams by country (and what they mean)

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