Dreams, sadness and bereavement

[thetemptationofchocolate]

Like so many others I have had a difficult time lately.
There have been deaths - friends, and family. My best friend has been taken ill and it's life-changing.
I'm not doing as badly as I had feared I would but each new blow chips away at my hold on life a little bit more and I don't want to sink into the pit. I'm finding that I am not refreshed by sleep, I don't remember details from my dreams but I remember the feel of them and they are bleak.
When I wake up in the morning I feel drained by it all, and often am in tears. If I didn't have my pets I would not get out of bed at all, but they need feeding so up I get. Once I am up & about for a bit things get slightly better and I find that by bedtime my mood has lifted a little. But then there is more dreaming, and I get terribly sad again.
Dreams don't usually have this effect on me, mostly I don't remember anything about them, but these are different and it's bothering me a bit. I don't know much about the study of dreams - maybe someone here could help me with what is going on here? And if anyone had any ideas on how to influence dreams I'd be very interested to read them.

Hi OP. I tend to pay attention to my seas especially if they’re recurring and/or I have an emotional reaction to them as to me it’s my subconscious processing and there’s information in there I find helpful. Rather than push them away or try to change them I wonder if it’s worth thinking about your dreams a bit more? You could start by keeping a notebook and pen by your bed and write anything you remember as soon as you wake. It might just be a sensation or feeling at first, but in time it may help you remember more of your dreams. I guess it depends if you think dreams have meaning and want to work with them.

I’m sorry you are going through these losses, it sounds really hard

Your dreams could be a way of processing grief and difficult emotions perhaps, especially if you’re not able to give these space while awake? So it could be a necessary and ultimately helpful thing.

I have no experience in this beyond what’s helped me so sorry if none of this is helpful, but I think if you want to understand your dreams taking steps to remember more of them would be a good place to start.

Thank you, I will certainly give it a try. You are right about not having much time to deal with it while I'm awake. I'll dig out my bedside notebook and start writing it all down.