Nightmares Have Changed

[NicG]

For years I've had really vivid nightmares... not realistic ones but really seriously violent, horror-movie worthy ones. But they were never about real situations that I've actually been in. Some involved friends getting hurt or killed and they were really distressing.

But over the last couple of nights they've changed. They've involved my abuser and his family, I've had really vivid images of his and their faces screaming at me, attacking me... One involved me being in a room full of my friends when he attacked me, I was screaming out to them and could see their faces but they just didn't care enough to help me.. :/

I'm really confused. Why have my dreams changed all of a sudden? The really graphic violent ones stay in my head but at least they don't seem anywhere near as real. Is it a good thing if my brain is associating this fear I always feel with my abuser, or am I backsliding into a worse place?

 

[Faerie]

I'm somewhat new to all of this, so I'm no expert, but I've had similar changes in my nightmares. They used to just be really vivid dreams that messed with my sense of reality when I'd wake up and make me feel very upset for quite awhile, though they weren't necessarily violent or had to do with abuse. It was more like my mind needed to spazz out for awhile to process the craziness of my life so it would make me dream really bizarre stuff and then make me think it was real (if that makes any sense).

Then last summer something triggered me to realizing I am likely repressing memories of sexual abuse. I had always suspected it but I kept it in the back of my mind, but the trigger made me face the fact (I still don't remember details, but I know they'll all come in time).

That's when my nightmares became both very vivid, very violent, and much more clear/less bizarre. Usually someone gets brutally murdered in front of me and I'm helpless, though I can never see the face of the person if they're attacking me.

Is there maybe something recently that triggered you and you didn't realize it? I don't know if the changes in the dreams are good or bad, but I would go a lot on how you feel. Do these new dreams bother you more than the others?

 

[Abendroth]

@NicG Why do dreams change? Well it could be worth looking up psychology books about the Rem cycle of sleep and about dreams in those states. I'd say your subconscious mind is trying to point out an issue or you may possible be stressed about something unrelated that triggered it. Stress can cause chaos on the mind... In all honestly I wouldn't jump to the idea of your getting worse just let the dream pass if it does and try to work out ways to settle down some emotions if your stressed. Emotions in dreams can be very intense and nerve shaking when you wake up so try to take care of yourself and treat yourself to peppermint tea if that works for you. It helps me :)

 

[NicG]

@Faerie I think at the time I was rather stressed. They've taken another turn recently since another bout of anxiety hit me. It's interesting to know that similar things have happened to someone else, and I like the idea that it's just my mind processing. I guess that means progress can be made in coming to terms with your trauma and working through it?
True the new dreams bothered me a lot more but at least the source of my unrest had a face/reason to it?

@Abendroth Thanks for saying it doesn't necessarily mean things are getting worse. That makes me feel better. It probably just is stress, there's some unrelated stuff going on so that could be it! Time to do some research on Rem/dreams I guess. I've heard peppermint tea is good for calming the nerves, I should go out and get some and try it out, thanks!!

 

[BananaSockMuffins]

I had this happen to me on Sunday... Normally my nightmares are really vivid and itense and make me feel really upset for awhile after but they've never been about the sexual abuse. Sunday night I had one that was and it totally threw me. I'm hoping this doesn't become a pattern. It freaked me out that this happened all of a sudden.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I used to have terrible, horrible nightmares for many years.

But as I got healthier the dreams began to change and I became more empowered in my dreams.

I still get the occasional nightmare but I am on Risperdone which makes me forget my nightmares.

I have never had nightmares involving my abusers. The nightmares were so bad they haunted me the next day. I agree do research and find out all you can about nightmares.

I wish you the best. Hugs.

 

[NicG]

@BananaSockMuffins Glad it's not just me. Mine have for the moment gone back to their usual, if slightly more intense. I'm noticing that it's happening a day or two after I've been crazy stressed.

@gizmo , interesting that you became more empowered as you got better. That's encouraging, thanks for sharing :)

 

[Shatteredpan]

My first instinct is that you might be get ready to confront some of the issues from your abuse, but yeah... I dunno your story or how far along in your recovery you are, I could be way off base.

 

[Ladyghosthunter]

Absolutely! I remember all of my dreams and they are always in color. My dream was about my childhood house and I was standing in the middle of the road at night. My feet were glued to the ground or I was standing my ground. I knew my childhood abuse was in the house I was looking at and I knew that Satan was there. I started speaking in Latin and he said in a sarcastic tone, "How cute."
I guess he didn't realize who I was and had to turn on the light!!! I wasn't scared of the evil that was there. He wanted me to be scared because of the abuse I suffered in that house. It was a healing process for me to stand my ground as I was confronting a situation that I needed to and I did. Finally, I put the younger childhood abuse behind me and now need to work on the other abuse I suffered as an older child.