Hi Celtic, it's amazing how powerful and real dreams/nightmares can be!! And so not easy to detach yourself from the feelings you have in them when you're awake.
But (and I know there are plenty of interpretations out there) you can always try to put your own twist on interpreting them to help you if you can e.g. keep telling yourself that what the urges wanted/want to do you've done and your mind has allowed you to do that in a "safe way"...........while you were asleep. Your mind/you have just protected you just a bit from "reality" by doing that in a dream.
Or even try telling yourself that the cutting in your dream/nightmare may be more so a representation (not as actual cutting......but) of you cutting away the pain in your life by reaching out for help, by fighting the issues you have.
Lots of different interpretations you might be able to come up with
So when "those feelings" are following you around after a nightmare....allow yourself to try to think that you don't necessarily need to feel them.
May sound weird, but if it can help just a little............
And really good that the urges aren't as strong as they were yesterday. There may be bad days but just remind yourself there will be "better days" too.
Alison