Overwhelmed & crying in a restaurant

Date: 4/1/2024

I arrived at a restaurant alone. There was a very long line just to get to the front desk. They had lines set up already as if they are typically this busy. I waited for a while and finally got to the front. I asked for a table for one. They asked to see my ID, it was one of those places where you need prior approval to drink. I expected they’d either give me a bracelet or stamp my hand. “I’m sorry, this isn’t good enough,” the hostess told me. “There’s a new law, you need an actual driver’s license to drink.” I noticed my ID was one of those state IDs that specifically state that they are not licenses to drive. “That makes no sense,” I responded. “I’m 27, the drinking age is 21,” I argued. “Right, well you can drink at home but with the new law, you need a driver’s license to drink here.” I angrily grabbed back my ID. I didn’t care that I couldn’t drink but felt this new law did not make any sense. “Follow me,” she said while grabbing a menu. She hurried off into the huge dining area. There were so many different rooms and they were all completely packed. The hostess was hurrying very fast, and I eventually lost her. I looked around with great anxiety realizing I had no idea where to go, and so I went back to the host stand. Since I already waited in line, had my ID checked, and had a table waiting, I didn’t get back in line but instead just went up to the desk to ask for help. A man who had been off to the side immediately said to me, “Hey, what do you think you’re doing cutting? I’m first. I already have a table, I just have a really important question.” I wanted to explain that I wasn’t cutting and I already had a table too but he continued, “Today is not about you, okay? Shocker, I know. Today is MY day. You can’t get what you want all the time, today is one of those days where other people are more important.” I started hyperventilating and tears rose to my eyes, just as a host came back and called the guy up. I heard the guy ask the host calmly and pleasantly, “Do you guys close at 9?” I sat on the floor right there and started bawling, I couldn’t hold it back anymore.

AI generated interpretation This dream seems to reflect feelings of frustration, powerlessness, and being overwhelmed in the face of arbitrary rules and societal expectations. The setting of a busy restaurant with complicated procedures to follow can symbolize the complexities and challenges of navigating social situations and norms. The struggle to comply with the new law regarding the need for a driver's license to drink could represent a sense of feeling restricted or constrained by external rules that may seem nonsensical or unjust. The feeling of being denied something that should be simple and straightforward, such as having a drink at a restaurant, can evoke feelings of anger and confusion. The interaction with the other patron who accuses you of cutting in line and dismisses your concerns could symbolize feelings of being overlooked, invalidated, or not being allowed to prioritize your own needs and feelings. The patron's assertion that "today is MY day" and that "other people are more important" may reflect feelings of being neglected or pushed aside in favor of others. The overwhelming emotions that lead to hyperventilating and crying in the dream could indicate a buildup of stress or emotional tension in waking life that needs to be released. The inability to contain these emotions and the eventual outburst of tears may suggest a need to acknowledge and address these feelings in order to find relief and release. Overall, this dream may be highlighting feelings of frustration, powerlessness, and emotional overwhelm in the face of societal rules, expectations, and interpersonal dynamics. It could be a reflection of your subconscious processing feelings of being constrained or misunderstood in certain areas of your waking life.