Just a short thread really. My friend is a girl, who well, I'm quite close with and share lots of things with. But she always suffers from terrible nightmares - Raging from someone trying to touch her up, trying to rape her or even kill her. She says she is usually running or hiding, or otherwise feeling uncomfortable in these dreams. Nothing like this has ever actually happened to her in real life, and she has never had a boyfriend before either. Also she isn't a teenager anymore. She seems to get these dreams every week, if not every day then at least a few times per week. Also it's the same kind of dreams. Exactly what can this mean? I've tried to think of ways to explain these dreams but always hit a wall. Can anyone offer help?
I'm very sorry that your friend is having nightmares! These type of dreams seem to be her worst fears. Does she watch horror movies? I ask this because some of our dreams reflect some things that we see(from the news to movies or things from our daily lives). I used to watch a lot of horror movies and I would dream about someone chasing me or I would spend the better part of my dreams running from a killer.
Also, I don't know if she's religious but prayers helped me overcome my nightmares.I would pray before I go to sleep that God would give me pleasant dreams. Also I pray in my dreams and then I feel in control of my dreams.
I hope that she can begin to have sweet dreams.
Good Luck to her!
One look into your friends sleep hygiene. There is a stickied post of my sleep specialists sleep hygiene guide at the top of this page. Also read through the following post.
It is full of alot of information that deals with a similar situation and I believe it may have a key to what is going on with the intruder/threatening dreams. Also see if she might consider taking Judo or Aikido. Some form of martial art that can boost her self awareness and confidence when it comes to self protection. I had similar dreams when I was pregnant when I would roll over and sleep on my back. I was a 2nd degree black belt in two different martial arts at the time and would always end up beating up my attackers in my dream after the scare and adrenaline surge rolled through me. My husband was not happy with these dreams.. because I am an active dreamer and would kick him out of bed into the tiny crack between the wall and our bed. The dreams stopped when my sleep paralysis stopped due to improved sleeping position and treatment of my sleep apnea.
Good luck finding an answer for your friend. Does she still have her tonsils? Does she snore? Sleep apnea is another thing to look into.
MG
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If we learn by our mistakes, I am working on one hell of an education.
I have similar night mares..being chased, being hurt, etc....they stem, however, from past abuse. Does your friend have any history of past abuse? Perhaps it has been repressed???? This is just a thought...not true of everyone.....but, a counselor could help her analyze these dreams (whether they relate to abuse or not they appear to relate to something that is bothering her) and find a way to take control in her dreams. Mine has tried to teach me how to control my dreams by having GOOD thoughts right as I go to bed...even coming up with people who would help me in my dream and before I go to sleep mentally picture what I would do in these dreams, how I would take control, and with the help of the people (real people OR Superman, etc)....to picture being in control in the dreams and fighting back and not letthign them hurt or chase me...sounds dumb, did to me.....but it is actually helping...
