Continuing with my theme of worry, I've experienced this in relation to more than a few things that have impacted my life. I haven't been able to shake loose from some of these problems I've had mainly due to the leftover angst that I've experienced that hasn't left me. This is mostly due to guilt. The example I'll point out in this case is due to my beating myself up over my feelings of failure related to my relationship with my ex-fiance. I saw her a few days ago and didn't want to look at her, and she decided to call me up to be "friends"...(friends after 6 years?)This didn't sit well with me and has lingered into to my dreams as well. I've not been able to sleep at times due to the exhaustion that I experience due to pushing myself hard so I can try and not engage in any day dreaming that occurred due in part to my anger at our bitter end. I try to find refuge in sleep, but it doesn't work unfortunately...My feelings of guilt haunt me there as much as they do in my waking life...I've gotten better at it mind you over time, but the residual effect still remains...I'll have flashbacks to good things and bad things that happened between us and then wake up all of a sudden thinking she was right there with me only to realize it's just a dream...other times I'll know I'm dreaming and actually picture conversations between us, and won't want to wake up, but secondary revision kicks in and eventually leads to another unsatisfying end to my dream with her. Either way, it seems, I CAN'T win...
Comments (4)
Your description of the feelings of guild and worry following you into sleep and dreams is haunting. I'm sorry you're experiencing that!
It sounds like you are on the verge of becoming lucid in some of these dreams. You might check out Stephen LaBerge's book Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming. Many people use his techniques to intervene in their own dreams and push them into more fruitful and pleasant directions. It takes some focused work, though, to achieve lucidity with any regularity, and even then there's no guarantee.
Posted by Lydgate | October 13, 2006 2:42 PM
Posted on October 13, 2006 14:42
I have a lot of worry dreams, too. Not a whole lot of fun, but they do at least tell you what your emotions are chewing on so that you can address the reasons why and try to take steps to address the problem.
Posted by Searching Buddha | October 15, 2006 2:56 PM
Posted on October 15, 2006 14:56
It seems that the more we try to control what we dream and daydream about, the less successful we are. Because in one way or another, you are still thinking about that person or action which you were trying to repress. Instead of trying to analyze what all this means I will try to give a word of possible advice. Perhaps it is time that you started to talk about your feeling of guilt and anxiety to a friend or to someone close and not try so hard to control what your subconscious thinks of. The feeling of guilt will possible recycle itself?
Posted by Minds Torque Wrench | October 24, 2006 5:28 PM
Posted on October 24, 2006 17:28
Isn't that Jungian compensation a kick in the teeth?
And isn't it awful when someone who breaks your heart wants to be friends afterwards?
Posted by John A. Dreams | October 27, 2006 11:13 PM
Posted on October 27, 2006 23:13