Kumbaya, Sweet Slumber
The ghosts of the past who appear in my recent dreams are starting to wear me down. Saturday and Sunday nights were both restless; when sleep did come it was packed full of crappy dreams. Weird, emotional, gross, sad, useless – all of it. In dire need of sleep, I retired early again last night. Once more, the ghosts of times past infiltrated my dreams. None of these entities have a current role in our lives, so I just couldn’t imagine a reason for them being in the dreams.
It’s not like me to have repetitive dreams of a undesirable nature, but I believe I’ve at least figured out the cause of them. As of recent, I’ve been putting more thought into the future than ever before. Sometimes when you contemplate the future you inadvertently propel yourself into the past – whether or not you want to. Your subconscious thoughts can and will manifest into your dreams. The fine line between fantasy and reality has never been a difficult thing for me to discern. That said, I now find a slice of my reality being spent fighting demons ensued by the dreams that decide to hang around and poke me with a stick the next day.
- ©Disney
A long time ago I was asked, ‘Which would you prefer? The devil you know, or the devil you don’t know?’. My answer was ‘The devil I know’. Somehow I have to figure out how to not pick both.
Life of Bon 
I rarely have delightful just entertaining dreams. I think attitude at the end of the day influences sleep in positive or negative ways just like it influences our mood for the awake time of the day. The tormenting dreams seem to have some roots in anxiety over issues and chronic stress. I’ve found that working to resolve issues or at least having plans of preparation promotes restful sleep. If we are in a job, for instance, or tumultuous relationship where stress is chronic, it inhibits sleep as well as being harmful to our general health. Some “end of the day” exercise helps. Some playtime during the week helps. I find an hour at the beach, in the park or any peaceful place gives me mini vacation feelings of refreshment. If the stress is chronic we should think of ways out of the milieu because coping skills may not help with ever present turmoil.
August 2, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Thanks for such an insightful comment, Carl. And it all makes sense. I’m sure stress does have to do with it, as well as my lack of exercise and just making an hour a day to devote to relaxation. My favorite de-stresser used to be a candlelit bath, which I miss greatly. I guess they’ll eventually go away, shoo, shew dreams!!
August 2, 2011 at 8:16 pm
I find that my dreams run in cycles. For instance, it might be a week or two with every night occurances. Then I’ll hit a dry spell, like now. Hope you can get a restful sleep tonight.
August 2, 2011 at 5:13 pm
That’s about how this has been Mom, so you might be on to something there. C’monnnn, dry spell!! 🙂
August 2, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Wild how the mind works. Whatever ghosts are stirring you up, remember they are just that and nothing more. They have no influence over your today and tomorrow. 🙂
Reading your post reminded me of a horrible recurring nightmare I had as a child. The location was always the same, as were most of the characters and events. But every night, the dream had an unexpected twist ….a new character, or an outcome I couldn’t predict. This would happen in cycles (like Mom said) and lasted for years! My heart races just thinking about it.
August 2, 2011 at 7:56 pm
Thanks E – yeah the mind is an incredible thing, isn’t it? The way your subconscious works… well, nothing short of amazing. Though terribly nerve-racking at times. lol
I’m glad to hear that recurring dream of yours went away. Seems like our dreams were more vivid and intense as children, doesn’t it? The fact that we both remember certain dreams from then, well that pretty much proves it. It’s tough to remember my dreams past a day now!
August 2, 2011 at 8:20 pm
When I am concerned about something in particular or I have to contemplate making a big decision I am sometimes plagued by horrible dreams which may have elements of the past in them. It is exhausting. I hope you manage to get some good rest.
August 3, 2011 at 2:36 pm
Thanks Gobetweenflames – yes it does often seem to happen around those times you’re often having to put more thought into than others, I admit. And you’re right, it can be totally exhausting, and frustrating. Thanks – and I’m still working on it.
August 3, 2011 at 7:08 pm
I don’t have any dream or I forget all of my dream recently.
Perhaps I sleep deeply.
There is a devil in US but there is “Obake” in Japan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obake
August 4, 2011 at 9:12 am
Oh, fascinating reading – thank you for posting the link on Obake!
August 4, 2011 at 11:26 am