Recently I've been having a dream re-living a traumatic incident I witnessed as a child?

Question

When I was about 6 or 7, I saw a traffic accident where a man on a motorcycle got hit by a car in a parking lot, and as he was lying on the pavement, I actually saw the life leave his body - he just got this vacant stare as he was looking in my direction (maybe at me?). I haven't seen any accidents other than fender benders, or anything else traumatic recently. What could trigger these dreams? They're getting really disturbing.

For those who are wondering, I'm in my early 40s, and these dreams are recent. I'm not waking up in fear, I'm just waking up with a overall depressed feeling about it.

Answer 1

I f your are stress or anxious about a situation it could be the reason Also if you have a child about the same age as when you saw this tragic accident unconsciously you are afraid that your child can witness something similar to yours

Answer 2

I think the reason why you continue to have this dream is because it is hard to see someone die. Many of the soldiers coming home tell stories of seeing the bodies and faces of the dead they left behind in Iraq when they sleep. Death is not something that anyone who's sane can just see and forget about. I think you dream about the death of this man, because you fear the thought of taking his place. I mean, you know you'll day someday, but you fear death, which is the reason why you constantly relive his death in your dreams.

Answer 3

You keep dreaming about this because you have been traumatized by it. It keeps coming up because it hasn't been processed and hasn't been transferred from your short term memory into your long term memory. I would guess that times of stress probably make it worse.

Anyway, to fix it, you need to talk about it and then talk about it some more. Gets some counseling. Most importantly, see your pastor for some intensive prayer.

Answer 4

You don't say how old you are now. 6 is really young to cope with something like that. It may be that you managed to bury it, and now that you are older you are more ready to look at it, and work out the trauma of it in your dreams. It could have been triggered by something, or it could just be that you have matured to a place where you are more willing to look at it, and work out the trauma...........