That You Were Ill Explains A Lot

Dear Nancy: I recently had a health problem and was unable to sleep more than an hour at a time. This period was extremely stressful to me and lasted about three months. I had this same terrifying dream three times during this period. I am claustrophobic and I do not particularly like dogs because of negative childhood experiences. - Don

I am in a huge abandoned factory filled with very large machines that are covered with dust and grime. There is scrap metal and junk everywhere, making it difficult to walk. The ceiling is at least three stories high with a row of windows along the roof line. Some of the panes are broken and the wind whistles eerily through them.

I’m looking for a way out. There are numerous heavy metal doors but they are all locked. Suddenly, I hear guard dogs barking. I desperately look for a place to hide but find nothing. I look down a long aisle and two snarling Dobermans are charging toward me. I wake up shaking and perspiring.

Dear Don: Dreams can address developments in the mental, emotional, physical or spiritual parts of our lives.

This dream came to you when you were very ill so the factory with its dilapidated and broken-down machinery most likely symbolizes your own body. The big machines weren’t doing their job which illustrates that your body had indeed shut down.

You feel trapped and unable to get out of the situation. Even the light from the windows is far above you. Did you feel boxed in and unable to see beyond your physical condition?

Windows give us the ability to see a different view. They expand our vision. Your dream may be suggesting that you need to climb to a higher, more spiritual level to escape the feelings of being trapped below. The guard dogs could represent your feelings of being attacked by your own body.

The psyche often uses old traumas to illustrate current events.

This dream offers no resolution and left you shaking in fear, but it hasn’t recurred since you’ve recovered from your illness, so you must be feeling fairly healthy and free again. Hopefully, now that you’re feeling better, your dreams will be more restful.

Tips for readers: During illness or recovery from an injury, our dreams will reflect not only our body’s physical condition but also our deepest fears and emotions about our health. Suggestions regarding diet, exercise and other alternative care may be provided by our dreams. They can also encourage us to reach out to others at a time when we feel most vulnerable and alone.

Dreams tend to chart the course and severity of illnesses by:

Giving us hints about upcoming illness or physical danger. These may be dreams of imminent disaster such as earthquake dreams or, more often, dreams about buildings or houses that are falling apart or on fire.

Giving us clues about the effect of the medical treatment on our body. Are we recovering or in a stalemate? Helping us choose physicians and select the types of treatments for facilitating the healing process.

Giving us clues about the emotions and situations that may have contributed to the cause of the illness or accident. Stress, suppressed emotions and deep-rooted unhappiness can all be discovered in dreams to be resolved as part of the healing process.

Next week: more on illness and dreams.

, DataTimes MEMO: Send dreams to Nancy Huseby Bloom c/o The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax, (509) 459-5098, and include your name, address, phone number and a summary of the circumstances in your life. Dream work for use in this column is free; personal phone consultations are $30 per dream.