Physical Dream

I had a really hard time sleeping last night. Everytime I finally fell asleep, I would jump back awake. I finally fell asleep around 5a.m., and had a nightmare, and jumped awake ready to run.

It started out weird. I was at a resturaunt with some people, and they took forever to give me my order. Like an hour.
I got left behind, which really upset me. Then i started to go into the bathroom, but it was a different resturaunt, and it had an arcade. I was looking around, and i saw a group of men coming toward me. My first reaction was to turn around to run, but I wasn't fast enough. They cornered me. When I was looking for my escape route, I noticed that all of the other people in the resturaunt had disappeared. One of the guys knocked me to the group and got on top of me. He started touching me and getting ready to do more. I felt physical sensations, as if it was actually happening. That's actually what woke me up, that feeling. I jumped awake, panicking. Even after I woke up, I physically felt like someone had done those things to me. 😢 Now I just feel dirty and disgusting. I don't physically feel like it anymore, but still feel the aftermath, as if it happened. I cannot identify what the hell happened. Why did I physically feel what was being done in my dream?? This isn't the first time that has happened to me in a dream, but I still don't understand what this is. Has anyone else experienced this? Do you know why this is happening?

Hi,
You were under some stress when this dream happened.
The abe quote from your post indicates that you had a very stressful day before the sleep. I don't know what you do or your your personal circumstances, however these sleepless night usually happen after ahectic, stressful day. Unfortunatly stress also causes digestion problems and your nightmare wascaused by churning stomach with some hunger painns and acid flow.
The pain and churning,twisting stomach may feel like a rape or that is how your subconscious interprets the feeling.
What was your day like before the dream?

I work in the hospital. I was sexually abused as a child, just don't remember a lot about the specifics of it. I have been having sleep issues consistantly for months now. I jump awake in panic attacks. My psychiatrist seems to think it's from nightmares that my PTSD caused.

A couple days ago, I had an interaction with a guy at my work. He told me that I was gorgeous. He followed me and my friend to the break room to eat. I did not want him around, but felt trapped. I have never been in a relationship before because I'm terrified of intimacy. I don't want to be touched. I went into another world when that guy was there, talking to my friend and I. I completely shut down.

I processed this with my T today. I told her that I was afraid this was a flashback I had through a nightmare. She said that's always possible, but wanted to explore other possibilities as well. I was extremely shaken up because I physically felt what was done to me in the nightmare. I felt the aftermath, even hours after the nightmare. I still felt their hands on me. All I wanted to do was completely cover myself and hide. I did also find it possible that the situation with that guy at work caused me to have this nightmare. I know what it feels like to be sexually assaulted. It's possible the dream just brought up more about my abuse. I have nightmares a lot, I think b.c. of my PTSD.

Your mind was recalling your abuse. You mind is now letting you feel your feelings around that. This is a part of your healing.