[DePressMe]

Have you had a dream that has helped you? Even if it was scary.

I won’t go into too much detail about my dream, I’ll give you the quick version. There was a man who was keeping me trapped on a boat. He was abusing me and keeping me trapped there by mind control. Occasionally we were close enough to land that I could see people and one time there was a boatful of nuns. All I had to do to get rescued was to yell out and get their attention, but no matter how hard I tried, I could not yell.

I worked through this dream with my therapist. There were 2 major learning points in my dream. One, I do not see myself worthy of rescue. Translated into real life—I don’t take care of myself because I don’t see myself worth taking care of. Two, the abuse was my fault because I could have stopped it by yelling out. Translated into real life—I still blame myself for my childhood abuse.

During my therapy session, my therapist tried to help me come up with an alternate ending to the dream—instead of remaining trapped on the boat, she wanted me to envision being rescued. No matter how hard I tried, I could not think of an alternate ending—I just could not tell her about an ending that was positive—one that I believed. I don’t see myself as worthy of being taken care of and I could have stopped the childhood abuse—I could have told somebody, but I never did…so, it feels like it is somewhat my fault.

Anybody else do a little dream interpretation?

[bchlyn]

i have had a recurring dream since i was a child... it happened again this past week ... so it's pretty fresh ... the message i see in it is that people who seemed safe weren't ... and that i couldn't get away... i wasn't safe... i am planning on talking to my t about it this week if there is time... we are kind of in over load right now...lyn

[chaotic13]

I don't remember my dreams often, just mostly physical sensations. However for about a month after I first started exploring my past I was having a lot of nightmares. I would awakening in the middle of the night full of fear. Heart racing, shaking, tingling up the spine, etc. I would have to get up pace the house in order to shake it off and settle back down. This happened for like at least once a night for like 2 weeks. I couldn't really describe what the dreams were about--just a total sense of fear. One morning as I drifted a wake I realized that I was repeatedly triggering myself into a state of fear and then bringing myself back down again. I woke up thinking "holy crap I'm practicing settling myself in my sleep." I don't know if I was just dreaming this practice session or if I was actually mentally practicing raising then lower my anxiety level. Whatever it was, it worked. I stopped having the nightmares after that morning. I've experienced milder forms of nightmares intermittently since but not nearly as intense.

[Kiya]

De, my jaw kinda hit the floor with your post...
last week i had a very similar dream and took it to T and we processed it.

I was on a boat (!) with a man trying to harm me with a razor to my throat. My mom was also there but did nothing. I escaped out the window and into the forest park. There, 2 animals helped me escape to the national forest... it was a chipmunk and a money.

T said this was a very helpful dream because I escaped and the animals helped. She wanted me to focus on the help. Well, next day I had dinner with friends who were grilling me for my interview in the morning. One is very very short and talks fast (reminds me of that chipmunk) and the other told us about her new job where she is (you guessed it) "an office monkey". I sat there grinning from ear to ear. I did well in my interview - no matter what the results are. Oh and i do feel like my current job is "killing me" with an overbearing boss who scares me. Kiya

[bchlyn]

kiya when will you hear about the job you interviewed for?... did you contact the temp service to see if they could find you a different position so you don't have to work in that situation?... be safe...lyn

[Kiya]

=( No - i actually talked to my Rep tnis morning and I didn't tell her how work is... i couldn't bring myself to. The Rep knows this woman is "eccentric" and "really likes her" and... i ... just couldn't say anything. After today again, i was really close. I can't stay there... and yet, i need work!

Hmmmmmmmmmm... so maybe my mom in the dream (who did nothing) is really the me who won't stick up for me and stays in this job due to fear?! But i really need work. I can't pay rent and I had to borrow money just to make my car payment.... not to mention the heap of bills waiting for me (like my health ins).... and car ins is right around the corner.... actually, same day as taxes. heh. *hyperventalating.*
So i stay in the job and apply for everything else. Maybe that is my "window". I don't think i'll get that job, but I applied for a teaching position that I think I will like a lot better and I am not nervous with kids like I am adults. I keep trying to get away from kids so i can stay well - but i end up in kid jobs, it's fun, i like that they learn what i teach them, and i feel in charge of that situation vs. an office position where i feel l ike a well trampled mat.