Dream analysis can be used as a powerful tool to uncover subconscious thoughts and psychological insights. Discover some possible meanings of dreams about vomiting or throwing up in a dream, through the lens of psychology.
Key Information
- Vomiting in a dream is often symbolic, and tied to feelings in real life.
- Dreams about throwing up may be a message from your subconscious to attend to issues in your waking life which are creating emotional conflict.
- Facing up to the issues brought up by these types of dreams may be what is required to stop such dreams recurring.
- Recurring nightmares can be viewed as a portal into the mind, serving a significant role in personal insight and facilitating emotional well-being.
Interpretations of Vomiting in a Dream Are Suggestions
As established in our post about the psychology of why we dream, there are several credible theories around the phenomenon of the dream state.
One element that holds true across all theories, however, is that dreams are subjective and unique to the dreamer1. In this sense, dream interpretation itself, is open to interpretation. Also keep in mind that meanings can be influenced by cultural beliefs.
On this site, we aim to dig into the psychological significance of dream symbols.
If you’ve searched to find this page, you’ll be aware that many posts like this provide a biblical or spiritual meaning. Some people place great importance on dream content, believing them to be messages from the divine which carry a good or bad omen.
On this site, we stay away from mystical meanings and aim to dig into the psychological significance of dream symbols. However, it’s important to take any suggestions as just that – ideas – and pay attention to feel what rings true for you.
Possible Meanings of Throwing Up in a Dream
The dreaming mind is an undeniable mystery, however there are some logical approaches which enable us to begin to unravel meaning behind some dreams.
Firstly, it’s worth noting that not all dreams have significant meaning. Sometimes they can simply be the subconscious mind sifting through our experiences, filing away memories that are valuable, and discarding those which are not. So if you’ve recently had food poisoning or other physical health problems which have resulted in sickness, it’s possible dreaming about it means very little.
This is the most telling clue as to what your dream is about.
But other dreams do have deeper meaning and are worth greater consideration. In particular, those which recur or stay with us when we wake up and are hard to shake off because they evoke strong emotional reactions.
When attempting to interpret your dream about vomiting, think about your feelings during and after the dream – this is the most telling clue as to what your dream is about. If you’re able to pick out a situation in which those feelings are mirrored in waking life, you’re likely on to something.
Famous dream psychologists Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung believed that dreams are largely symbolic, and this idea endures today. With this in mind, let’s take a look at some common themes that throwing up in a dream may represent.
- Revulsion
When considering symbolic meanings for a dream about being sick, it could be tied to either the physical act itself, or the feelings linked to the act.
If you’re struggling to acknowledge a situation in real life, the vomiting dream symbol might be an attempt to bring your attention to it.
When we experience feelings of disgust, it’s very common to say, ‘it makes me feel sick’. It’s not a stretch, then, to suggest that some form of intense distaste in waking life, might show up in a dream as vomiting.
Perhaps you’re involved in a situation or relationship that is giving you the ick, or you feel repulsed by something taking place around you. If you’re struggling to acknowledge it in real life, this dream symbol might be attempting to bring your attention to it.
Maybe you’re aware of a toxic environment in your work place which you is bad enough that it makes you feel nauseous, yet you feel unable to call it out and it’s making you feel inadequate. Or maybe an insidiously unhealthy relationship in your life can no longer be ignored, but you’ve not felt strong enough to get out.
If anything in your real life is creating feelings of disgust but you’ve been too paralysed to act, it’s possible your dreams will symbolically reflect that sense of unease and inner turmoil. Finding the strength to confront the issue will provide an opportunity for new beginnings and a fresh start.
- Purging Negative Feelings
The act of vomiting is a physical reflex to eject toxic waste from the body2. It’s a literal and forceful bodily function, designed to quickly and efficiently remove unhealthy substances from the gut, and its violence is universally recognised as a purging action.
It makes sense then, that when processing negative emotions in waking life which we (subconsciously, at least) acknowledge are not good for us, we may dream of vomiting to represent the need to purge and release those feelings.
Once you’re able to properly understand what you’re truly feeling and crucially why, you’re in a far stronger position to start working through those emotions.
If this feels correct for you, then it’s worth examining the area in your life that’s throwing up those feelings (pun not intended, but I do love a pun so it stays).
First, try to identify the feelings – literally label them; this will help give you power over them. Next, consider where those feelings stem from, what the root cause of them is. For example, often underneath surface level anger, is hurt, or shame.
Once you’re able to properly understand what you’re truly feeling and crucially why, you’re in a far stronger position to start working through those emotions.
Once you’re able to do this, you’ll likely find that your vomiting dreams stop.
- Removing Toxic Influences
Another potential meaning of a dream about throwing up is that on a subconscious level, you know there’s something in your life which is not serving you, and which needs to be cast out to make room for personal growth.
When you reach the point of dreaming about the situation in such a forceful manner – it’s time.
Bad habits, unhealthy work environments, or toxic relationships, or even a value that you’re reevaluating could be reasons for this kind of dream. It might be that you’ve been in denial or simply unwilling to break out of your comfort zone to make the necessary change.
In this case, to dream of being sick can be a symbolic representation of ejecting the thing that is creating negativity in your life. When you reach the point of dreaming about the situation in such a forceful manner – it’s time (especially if it’s a recurring theme).
- Transformation
A dream about vomiting might also suggest a desire for transformation, the act of being sick symbolising a ‘cleansing of the psyche’.
This dream is likely about ridding yourself of something to make way for something better.
If you’ve been stuck in a rut in some area of your life and you’re feeling restless, this dream might represent your readiness to make an inroads towards creating change. Ejecting the things in your current situation which are holding you back will make space for your spiritual growth as you move into a new phase of your life.
You may have noticed a common thread in the above possible meanings. That’s because unless entirely random (possible but unlikely if you’re affected enough to be reading this article), this dream is likely about ridding yourself of something to make way for something better.
Common Vomiting Dream Themes
Interpretations can be nuanced and varied depending on the context of the dream. Below are some common themes and the ways their meaning might vary:
Dreaming of Throwing Up Yourself
As we’ve covered already, to dream of vomiting yourself is likely linked to a form of negativity in your life. The dream may relate to your need for an emotional release about the situation, or your unconscious acknowledgement that you need to expel the thing creating those negative feelings.
Use this type of dream as a wake-up call to assess your life choices and consider making positive changes.
Dreaming of Somebody Else Being Sick
It might be a warning sign to you to put some healthy boundaries in place.
If dreaming about yourself vomiting is indicative of negative energy in your own life, then dreaming about somebody else being sick might represent a recognition of or concern for difficulties they’re experiencing.
If their issues are beginning to impact you too, this dream might be a warning sign to you to put some healthy boundaries in place.
Dreaming About Cleaning Up Vomit
Cleaning sick up , whether your own vomit or somebody else’s is not a pleasant task. A dream of this nature may symbolise an unappealing task you need to take charge of. Perhaps there’s a difficult situation you’ve been avoiding handling because the thought of what’s involved is a source of stress or anxiety.
This dream might be the push you need you require to encourage you to handle your business before it creates problems.
How to Stop Recurring Vomiting Dreams
You may well find that your unpleasant dreams stop.
If you’re dreaming about throwing up regularly, you may be experiencing recurring nightmares.
Often, dreams with repetitive themes indicate unresolved issues or emotional turmoil which need to be dealt with. The dreams are your subconscious communicating this message to you, to encourage you to face up to the challenge in your waking life.
Once you do so, you may well find that your unpleasant dreams stop.
Interpreting Your Own Dreams
Dream analysis can provide valuable insights into the inner workings of your mind and emotions. You can practice being your own dream interpreter by keeping a dream journal.
Have pen and paper to hand beside your bed, so that you can write in it immediately upon waking. This will help you to record as many details as possible before you begin to forget them.
As well as noting down what happens in your dreams, be sure to make a record of the emotions evoked – this is almost more important that the events themselves. Look for parallels of those feelings in waking life, and this will provide somewhere to start making links between your dreams and their emotional connections with your waking life.
Sources
- Edwards CL, Ruby PM, Malinowski JE, Bennett PD, Blagrove MT. Dreaming and insight. Front Psychol. 2013 Dec 24;4:979. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00979. PMID: 24550849; PMCID: PMC3872037.
- Vomiting, healthdirect