Having nightmares regularly?
It’s often more than just ‘bad dreams’.
Nightmares are one of the most common signs of unresolved trauma.
But even beyond that, they’re often a signal – a desperate cry from a part of your subconscious that can’t get through to you in waking life.
So it tries to get your attention while you sleep.
Sometimes quietly.
Sometimes violently.
Sometimes with recurring themes you can’t explain.
When I first treated my PTSD, the nightmares stopped.
They used to be constant.
But once I processed the trauma? They became rare – extremely rare.
That shift changed my life. Being able to sleep without fear is something I’ll never take for granted.
Which is why I was surprised when nightmares crept back in over the last few weeks.
They weren’t terrifying, but they were… unsettling. I’d wake up stressed. Uncertain. Like something else was trying to break through.
But this time, I didn’t panic.
I’ve been here before.
I know what to do.
So today, I brought it to my therapist – someone who works in a similar way to me.
And we found a part of me I hadn’t spoken to in 18 years.
A part that formed during a really tough time… and never stopped preparing for the worst.
They thought an apocalypse was coming.
They were still protecting younger family members. Still waiting for danger.
When I was finally able to show them that the danger was long gone, that we’d made it through – it hit like a tidal wave.
I sobbed. Hard.
On and off. All day.
Because that part of me was finally, finally released.
Out of the prison of crisis and panic they’d been trapped in for nearly two decades.
Tonight, I know I’m going to sleep differently.
Lighter.
Freer.
Safe.
So I want to ask you:
👉 Do you have regular nightmares?
👉 Are there patterns or themes you’ve noticed?
Comment below – I’d love to hear.
Because your subconscious isn’t trying to torture you.
It’s trying to talk to you.
And when you finally listen… the relief is beyond words.