Why do people have childhood dreams that disappear with age?

Question

Is there any particular psychological reason that people have childhood dreams that they stop having as they get older? When I was still a child (between the age of 3-10, I think), I had several childhood nightmares that I had quite often. However, these ceased to exist as I grew older, and by the age of 11-12 I didn't even have them anymore. But why?

I would give you a description of my childhood nightmares if it would help you answer my question, but I really don't want this to get too long-winded XD

Answer 1

I'm not an expert for sure! However I believe that as we actually experience things we feared as little children and we survive them----they no longer hold the boogie man power over us they once did.

Answer 2

As you mature and begin to separate fantasy from reality, so do your dreams. Nightmares are quite common in children, just like belief in fairies, ghosts and monsters. Lots of things in childhood disappear with age. Unfortunately, we can't retain the child-like wonder of the world, the firm, unlined skin, the luxuriant and shining hair, the glorious anticipation of the new day -- but thankfully, we don't keep the sleep goblins either. I hope this helps you keep things in perspective.

Answer 3

Well, I'm with you. I'd like to know the answer to that too. But for a different reason. I had these two nightmares, all the time when I was a kid. Like you, as I got older, mine disappeared, with one big difference. After the death of my parents, one of them came back. Same dream. I always attributed not having the nightmares to getting older, getting smarter, more mature, etc.
(the nightmare I had that came back was riding in the backseat of a car with my parents in the front seat, riding along all normal, then me looking up and seeing a steel wall ahead on the road, and my dad driving along and them laughing and talking and not seeing it. I'd always wake up just as I'd scream in my dream as we were about to hit it).
So I'm not so sure about the getting older and wiser theory anymore. In my case, I'm sure my parents having died 9 months apart helped to trigger that same old nightmare coming back, but who knows for sure?

Answer 4

That is easy....the older you get the wiser you get.
Your nightmares were really your way of dealing with the unknown or at the time your fears.
I used to dream my parents died...and then when I had kids they too had the same dreams until the turned a corner and then the dreams took on their wishes...a pony etc..
Wait until you start having dreams that you gave birth to puppies!!!!