In the case of seeing a tornado in the distance, Loewenberg explains, you’re wondering if some real-life stressor (symbolized by the tornado, in this case) is going to catch up to you. If the tornado is actively striking in the dream, she notes, you feel like you’re in the thick of it in real life, in terms of what’s stressing you out. “Ultimately, it comes down to worry, right? The subconscious chooses particular imagery, and the tornado has the spinning effect—so things are spinning out of control in your psyche,” she explains, adding that the tornado itself is a visual of the destruction of your own peace of mind. “Stress is destructive not only to your well-being but to your everyday life because when you worry, it’s hard to get things done and it’s hard to focus on what needs to be focused on. So, the subconscious is very wise in the way it gives us visual imagery,” Loewenberg tells mbg. She also notes that the size and number of tornadoes are worth paying attention to as well. A handful of small tornadoes, for instance, might indicate a few things are nagging at you, while one large tornado would indicate one larger issue, and a dozen huge tornadoes…well, you get the gist. As therapist and dream expert Leslie Ellis, Ph.D., previously told mbg when we asked her about stress dreams, if we’re constantly ruminating or worrying every day, “this may also be the way we dream at night.” To that end, she highly recommends dream journaling, as well as mitigating stress when you’re awake. “Do make time to constructively deal with the sources of your stress. If there is a difficult conversation you need to have with a friend or family member, don’t put it off. If you are feeling unprepared for something, put in the time.” Additionally, Loewenberg notes, pay close attention to whether the tornado actually ever strikes. “What I’ve found with all the tornado dreamers I’ve worked with—and particularly if you’re just watching it—then that usually means you’re worrying about something that is beyond your control and may or may not impact you at all.” She adds that frequent tornado dreams are common in “worrywarts” and to that end, the answer may be finding a way to let go a bit. “Think of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz,” she says, adding, “Just ride out this storm of worry because like Dorothy, on the other side of her tornado was a magical place called Oz, and on the other side of yours is a magical place called peace of mind.”
