[Shyguy88]

For past few months I have been having bad dreams of my ex-step dad who used to physically abuse me in my early teenage years. Though last night was a bit different, in the dream my arms were grasped real hard and then I was thrown and then my left side of my body impacted the wall and my left arm hurting. Shortly after when I woke up in the morning about to take a shower I noticed in the mirror a bruise on my left arm that wasn't there the night before, and my left arm has been hurting all day long and can't get that bad dream I had last night out of my mind.

[mtd]

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

[(JD)]

Sorry to hear you are suffering this way. Are you in therapy? If so, I would suggest slowing down discussion a bit. If not, then perhaps there is something IRL that is reminding you of this time of life, or you are ruminating over it?

Try and fall asleep at night thinking happy or fun stuff, past or FUTURE desires... that might help.

Sometimes, when "we" know that we're ready to begin to viewing the trauma, the brain gives us the dreams/nightmares to start working on it. But if it's too much to handle, try getting expert help. TC

[Shyguy88]

The only logical reason to how I woke up with the bruise yesturday morning was most likely from sleepwalking and having that dream around the same time. Because throughout my life sometimes when I'm sleeping I would be dreaming of something and act out the dream when I'm sleepwalking, it doesn't happen real often. And no I'm not in any therapy at the moment, I told my mother about my bad dream friday night, and also mentioned I've been having them for past 5 or so months and having them once or twice a week, sometimes more. The dreams strike at random, sometimes at night I try thinking of happy stuff and I'll end up having another bad dream.

[Irine]

humm.... can anything wake up a sleepwalker?
maybe you should try to do somehting with that skeep walking.....

i don`t know how much you believe in that and hiw much it helps to poeple who were badly abused, but i know thta just..dreams are just dreams. let them go? away?
like imagine you STAND still INDIFERRENT to it. maybe for your case it`s harder and almost impossible. it`s a trauma abuse and thus..i don`t know. maybe try it.

a therapy would help i believe

sorry for askiong...but..do you feel threatened?
scarry drams-something i have read-your mind makes them when something needs ettention. a kind of issue.
so maybe there are unsolved ussues here..sorry i don`t want to dig in too much..just trying to give a clue....
maybe it helps....

[Soidhonia]

Hello and welcome to Psych Central. I feel that you should try to get professional therapy, it can help tremendously. There is also usually low cost mental health treatment in every county of the United States, and low cost or free meds available if your Dr recommends medication. Take care Soidhonia

[cajun]

I feel your pain. Check your PMs.