Not Nightmares But Still Disturbing.

[RussH]

I have been having dreams for the last couple of years, and never really considered them nightmares. I don't wake up screaming, or filled with terror, just mildly triggered.

My usual dream is running into former co-workers and getting triggered by seeing them.

The other night I had a dream that really bothered me. It did not involve my former workers, or anyone that I know. I was in the grocery store, and spilled my groceries. A young boy (6ish) came over and helped me pick them up. I thank him and praised him for his thoughtfulness in helping me.
He turned and left.

As soon as he left an elderly lady in one of the motorized carts some grocery stores provide just lit into me, and started berating me for not being thankful enough. I don't know what all she said but apparently it had something to do with me not giving him a tip.
I became angry and yelled back at her. This is something I would not do.

I guess the reason this dream really bothered me is because it triggered me to the point that I was bothered by it all day, and still am, but also I just don't understand the dream and what it means.

 

[maelstrom]

Yes, dreams are weird, and sometimes the emotions you feel in them are so real that they affect you even when you are awake. Sometimes I think people should consider these emotions more seriously, because they are real emotions (or aren't they? if they aren't, what are they really?), and they can be really painful too.

 

[Rosewater]

This is a guess and is a little literal, but sometimes that works for me.

Taking the basics of what you said it sounds like the older & more experienced part of you is telling you something quite aggressively. She thinks it's really important & the "everyday you" is resistant to the message, so you're arguing.

She is saying you should appreciate just how helpful it is to more fully acknowledge and appreciate the role of your inner child/emotions in gathering up the spilled food/sustenance you want/need.

Hope that's some sort of help !