Sexual Abuse Flashback

[Mariana]

Recently I had a dream of me getting raped but before the rape could occur, I had a flashback within my dream of me when I was 5/6 years old. I was being sexually abused of and I remember the face of the person exactly the way it was. In the dream, it was a bit of a blur but recently its starting to be more clear. I don't know if this is a memory or just a nightmare but I have the flashback clear in my mind, usually I forget my dreams but this one is unforgettable. I don't want to believe it was real but something in me tells me it was. How do I know if it was a flashback or just a dream?

 

[Abstract]

Hi Mariana,

Welcome here. I just want to make sure I am understanding correctly. You were having a dream and then part of the dream was about you having a flashback of you being sexually abused at age 5. Is that right? As far as I understand it dreams can use concepts or other less direct means of processing feelings etc and they can also more directly represent things that have actually happened. For me it is seldom exactly as it happened when in a dream. I know I have been advised not to jump to any conclusions with information gained from dreams. I think the feelings we have in dreams are also important.

I have also had dreams turn into flashbacks where I continue seeing or feeling things after I wake up.

Hopefully it will clear up for you automatically as your mind feels more comfortable communicating it to you. Not knowing is difficult I know. I hope you can do lots of self caring things to help you in the now.

 

[Mariana]

Thank you I really hope my mind clears up and communicates to me about my past