[Lemon]

Usually if I remember my dreams I can easily identify how the dream relates to something I was thinking about that day, but last night I had a dream I can't figure out.

A couple things might have contributed to this. First, I haven't slept well for over a year. I used to be a good sleeper, but now have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. About three months ago I started taking Ambien. I've taken it every night sense then. Last night I didn't take any. I want to try to cut back on the number of nights I take it. I slept horribly and woke up about every hour. I know stopping the Ambien probably caused a rebound effect. Also, I had a headache all night.

Anyway, I had this dream that felt like I was in a violent video game. I don't play video games. The last time was probably a year ago when my work had a happy hour at Dave & Busters. I knew I was dreaming at the time, so couldn't have been fully awake or fully asleep. In the dream I was with my ex-H, but I think in the dream he was still my H or maybe a boyfriend. We were being chased by guys that looked like gang members with guns. The location kept changing (empty warehouses, gyms, roof-tops, alleyways) but each time these people would be shooting at us and we'd be shooting back and I was scared, but at the same time knew it wasn't real. The dream never really ended I finally just got up at 5am.

Sorry for the long post...any ideas what the dream might have meant?

[Perna]

Ah, gang theme! I had dreams with them and Mafia, spies, etc. I once had a modern army company in the woods where my section was allied with a Robin Hood, Medieval sort of outlaw!

I think they're related to "control" and policing/safety in your life? Are you a bit more worried than usual? I don't know about your relationship with your ex-H but maybe he was controlling (opposite of those chasing you all) so I'd say it was just an Ambien anxiety dream :-) trying to "balance" your desire for control and safety with feelings like you're out of control in some emotional sense?

[ECHOES]

Maybe it's about it needing play and intimate relationships back in your life, but it feels dangerous to let that happen.

[Lemon]

Echoes & Perna - thanks for your thoughts on my dream. Both interpretations seem possible to me. I did feel controled by my ex-H and have a strong tendency to want to control things in my life. Also, I'm finally to the point (recently gone back to T) that I'm beginning to recover from my divorce and i'm ready to think about living a little again. (note - I just thinking about going out and having fun, not actually doing it. LOL)

I'm going to try and not take the Ambien again tonight and see what happens. I fought the urge to take a nap today. I had even gone to yoga in the afternoon which sometimes relaxes me so much I come home and sleep, but I drank a bunch of diet coke and took a walk instead. Maybe that will help me be sleepy enough tonight to actually sleep.