Dreams of drowning are notoriously unpleasant. Your impulse might be to forget they ever happened -- but these dreams of drowning may have a message for your waking life.

As a psychologist, dream interpreter and author of "The Alchemy of Your Dreams," I unpack recurring patterns and dream symbols.

Nightmares -- like dreams of drowning, snakes or teeth falling out -- carry with them powerful symbols, often mirroring your emotional, psychological or situational challenges. By exploring the underlying messages, you can use these dreams as a tool for growth and healing.

Drowning dreams often signify feelings of overwhelm and pressure, as well as the need for greater emotional awareness. Here's what to know.

Dreams about drowning can have various meanings depending on the dream's context and how you feel about the scenario within the dream.

Here are some common reasons why you may imagine yourself drowning in a dream.

Below, we'll unpack a few possible drowning dream scenarios. These may be more specific than what happens in your drowning dream. However, they can act as blueprints for how a dream could be interpreted, including breaking down the symbols and incorporating

This unsettling dream could signify the need to confront past emotional memories or experiences you've been avoiding. The dark water represents unconscious material or emotions you're not fully aware of. If left unaddressed, these emotions may overwhelm you.

Your dream is urging you to consciously examine your feelings and past experiences. Repressed emotions need a healthy outlet and processing them can reduce their weight on your psyche.

Water is a powerful dream symbol, representing everything from the unconscious mind to the fluidity of emotions.

In your dream, the boat represents stability and security. Its capsizing might symbolize feelings of instability in areas like finances, work or relationships. It could also indicate concerns about your physical well-being.

Emotionally, the dream reflects a sense of being on shaky ground, with the fear that an already precarious situation could take a sudden turn. To address this, consider discussing your feelings with someone you trust or taking pragmatic steps to improve areas of instability. Don't wait for the "boat to sink" in waking life.

This dream suggests a need to reflect on the depth and quality of your relationships. Shallow water may symbolize shallow or unfulfilling connections in your life.

Consider how you can invite more authenticity into your connections. The calmness you felt despite the fear of "dying" could represent the need to let go of outdated identities or haibts to foster deeper bonds.

The sky's colors, blue and pink, may symbolize the importance of clear communication, empathy and compassion in relationships.

This dream shows that although you feel overwhelmed, there are ways to help yourself. The life jacket symbolizes a lifeline, something that can keep you afloat.

Ask yourself: What can I do to support myself right now? This could be as simple as reaching out to a friend, addressing unpaid bills or starting a self-care routine like walking or exercising. While external circumstances might remain challenging, how you care for yourself can make a significant difference.

In dreams, tidal waves symbolize feeling completely overwhelmed or out of control. Tidal waves may also reflect fears of being engulfed by emotions or life circumstances.

This imagery aligns with the research of psychiatrist and dream researcher Dr. Ernest Hartmann, who observed that people who have experienced trauma often have what he called "tidal wave dreams." These dreams suggest a need to process intense emotions and release the associated psychological energy.

In dreams, basements often represent the unconscious or repressed aspects of the psyche. A flooding basement suggests that suppressed emotions or unresolved issues are rising to the surface, demanding attention.

Your dream shows that avoidance can lead to emotional overwhelm, but it also offers a solution: expressing your feelings in healthy ways. Journaling, dream work or therapy can help externalize and process these emotions.

This dream may be highlighting excess or indulgence in your life. While the dream begins with relaxation, it transitions into a warning about imbalance.

If you've been overindulging, consider scaling back and focusing on true self-care, which involves nurturing yourself in balanced and sustainable ways. Alternatively, if you struggle with guilt around pleasure, this dream may urge you to let go of shame and embrace healthy enjoyment.