Dear LFP
You certainly can have anxiety, depression, PTSD etc a long time after the event. I am only now dealing with issues from my marriage 15 years after I left and after 30 years of abuse. I think you are so busy coping at the time that the brain shuts down, so to speak, on the management of the trauma. At least, this is my opinion. Once the trauma has stopped, then the real effects start to kick in. And this can take months, or in my case years. Think of how child abuse comes back to haunt the abused person later in life.
I wonder if your illness and the timing of it in relation to the bullying and relationship problems are connected. Did the illness happen happen after or during the distressing events? There could be a cause and effect.
I too have experienced strange dreams, especially just lately. I would love to say it's the weather but I suspect not. I have been taking my current AD medication for several years and I have had quite vivid dreams during that time. However, since it has been suggested I start counselling for domestic violence I have noticed the dreams have become more intense, incredibly dark and quite terrifying. I often wake up knowing I have had one of these dreams but unable to remember the full content. I have an impression of the dream and sometimes one picture or image. Most uncomfortable.
I'm not certain if these dreams have some sort of message. I used to interpret my dreams in the past. But then they were not as confronting as the recent dreams. I found my dream interpretations did give me some insights into what was happening in my brain. Now I think the dreams are a reflection of past traumas.
My doctor told me that dream content varies according to the time when you dream and the type of sleep you are experiencing. I cannot remember the different phases except that the early morning dreams, just before you wake up, are those you remember and which are to do with life experiences, traumas etc. The first part of sleep and dreams consist of the brain making sense of the day's happenings. There is another set but I cannot remember what it is. I think, but I'm not certain, that images that appear as you are dropping off to sleep are a different phenomenon. Why not look up dreams. I'm sure the internet has a plethora of information. Just be careful of sites that sensationalize stuff. Look for accredited sites.
Hope this has been helpful.
Mary
