Need help: Crazy recurring dreams

[brisck1]

Ever since I moved out in my new flat just over a year ago I have begun to have the strangest dreams which have begun to take over and ruin my sleep.

Before I moved here I only occasionally would dream (or remember my dreams) sometimes it would be weeks in-between memorable dreams and even then they would be unremarkable. But when I moved into my new flat, things changed drastically.

To start off with, the dreams were occasional and kind of pleasant enough, and I noticed they were always set in the same environment; what I came to think of as an 'alternate reality' of the town I live in now.

To describe this better, I would say that it a location that feels and looks like my town and area, but there are differences in the surroundings. For example, the park in the town is in the same location, but has many more trees and flower beds and is visually very different as are shops and buildings. This applies to many other areas but overall the layout is the same and feels very much like my town. Although it has differences these never change in the dream or 'alternative reality' world, and am now so familiar with the place, it's as if it were a real location.

To start off with the dreams were vague and didn't really go anywhere and just were focused in this location. Then after a few weeks I began dreaming about being younger and hanging out with old friends there. Pretty soon my dreams began to focus on the scenario of being back at my old school (in the same alternative reality town).
The scenarios were often quite nostalgic and I found myself dreaming of real friends and people whom I hadn't seen or spoken to in years along with some people I still know.

Although the whole thing was relatively pleasant to start off with, I began to grow concerned as the dreams became more and more frequent. Now every night I have very lucid dreams about being back at school and in this 'alternate reality', always with the same classmates and old friends usually in various different scenarios. These dreams are usually harmless but occasionally take a negative turn which leads me on to another dream I have alongside these.

I began to notice the tone of my dreams changing 6 or more months ago. At the same time as the recurring school dreams I also would dream of being back living with my mother and brother (also when I was younger, and still in this 'alternative reality'). Frequently I dream of being 'trapped' in the house while terrible arguments go on around me and feeling very angry or upset and frequently fighting to escape the situation.

In reality my memories of this house in aren't exactly amazing but they certainly aren't as negative as the dreams I have. In the dreams it's almost like the people are evil and are deliberately trying to upset me. I find myself waking up feeling very emotional, upset or angry and sometimes even shouting out.

Now I know that certain dreams can have meanings to them; the school scenario can mean I'm going through some kind of spiritual learning process and the arguments one means I could have inner conflict, but I'm confused as to what it is and why on earth it's been going on for so long and so frequently?

In reality right now, and in the past year, my life has been really good. I love having my own independence and my own flat; I work freelance and love being my own boss. My life is pretty stress free and I feel pretty confident with myself right now.

In fact the only stress I'm feeling right now is from these crazy reoccurring dreams which never cease. EVERY night I'll dream about both scenarios, often with the same themes or situations.
Feeling exhausted or tired within my dreams and being unable to sleep due to the arguments in the house is also another recurring dream (again, not tied to any real events or history)

It's gotten to the point where I actually don't enjoy sleeping. It's so strange because this stuff is never on my mind before I go to bed and usually I can be thinking about something entirely different.

Last night it occurred again, as usual, and as has happened many times before, I became lucid and realised I was just dreaming (when this dream occurs I now am so familiar I usually regognise I'm dreaming). Usually in the past I have been able to just fly out of the situation or try to change the dream into something more positive, but just recently it's almost like I have lost control. I find myself unable to change the scenario, fly or do any dream-like stuff.
For example, last night I thought to myself whilst dreaming: "ok this sucks, im gonna go dream of flying" I jumped and tried everything but nothing happened, I tried a quite a few things in fact, but had no luck; like the dream world is becoming too real.

After another disturbed night of dreams last night I feel at the end of my tether. It almost feels like my subconscious has been put into purgatory and I have to live it out this in the form of the same crazy dreams each night.

What is happening to my mind? Is my subconscious trying to tell me something, am I being influenced by something negative?

The only connection I can see with my school is that I occasionally drive by it on my way home, but this is usually pretty rare, and even then I certainly don't even acknowledge it.

Anyone got any ideas how I can get out of this vicious cycle of strange dreams?

-Rob

[lily moonsong]

Awww, that sounds like a very stressful predicament your dreams have trapped you in.  I feel for you!   

When you dream about your old living environment, it may mean your subconcious doesn't want to let go of your old friends and family.  Maybe you should try forming friendships in your new location that are more meaningful that the past ones.

How often do you talk to the people you keep dreaming about?  Maybe you should talk to them.. and it will calm your subconcious down from bringing them into your dreams soo much.  You should try visiting the place you keep dreaming about.  See what difference this makes in your dreams...

[brisck1]

Hmmm, I guess the link to letting go of old freinds and family could be related to a recent situation which has come up regarding moving abroad for a new job. However thingking about it more it still doesnt really seem to connect as i've been having these dreams long before this news.

[jilola]

Don't know what that is.

However I went through a spell of persistent dreams of being back in school and knowing I had already gone through it so why the heck was I doing it all over again.
I never figured out what it was supposed to be or mean. I hypothesise it was an expression of a changing understanding of my reality, a result of becoming aware that even as time and events seem to move in a linear fashion all things are nevertheless in the one instant tey happen and that the instant is the same for all events.

The recurrent theme has since disappeared but it went on for a good three  or five years. A large spread because I don't actually know when it started and when it ended -  infact I'm not entirely sure if the experiences were in the past or are in the future as seen from this point.

2cents & L&L
Jouni