Let me preface this post: I have been through a lot in my life and am battling with post-traumatic stress. I am getting help with this, but the nightmares seem to be endless. Even in my sleep I cannot seem to get away from the storm in my head.

So...Last night was out of the normal flashback dreams and I'm not sure what to make of it.

I started out in a bubble floating in a room full of my former friends, all also floating in bubbles. The bubbles were held up by balloons. Mine was a red balloon, but every person had a color of their own. The walls, ceiling, and floor were all concrete, rough and gray. Each person was trying to get to the top where there were big trees. Not tall, lean trees, but thick, robust trees.

I floated up, then down, up then down. Then, seemingly out of no where, (and this is what has me befuddled) I started laughing. UNCONTROLLABLY laughing. The type of belly-laughing that actually hurts. The laughing became so loud and obnoxious everyone started floating toward me trying to pop my balloon. They just couldn't take my laughter anymore. And I could. not. stop. Funny, because I have not truly laughed in YEARS.

I awoke in a mini-panic attack, dripping in sweat.

Where do dreams like this come from???