My experience with dreams/nightmares is a bit different, because I just had one that kept recurring and it was filled with horrifying symbolism. I would wake up with extreme fear and not be able to shake it. I never did find a way to ground i, I just had to live through it.

But you might be sleepwalking. I've had that too, but for me I don't end up with bruises, I just tend to hide knives in odd places (knives were used against me in my childhood trauma, so there's probably a connection.) I hope for you that your experiences now aren't too alarming. It's probably your psyche trying to work things out and express pain. My best advice is to keep faith in yourself and not let your dreams traumatize you more.

Be well,

mtd