dreams of being abused

I have had a reoccurring dream since I was a young child that I was sexually abused. It started out as my dad and then he changed and looked like someone else. I don't ever remember being abused as a child. I remember a LOT of happy memories from growing up. My parents did get divorced when I was 4-5 years old. That's the first bad memory I have. Could this just be a dream or is there something else to it?

Hi Eternity122983. Have you considered hypnosis? That may help you to remember things that may have happened.

Piraeus

I have had this same experience and it is awful. I also have flashbacks but very seldom. In these dreams and flashbacks I was being sexually abused at a very young age...2 or 3 years old and pre-verbal somewhat. Still, it haunts me and I would like to try and work through it instead of repressing it. I certainly can not tell you if you were abused or if it's a dream. For me, I know in my heart that it happened and it was my Dad. I am going to a hypnotist when I get up the nerve.

I have also had these dreams recurringly over the last several years. Mine always involves my brother abusing me and when i try to get help from my parents they just ignore me or tell me they cant help.

Obviously these dreams are incredibly troubling with high anxiety, stress, & emotions.

Often I will spend the dream running and hiding from my brother. Occasionally my mom helps me run. My father never does.

I dont think that i was ever sexually abused. I just think its a way for my present anxieties or unresolved past family problems from my childhood to surface.

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It's hard to know whether a dream represents a memory. You have to be careful. The safest thing to do is to stay on the level of "what the dream means to you," in other words exploring how it relates to present-day feelings and thoughts. If it's past trauma that is unresolved, the effect of that is sure to come up in the present, so you are not ignoring it.

We might be able to say more if you feel comfortable describing in a bit more detail what actually happens in the dream. Only if you are comfortable.

Dreams are more symbolic than literal..focus more on the symbolic meaning behind what is happening in the dream, the way it makes u feel..

I have been seeing a DV therapist. Over a month ago I was assaulted at work. Because I am having problems with where I am receiving meds my therapist suggested that I talk to someone else within the shelter who may have more resources. I did last Friday. I don't know why or how it came up but this dream that I've had since I was a child just came out. I had NEVER told anyone about. It started out as oral/hand job on my dad and then he turned into someone else. I'm not just saying this but I honest to God do not remember ever being abused by anyone growing up. I haven't started repressing memories until my early 20's. I know this from school and the therapist that a child doesn't dream something like this without being exposed to it. This is why I'm questioning this because I was never exposed to anything like this. I've never understood why I've had this dream and what it means. Suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

Thank you all for posting your experiences and thoughts. I take it to heart and I will pray for healing and strength for you all.

Wow, how terrible for you. My own dream usually involves my brother touching me inappropriately or him being on top of me trying to dry hump or have sex with me. It beyond disgusts me to even think about such a thing and Im feeling angry thinking about it.

Disgusting. But, that is the dream I usually have.

I almost always squirm away and run and hide and look for help before he can go further....bizarre.
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I would caution against using hypnosis, it's not the best way to recover memories and would stop you going to court if you ever wanted to as it's not admissable evidence.

Psychotherapy is a better idea.

Yay for tinyrabbit for pointing out the big elephant in the little room of replies!

The abuse in the dream is a literal image for a double edged sword. Note that this would be the atypical translation, please. This is a very tender issue and is meant for you to relate to yourself as much as you see fits. It's -never- black and white...

The sword is basically attention. You seek a connection and attention from someone in your life. It probably is someone that reminds you of your dad or is something of a father figure in your life. But at the same time, it's also threatening to your subconscious, because you anticipate being hurt (this would be the abuse). What most dream experts agree on is that scenarios in dreams are often the oppertunity for the subconscious mind to play out something with the safety of not having to -actually- deal with the possible damages that come with the consequences. In your dream you seek out the attention from these men, and are allowed to face the possibility of being abused without it actually happening. Literally, facing your fears.

There is a second layer here, too. You are everyone in your dreams. So here you are facing your father, or some other man, seeking connection and attention with them. Carl Jung tells us that the goal in dream psychology is to connect with every part of ourselves and allow them to be part of us. It heals us, making our psyches more whole. Your male aspects are seen here as being antagonists. In the case of your dad, it would be some traits you see in both yourself and your father. Either way, there is this wanting to connect with that darker self. The key is to face it head on. Even in the waking world, you can sort of do this. You have to put yourself in that character's perspective, and ask why they do what they do...what they need and want...and why they feel they need to do it in a dark way. You may only get base answers, but this basic understanding can allow for the next dreams in the pattern to change, a little at a time. I had to do this with the angry part of me. It took four recurrences before a major change happened, but it was healing and I'm happier for it.

If there -is- an issue of this coming out of your past, I'd put my money on it being less about being abused and more about being taken advantage of - opening yourself up emotionally only to be cast aside or trampled on.