What Do Nightmares Mean?

[purple butterfly]

I have just stated having nightmares every night. I have had ongoing trauma all my life. There is a lot I don't remember except through body memories. Before I go to bed I have been having a warm shower, lighting incense or using lavendar oil in a burner and having warm milk to try and settle myself.

My nightmares are not direct replays of trauma but often a mixture of events with usually one theme from one of my traumas.
Can any help me with the significance of these nightmares?
Is there anything that can be done to stop them as i find them extremely debilitating.

 

[Ted Moen]

It means you are doing good. Trauma has layers, and you have removed one layer and now thoughts and images and feelings from layers below are bubbling up. Of course they're uncomfortable and disorganized at first. It's stuff you've had buried a long time. Take notes. Discuss what you remember with your therapist. In time you will organize them in a way that you are comfortable with. Course then the next layer bubbles up :)

Ted

 

[purple butterfly]

Thanks Ted, it seems to like unravelling a ball of string or peeling an onion.

 

[Ted Moen]

I like to think of it as a ball of twine that has knots in it. Unravel/get comfortable/hit a knot ... work through the knot ... unravel/get comfortable/hit a knot ... work throught the knot ... ;)

Ted

 

[shell]

I have been having nightmares for the last 9 months, some were similar to my abuse, but most were involving me being killed in some manner or another. I recently had a session that was a dream analysis, that was really interesting, and gave new meaning to them. I'm not sure if helped me with the anxiety about them, but since I have not woken several times a night panicking about the dreams.
My husband says I'm still really restless and he can tell I still having bad dreams from the noises I making, but I'm not waking or remembering them any more, although I'm still exhausted when I wake. I'm just hoping it lasts.

 

[SimplyComplex]

My nightmares peak when I am in denial and trying to avoid feelings. Its like...every single time. T says I need to use it as a marker for when I need to focus on trauma stuff.

For me they dont often mean anything, but the feelings I am having will link back to what is bubbling up in my mind (but I am trying to avoid)

 

[shell]

My nightmares peak when I am in denial and trying to avoid feelings. Its like...every single time. T says I need to use it as a marker for when I need to focus on trauma stuff.

For me they dont often mean anything, but the feelings I am having will link back to what is bubbling up in my mind (but I am trying to avoid)

It's interesting you say that, I'm always trying to avoid my feelings.

 

[purple butterfly]

I think I am the same shell , I am an expert at avoiding my feelings. I am starting to try and listen to my body but it is difficult when you have never done that before.

 

[Froggie]

When you are starting to have nightmares about events that have been forgotten, it means that you are getting stronger and able to deal with this new information. Ted Moen has a great suggestion. Indeed, do take notes and talk to you T about these nightmares. They are sometimes coded and it takes an outside person to better understand what they are trying to say. I find you awesome that you realise you avoid your feelings. So this extra information will be more than precious for your T and yourself.

 

[SimplyComplex]

Doesn't PTSD kind of come from trying to avoid feelings? I think that is where it stems from. I think I read that people who have support and safety to express their feelings following a trauma are far less likely to develop PTSD then those who are expected to suck it up (or don't have any other choices due to circumstances). So we all sort of become experts at avoiding our feelings...but they always get out somehow. Nightmares, over-reactions, self damaging behavior, damaging our loved ones, etc.

Learning to allow feelings has been a big part of therapy for me. I can say that denial and avoidance is definitely at the heart of my PTSD issues.