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The nightmares are not a good time, nope. Focus less on their content. Your brain does weird things when you're asleep. Try to look into your waking life for answers. For me they're a sign of anxiety and that I need to address something.
I agree, dreams seem to be the subconscious' way of trying to process emotionally charged situations from your waking life. But not having language, it can only process things through visual/narrative metaphors.
May also help if you try to discuss your dreams, maybe some fresh eyes can offer new perspectives!
Even if I could find the language to describe them, which is frustratingly insufficient, I mostly would prefer not to verbalize details. I have found more comfort in focusing on the feelings they elicit. No one can see those dreams, and I'm glad for it.
It's like how your left and right brain are like two different personalities. One lacks language, so it it expresses itself through imagery. The symbols aren't as important as the message: I'm scared.
Fair enough, I'm sorry they are visceral enough to give you pause...
In my case, I've found that focusing on specific metaphors has also helped me narrow down specific stressors from my waking life, kinda' like adding more nuance to said overall feelings. But we even dream in different ways from one person to the next, so...
Exactly like that, maybe I can lean into the metaphors more because I've always been artistically inclined, so I tend to think a lot in abstracts. Thank you for this rabbit hole (seriously)!
And I can certainly relate to that sentiment... I'm feeling claustrophobic for the first time in my life and it's entirely related to the state of the world...