Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi everyone :) I have a question about dreams.
Aside from having autism, I also have a number of mental health issues like depression and complex PTSD so I don't know if this is a ND thing, a trauma thing, or just a 'me' thing, but does anyone else have the most intense, wild and lingering dreams?
Often my dreams are extremely distressing and I can clearly delineate these as PTSD type dreams because of the content/themes, etc. However a lot of the time my dreams are just hyper-realistic and extremely rich/detailed but non-scary. I wonder if this is a ND thing? It is like a whole new paradigm is created in the hours I am asleep, the people I meet aren't 1 dimensional, they have history and true, textured lives. I don't forget these dreams once I wake up, I can ruminate upon them for days and days because of the way they seem so realistic. In some ways, I wonder at time if the dreams are actually more like hallucinations? (even thought I haven't necessarily taken any drugs before sleeping).
Sometimes I also have lucid dreaming but this is usually when I am having to escape a scary or threatening situation. My father (also autistic) has these lucid dreams - often within which we are both able to fly.
My mum says she doesn't think she dreams really - which i find deeply, deeply frightening.
Anyway, just wanted to share and see what people think!
My recent dreams are all about work. I'm coming towards the end of my six month probation period as a bus driver. I keep having dreams that I'm turning up to work late which is annoying as in reality I get into work 30 minutes early to ease any anxiety of even getting close to being late. But when you are deep in a dream and cannot snap out of it, it's so frustrating and upsetting, but also such a relief when I wake up.
Maybe it's because I have my six month review approaching and my mind is going into over drive I don't know? I just want to get past this stage with a flying flag saying well done