Nightmare May Be A Warning

Dear Nancy: My dreams are usually fairly pleasant, but a few weeks ago I had two nightmares that left me feeling disturbed. I’ve never before reacted to a dream with panic and fear. I’ve always been a “confront and conquer” kind of gal. In both dreams the same man attacked me. - Karen

My husband and I are in the living room. I go through the kitchen and out the back door to get something. A malicious-looking man with a big black slobbering dog knocks me down across the doorway. The man is trying to rape me and his dog is in my face. I’m terrified and try to scream for my husband, but no sound will come out. I can’t move. I begin to hyperventilate and have a total panic attack. I’m struggling to cry out and my husband wakes me up.

Dear Karen: Nightmares are often the result of current fears, ongoing emotional issues or unresolved memories. But sometimes they are warnings.

There are several ways to look at this dream. In conventional dreamwork we look at each character as if they are a part of you. In other words, you are your husband (the part you count on for protection) and yourself (the victim) and the malicious rapist (the one who wants to hurt you).

To rape is to do violence to another. So, are you mistreating or abusing yourself in some way?

Remember, dreams tend to exaggerate, so this abuse could be anything from self-criticism to something more serious. Try to be very honest with yourself while considering this.

The next step is to ask yourself if the dream could be about someone in your life whom you feel is untrustworthy or antagonistic toward you.

During our phone conversation you said you have a good marriage and couldn’t think of anyone who would want to hurt you.

When I asked if the dream character reminds you of anyone you know, you said there was a strange and sinister looking man hanging around your small town who immediately reminded you of your dream rapist. You saw him for the first time a few days after your first dream.

There are many instances of warnings given in the dream state, and often they point to events in the near future. We don’t know whether this man actually meant to do anyone harm, but there’s a reason your intuition “picked up” his presence before you actually saw him. You are obviously very sensitive to negative changes in your environment.

If you cultivate this gift, your sensitivity and awareness can guide and protect you.

Reader tip: As you follow your dreams, you will discover that they speak to you regarding your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual lives. It is a good practice to explore dreams from both a psychological and literal perspective. Begin by viewing all the dream characters as parts of yourself. Do you behave like they do? What can you learn from them? Do you need to make some changes?

Next, shift to look at the dream in a more literal sense. Is a particular dream character behaving like someone in your waking life? What do you need to do about it?