Questions... Dreaming and EMDR

[meursault]

That's a really interesting way of looking at it.  I'm going to try reflecting on that over the next few days and see what my mind and body think of it... 

My first instinct was to react with the thought that I'm processing that way because I am still being traumatized.  I am, in actuality, still living a life within the ongoing trauma.  Maybe that's the only way I can cope with this * I'm being kept in every minute for years now.  I'm going to sit with this for a couple of days and see what my body tells me.

I really need to read Peter Walker.  I just never seem to get around to it...

Meursault

[sanmagic7]

i once heard that dreams often reflect what our subconscious is dealing with that we're not ready to acknowledge or deal with on a conscious level.  and, while we're in therapy, there is a lot of processing to do, our brains are very busy, and we can't manage everything on a conscious level, so our brains let a valve open on a subconscious level.  it will eventually rise to the surface of your consciousness when you're ready to deal with it.

i've lately been working on feeling positive emotions, and yesterday i dreamt about a friend of mine whom i haven't seen for years, and we were hanging out, having lunch, and laughing and having a good time.  now that i'm writing about it, i'm hoping that means that my brain is working on this, and the feeling of happiness will eventually shine through.

i've also had dreams where one person took the place of another person.  i'd dream about my sister, and we'd argue and i'd get really mad at her in the dream, and i would wake up terrified.  over the years, i came to recognize that my sister was taking the place of my daughter, who i was petrified of getting angry at.  it's all come out now, the terror is gone, and i don't have those dreams anymore once i realized what was really going on. 

i think our dreams are always telling us something, whether we can remember them or not, whether we understand them or not.  our brains know what they're doing - they're taking care of us.  i hope you get out of your predicament soon so you can get out from under the continuing trauma.