I had recurring tornado dreams from childhood up until I left my first husband. In the dream, a tornado would come and I would go to the basement but the rest of my family would stand outside to watch it. Everything would be destroyed, my family would be gone, but I would survive and be all alone. After I left my first husband, I had the beginning of the dream but that time, the tornado missed our house and everything was fine. I haven't had a tornado dream since. My therapist and I agreed it had something to do with feeling that others were always controlling everything around me (first my dad, then my husband) but once I broke that pattern and I was in control of my own life, things were fine.
Lately, I've been having a recurring dream that I'm dating this really awesome man. He has been in several dreams now. Now I just have to meet him and things will be good
I have also had the dreams where I'm trying to run away but can't move or show up for an exam that I'm not prepared for. I think I get those when I'm feeling overwhelmed by things in reality.