[SerenitysWave]

<font color="purple">for over a week now I have been having horrible nightmares...some morbid..all very scary! I beleive it has something to do with the sentencing hearing a few weeks ago for the creep that abused her... anyway... there also was at the time a girl the same age as my daughter who was assaulted but murdered... it made national news.... and I feel so lucky that I am able to hug my children and enjoy my daughetrs smile and laugh despite what the creep did to her.....

anyway... so I feel it most likely has to do with that and the fact that just now am I processing what happened to my daughter... I had been focused on her and the family , keeping them comforted and put myslef on hold.... or maybe it has to do with fact that she is heading off to 7th grdae and I am terrified.... not normal parental fears, b/c I have other kids that are graduated and didnt feel like this... but my duaghter is delayed mentally, emotionally, socially, academically, etc.... i am afraid for her well being... and the school hasnt assured me that she is safe... and i just dont know....

these nightmares are keeping me up at night... some of them she gets hurt, some she dies, some are of the creep and his family being around....some are of my daughter being abused again....its is just horrible and no I do not have a dr right now and I know I need too.... we all need to... duaghter went to counseling but the rest of us didnt and we need to ....

and last night i was triggered as well as an alter.. and I have been doing well.... they ahve been pretty dormant and then all of a sudden a rush of instant depression, paranoia, urge to hurt, alter screaming adn scared...it all just sucks!!

anyway, not sure if i even had a question here just needed to express it and feel safe and here I know I can and am.... </font>

[(JD)]

Nightmares are indeed bad things. But, yes, it is your brain processing all those thoughts.

Try and "intend" to alter your nightmare, before falling asleep tell yourself she won't be hurt in any more, and then maybe you will change the outcome of the nightmare...

I'm glad you have been doing well. Sometimes things wait until you are in a good place before more processing is done. It isn't easy, but it's easier when that happens.

[vetswife]

I have problems with nightmares, vivid dreams all the time. I've learned to alter them by watching something funny on tv before I go to sleep and I keep channels like nick at nigh on all night. I sleep with the tv on so I don't dream or what is on tv winds up being in my dreams that's why I keep a benign chanel on. This works for me because I am a light sleeper and always sleep in REM, never am I in a deep sleep.

Just wanted to let you know what works for me.

And I am so sorry that this happened to your daughter, you should seek some counseling.

The best of luck to you and your family.

[Doh2007]

I'm so sorry you are going through this. Maybe you are suffering post traumatic stress.

[SerenitysWave]

<font color="purple">Thank you _Sky... I will give it a shot to try to alter the dreams... I have been able to do that in past on ocassion.... I have been praying too, which has helped some... </font>

[SerenitysWave]

<font color="purple">thank you vetswife.... I appreciate you sharing what helps you, it is something I am going to give a try... I have been able to in past alter dreams... I dont know if I am just too focused on it...all the anger and sadness... and knowing I cannot erase what happened and that forecer she will be effected... </font>

[SerenitysWave]

<font color="purple"> thank you Doh2007... i think so too.... prior to this I already been dealing with PTSD and this just added to that file.... I can see the positives and am blessed b/c it could have been a lot worse and I am thankful that I can see her smile.. and give her a hug... she is doing well... probably better than the rest of us... such a brave and strong little girl she is.... </font>