WEIRD DREAMS

[ALPHA4]

I was just wondering if I was the only L.E.O. that has dreams of fighting and shooting at the bad guys...and when I go to punch one, my arm goes limp!! Worse yet, in my dreams sometimes, I'm in the middle of one hellacious fire fight and I pull the trigger, hear the "BANG" and watch the bullet just roll out of the end of my barrell and fall on the ground!! Wonder what causes that...maybe I should go to a dream interpretation web-site, LOL.

[sergeant_*11]

Alpha,

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger on this one, I have had several of these dreams and I have never won the first one. I have even had a couple where the weapon melted or fell apart in my hand when I pulled the trigger.
Can't explain it , ABSOLUTELY hate it though.

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B-Blue/Brown
U-Uniforms
S-Standing
T-Together

[tcsd1236]

They are very common. Several LEO texts have discussed the issue of dreams , especially in the context of post-critical incidents.

[blondie72]

There are two ways to approach this problem; and often what works best is a combination of both.

Often, people find that there is a familiar sequence of dream events or feelings that lead up to the onset of the nightmare.

During your waking hours- try to train your conscious mind that you WILL recognize this sequence of events next time it occurs in dream state. Tell yourself over and over again: "Next time the dream begins, i WILL recognize it. I CAN control the consequences and outcome of my dreams"

If you can insert that critical moment of conscious recognition- instead of lapsing into full dream state- you may be able to utilize a lucid dream; and maybe even have a little fun with it.

For instance: i used to have a recurring nightmare from childhood that i was being persued by oozing zombies whose sole purpose was to disembowel and devour me.

During my college years, as i learned about dream interpretation and analytical therapy; i decided to test out the lucid dreaming technique for myself. I told myself that i would recognize that same feeling of dread and fear that always accompanied the dream. One night, as i was running away from the zombies; i suddenly stopped and thought to myself: "Hey, i know this dream!". Then i stopped running, turned around to the zombies (who had also stopped running) and said to them "Who are you?". They looked at each other for a second, and shrugged. Then they turned to me and said "Guilt, i guess". That was my waking moment, and i recall thinking that the zombies had looked a little sheepish or embarrassed at the end of the dream. I realized what i was feeling guilty about- and i never had that nightmare again.

The second way to approach the problem is therapy. Are these dreams that you are having only occasionally recurring, or are they persistent? If they are persistent- you may want to think about trying analytical/ interpretive therapy. Once the root cause of the dream is identified- it should disappear.

Just an idea off the top of my head: it sounds like the dreams you both describe may be a manifestation of work- related stress. It is VITALLY important that an LEO take FULL control over every situation that they are called to- otherwise the consequences could be dire- for themselves, or any third party involved.

This really is an ENORMOUS amount of pressure and responsibility for any human being to be under- to have to be fully in control of every situation; at all times. Sometimes- no matter how hard you try- it may just be impossible to take effective control; and then what happens? It's no wonder so many officers suffer from anxiety, depression, and burn- out.

Nightmares are usually messages from your sub- conscious, alerting you to something about your state of mind. Hope this helps a bit http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by blondie72 (edited 04-14-2001).]

[Buddingnovelist]

Alpha, email me

cmapham@aol.com

[Sandy]

Performance Anxiety.

[Don]

Ok, since this is a thread about dreams, let me tell you one of mine. I started having this recurring night mare right after I started in LE. It would come to me several times a year and continued for many years.

The nightmare itself was that I was in a restaurant/bar combination. The tavern portion of this building had a bar with sort of a

[blondie72]

I remember we discussed prerecognition on the "police psychics" thread.

I think your dream was prerecognition, Don http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif

[DMS 525]

I had this strange dream once; I dreamed I was a loss prevention officer in a grocery store, when I caught this low life stealing everything he could get his hands on. As I busted him, he screamed for his friends to save him, and I was being chased by a pack of about 20 low lifes throughout the store! I ran fron aisle to aisle, but they kept after me(I never was much of a runner). As I rounded a corner, I grabbed and knocked down a big display of cooking oil, and it splattered everywhere. As I looked back, the dirtbags were after me, and then slipped and fell like crazy; looked like a 3 Stooges movie!
I woke myself up laughing like a crazy hyena; my wife thought I had lost my mind! I then explained the situation to her, and she thought it was rather hilarious, too!

[Valor55]

I've had dreams where I unload an entire magazine into someone and they don't even flinch, and keep coming. Same with pepper spray. More frequently though I do kill them and then nobody believes me and I'm all stressed out trying convince people I was justified. In general I'd say I have a greater fear of the media hyenas and bureaucrats who would feed us to the meat grinder than back us up on a judgement call than I do of being killed in the line of duty.

[Signal-1]

tcsd is correct and I wish I could remember the text I saw it in. I do believe Caliber Press was teaching alittle about this in their Street Survival Seminars.

Like many, my dreams on occassion would have one of two things happen when I fire my weapon at a person shooting at me.

1) The bullet would drop out of the barrel or go very slow, like slow motion.
2) It was near impossible to squeeze the trigger, having to use two fingers from each hand to fire it.

Stay Safe!

[GDenman]

Me, too. I've had dreams where I've shot at people point blank & they didn't stop or hit people & they didn't budge or tried to shoot & the gun wouldn't fire. It's strange but it's a just a dream. I wouldn't put too much stock in it.

I have had recurring dreams involving Frankenstein where I know I should not go into the dark room & I know what's in there but I do it anyway.

There might be some explanation to them but it's beyond me. I've had situations that, when it happens, I believe I've dreamed it beforehand.

Dreams are wierd. I'm still trying to remember all the details of the one with Kathy Ireland & the whipped cream.

[Don]

Originally posted by GDenman:
I'm still trying to remember all the details of the one with Kathy Ireland & the whipped cream.

Hey GD,

If your lucky maybe this one is precognition! http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Who is General Failure and why is he reading my hard disk?
6P1 (retired)

[Mr.Orange]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Signal-1:
2) It was near impossible to squeeze the trigger, having to use two fingers from each hand to fire it.

I have had a similar dream like this also, I beleieve I read somewhere that this is a common type dream for LEO's.

I also have had dreams that I was making love to two beautiful woman and.....oops http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif thats for another thread....I must be dreaming again. http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by Mr.Orange (edited 04-16-2001).]

[Sparky]

yep, performance anxiety.

the residual stress and worry over the possibility of being hurt or failing to protect someone else.

Mine always involved my failing to perform with a partner or civilian being hurt as a result...like, if I don't get this guy he's gonna shoot my partner...then my gun doesn't work...guy kills me and I'm dying scared that my partner (or whoever) is also gonna die as a result.

I don't know who said that you can't dream that you die in a dream or else you wake up or actually die in real life. i've dreamed that i've died probably hundreds of times.

Blondie's advice on lucid dreaming is right on. Sounds kinda mumbo jumbo but I swear that it's not. Once you get the hang of it, you can really have alot of fun with it. There have been a few times where my wife has woke me up because I was laughing in my sleep!!

Of course there are still some times when I wake up with a scream too, though.

The dreams that take a while are okay, I can pretty much control those, but often I have dreams that are just brief terror filled instants. literally just a flash...and I don't have time to exert any control over them.

like instead of all the events leading up to getting shot...it's just a flash of the gun in my face and BOOM!

i don't get stressed about this stuff...it's normal...just some subconscious anxiety about worrying about what COULD happen...

every now and then I have a bad dream, but I guess I got used to it a while ago. I just lay back down and go to sleep. It's pretty rare that they keep me up afterwards. Usually, if this does happen, it coincides with a recent increase in stress.

But, really, do check out the lucid dreaming thing...it's kinda cool.

Also, when I had a problem with this a long time ago....i kept a log of the dreams. As soon as i woke up...i jotted them down....man it all sounded strange the next day..

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-Sparky

[Sparky]

Oh yeah...if you do get into the lucid dreaming and talking to the "monsters" and stuff...be ready for some disturbing stuff.

I've had similar experiences as blondie..some of the texts I read suggested this, but of course in the context that you would go back and tell your therapist what they said....i, of course, didn't have a therpaist, just a library card,....

now it could be a little of the so-called "sophomore psychsosis" (suggestion), but if you read all of this pschological stuff and then ask your dream antagonist who or what they are...they can tell you some way out stuff such as "we are the embodiment of your fears of not living up to your fathers expectations and being discovered as a fraud because you are just a big liar!"

Now...was that a true epiphany...or did they just say that because you were reading about it???

anyway...i just wanted to add that..the lucid dreaming stuff is good to get control fo the nightmares and you can even get to where you pick which dreams you're goona have like flying around the grand conyon...but when you get into some of the other stuff like having an internal dialog with the dream manifestations...it's probably best not to go it alone.


(Blondie...don't read anything into the fact that i'm not capitalizing my "i's" here...im just typing kinda fast!!!!)

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-Sparky

[blondie72]

You are sooo spot on, there Sparky.

Lucid dreaming technique is really valuable when used in a combination with interperative/ analytical therapy. Otherwise; as you stated- there is a danger that a person will be open to suggestion, and misinterpretation. Another thing that happens is that sometimes an individual will be able to change the consequences of one nightmare- but because the root cause of the problem has not been treated- it will merely manifest itself in another nightmare/ waking anxiety. Like you said; it is also helpful for a therapist if immeadiately upon waking, a person can jot down what they have dreamed; and how the dream made them feel.

Sparky, i once made the mistake of getting over- confident about lucid dreaming; and i was not seeing an analyst at the time. Again, i was being persued by some type of monster. Again; i turned around to confront it. When i asked it who it was- it turned turned to me in rage and physically nearly bit my darn head off! (LOL)


[This message has been edited by blondie72 (edited 04-16-2001).]

[Sparky]

Oh yeah, that's happened to me a bunch of times!

I turn around and start to try to "do my thing", but it just goes right ahead on anyway. But it's cool! I realized that I don't have to die! It's MY dream. I just keep trying.

I get eaten by a tiger. there I am in the tiger.....ripping my way out from the inside....or maybe getting comfortable enjoying the womb like warmth....playing it's ribs like a xylaphone(sp?0

Once you really get it into your head that it isn't real...it doesn't bother you (except of course the ones that are so quick you don't have time)

I didn't mention this before (hmmm,interesting..I wonder why it didn't come to mind)

BUT...every now and then I have..they're not really dreams, but...it's a feeling of anxiety or danger like something bad is gonna happen and I need to wake up, but I'm frozen and can't move

It's like no matter how hard i try..I just can't wake up. I try to concentrate real hard, but It's like part of me just does not respond.

it's really horrible


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-Sparky

[blondie72]

Originally posted by Sparky: It's like no matter how hard i try..I just can't wake up. I try to concentrate real hard, but It's like part of me just does not respond.

Oh yes! I often have this. Sometimes; because of a feeling of dread or anxiety, i try to force myself awake- only to "wake" into another dream. Then another after that. It's very stressful.

This usually happens to me when i am feeling overwhelmed or not in control of my life. At times when i feel unable to physically or emotionally shoulder all my responsibilies.






[This message has been edited by blondie72 (edited 04-16-2001).]

[SpecOpsWarrior]

I to have had some bizarre dreams since becoming a LEO, some involve my job others are typical dreams. I have noticed that as my stress level increases I have the falling dream more often. I'm not very familiar with dream interpratation so I'm not really sure what it means. Anyone else out there have this dream?

[Mitzi]

I have been dreaming a lot...REALLY weird dreams...Last night, I had a dream that we had a baby girl. I came home from the hospital without her. We couldn't decide on a name. We couldn't go pick her up because my husband was busy incubating eggs with soap???????? TOO WEIRD! And one egg had a snake and TWO turtles in it! And, we never went to pick the baby up nor did we name her!
I mean WEIRD dreams!

[Wannabe2000]

I have funny dreams too and I'm not even a cop yet. I've had the dreams where my gun doesn't work but I think the worst dream is the one where you shoot the bad guy but he/she keeps on coming!!
Just last night I had a bad one. I was in my home, alone, and this thing starts breaking down my door. I run to my gun safe, unlock it, and pull out my brand new .44 magnum lever action rifle. The only problem is that there's this huge hole in the receiver so the gun won't work!!!
Then there is the other dream where I have a gun but all the ammo I find isn't the right size or shape!
But any way those are my dreams. I have to find a way to some how transport a Glock 21 into my dreams, then my problems will be solved.

[blondie72]

SpecOps: The falling dream is a common one, i sometimes have it too. Often it's related to stress, anxiety or uncertainty issues http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif

Mitzi: I have the baby dreams often, too. Sometimes, baby dreams are related to projects or life events. Do you feel this could be related to your husbands work situation?

[josephjrr]

Blondie72

I had a dream about death which is very unusual being that I never dreamed I died before.

I was on this strange airplane that took off on a ramp going up into the sky instead of using a landing strip. When the plane reached the end it just went straight down instead continuing on into the sky. There was a sudden time gap and I "woke up" in a wierd type of etheral world. We were still on the plane but the plane was "floating" right above the treetops. I started talking to the passenger next to me to figure out what happened. I told him the last thing I remember was going straight down. Then I figured it out. I told him we must be dead!!!
I went and looked at the other passengers. They looked awfully strange. They started to line up by the forse of some invisible hand as if they were about to face thier judgement....and that is the end.

[Sparky]

So, what was the in-flight movie?

Airport?

HA! I crack myself up! http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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-Sparky

[Don]

josephjrr,

Two questions here.

1) Did you ever wake up?

2) Are you still with us?

Well,ok three questions

3) Will you forgive Sparky and I for being smartazzes?

Seriously, I don't know what Blondie's response to this will be, but shoot if it is only a one time dream, I would not be concerned about it. IMHO it is the re-occurring dreams that hold a lot of meaning. (Speaking as one who really has NO idea what he is talking about here) http://www.officer.com/ubb/redface.gif



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**Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.**
6P1 (retired)

[Neltja]

I believe it was in 1996 when I dreamed about an airliner that crashed into an area where there was a lot of water. I saw bodies everywhere, the colors and also the number of the plane. A couple days later I saw the same scene on the news.

I also dream I am flying but without an airplne. It's a blast!!!

Nell

[WannaBeCopper]

One thing for sure is that your all weird!!! http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Actually, the funny thing is, that the dreams your having on the average, don't last more than 3 seconds each. Thats weird. Each dream I have seems to last the whole night. Sometimes you only have one or a couple dreams on a night, but they say the dream you remember is the last one before a person wakes up. I beleive no matter how important the dream may be, it has some kind of meaning that pertains to your everyday life.

[blondie72]

Hi Joseph,

First of all: DON'T WORRY, this is not some type of portent http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif

It is common that images of airplanes, and even death actually symbolize CHANGE. Is there some type of upheaval going on in your life at the moment? Are you changing jobs? Or moving cities? Is there some type of upheaval going on in your family life?

Either way, don't be nervous- it sounds to me very much like an ANXIETY dream. The dream is loaded with religious symbolism, because you are a religious person, and this is how your mind is choosing to communicate this message to you.

Again, I know very little about your personal situation; but I will hazard a wild guess. I believe that there is some type of change ahead for you? And that the feeling of being "judged" is a manifestation of stress. You may be wondering if you are up to facing the challenges ahead.

If you can think of any life events you feel this may be connected to- that would be very beneficial for you. Once you realize the root cause for your anxiety and uncertainty- you can learn to manage it better. Remember, you can always talk to family, and friends. The more you communicate, the deeper inside yourself you will be able to reach for the answers you need. If you are feeling overwhelmed, or exhausted- you may want to consider therapy.

Please let me know if I can be of any help http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif

[josephjrr]

reply to DON

1. Yes I woke up.

2. Yes I am still with yah.

3. No I will NOT forgive Sparky

4. Disregard answer #3...just kidding http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

reply to Blondie72

While I do not put much stock into dream analysis as they could mean anything I do still make a personal note of all my dreams.
Sounds contradictory? I don't know.
I do think paying attention to dreams is part of an overall gameplan to become more intuitive as a law enforcement job DEPENDS on it.

Every since the academy I have been applying techniques off and on to increase intuitiveness. I'll be in a grocery store or anywhere and I'll just pick a person, look at them, try to remember SMALL DETAILS, and then size the person up. Or I'll just stop and size up a particular situation or enviornment just to get a "feeling". Its not hocus pocus or ESP or anything. Its just what it is.

Ok lemme stop rambling on about that and back to the dream. I totally agree with your interpretation blondie. I am facing an upcoming background investigation for a PD I applied with. My military enlistment is about to end and as well. I am very very anxious over it as any of you who have been through the process know. So, you may be right on the money blondie.

BTW....what makes you think I am religious? Just curious?

[Sotex]

Back to precognition.
A good friend's father is a retired city cop. He had a dream one night where he made a traffic stop, and the driver pulled a .357 Magnum out of a shoulder holster and killed him.
Next day on duty-same vehicle, same violation. As he approaches the car, notices the same driver in the same clothes. Draws weapon and takes driver out at gunpoint. Yup, driver had a .357 Magnum in a shoulder rig. Driver told him that if he'd gotten a chance, he would have shot him, and asked how he knew. Friend's father just smiled. I think he had the shakes for a while after, though.

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God, I love my job!-Porthos

[josephjrr]

This may be a dumb question but is a precognitive dream PC? Seriously? How would you justify it in court?

[Don]

You might NOT be able to justify it in court. However in this case, the officer went home alive at the end of his shift. That is what it is all about!

You are not going to get a conviction on every arrest that you make. (You won't even get prosecution on some of them.) You just wait for the next time around.

You do your job to the BEST of your ability. Then if things go south in court you have a choice. You can stress out and let it drive you nuts, or you can be philosophical about it. We do not really have a

[blondie72]

Hi Joseph,

I am glad that you practice intuitiveness techniques, and that you jot your dreams down. All of these excercises will increase you capacity for self- analysis; also help you evaluate, and take effective control of your environment.

I must admit that I assumed you were a religious person, from reading you posts on "Drug Laws". I guessed you are a person with a heightened sense of responsibility; and you have a strong moral value system. Usually, I have encountered this in people who (if not actively religious themselves), are from a solid, religious background. However, I ought to know better than to "fill in the blanks", if I don't have all the data to hand- so I apologize for my "leap of faith" (no pun intended http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif )

I am very glad that I could be of assistance in helping you interpret your dream, and I want to wish you the BEST of luck with getting hired at the PD you applied for! http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Kelly_431]

Last night I dreamed that I was ticketed for an illegal lane change - guess I better watch my driving! http://www.officer.com/ubb/tongue.gif http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I knew where I was (and unfortunately I have to drive through there later) and I recognized the sgt. that was there. Why there were three cops on a routine traffic stop I'll never know...



[This message has been edited by Kelly_431 (edited 05-02-2001).]

[Jim]

When I was a child I read an article that said that you could control your dreams. I caught on to that quick, and soon learned to enjoy even the most bizarre nightmares (I was always a fan of the horror flicks).

When I'm dreaming, I almost always know that it's a dream and can stay in control of it.

After I became a cop, I occasionally would dream that I needed to shoot someone and the trigger had a 150 LB. pull on it. When I finally manage to squeeze the trigger, the bullets come out like spit balls. If these dreams last more than a few seconds, I figure out it's a dream and suddenly that trigger pulls real easy. Those dreams don't bother me much, but....

Last nightmare I had, about a week ago, was a brand new one. I dreamt I was doing an armed robbery of some kind of resteraunt, along with two or three acomplices, whom I did not know. The thought that I was a cop and dreaming never entered my mind. The dream skipped ahead from the robbery right to being sentenced to major prison time. I was pleading for mercy and swearing to God that I was innocent, knowing that I was guilty all the time. I woke up with my heart pounding, and was stressed for most of the morning. Can't remember being bothered by a dream like that since I was a kid. The weirdest part of it is that it seemed like a really long dream, and I never figured out that I was dreaming, like I usually do.