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I recently had a dream where I was repeatedly stabbing myself in the arm with a nail or some other sharp object. I've never even thought of self harming before, and and it would just make me feel better if someone could give an explanation as to what it could mean.
I'm not sure what exactly it would mean to harm yourself in the dream, but when you commit suicide in your dream it may mean that in the real world you can't ocercome feelings of guilt, and are trying to burn off the aggression onto yourself. Or maybe it means that there are conditions in your life that are so frustrating that you aren't willing to continue putting up with the situation/relationship the way you did in the past. But on a lighter note, it could also mean that maybe it's a reflection of how in the real, waking world you are putting away one aspect of yourself or character that you have been carrying around ("turning over a new leaf").
Don't be afraid of dreams like that, I had a dream in which I commited suicide, but I've never considered suicide. I also had a dream once where I was just continually harming myself, although I never consider harming myself in any way. I'm a ... "pain-o-phobic".
I've written in the past on the subject of how the Dreaming Self is not entirely identical with the Waking Self -- that the Dreaming Self has its own inventory of experiences and memories. Many people suppose that the Dream Self is only active while we are aware of our Dreams, but it is quite possible that the Dream Self is exploring those same Subjective Realms 24 hours a day every day, and that we are only allowed in on the action during those brief REM moments. On several occassions I remembered during my Dreams to actively try to remember back into my Dream Self's Memory, and I was astounded at just how copious that Dream Memory was. It was a memory of not just isolated dreams, but of an alternate life with all those thousands of details.
But somewhere there is a nexus integration between the Waking Self and the Dream Self. Lucid Dreaming helps, because during those rare Lucid Moments, the Waking Persona steps into the Dream Self and takes over... possesses the Dream Self for an instant. The more one becomes Lucid the better integrated the Dreaming Self becomes to the Waking Self -- the behaviors become recognizably similar. In the days before Lucidity the same objective was achieved through Suggestion -- one would critique one's dreams in the morning and resolve to act more as one's self in one's Dreams. The aim was not so much to garner fresh instances of fun and excitement in one's Dreams, though that often played a part, but one would primarily aim at advancing and building one's Character.
Now, in regards to these odd dreams of harming one's self, all while protesting that one's Waking Self would never contemplate such a thing. Wow! I could not have asked for better proof that the Waking Self and the Dreaming Self are not identical Personas and that it takes some concentrated Dream Work over an extended period of time in order to integrate the Two Selves.
Wow...thats a pretty interesting theory; I guess I kind of understand it, and it would explain all those times in dreams when you just 'know' you have to do things but have no idea why, or why some dreams just start in the middle of doing something with no recollection of how you started doing it.
Thanks for the help. I guess that's one of way of thinking about it that doesn't end up with me being manically depressed :D
Well, you are not done here.Quote:
Originally posted by Beardo
Wow...thats a pretty interesting theory; I guess I kind of understand it, and it would explain all those times in dreams when you just 'know' you have to do things but have no idea why, or why some dreams just start in the middle of doing something with no recollection of how you started doing it.
Thanks for the help. I guess that's one of way of thinking about it that doesn't end up with me being manically depressed :D
I already took a great deal of time writing what I did, but now I can add, that it is very likely that the Dream Self has at least some subliminal influences over our Waking Behaviors. And even if this were not so, well, you still have a Dream Self who is self-mutilating himself. That is not a good thing.
So you must do what I hinted at earlier -- you must critique your dreams in the morning and resolve to change the behaviors of which you do not approve, or that you would simply wish to change, given the choice. You can load these 'suggestions' into your mind by relaxing several times a day and 'daydreaming' how you would have made the dream different. Thinking and imagining while one is relaxed is a very close thing to Self-Hypnotism. Oh, and if you would like to Lucid Dream, this would also be a good idea. A lot of people do Reality Checks throughout the day, and while this may be better than nothing, they certainly would be more effective if done in a state of deep relaxation so that they were more in the order of Post Hypnotic Suggestions.
That must be one of the few LD techniques I haven't tried yet. I'll try it tonight and see what happens. If it works and I can even remember one dream then thank you very much, I've only ever had one LD before and can rarely even remember any non lucid ones.Quote:
Originally posted by Leo Volont+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Leo Volont)</div><!--QuoteBegin-Leo VolontQuote:
You can load these 'suggestions' into your mind by relaxing several times a day and 'daydreaming' how you would have made the dream different. Thinking and imagining while one is relaxed is a very close thing to Self-Hypnotism.[/b]
Oh, and if you would like to Lucid Dream, this would also be a good idea. A lot of people do Reality Checks throughout the day, and while this may be better than nothing, they certainly would be more effective if done in a state of deep relaxation so that they were more in the order of Post Hypnotic Suggestions.
I have dreamed that I cut myself once. I sliced the inside of my arm right from elbow to wrist.
It didn't concern me because the feelings in the dream were not ones related to self-harm. That would have worried me.
I personally find that the feeling of a dream is more significant than the subject itself, so this is the best thing for you to consider. It is likely nothing to do with literally harming yourself.
I'm no expert, but I've always thought that it had something to do about being able to change reality, or physics within a dream. Something about the a dream persona that likes change.
I've had dreams were I was driving and purposely crashed the car. I've also had dreams were I purposely fell off some height. Then many accidental occurances, like falling, etc.
In my opinion, self harm could be a representation of either anger/sadness with some aspect or life. But also remember dreams don't always have a purpose. Many dreams are just random.
I had a dream exactly like this only a few weeks ago.
Here is a copy of my journal entry and the explanation that I found:
u][b]Non lucid - 30/01/06
I dreamt that I was sitting on my bed holding a knife.
I began cutting (self harming) myself, I dont do this in the waking world!
I made several long cuts on my right fore arm.
I could feel some sort of pain but it was like a relief at the same time.
I remember thinking why am I doing this and I remember it felt wrong but kind of right .
That is all I can remember of it.
I looked up the meaning of this on a dream interpretation site and it said that I was going through some immense emotional turmoil and that I needed to resolve my issues.
Another site said that I had some self destructive elements in my life that were hurting me and I needed to identify these and put a stop to them.
Hope this helps, and at the very least you know your not the only person out there who dreams of such things.
The only thing I can think that is harmful in my life is the fact that I smoke every day, ciggies and the rest.
The only turmoil I am going through at the moment is problems with my motorbike (not starting, making me late for work daily) and the fact that I was in the process of booking a holiday for myself and my girl friend and couldn't decide where to go.
Quote:
Originally posted by King GEO+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(King GEO)</div>Well unfortunately (not for me though :-P) none of those things apply to my life at the moment. There's absolutely nothing wrong with my life at the moment, emotional of otherwise, not even any minor problems that i can think of. In fact, i think im probably the happiest ive ever been as far as i can remember :DQuote:
I looked up the meaning of this on a dream interpretation site and it said that I was going through some immense emotional turmoil and that I needed to resolve my issues. *
Another site said that I had some self destructive elements in my life that were hurting me and I needed to identify these and put a stop to them. [/b]
So sorry to dissappoint you King GEO, but i think i agree with Valvo:
<!--QuoteBegin-Valvo
But also remember dreams don't always have a purpose. Many dreams are just random.
Oh yes, that's definately another thing you should consider. Last night I had a dream involving a giant, green, flying tennis racket. I'm not even going to bother translating that!Quote:
Originally posted by Valvo
But also remember dreams don't always have a purpose. Many dreams are just random.
Anyway, could you have possibly been thinking about cutting when you went to sleep. Maybe a movie you saw or something? Have you been upset about something lately? Maybe that would cause it.
I had a dream that I got killed via a throwing knife! It happened 10 times at least!
Why would I be disappointed Beardo you weirdo!Quote:
Originally posted by Beardo
Your dream, your interpretation!
you have regret for something stupid you did that embarresed you :P
Dream Personalities do seem separate than Waking, but don't take this lightly. Your dream character is based on your subconscious. That means that some desires and curiousities do translate.