Disturbing, detailed dreams

Hi, Sally, I also periodically have vividly colored dreams that have such fine detail that I can read what is printed on a magazine or sign in the dream. Mostly I am walking with a group of people--unknown to me-- with whom I am comfortable. Often times we are walking on a college campus or through university buildings. Generally I am seeking someone or a specific place. Sometimes I meet individuals I know and chat with them. Rarely I hear what they are telling me.

As a child I was sexually abused by my father. It took me many years to reach a point in my life where I could be brave enough to face that fact. Working on healing the "authentic me" is an ongoing process. Occasionally an event or conversation in the present will upset me enough that I need dreaming time to come to terms with how I feel and how I will move forward.

Odd as it might seem, I have found that if I have a very bad dream while sleeping in my bed I will choose to sleep on the sofa the next few nights. Neither place for sleeping is more or less conducive to dreams of any sort. Does the change in location of a resting place trigger a more relaxed and restful attitude? I really have no explanation. I am just relieved that I have an easy answer that allows me to get a night of restful sleep.

Bravery and persistence are needed to deal with abusive incidents that you have survived. Be as gentle and patient with yourself as you would be with a friend who is struggling with similar issues. rubyjane

Hi, Sally, I also periodically have vividly colored dreams that have such fine detail that I can read what is printed on a magazine or sign in the dream. Mostly I am walking with a group of people--unknown to me-- with whom I am comfortable. Often times we are walking on a college campus or through university buildings. Generally I am seeking someone or a specific place. Sometimes I meet individuals I know and chat with them. Rarely I hear what they are telling me.

As a child I was sexually abused by my father. It took me many years to reach a point in my life where I could be brave enough to face that fact. Working on healing the "authentic me" is an ongoing process. Occasionally an event or conversation in the present will upset me enough that I need dreaming time to come to terms with how I feel and how I will move forward.

Odd as it might seem, I have found that if I have a very bad dream while sleeping in my bed I will choose to sleep on the sofa the next few nights. Neither place for sleeping is more or less conducive to dreams of any sort. Does the change in location of a resting place trigger a more relaxed and restful attitude? I really have no explanation. I am just relieved that I have an easy answer that allows me to get a night of restful sleep.

Bravery and persistence are needed to deal with abusive incidents that you have survived. Be as gentle and patient with yourself as you would be with a friend who is struggling with similar issues. rubyjane

Hi, Sally, I also periodically have vividly colored dreams that have such fine detail that I can read what is printed on a magazine or sign in the dream. Mostly I am walking with a group of people--unknown to me-- with whom I am comfortable. Often times we are walking on a college campus or through university buildings. Generally I am seeking someone or a specific place. Sometimes I meet individuals I know and chat with them. Rarely I hear what they are telling me.

As a child I was sexually abused by my father. It took me many years to reach a point in my life where I could be brave enough to face that fact. Working on healing the "authentic me" is an ongoing process. Occasionally an event or conversation in the present will upset me enough that I need dreaming time to come to terms with how I feel and how I will move forward.

Odd as it might seem, I have found that if I have a very bad dream while sleeping in my bed I will choose to sleep on the sofa the next few nights. Neither place for sleeping is more or less conducive to dreams of any sort. Does the change in location of a resting place trigger a more relaxed and restful attitude? I really have no explanation. I am just relieved that I have an easy answer that allows me to get a night of restful sleep.

Bravery and persistence are needed to deal with abusive incidents that you have survived. Be as gentle and patient with yourself as you would be with a friend who is struggling with similar issues. rubyjane

@sallyharper Not knowing your history it is hard to say what may be causing thus. I am an adult survivor of extreme abuse. I have PTSD and a dissociative disorder. Nightmares are terrifying and terribly disruptive to adequate rest. I hope the lithium helps you. Keep us posted as you can.

Hi, @sallyharper -- so sorry to hear that the dreams are still scary. You asked if I have any sleep/dream issues. I don't happen to have any dream issues (I have not recalled my dreams in some time), and I sleep just fine -- just sometimes I don't allow myself enough of it. I need to make getting more sleep a priority. I sleepwalked as a child, but thankfully I don't do that anymore.

@rubyjane -- thank you for sharing your experiences and insights regarding dreams. Fascinating that you at times can even read print in a magazine or sign in your dream. I am terribly sorry to hear you were abused by your father as a child. I'm glad for you that you've come to a point in your life where you've been able to face it and work on healing the authentic you. I imagine that would indeed be a process.

The change in sleeping location tactic you've used after a bad dream sounds like it's been effective, which is great. It's a really good tip for others who have disturbing dreams, as well. It's also very interesting that dreaming time helps you to come to terms with how you feel and how you'll move forward when an event or conversation in the present upsets you. @rubyjane -- do you feel that you've worked through some of your past with your father's abuse in your dreams?

Thank you, @robbinr, for your input on the question @sallyjane had about the possibility of being hypnotized. I'd like to invite @kozlo52 @chicagomichelle @maggie45 @daveseeks01@kingarthur @cedarfirefly @gman007 and @georgette12 to join this conversation, as they have mentioned hypnosis previously and may have some insights about how it went and about using it for disturbing or scary dreams.

@sallyharper -- also interesting about your son-in-law who does acupuncture and the herbs he gave you that made it seem as though a small part of your brain got rest that you hadn't experienced before. Wondering what he gave you and whether the dreams with the deep sleep they provided were still disturbing ones, or not as much?