last night i had an awful dream ....

i was at school and desperately trying to get everything together because i was leaving ... just when i thought i had everything packed in my bag there'd be something else ... my mother came to pick me up in a strange looking car with a friend of hers ..... they took me back to the old house i used to live in with my mum and dad before they split up.... my little lhasa apso dog who we lost 2 years ago was there along with the dog we have now.... i wanted to stay with my dad but she wouldn't let me and told me to pack up the stuff from my bedroom.... again there was so much stuff, she was getting impatient and my dad came home crying ....he didn't want me to leave.... i felt this deep sadness, i didn't want to leave him, i felt guilty and started crying, my mother just told me to get over it and get in the car not even allowing me to get the rest of my stuff, she made me leave the dogs and my dad behind ..... these dreams always happen in the house i lived in when the worst abuse was going on ...... my t says houses represent yourself in dreams .... it just really upset me .....

Jin x

[CedarS]

(((((((jinnyann))))))))

I have difficult dreams too sometimes and they sure can leave an emotional hangover. I've learned that the best thing to do is to take real good care of myself and give myself plenty of time.

Best wishes to you.

(((((((((((((((((CedarS)))))))))))))))

thankyou hon, it's 4.45am here .... therapy later .... no sleep before therapy lol ...... therefore no night terrors either .....

hugs, Jinny xoxoxoxoxoxo

[SpottedOwl]

Hi Jinny,

I saw your dream, and my mind perked up -- there are some interesting patterns in the dream. Allow me to share my reaction to your dream...

I see a theme of leaving -- first you are leaving school, then you are leaving the house. In each case, you are asked to leave before you are ready (before you have everything packed.)

Although many dream dictionaries will say that houses represent ourselves, I often find it useful to think of houses or places as representing states of mind. So, for me, school would represent a place of learning and opening to something new. An abusive house from my childhood might represent feeling out of control (like being a child, we have to rely on adults to help us.)

The other thing I noticed, is how guilty you felt having to leave your father and your dog. As a child, we have to do as our parents say. Although I can certainly understand feeling guilty -- I also see a child doing the best she can in a very difficult situation.

What would you tell the child in the dream, if you could talk to her in the light of day?
Maybe you would give her a hug and tell her she did the very best she could, and that you love her no matter what. Maybe you would tell her that her father being sad is not her fault?

I find sometimes 'daydreaming' different endings to difficult dreams helps me.
I feel the pain of the dream, and my heart sends compassion.