what would freud say

i once lamented my present-day lack of dreaming in the pages of this blog. i used to dream, i wrote, but not recently. and then last weekend, something odd and mysterious happened. i had a dream. but not a good dream. a bad dream. a nightmare. but i don't really want to write about my nightmare from last weekend. how come, you may ask? well, to be perfectly honest, i've already forgotten most of the details of said dream. instead, i would prefer to discuss the details of the four different types of nightmares that i experienced on a fairly consistent basis when i was younger. with your permission, of course.

one, the broken teeth nightmare

synopsis: in a nutshell, i wake up (in my dream) and make my way to the bathroom. there i look at myself in the mirror only to discover that my teeth have begun to shatter spontaneously inside my mouth. then i stumble about my home as more and more of my teeth break off and fall from my lips.

epilogue: upon waking, i would immediately sprint to my bathroom mirror to ensure that all of my pearly whites were still in place. followed by a sigh of relief.

analysis: i've read that this dream symbolizes insecurity about one's physical appearance and a fear of being judged harshly by others. fair enough.

two, the end of the world nightmare

synopsis: to summarize, i wake up (in my dream) and amble towards my bedroom window. the curtains are always drawn. i slowly open the curtains. when i look outside, i see catastrophic destruction everywhere. buildings have been toppled. trees have been uprooted. smoke billows from burnt-out structures. there is utter silence. and there is no sign of life anywhere to be found.

epilogue: upon waking, i would immediately dart to my bedroom window to ensure that all was well in the universe. followed by a sigh of relief.

analysis: i've heard that this dream symbolizes anxiety over external forces outside of one's control having a disproportionate impact on one's life. makes sense.

three, the falling from the sky nightmare

synopsis: to make a long story short, i find myself falling from the sky, although the source of my fall (i.e. where i had fallen from) is unknown to me. i am not wearing a parachute. i cannot see the earth below me. and then, without warning, i wake up.

epilogue: upon waking, i would immediately begin to scream. i would scream because it would take me a few seconds to appreciate that i was no longer falling. then i would look around my bedroom, regain my bearings, and breathe a sigh of relief.

analysis: i've been told that this dream symbolizes uncertainty over the direction of one's future. seems reasonable.

four, the slow motion chase nightmare

synopsis: in a few words, i realize that i am being chased by a crazed maniac or a wild animal. unfortunately, i am unable to escape as i can only move in slow motion. as the crazed maniac or wild animal closes in on me, panic begins to set in. and then, just as my attacker is about to pounce, i suddenly wake up.

epilogue: upon waking, i would immediately glance about my bedroom in an effort to locate any crazed maniacs or wild animals hiding behind my hamper or under my bed. then i would get up and conduct a quick search of my room. once i was convinced that i was alone, i would breathe a sigh of relief.

analysis: i've seen that this dream symbolizes unease over intense competition in one's personal (relationships) or professional (work or school ) life. it's possible.

afterword

well, that's it for me then on this topic. one more thing though. i just completed a quick google search to determine how common my childhood nightmares are relative to those of the general public. based on my research, it would appear that the first two nightmares listed above are somewhat common while the last two are extremely common among the larger population.

but what's even more interesting is that i have never had a nightmare involving some of the most common nightmare subjects, namely: missing a plane or train, being naked in public, or being trapped.

hmmm, now what was the point of this piece again?

"dreams are often most profound when they seem the most crazy." - sigmund freud

i assume that she is referring to daydreams and not bad dreams:



p.s. alright rs and rs's critic. i would like you both to calm down. think pleasant thoughts.