The living entity is in distress regarding his self-identity. He has no factual background, like a man who dreams that he sees his head cut off.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
यदर्थेन विनामुष्य पुंस आत्मविपर्ययः । प्रतीयत उपद्रष्टुः स्वशिरश्छेदनादिकः
yadarthena vināmuṣya puṃsa ātmaviparyayaḥ | pratīyata upadraṣṭuḥ svaśiraśchedanādikaḥ
SB 3.7.10