Need a better opinion on a chase dream

[DipperDapper]

Before I begin tell you about my dream, I want to say that I'm usually very aware of what my dreams mean. I have a pretty good understanding of what certain things represent and the manifestation of x problem as y in my dreams. And if I'm not aware, I research it and see if I can draw any meaning from dream dictionaries - which normally works. But I've been researching and trying to find a concrete meaning for a recurring dream I've been having for many years and I can't find any. The dream in question is a chase dream. Every dream is different - different people, different places, different intents - but it always feels the same. Most of the time, the intent is rape or sexual assault, other times it's just harm. It's not a nightmare; even though it's a bit scary in nature, it doesn't feel like a nightmare. I never wake up scared or afraid, it feels like any other dream. I have been the victim of sexual assault and rape in the past, and while I'm sure there is some link between that and my dreams, it feels like there's a lot more being represented in my dream than that (also, I've been having these dreams since before these events.) In most recent version of this dream, I was browsing a store (like a Walmart or Kroger) with my "partner" (who isn't my partner irl, I didn't recognize them). This person was a representation of a person I knew growing up who was notorious for sexually harassing me. In the dream, he was touching me inappropriately without my consent. After a few times of him doing this, I ran away from him. I ran through the isles of the store trying to get away (the isles were narrow, but the ceiling was high). He seemed to always be close to catching me, though I did lose him a few times. There was an employee who would always point him in my direction, so I was trying to avoid running into both of them. I ended up outsmarting him by having him catch the employee instead of me. Emotionally, I felt stressed. It was like a cat and mouse chase where the cat is right on the mouse's tail. About a third of the way through the dream, I think I became more conscious and it turned into lucid dreaming (which happens often). I then gained the ability to fly, but it wasn't very powerful. It was slow for me to get into the air, so I was in the air at times and then I would touch back down. I was napping so the sleep wasn't very deep - I woke up quickly after I began to gain more consciousness. Most of these dreams, while they may not take place in a closed environment like a grocery store - always seem very...close...if that makes sense. It never feels like there's any space to run away even if the dream is out in the open. A lot of times the person chasing me is my brother. I assume my brother takes this role because he's always been a person to overpower me, both physically and emotionally (he has several mental disabilities and disorders, so trying to reason with him is like trying to reason with a brick wall). Whenever I think of a figure that has always represented the threat of being overpowered and my own frustration, my brother is who I think about. Everything I've researched says that these dreams are the product of anxiety. I never seem to have these dreams whenever I'm anxious however. I'm a college senior and the semester just ended, so this is the least anxious I've been in the past few months (my most recent dream happened just a few hours ago btw). I am curious what these dreams could mean because everything I've read about chase dreams seems either irrelevant or only a small portion of what is going on. Questions are welcomed! Thank you in advanced!

[travellight27]

A few thoughts on the repeating pattern dream...... In most cases you say you are running someone whose intent for the most part is sexual assault. Always in close spaces or it always feel close. In one case an energy represented by an overpowering brother and in another a bullying and harassing inappropriate person. Because the dreams have repeated for years with the same theme, it certainly means you have not gotten the message or are repeating behavior that triggers the repeat dream or message. When we go to stores/shops in dreams it represents the choices we make, as we have opportunity for "selection". In the one dream you're in a Walmart type store, which represents more of a "mass consciousness shopping" as opposed to a more selective shopper. In tight places. In all the dream although you don't feel "fear" not once do you say you Turn Around and Confront the chaser. The person harassing you, trying to overpower, take advantage, or use you in some way ......So perhaps in real life you avoiding real issues with people, maybe have a "keep the peace, pretend the problem doesn't exist" and even though the person is usually someone close to you...you avoid the conflict and never become strong enough to speak up for yourself, Demand your space. Demand your rights and tell the person straight up they have crosses the line and if their behavior doesn't change you will not have the person in your life. I have no idea your personality in real life, but consider...that in real life you had the chase/rape dreams before it happened and this actually physically manifested. Now the dreams continue. So to me it seems maybe you've just been too nice, too timid with people...perhaps timid is not the word..but "Peace at any price" behavior is not always a good thing. I would say draw a line in the sand, keep offensive people away or get them out of your life, but run from difficult situations...Stand right up, speak your truth and go about your business. Another thought is maybe "raise the bar" on those people you let get close to you. ...just my thoughts. L

[Superman1]

I might come from the other direction to travellight27 You are constantly giving energy and reality to the part of you that is your fear of being overpowered or is being taken away from. You are being chased by that - fear, which stresses you. You see the work you need to do on this is also always coming your way, but you avoid confronting that, in yourself. But then you were smart and had your fear catch the work. So well before halfway, you become clear, and free of it. But not powerful enough. You don't give yourself enough space, room to move and breathe. And you saw all the possible selections or thoughts you could choose and take home with you. I think the focus should be more on yourself, then others will take care of themselves more. If you can confront your fear, become that fear, do not resist it, and see it for what it is, you may make headway or a breakthrough. No one can overpower you anymore, or take anything from you, that you do not give permission to. You need the control and empowerment that is rightly yours, which will only come when you destroy the fear. You don't need to confront anyone, just yourself.