Massive Injuries From Car Accident

Background info that I think this feels most related to and is also mentioned at end of entry: IWL, I recently suffered a concussion playing my favorite sport during what felt like a brutal hit and fall to the ground. I am eager to get back to playing in a competitive league but may have some mostly subconscious concerns about continuing to play competitively at my age (middle aged but so are the opponents). I think I want to give it a go for a few more years at least and I enjoy the sport and it is fun exercise that keeps me from gaining too much weight. The night before the dream I was telling my wife that I was planning on playing in more of a scrimmage the next morning but she did not want me to play yet, still worried about my safety. I argued that she should let me play, it is my exercise and the scrimmage is low key and very unlikely that anything like my injury would happen during this scrimmage. She won the argument mainly because I am still getting over a cold but after this dream I am wondering if my subconscious is trying to tell me or warn me about going back and playing at least at a competitive level. What do you think?

Raw offline DJ entry:
I have been in a bad car accident. I have multiple internal injuries and fractures and they are going to have to stitch me back together. Seems like follow up visit: Orthopedic doctor is unconventional and has patient play primary role in resetting the fractures. I wonder if this is so patients can't blame her for setting a bone wrong. I ask doctor: "do you mean you are trying to avoid problems like 'oh my nose feels weird now after resetting bone?' " Basically yes, she indicates. I tell her that the only thing that I really felt was on the side of my abdomen. How did the accident happen I am thinking? Was I in a hurry again? Recalling earlier part of dream it seemed like a close call only. I am crossing an intersection just before a freeway on ramp to my left and I am going when I shouldn't be but one old american muscle car speeds by at high speed. Barely misses me. I have been driving much of this dream on highways but unclear if driving or walking at this point. I proceed to try to maneuver through this confusing intersection and feel I am stuck going head on into oncoming traffic...maybe this is where the accident happened. Self analysis: Could be due to argument last night IWL about me playing (sport) this morning. Also multiple injuries and deaths portrayed in Edge of Tomorrow which I watched same night before dream.

Argh your mixture of WL and DJ had me quite confused thought you were in a WL car accident, glad that it is not so!

I slipped and hit my head fairly hard on a snowy road back in November and probably had a minor concussion, it took couple of months to completely go away, hope you heal up soon! Find the bastard who gave the brutal hit and kick his ass in a dream!

It’s great how you provided a lot of information surrounding this dream because this always helps to provide a better interpretation.

In general, the image of a vehicle in dreams symbolizes a combination of the dreamer’s body, his or her physical energy and condition (e.g. as indicated by the type and the condition of the vehicle etc.) as well as the person’s interests in the sense of what tends to “drive” and motivate the person in day to day activities.

Unfortunately, being in a bad car accident as your dream shows can often represent a physical emergency which may even include a mental breakdown as well, e.g. depression caused by a serious medical condition or accident etc.

Possibly the dream shows that, though you suffered the recent bad concussion without too much evident damage, the effects of various concussions are cumulative and a careless attitude towards this situation isn’t recommended.

In various areas, even teenage players of various sports are now carefully monitored after a concussion and a central record is maintained to keep track of how many they’ve had so that they can be withdrawn from a sport if appropriate in the circumstances.

Similarly, you’ve probably heard of the devastating effects on professional football players after suffering through years of concussions with no medical oversight.

The female orthopaedic doctor who has her patients reset their own fractures could possibly symbolize your less developed ability to “listen to your heart and instincts” when it comes to your own body and perhaps to situations in your relationships.

Your feelings apparently kind of “don’t want any problems” (e.g. the doctor wants to avoid complaints but in a crazy way to say the least) that can raise the sometimes painful emotions involved in dealing with them but this can potentially be a “ditzy” way to move ahead.

It’s no secret that many women are in closer touch with issues of the body and health and your wife probably instinctively feels how your age and playing in a competitive league might not be the best thing for you.

But it can be a very touchy issue to deal with as we age and don’t want to admit that there can be some gradually increasing limitations as to what we can handle in various areas of our life.

Perhaps the old speeding American muscle car could symbolize an outworn attitude towards the intensity of your participation in sports which has “had its day” and should be “avoided” (e.g. you just barely avoid being hit by it and likely killed).

Dealing with various challenges related to ageing can be very upsetting and confusing for all of us (e.g. trying to go through a confusing intersection or “crossroads” in your life) but failing to carefully reflect so that we can “go in the right direction” might end in disaster (e.g. maybe the accident happened at this intersection).

My personal opinion is that your dream was both a “Somatic” dream (that is, one that deals with the physical body and its overall health) and a “Prospective” dream (namely, one that’s saying in general terms “If you continue doing such-and-such, then this could be the result").

An example of a Somatic and Prospective dream can be found in “The Meaning in Dreams and Dreaming” in which the author, Maria F. Mahoney described one of her own dreams as follows:

“I am driving my car home after visiting Alicia (a dearly-beloved friend). The night is stormy; it is very cold; the snow is falling heavily. The roads are glazed with ice and the driving is treacherous. I realize I’m in for it, so I hunch my shoulders, tighten my grip on the steering wheel, and concentrate on the road ahead, what patches of it I am able to see through the swirling snow as the windshield wiper swings back and forth and the headlights pierce the gloom blindly. Although I know it is dangerous driving, I feel confident, I know I can make it home all right. Of course, it would take a little longer than usual, but eventually be over. Then, my glance fell on the water-gauge. The needle pointed very close to “empty”. And suddenly I knew I was in trouble. If the water level were that low, would I have enough in the radiator to be able to drive home under my own power?

That was how the question presented itself in the dream.

Subsequent events proved the warning of real danger contained in that dream. After a series of jolting mishaps, a serious illness began which lasted for several months.

…Although the trouble came about, the blow was softened, and the message of the dream was heeded: we took good care not to venture too much”

In your case, maybe the combination of the physical concussion along with an attitude that, from the dream’s point of view, isn’t helpful can be seen as a “very bad accident” that has already happened.

“To stay in treatment” with an “unconventional” and likely “incompetent” doctor (that is, maybe with your own current values and emotions as related your level of participation in sports) might unfortunately lead to serious consequences down the road.

Anyway, I hope that these ideas about your dream can be helpful in some way.

Thank you so much Athanor!! :) I appreciate your detailed analysis and thoughtfulness regarding the various potentially touchy subjects as well. I am generally rather upbeat, especially since taking up this LD hobby, but the injury and inactivity has dampened my mood, I must admit. I do have the option to stick to the scrimmage/non-competitive format and based on your analysis, thoughts of continued competitive play deserve more pause.

I am hoping to remember to ask my subconscious some related questions in my next LD.

Thank you again!! :)

@FryingMan: sorry buddy and sorry to hear about your fall. That recovery time seems long for a minor concussion. Did you ever see a doctor?