Nightmares

[Cesc Fabregas]

So I was asleep about 10 minutes ago, not anymore though due to a nightmare. I was being kidnapped, and screaming at the top of my lungs didn't help. The problem with these nightmares is that in them, I feel weak and helpless. Unable to fight back which makes it all the more scarier. The kidnapper was my neighbor btw who I probably won't be able to look in the eye anymore. I woke up sweaty and exhausted and was extremely relieved to be awake.

So I was just wondering what nightmares have you had? Also I was wondering if you guys think these nightmares mean something?

[Ali_BWFC]

I've had plenty of nightmares in my life. Some being just plain odd, some being absolutely terrifying. I also used to have a few recurring nightmares when I was younger. One where I was being chased by a wolf/coyote down the stairs. All I could do was either slide down on my bum very slowly, or jump down very slowly.
Another one I had, was more creepy than terrifying, but it involved me being in a dark room, almost pitch black and at night. Suddenly everying would go purple, there would be a very distinctive, slightly sweet smell, and I'd look out the window and this very creepy street carnivale typle thing would go by (the best way to describe it). Thing about this dream, is that, perhaps a year or two ago, I revisited the dream, I knew exactly what was going on, and (within the dream) even had a little nostalgia.

I tend not to have as many nightmares as I used to, but I still get the odd one. As to whether they mean something... probably some shit to do with anxiety, or coming your problems... etc etc blah blah.

[S-D-P]

I had a dream my cock fell off once, either I'm wasnt getting enough fanny or theirs a women inside me screaming to get out if nightmares do mean anything I would go with the former.

I always dream about alien invasions, or being alone in space and an alien getting on board my ship.

[muscularmatt]

I like to think of myself as being a reasonably good amateur psychologist, so let's analyse...

Originally Posted by Cesc Fabregas

I was being kidnapped, and screaming at the top of my lungs didn't help. The problem with these nightmares is that in them, I feel weak and helpless. Unable to fight back which makes it all the more scarier.

This type of dream is very common. Like whole "trying to run away but my legs feel weak" scenario. Feelings of physical weakness in danger situations in dreams more often that not point to one's worrying about stressful times ahead, and thinking that you won't be able to deal with them well.

Originally Posted by Cesc

The kidnapper was my neighbor btw who I probably won't be able to look in the eye anymore.

I wouldn't pay that any mind. Most of the time, the people involved in nightmares aren't as relevant as you'd think. The subconscious sometimes just picks a face from your memory to stick in the situation to make it more tangible. If you've never had any problems with that neighbour, then forget about it.

Originally Posted by Ali_BWFC

One where I was being chased by a wolf/coyote down the stairs. All I could do was either slide down on my bum very slowly, or jump down very slowly.

Very similar to Cesc's. You're nervous than when the shit hits the fan, you won't be able to deal with it.

Originally Posted by Ali

Another one I had, was more creepy than terrifying, but it involved me being in a dark room, almost pitch black and at night. Suddenly everying would go purple, there would be a very distinctive, slightly sweet smell, and I'd look out the window and this very creepy street carnivale typle thing would go by (the best way to describe it). Thing about this dream, is that, perhaps a year or two ago, I revisited the dream, I knew exactly what was going on, and (within the dream) even had a little nostalgia.

That's a good one. And by good I mean wierd. It's been suggested that the prevelance of certain colours in dreams point towards certain thought patterns, and purple apparently is to do with senses of power or authority. Not so sure if I believe that, but take something from it if you will.

As for the carnival, I dunno? Have you ever been anxious in social occasions? Dislike of large crowds or anything? The sense of 'nostalgia' you speak of is more likely your ego trying to get used to the bad sensation and fight back.

Originally Posted by S-D-P

I had a dream my cock fell off once, either I'm wasnt getting enough fanny or theirs a women inside me screaming to get out if nightmares do mean anything I would go with the former.

I always dream about alien invasions, or being alone in space and an alien getting on board my ship.

Yeah you probably got it with that first point. You're worried about inadequacy sexually, i.e. losing your manhood. Aliens? You've been watching too much sci fi. Either that or you're anxious about new experiences and meeting new people.

[Ali_BWFC]

Originally Posted by muscularmatt

I like to think of myself as being a reasonably good amateur psychologist, so let's analyse...

I wouldn't pay that any mind. Most of the time, the people involved in nightmares aren't as relevant as you'd think. The subconscious sometimes just picks a face from your memory to stick in the situation to make it more tangible. If you've never had any problems with that neighbour, then forget about it.

What about all the randomers in my dreams who are not people I have any memory of meeting? Are they just people I've passed in the street that have somehow been stored in my conciousness? Are they combinations of faces that I know? Or are they (a bit of a stretch here) memories of a past life?

Originally Posted by muscularmatt

Very similar to Cesc's. You're nervous than when the shit hits the fan, you won't be able to deal with it.

May have been true now, but I had these dreams when I was very young, like under the age of 10.

Originally Posted by muscularmatt

That's a good one. And by good I mean wierd. It's been suggested that the prevelance of certain colours in dreams point towards certain thought patterns, and purple apparently is to do with senses of power or authority. Not so sure if I believe that, but take something from it if you will.

As for the carnival, I dunno? Have you ever been anxious in social occasions? Dislike of large crowds or anything? The sense of 'nostalgia' you speak of is more likely your ego trying to get used to the bad sensation and fight back.

Hmmm, I don't know about power/authority. As I've said, this dream occured when I was very young. But on that point, I do have quite a lot of dreams now where I am someone of importance.

As for the fact that it's a carnival, I dunno... it's one of those traveling carnivals, so as it's passing by the front of my house, it's still not "unpacked". The nostalgia I had was just general nostalgia over my childhood I think. I was actually happy to be in that situation, maybe it was more about me conquering a problem?

I can tell the meaning of some of my dreams. I have the odd dream about time travel, both to the past and the future. This may be down to watching a lot of sci fi, but also that I dwell too much on the past, and look to the future too often, not living in the here and now. I'd say that's quite accurate. Also had a very random dream one time, where a bunch of chimps were jumping into a river comitting suicide. I woke up with a huge WTF sensation, but then I thought about it - you could say that chimps are rather playful creatures, which you can then link to childhood, so this dream could have been about my disappointment that my childhood has slipped away..... or some shit like that

[Bammers05]

When I was younger, I had this recurring nightmare that a gorilla was chasing me round a big table, but then I got bored, so I sat down and waited for the gorilla to eat me. Then I woke up.

[IronCity]

I think the weakness feeling we all have is our own bodies fighting us from acting out the dream.

When a nightmare gets so bad that I have to yell I can't seem to get the words out....but then when I finally do I really do yell out - I scare my wife and dog - and wake myself up. I feel I actually busted out of the dream because I beat my brain's suppression of that physical conveyance of the scream.