If someone is punching you, then the dream is highlighting your helplessness and powerlessness in some waking situation. To dream that you are unable to throw a punch indicates that you are feeling helpless. You may have self-esteem and confidence issues. The dream may also be due to REM paralysis. Similarly one may ask, what does it mean when you can't fight in a dream?
Dream meaning: Fight Dreams involving fighting with someone close to you may reflect unresolved anger toward that person. If, in your dream, you are unable to fight or feel weak - for example you try to punch or strike your opponent but you have no strength, it may reflect feelings of helplessness.
Additionally, what does it mean in a dream when you can't move? Dreaming of being immobile or immobility (whether the dream was a nightmare or not) can mean that you have a feeling in your waking life that things are not under your control at all and you really don't know what to do. If the immobility is forced (rather than a choice you have made) then look at paralysis.
Similarly, you may ask, what does being attacked in a dream mean?
Being attacked in a dream is not usually about wanting to hurt yourself or others, but can be about your own unresolved internal conflict. They can disturb with their violence, but attacking dreams often show a way to peaceful resolution. But attack dreams can give insight into your relationships.
Why can't you punch hard or run fast in your dreams?
When you sleep your body temporarily becomes paralyzed. Perhaps the reason we can't punch hard in our dreams is because while we're dreaming we can't really move our bodies (a normally functioning person at least). Maybe our brains are aware at some level that we can't move and it's reflected in the dream world.
Related Question Answers
Why can t we hit hard in our dreams?
There are two schools of thought about “can't hit” dreams. The first says that, because the body actually is paralyzed during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep (so we don't act out our dreams), the dreams really reflect physical feelings of paralysis. Why can't I remember my dreams?
Remembering dreams “And, if our need to dream is any indication of the brain participating in a restorative process, our inability to remember our dreams may simply be due to the sorting of essential and nonessential information during sleep.” What does it mean when you win a fight in your dream?
To dream that you are winning in a fight is a positive sign indicating your resilience and perseverance in the midst of a difficult situation in real life. Why do my punches feel weak in a fight?
The primary reason is adrenaline. Adrenaline prepares you for a fight by turning your survival mode on. So your brain doesn't let you feel the intense pain that you normally would feel when you punch someone. So because you don't feel the pain in your hand, you automatically think you didn't hit your enemy hard enough. What is it called when you cant wake up from a dream?
Sleep paralysis locks a person in a weird state between waking and dreaming, where they can't move but might experience odd hallucinations. These bizarre experiences are known as sleep paralysis, a diagnosable and fairly common sleeping disorder. Why do I punch in my sleep?
Kicking or punching during sleep may be caused by smoking, head injury and pesticide use. People with the disorder, called REM sleep behavior disorder, do not have the normal lack of muscle tone that occurs during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, causing them to act out their dreams. What does it mean when you punch someone in a dream?
If you dream of punching someone or something, you may have some hidden anger or aggression within you. It is also thought to show power- that you can draw strength from deep inside you- power you never knew you had. If someone was punching you in the dream, perhaps you are feeling helpless or powerless right now. What does it mean to dream about someone chasing you trying to kill you?
Chase dreams are one of several common dream themes, stemming from feelings of anxiety in your waking life. The pursuer or attacker who is chasing you in your dream may also represent an aspect of yourself. Your own feelings of anger, jealousy, fear, and possibly love, can manifest itself as the threatening figure. What does it mean when I dream of someone trying to kill me?
In most cases, when you dream of someone trying to attack you, kill you, or anything else, it is related to issues of control in life. In some cases, even if you feel you have complete control of your life, you still might have an attacking dream. Can dreams come true?
Dreams can come true in real life. There are two types of dream one which you see consciously and one which you see sub consciously. Eg you dream to be first in exams and you are working hard on it, this will definately fulfill your dream. Fulfillment of Type 2 dreams depend on the intensity of your sub conscious mind. What does it mean when you are being hunted in a dream?
Dreams of being hunted is an obstacle dream, that you are trying to run away from something in life. This dream is rather common and you may wake up with many questions of why this dream occurred. If you dream of hunting animals then this indicates that you feel like you are being hunted down by a situation. What does it mean when you dream about animals attacking you?
Dreaming about being chased or attacked by an animal can indicate built up anger that is trying to release itself from your unconscious mind. Dreaming that a particular animal is chasing you can represent an aspect of yourself that you are trying to run away from. What does it mean when you dream about someone trying to kill your family?
Similarly, dreaming about a family member being murdered means that you are trying to put something to a stop. It might be that you are trying to end ties with a family member that got you pissed off, you might be trying to end your career life or you can as well as be trying to end a relationship. What does it mean to cry in a dream?
Crying in a dream is an indicator that you are in some expression of grief or mourning. If the crying in your dream is because of someone's actions, it could be associated with a character trait that is within you or an emotional process in life - which is very powerful. What does it mean when you dream of someone sexually harassing you?
If you dream that someone has sexually assaulted or harassed you, that person may represent someone who is dominating you in waking life. If the person in the dream is someone you know in waking life, the dream might be a warning that this person is a threat to you. Can you die from sleep paralysis?
Sleep paralysis cannot directly cause death. The experience itself is scary, but it can't just randomly stop your heart like in Death Note. There's no need to dwell on such grim matters since you know that a horrible experience such as sleep paralysis can't cause death. What triggers sleep paralysis?
Sleep paralysis is most likely to occur during adolescence. Episodes last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Stress, jet lag, sleep deprivation and panic disorder may trigger it. An inability to move or speak is an essential feature, and there may be hallucinations. What causes sleep paralysis demons?
The sleep demon is actually a hallucination linked to sleep paralysis, which occurs when a person is jolted awake in the middle of the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep associated with dreaming. You wake up but your brain is still dreaming — and it's projecting your nightmares into the real world. What is the name of the demon that sits on your chest?
The Old hag is the name given to a supernatural creature, used to explain the phenomenon of sleep paralysis. It is a phenomenon during which a person feels a presence of a supernatural malevolent being which immobilizes the person as if sitting on his/her chest or the foot of his/her bed. What is the sleep paralysis demon?
The sleep demon is actually a hallucination linked to sleep paralysis, which occurs when a person is jolted awake in the middle of the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep associated with dreaming. You wake up but your brain is still dreaming — and it's projecting your nightmares into the real world. Why is sleep paralysis so scary?
The reason why sleep paralysis is so scary is not just because you will suddenly become alert but realize that you are, in fact, unable to move a muscle or utter a sound, but also because this experience is often — as in the case above — accompanied by terrifying hallucinations. What demon causes sleep paralysis?
The Demon on Your Chest and Other Terrifying Tales of Sleep Paralysis. Henry Fuseli's "The Nightmare" may have been inspired by the chest-crushing sensation and hallucinations of sleep paralysis. Can sleep paralysis be caused by stress?
Stress and anxiety may also be linked with a person's likelihood to experience sleep paralysis, the review found. And several studies found a link between sleep paralysis and regular nightmares. "It could be that stress causes sleep paralysis, but equally that sleep paralysis leads to stress," Gregory said. Can you have sleep paralysis with your eyes closed?
Whereas if it happens while waking up, it's called as 'hypnopompic' sleep paralysis. Because unlike the visuals in your dreams which occur when you're deep in sleep and your eyes are closed, these hallucinations occur when your mind is alert and eyes are open. 
