Posted by torchgrl on February 17, 2000, at 0:48:25
In reply to Reoccuring Dreams ... guilt and shame, posted by Janice on February 17, 2000, at 0:30:19
> Prior to starting medication, all my dreams were nightmares.
>
> Now, either I don't dream, don't dream as much, or I don't remember the dreams I do have.
>
> Sometimes, upon waking, I have a reocurring temporary sensation of guilt and shame because I forgotten that I still have a horse and have forgotten to feed her or call the ferrier for 10 years. I must have been dreaming this, but can never remember the dream.
>
> Anyway the guilt and shame is based on reality, but exagerated drastically. I lost interest in my horse near the end of our relationship together. I abandonned her emotionally, not with her physical care.
>
> But now I have difficulty distinguishing between reality and the powerful forces of the guilt and shame that can overwhelm me at times.
>
> So my questions are:
>
> How do you get rid of this type of reoccuring dream?
>
> I used to talk about it with my psychiatrist, which helped. But now it's coming back again.
>
> What disorder is something like this associated with?
>
>
Janice,
Some (most?) antidepressants seem to affect REM sleep in varying ways, so that may account for the changes in dreams. Guilt and shame are considered to be typical components of depression (and, I would imagine, anxiety disorders)--could that be magnifying the latent feelings you have about your horse, or about other things in your life? Particularly if the feelings are causing you to have dreams with that theme... The best way to deal with this, if it resonates with real issues in you, is to discuss it with your therapist. I could try to theorise on symbolism (have you been neglecting something/someone you care about, or an area of your life that you need to start paying attention to again? yourself? etc.), but talking it out with someone might be most helpful.
poster:torchgrl
thread:21950
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000209/msgs/21972.html