[Tamster]

I had this crazy nightmare my shrink pushed me off a bridge! We have a good relationship but WOW what a rush! What's it mean?

[whatbeanbelieved]

I have some questions that might help.
1. The bridge is a part of you - what does it mean to you?
2. Are you coming to some kind of point in your therapy where you need to make a decision of some kind?
3. Are you making or on the verge of making any huge change?
4. What would you fall into when pushed off the bridge? What does that mean to you?

>_> Hope that helps!

[Tamster]

I was falling towards the water very fast! I was in the hospital (psych) when I had this dream the first time. It freaked me out, it wouldn't be like him to do that. I would more likely jump first.

[Perna]

I think water in dreams may represent the unconscious. I had a dream once where I was in a submarine in an underground parking garage, complete with not only water but bubbles

[medkev13]

The pushing is the reflection of your therapist urging you toward some sort of change or decision (WBB hit that nail on the head). The water may be subconscious like Perna said, or it may simply be the mind filling in a logical blank. A bigger question is Do you realize you're dreaming at any point between being pushed and when you hit the water? If so, this is your mind giving you the opportunity to become lucid and explore the depths of this decision in your subconscious dreamscape.

[Tamster]

No I don't realize at all at the time that I'm dreaming it seems so real it's like I wake up into it

[medkev13]

Is the fall frightening, or is it more exhilarating?

[Tamster]

Definitely frightening! I've had the same. Dream at least 3x and I always wake up gasping for breath like I can't get air

[medkev13]

Actually, the gasping for air may be part of the trigger for the image of being pushed. You may want to get checked for a sleep abnormality like sleep apnea or something similar. If you're stopping breathing while in your sleep it can have major negative effects on your health.

[medkev13]

Oh, and the fear can also be linked to a fear that you're getting bad advice from your therapist. This is a common fear generally speaking. Repeating the mantra that you can trust your therapist is a good way to start if you're sure there isn't a valid reason for the fear.

[Tamster]

Thanks but I have been checked, I worked in a sleep lab for 6 yrs we all got checked yearly, like a perk of the job and it helped us understand what our pts went through too. But I can see it as a trigger. I'm asthmatic also maybe that plays into it because the first thing I want is my inhaler.

[Perna]

I'm asthmatic too so know what you mean about waking and wanting the comfort of your inhaler. For me, being pushed/falling could have to do with being/feeling out of control. Is there any anger in your dream? I remember once I had a dream where I was in an airplane cargo area and the plane made an abrupt turn so everything fell to one side and I got really really angry that I couldn't help myself, had to fall and not be in charge of what happened to me or around me. It was a feeling like I get when I think something is "unfair".

Having someone else (your psychiatrist) push/force your hand so you had to go into the water; anything like that happening in your actual life, are you being forced to do things at someone else's say so that are otherwise scary to you, and maybe faster than you want, something like that?

[medkev13]

OOO! I hadn't even considered that perspective! Good eye, Perna!

[Tamster]

There was no anger in the dream at all but there is background to it. 2 weeks ago I almost jumped of the bridge myself and he put me in the hospital and I was unhappy about it. In the dream I was looking at him and I was going to jump but was afraid and he said "you need a push" and then I was floating towards the water rather quickly. When I told him about it he ask if I really thought he would do such a thing, I don't think he would he's to kind for that.

[Perna]

Hmm, very interesting. Could have been your self sort of telling you how he might have felt with you almost jumping. He probably wasn't very happy about that :-) to mirror your not being happy about his putting you in the hospital.

[Tamster]

Your probably right I know he was worried I can tell by his concerned facial expressions. I was too short to really jump off the bridge I was at and was so angry at myself for not realizing that before I went there. Maybe he was pushing me into the hospital not the water?