Abuse

Dreaming and meanings of Abuse

Abuse Dream Meaning

To dream of abuse suggests that your sense of well being has been violated and that your belief's in life may be questioned. This dream signifies that people around you will require your help.

Dreams have meaning and can be somewhat disturbing. Equally, we can turn to Sigmund Freud who believed that dreams are “our mind ways of dumping all the information that we receive in the day.“ You must remember that some dreams appear to be completely random. Therefore, dreaming of abuse can be quite a strong nightmare and could be triggered by a news story or even something on TV in the day such as an argument. The only way to deal with your dream is to figure out and understand your own physiologists that can affect your fears, moods and general behaviors.

In dreams, we sometimes have a startling vision of abuse. Any pattern of behavior that harms another person physically, emotionally, or sexually is abuse. A person can be abused verbally, psychologically, physically, sexually, financially, or spiritually, and in dreams this is reflective of your relationships in real life.

Yelling and name calling are forms of verbal abuse that undermine someone's self-esteem and confidence, and in dreams this can indicate that you have to manage problems. My thought process is that this can indicate controlling and manipulative behaviors in waking life. Remember, psychological abuse essentially undermines someone's sense of independence and autonomy. An act of physical abuse is any act of violence or physical aggression directed at another person, such as hitting, kicking, pushing, slapping, or choking. Unwanted sexual contact or activity such as rape and incest constitute sexual abuse which in dreams can be disturbing. Ask yourself: Why am I in this situation? This can help pinpoint why you are feeling this way. Why did you have this dream? What is the dream trying to say to me personally? This dream is about inviting these feelings the morning after. 

Also remember: attempts to manipulate another person's spiritual beliefs, values, or practices are considered spiritual abuse. Isolating someone from their spiritual community or pressuring them to follow certain religious tenets and practices they do not agree with may be part of this pressure. As well as belittling someone's faith or beliefs, spiritual abuse can also include intimidating and manipulating them with spiritual symbols, these could have occurred in your dream and can indicate that you need to focus on what is important to you.

If in the dream you are the victim of abuse this can indicate anxiety, depression, shame, guilt, and anger can result as a result of it. 

Why did you have this dream?

Indeed, if you suffered from a harsh environment or neglect in the past then these types of dreams could be your own inner regulation of anxiety. We always try to maximize our own survival and the dream system can sometimes come into play to underpin them. As I have already mentioned the function of the parent is to protect the young and make infants feel safe, the more secure our children feel the better. However, if you have been mistreated as a child then your hopes and aspirations will be to ensure that your adult life (and your family) will not suffer. Somewhere along the line, things can trigger these types of dreams. It might simply be a lack of support in real life.

What does it mean to dream of physical abuse?

Physical abuse in dreams can be quite traumatic. Psychoanalysts often interpret dreams of physical abuse by partners in as a disguised repressed desire for acceptance from society. If you have ever been subjected to abuse in waking life it is not uncommon to dream of a physical encounter. In order to analyze this dream further as yourself the following questions:

  • Why has the physical abuse occurred in the dream and by whom?
  • Can you identify the person or thing that is abusing you?
  • Are there any people or things in your life that are like the person showing you physical abuse in your dreams?
  • Is there any place in your life that you feel exactly the same as in the dream (hurt, paralyzed, beaten up, frozen, etc.)
  • Can you think of a similar situation?
  • How can you free yourself from fear or control of another person?

Some dreams of violence or physical abuse do not reflect actual abuse in our lives. However, our dream state can often be indicative of conflict that may arise in waking life. To help you recognize the signs that you are feeling in waking life think about the physical abuse in the dream. Were you held down, violated, or attacked at work or in your personal relationships? This will help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and the situation to the dream refers to. The way you respond to or deal with the attack will help you see a similar situation in your own life, this can sometimes be the reason for this dream to occur.

What does it mean to dream of verbal abuse?

In dreams, hearing verbal abuse is usually a sign that we must grow. This dream can imply problems with your relationships may indicate that you need to work on them personally. Consider your own dreams in life. You need to nurture yourself and not let other people abuse you. A verbal abuser in a dream uses words to control and hurt another person. An abuser may use such words to control other people and manipulate them into doing something they don't want to do. The victims of verbal abuse are often humiliated by insults, criticism, ridicule, and name-calling, if you experienced this in a dream this can indicate that there are times you maybe angry. It is about making it to the other side. 

Similarly. Remember this when you have had a dream someone has abused you verbally. Abusers often abuse others because they feel insecure or have personal issues they are dealing with. As a result, the person feels small and powerless, which can be used to control them. Abuse can also stem from a sense of entitlement or superiority, in which the abuser feels justified in their actions. The question here is who is abusing you in life.

People's self-esteem and emotional wellbeing can be greatly affected by verbally abusive behaviors. In the dream may feel isolated, worthless, helpless, and ashamed. Due to their experiences, they may also experience depression or anxiety.

Verbal abuse can be viewed as a form of energy that is used to manipulate and control another person. By doing this, you're trying to take away the other person's power and make them feel insignificant or small. In addition to low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness, this energy can contribute to low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness in the victim.

In any dream, verbal abuse is unacceptable, and it can have severe consequences for the victim. It is also important to remember that you are not to blame for the abuse and that staying in an abusive situation is never okay. It is possible to regain control over your life by seeking help. If you dream that someone is abusing you in the dream verbally this indicates that you need more focus on yourself so you can paint a picture of how you feel. To see other people being abused in a dream verbally then this can indicate that your mind prodding you to think about the relationships around you. 

What does it mean to dream of sexual abuse?

If you were sexually abused in the dream this could be connected to our own attachment bond that you have with your parents. At times this can mean that we have to deal with pain (which is hidden in our dreams) and be a witness to the phenomena that occur while we sleep can leave us worrying in the morning. When we wake we try to make sense of it and these types of dreams can be heightened at times of fear or anxiety. In other words, the intensity of these nightmares can be a reflection of our own mental state.

From a spiritual perspective, a childhood memory in a dream opens the road to forgiveness. Therefore, to dream of an event, such as abuse as a child may manifest as being self-pity an inclination to resist moving forward through forgiveness. If the dream involved you feeling used by another and that you feel guilty about the experience and you were unable to stop this during your dream.

The abused child archetype in dreams supports the reminiscences from the abuse, neglect along with other traumas that might have been suffered throughout childhood. If this dream is symbolic, and it does not reflect upon your waking life then it is important for us to consider the meaning. It is important to try to be true to yourself and to other people your waking life. If you're not feeling comfortable within the dream because of the abuse then this dream indicates you may have been feeling vulnerable in situations relating to other people. The most important lesson of this dream is that you try and let your true personality shine through. If you dream of narcissism then it is time to review your aims in life.

What does it mean to dream of child abuse?

The psychological self sometimes arises in our dreams, particularly attachment figures. The dream of child abuse can relate to our own fears of feeling insecure in waking life. A model of transactions by Cicchetti and Lynch (1993) considers that we take on parental characteristics when we get older and that our own environmental changes (such as a change of housing and support) can trigger these types of dreams. If you have experienced anger, compliance or defiance recently then this can appear in our dreams. The evocation of feelings in the day may trigger our own childhood experiences.

If your own child (son or daughter) appeared to be abused in the dream then it is only natural to wake up worried and anxious. We want our children to be safe and as parents, we are the caregiver. The dream could simply be the fact that you want to promote safety, protection and care. The dream is often associated with our own anxiety and that you just want to protect and care for them. There is a mystery that surrounds every dream (sometimes these dreams can never be explained) and our own unconscious mind is communicating our own fears in life.

What does it mean to not know the abuser in the dream?

The presence of someone unknown adds to the mysterious “internal dream” world that we experience. There may be a person that you do not know that appears in this dream but transcendentally speaking, the encounters that we have in our dreams could just be unpleasant experiences that have no real meaning. Nevertheless, sometimes our dream is about the attachment bonds that we are having with those around us. Therefore, if you are struggling with a relationship in real life. The stranger presented in a dream could just be a reflection of that person.

What does it mean to be abused in a dream by someone you know?

To dream that you or someone else is being abused by someone you know indicates your own mental representations that act as guides of what to expect from that person and relationship. For example, to be sexually abused by a relative such as a father in your dream can be a reflection of your own attachment to that parent. There is also neglect and mistreatment that can appear in a dream.

Repetitive dreams of abuse

Psychologically speaking, this dream could indicate some behavioral, emotional or cognitive problems you are currently undergoing and that you need to resolve through therapy. To re-live any type of abuse means that you should seek therapy to try to resolve and heal in your life.

What does it mean to dream of domestic violence?

The abuse in one's dream maybe experienced violence and brutality. Our dreams provide a safe place to explore the unconscious mind. Thus, being abused reflects your desire for a resolution or a more comfortable lifestyle. If you dream that your emotions are like a roller coaster then this brings a sense of loss in relation to complexities in waking life. To a degree, it is important to recognize that you can resolve issues in waking life through understanding your subconscious mind.

What does it mean to dream of animal abuse?

Animal abuse in dreams is often connected explicitily connected to motherhood, it is about our own focus on caring towards others. Think of the animal as your "baby" that we wish to protect. Bad behavior in a dream can surface in various ways: from simple annoyance right down to offensive abuse. In essence, any type of negative behavior, or animal abuse in the dream state means it is time for a change in your lifestyle. To suffer abuse as a child in your dream can reflect those emotions in real life, it is associated with how we interact with others in waking life. The fact that you could see the animal abused indicates that you have not been feeling uncomfortable in a situation in waking life. Sometimes, I understand that seeing animals in dreams is about how you can anticipate new events and relationships in life. My literal interpretation of this dream is that it carries a message that we cannot control other people. 

What does it mean to be abused by a partner (boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife)?

If the abuse in the dream is from your partner then you need to work hard on the relationship. You should think about whether you want to be with this person or not. It is your choice. Physical abuse in your daily life can also result in dreams that are terrifying. Therefore, it is important to remain safe in your life. If the abuse in your dream is a person unknown and that you're feeling uncomfortable then this dream indicates that you are trying to hide from a situation in your waking life.

What does the older dream books say about abuse dreams?

To dream that you are annoying the abuser indicates that you have some enemies that are working against you. Any type of annoyances that you experience in your dream simply means that you will find it difficult to carry out daily tasks. To dream of someone is being cunning indicates that you are going to have a happy content friendships in the future.

If these cunning people can be abusive then this indicates that you are going to use your own means in order to accomplish in life. If in your dream you are offended by the abuse then this indicates that you are going to attempt to justify yourself to others. If you dream of people that have bad manners then the ancient meaning of this dream is that you are likely to have disagreements with a person in connection with a love affair.

To be bullied in your dream indicates that you or going to do well in life. To find yourself teasing, bullying or calling names to anyone indicates that you are well loved and sought after because of your positive and uplifting personality. If you are spitting in your dream then this indicates that there are going to be some unhappy decisions in your life. If somebody is spitting or swearing at you then this shows that you are going to have to disagreements within your life in the near future.

If you are abandoned by the abuser in your dream then this indicates your going to have difficulties forming plans in the future. If you abandon somebody else because they abuse you then this indicates you are likely to have some distressing situations in the near future. Think about how you approach people and friends who hold positions of power.

What does it mean to dream about your own abuse?

Each detail of your own abuse may occur in your dream, this can candidly appear in your dream. Even though this can be a traumatic dream it is about the fact you may be a people pleaser. The dream is about coping with your own trauma, resilience and assisting you in healing. Seeing harrowing experiences that you have ensured in waking life but in the dream world, is revisiting your own actions and feelings right now. 

Coping with being abused as a child or adult can be one of the most difficult things to do. It is important to acknowledge your feelings and reactions, and reach out for help. Some ways you may cope with the abuse include making sure you talk about your experiences with someone you trust – it is important to find someone who will listen without judgment. It is important to also recognise that abuse can mean that you need to set boundaries and say “no” to people with confidence. If you are seeing mistreatment in a dream then this can suggest that things are impacting you right now. 

What does it mean to dream of abuse with a weapon?

Any dream involving weapons in any way shows that you need to approach things with extreme caution. If you found the abuser with a weapon against you or you are in a fight where there is violence, then it shows that it is time to think about how others are treating you, and removing aggressive people in your life.

This could be in either a work or relationship. If you dream of people becoming abusive with a weapon then it is clear that you need to think of the reasons why this has happened - what are the reasons? Aggression is always represented in our lives in some way and you may need to think about your attitude to others.

This is a wake-up call to perhaps think about how areas of your life can improve. For more information on what weapon's mean, please click here. The most important element of this dream is that you can't hide behind closed doors and you need to be able to understand why you have chosen certain paths in your life. The answer is: live life. Try to live a balanced life coupled with a stable sense of self-worth and self-esteem. To dream of being abused by a parent implies knowledge of one's boundaries and a proportionate and realistic appraisal of one's achievements and traits.

If the abuser showed any of the following traits then sadness may enter your life

  • Feels grandiose and self-important (e.g. exaggerates accomplishments, talents, skills, contacts, and personality traits to the point of lying, demands to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements);
  • In your dream the abuser is obsessed with fantasies of unlimited success, fame, fearsome power or omnipotence, unequaled brilliance (the cerebral narcissist), bodily beauty or sexual performance (the somatic narcissist), or ideal, everlasting, all-conquering love or passion;
  • The abuser is firmly convinced that he or she is unique and, being special, can only be understood by, should only be treated by, or associate with, other special or unique, or high-status people (or institutions);
  • Requires excessive admiration, adulation, attention and affirmation – or, failing that, wishes to be feared and to be notorious (Narcissistic Supply);
  • Feels entitled. Demands automatic and full compliance with his or her unreasonable expectations for special and favorable priority treatment;
  • The abuser in your dream is "inter personally exploitative", i.e., uses others to achieve his or her own ends;
  • Devoid of empathy. Is unable or unwilling to identify with, acknowledge, or accept the feelings, needs, preferences, priorities, and choices of others;
  • Constantly envious of others and seeks to hurt or destroy the objects of his or her frustration.
  • Behaves arrogantly and haughtily.
  • If you find people at work are abusive to you in your dream this denotes new times ahead. The message is: no matter how much people want to change you - they cannot. The other meaning of this dream is that people in your waking life are trying to put you down in some way.
  • If in your dream a domestic pet was abused then this dream indicates that somebody close to you is trying to impress you and this person is likely to cause you some minor misfortune. It is important that you make sure you do not let them move into your comfort zone in the near future.

How you handled the abuse is also important in a dream

The rule of thumb is that if the dream was uncomfortable in any way then it is time to take on a new positive personal growth in your life. If you are abusing others or fearing and loathing intimacy, stability and security – yet craving them at the same time signifies new approaches and a rapid succession of apparently inconsistent and disconnected behaviors. Having this dream can be a direct indication that you are going to be involved in a new relationship or a new place of work soon and you are going to pretend to be somebody else - is this what you want?

The reason why this dream appears in your life generally shows that you have been feeling some emotions and feelings which are negative in nature. You may have recently taken on a challenge that has enabled you to learn something about yourself or others. It is important for you to consider other factors in your dream, and look these up in the Aunty Flo dream dictionary so that you can work towards a better quality of lifestyle.

Conclusion of abuse in dreams

Ancient dream interpreters believe that if you dream that somebody is abusing another person shows that misfortune in your affairs are going to be prevalent in the future. This dream also indicates that you are likely to lose some money through being persistent in a business matter which is likely to fail. If you are being abused by a parent or guardian within your dream then this indicates that others won't cause you trouble in the near future.

If you are a young woman and you dream that you are using abusive language in this shows in older dream books that you are likely to be involved with somebody that will be jealous of you. If you use the language yourself then you're going to meet with unexpected consequences in the near future. This may be related to friendship.

The key learning's from this dream is that you need to think hard about carrying out things in your life to help you succeed. Sometimes we all feel that life is hard or complicated and we've lost touch with our inner self. It is important when considering this dream that things don't have to be that for a while. Think about what will make you happy. The emotions contained within your dream are another area of consideration. It is important to recognize what motivates us as human beings.

If the abuse is only symbolic then it is time for a fresh start, it is normal to dream that other people behave in an abusive manner and if your dream is overall pleasant then you some spiritual disharmony in your life - which may cause augments between family members If you are unable to stop the abuse in your dream then this indicates you are going to have ups and downs in life and you will find it hard to understand what will make you happy.

It is important for you to make sure that you have a connection between what you want now what you want in the future. This kind of dream demonstrates that you are hesitating in a decision regarding a job - this may happen in the future. This dream can also indicate that you have a possible fear of the future.

To run away from an abuser in your dream indicates that you are going to have success in the near future -- this will involve moving away from a negative situation in your waking life. Perhaps happiness you have been feeling trapped in a boring job? Maybe you have an unfulfilled relationship and you are underappreciated? Not seeing the face of the abuser indicates that you are likely to enter avoidance of a particular situation. You need to decide whether you stay in a situation or you move forward.

Positive changes are afoot if

  • The dream was positive and the abuse was necessary in order to progress in your dream.
  • The abuse was necessary and this did not make you feel bad in any way. If the experiences within your dream are worrying in any way, for example, you faced being abused by another person.
  • That the abuse stopped in your dream this indicates that you need to be more comfortable with who you really are deep down inside.
  • If you have the ability to face the situation and escape yourself within your dream.

Areas of your life this dream may be related to

Friendships with others - especially in a team or group working environment. If in your dream you had no self-esteem or self-worth (no such ego functions). In the absence of abuse occurring in your waking life, the situation is about your non-existence.

Time to take on new challenges

Expressed negativity to the situation within your dream. The situation was not making you feel comfortable. The person your dream is someone you do not know in waking life. You find it difficult to cover yourself or hide and to escape the abuser in your dream. You were imprisoned or taken away in the dream which involved torture. You are trying to move forward in your dream. You are unable to escape the abuser. The abuse was a stranger. The abuse involved domestic animals or pets. Some people were using abusive language. You find it difficult to escape an abusive partner in your dream state.

Feelings that you may have encountered during a dream of abuse:

Worrying about the abuser. Pleasurable, adventurous, excited, conscious, curious, open-minded, happy, feeling that others matter to you.

You may have experienced any of the following:

  • Any dream which involves abuse to other people = anxiety/ worry in life.
  • Someone using abusive language = problem with others.
  • Abusing other people in your dream = not happy in life.
  • To see any animal being abused = distance.
  • You verbally abuse somebody in your dream = journey in life.
  • Discover an abuse in your dream = trying to escape emotions.
  • Trying to hide your true colors from people that are abusing you = people may be dishonest in life.
  • Inability to stop any type of abuse = especially at the end of in your dream = contentment.
  • Worried about abuse in your dream = it will take time to work out what you need from life.
  • You were surprised to discover the police in your dream = surprises.
  • You are truly sorry for any abuse in your dream = happiness.
  • You have been running away from an abuser in your dream = money will be yours.
  • You're feeling uncomfortable about the abuse within your dream = not sure how to act.
  • You have an abusive partner in your dream = the world is yours.

By Flo Saul
Oct 4, 2012