Dreams of falling are far from pleasurable. Generally they cause a shock which awakens the dreamer. A superstition has it that if the dreamer falls to the bottom of the precipice, or whatnot, death will occur. This is fiction surely, the only point in its favour being that we cannot awaken a person found dead in bed and ask him if he has had a dream of falling; on the other hand, the superstitious cannot prove their belief. It is, of course, possible that hysterical or nervous persons may have such vivid dreams of falling that functional paralysis or weakness results.

The dream of falling may be associated with one of flying, coming after the latter; or it may occur independently. For example, a person may dream of flying pleasurably and then may suddenly fall; or he may dream of falling from a mountain top or other high place without any previous dream of flying. In dreams of falling we awaken always before we touch bottom; this is because we are on the road to awaking at the time of the dream and awake before its completion, or because the emotions excited by the dream are sufficiently strong to cause awakening.

There are many possible explanations of the falling dream. The usual explanation given is that it is related to the dream of flying, the difference being that in the former respiration becomes impeded and slower, and the numbness of the skin increased. Some interference with health may, at times, produce these changes. Jewell, quoted by Ellis,1 states that "certain observers, peculiarly liable to dreams of falling or flying, ascribe these distinctly to faulty circulation, and say their physicians, to regulate the heart's action, have given them medicines which always relieve them and prevent such dreams." Occasional dreams of falling are not to be considered of grave import, however.

1 The World of Dreams, 1910, p. 140. Houghton, Mifflin Co.

In not a few instances the dream of falling occurs just as one is going to sleep. As before stated, sleep comes on gradually, the muscles slowly relaxing and the senses becoming dulled. Many people on going to sleep experience the feeling of sliding down a hole, or an incline, and sometimes awaken startled. These persons are usually of a nervous type, though fatigue or slight deviation from good health may predispose to the sensation. It is possible, by paying attention to the sensations which are physiologically present in the hypnagogic state, to note the relaxation of the muscles and the sinking or sliding feeling accompanying it. Such attention is not advisable, however, when one is inclined to be impressionable or nervous.

The use of a firm, hard bed often prevents the sinking sensation of the hypnagogic state, and may thus prevent certain falling dreams. If the bed sags, it may add to the sensation of sinking as sleep is about to come on; or it may cause the sensation, with a dream of falling, when one changes posture in sleep. Persons troubled by disturbing dreams may occasionally find a remedy by obviating noisy window shutters, creaking bed springs, etc.

The sensation which we feel when awake of being drawn to the edge of the high building we may be on, or the giddiness experienced on ascending a high place rapidly, may have some role in explaining falling dreams. The chief explanation for these sensations in the waking state is a fall in blood pressure. In a dream one may re-enact a scene from actual life, especially if he has actually experienced the feeling of falling very distinctly. A fall of blood pressure occurs not infrequently during sleep, occasioned by slight physical disturbances; this fact may also explain some falling dreams.

Sometimes falling dreams are symbolic. For example, a woman dreams that she falls on the street and is unable to rise. Passers by either pay no attention to her, or frown upon her. Every woman knows the meaning of a fallen woman, and in some cases we are justified in thinking that such a dream indicates the unconscious thoughts of the dreamer; of course, we would not infer that the dreamer had any idea of becoming a fallen woman actually; merely, that thoughts concerning a fallen woman have, at one time or other, been in the mind of the dreamer.