I had quite a nightmare last night. I invite you to log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - and read today's blog about what I think is a significant nightmare - one we all could have had.
I am curious if anyone has had a similar one and what you think of mine. Please post comments here. You may have to refresh the page to see the correct blog.
Funny thing, I has a strange dream, also, but it was different in a lot of ways. I was with my DH and we had a small child. There were other people around, but mostly strangers. DH was supposed to care for the baby while I went to a job interview. but, he kept giving me the baby to change its diaper. He would disappear and I had no clean diapers. I was getting frustrated because I was missing my interview and had no one to care for the baby and no diapers. I was thinking about this dream this morning and decided that DH was the baby and I was missing out not on a job interview, but on any outside activities because I have to care for him. I guess I am feeling trapped with not outside help and my old DH has disappeared. Isn't it strange how these dreams sty with us?
Well, that was some nightmare! The details alone are enough to frighten anyone, and you put me right there. I had a nightmare, too, last night, but nothing as graphic as yours, but it had the same message, I think. I was with an ill man who was lying in bed beseeching me to make him better, the situation better. But I had a plane to catch and a lot of stuff to take to the airport, so that my time was limited. I did the best I could for him, but time was running out for me. Finally the only way I knew I could make my flight was to leave everything - it occurred to me it would be cheaper to buy what I needed when I got there than to try to make arrangements to take it now. I did leave, but instead of a cab waiting for me, there was a long string of horses, and I was put on the last horse. I could look ahead and see many, many horses ahead of me on this long twisting trail that led through Texas. Definitely Alzheimer's related dream, and I blame Divvi and all others on this site who live in Texas for leading me though the mountains (? - well, there were mountains in my dreams, at least high hills with this endless, winding path). I must admit the scenery was beautiful, but it wasn't the way I'd planned it. Now I remember, I was taking the plane to board a ship for a cruise, so I really wanted to make the connection, even though I would arrive with nothing but the clothes on my back.
Not many dreams like this yet. But 16 years ago. We had my 2 kids and DH 2 kids came to live with us at the same time. They were all teenagers. I had many dreams about finding a hidden room in the house. We were and are still living in the 3 bedroom 1 bath ranch house. It does have a converted garage. It was at this time I became pregnant with our daughter. The hidden room dreams were my longing for more space. Some how we made it and I think it made me stronger. I have had some strange dreams this year, but I am sure they will get more wild. Thanks for the heads up on this one!
Mary 75 you gave me a chuckle about us here in Texas the culprits for your bad dream.. haha.. now rereading that dream and using pyschoanalysis to weed though the deep roots theory- i think i might add a comment about the horses.?. well could it just be that someone who irritates the HELL out of you is trying to make an 'ass' out of your authority all the time?? and its time to take 'the reins' and get yourself over the difficult paths and up to the front as leader? and on to a life for yourself sweetie??? hahaha... i agree completely about the cruise though. its a good idea even without clothes ANd on your back.. hahah... think about it. giggle.. as a writer your vivid imagination flourishes! your friend in hilly beautiful Texas! divvi
For years, since the onset of AD symptoms, I would have the same dream during that twilight when you're almost asleep but not quite. When the anxiety sometimes becomes physical symptoms. It was always that "someone" (as in, I don't know who...someone who was in my house,) was trying to take my wedding and engagement rings right off my finger. So I'd sort of semi-wake up and go and put my rings in a "safe" place--in the earring box on my dresser. I don't know why, but as long as they were not on my finger, they were safe. I finally stopped wearing them so I could just go to sleep without this recurring issue.
I do see it as representing the not-entirely-understood phenomenon which has been--during the same time period--stealing my husband and marriage away.
I dream and usually remember them but most of them don't make any sense and I don't think I have had any that would relate to AD and where DH is in it. I hope I never have a nightmare like Joan had, I would be afraid to go back to sleep!!!
For several years I have had dreams that I call frustration dreams. Something really important needed to be done and I couldn't get anyone to understand the dire circumstances. I would try to rush everyone around me but everyone would just go slower and slower. It is much like my life now. Time means nothing to my DH and I know time for him is running out.
Divvi, as someone posted recently - I don't remember who, maybe lmohr - you're away ahead of us when it comes to intuition. I think your dream analysis is brilliant and can only say I'm doing my best to get up at the head of the band of horses. Have to say that, in the dream, the roughness of the terrain surprised me; it was like being in an old Western. If this was a real movie, the only way to handle the problem would be to take another trail, a shortcut. I'll keep my eye open and also watch for smokes signals from friendly Indians. I guess what I should be looking for is a pass through the mountains, rather than go over them. Thanks, friend.
For awhile I was having dreams with the same theme, that I had to get somewhere and there were always roadblocks keeping me from doing so. Familiar surroundings became like mazes and I'd wake up exhausted. I assumed it was connected to my wish to solve all the AD problems, which, of course, I could NOT, no matter how hard I tried.
I want to tell someone what happened to me last night. I have always been a dreamer...usually way out stuff...very strange. Last night I had a dream that was really, really strange. It has bugged me all day and what did it mean, if anything?
I was on land and there was a body of water in front of me filled with tigers and huge snakes and there was an island on the other side and my dh's son and his wife were standing on the island laughing at me. I was so frighten to get in the water, but knew I had to and thought I would die trying to get to land.
My dh's son and wife hate me and don't have a thing to do with my dh because of me and they don't think he is near as bad as I tell them he is. I haven't talked to them in over a year. I often wonder if I should call them and tell them how bad he is getting...but I don't do it. I can't stand the thought of the stress they would bring to our lives.....anyway back to the dream.
There was some kind of sign on the island across from the land I was on and I can't really remember what it was but it was an indication it was Heaven and I had to get through the water and past his son and wife to get to heaven. I was so frightened to jump into that water because of the snakes and tigers. But, God was like encouraging me to jump and and telling me I would make it through.
Finally, I jumped in and the tigers and the snakes didn't bother me at all and when I got to the island and his son and wife were there...I walked right past them with no problem and I was in heaven.
Thank you for listening, now I feel so much better. I didn't have anyone to tell this to.
i love to interpret dreams. so i'll take a shot at it judith.. i posted a long post on the wrong topic a bit ago! so i hope i can recollect what i wrote.
first the symbolisms. island. -remember no man is an island .. even if we are in the throws of AD and isolated? :)
snakes/tigers. funny they dont normally go together but here they are both 'deadly'. tigers have stripes. known to diffuse, confuse and entrap the unwary. snakes well they are self evident in the interpretations but remember they can strangle the life out of us too. also i found it surprising that a common name for female tigers (see sigfried&roy) is Nirvana, a buddist name meaning 'Heaven'.. isnt the mind a wonderful thing? HA
son/DIL.. well you said it yourself they represent the stress in your life.
now tying it all together ..... while we are isolated -fearful -and stressed on this horrible journey thru AD, the real conflict is having to accept the idea that death must come first in all its finality to be able to reach the 'other side' aka heaven. the 'signs' are evident in your mind and you know what awaits but it doesnt take away the fears.
your dream probably represents how all of us feel. dreams are the way the body/mind release the excess emotions of everyday life.
Thank you divi..I love your interpretion. I think you are right on.
I will give you another dream to interpret. This dream is really strange. I had this dream like 40 years ago and I can remember it like it was yesterday.
I went into this unknown hotel. I started up the steps and then I noticed these two guys were following me. When I turned to look at them they moved faster towards me and I started running. I was running down the halls and up and down stairs trying to find an unlocked door where I could go into the room and hide from these two men.
I finally found a room and ran into the room, but the men were right behind me so I ran into the bathroom. As I got into the bathroom I realized it was a very bad mistake because now I was trapped. So, I turned on the water in the bath tub, jumped into the tub and went down the drain....I could actually feel my long hair slowly following my body down the drain.
Joan your nightmare probably had a lot to do with that issue with DH last night too. How nice it ended so good, and perhaps it is a sign that it will all end for good.
JudithKB...that IS A STRANGE ONE. Especially the part about the hair...!!
Oh - I now see this is Judith's dream - so Judith,
I have a bit of a different interpretation...You said it yourself - you have repressed guilt about not updating DH's son on his father's condition. Your mind wants you to take that plunge (into the snakes and tigers) so it can release the guilt. Your mind is telling you that if you re-establish contact, there will be a positive result (your mind may or may not be right about that).
This does not mean you need to contact son. But if you decide not to, you do need to release your guilt by forgiving yourself. You're doing the best you can for you and your husband. And if severing contact with his son was needed to reduce stress, than that's okay.