Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Jesus Tap-Dancin' Christ · 08-01-2003, 11:31 PM

My recent posts are not why I think this, by the way.

It has more to do with the fact that reality is fast slipping from me.

Periodically, I have these dreams. They aren't much--mostly about a random day in my life. A conversation fragment, a room filled with details, etc. Only these things haven't happened yet.

They happen in months or weeks or days. I know exactly what will happen, word for word, a minute before it does. I cannot act on it, though, for it isn't how it happens. I hear the words coming before the person walks in the room, and I see what the will do.

They never really are that important. Mostly boring, and mundane. One or two was important, I think, but reality, it seems, slips away to where I do not know the difference.

This used to happen far more often, when I was thirteen or so. Then, it stopped. Now, it resurfaces. It makes me less sure of what is real, and what is not. I feel as though this life is a dream of a dream, that I am remembering my past in sequence, mostly, and pieces of it fall in the wrong spots and come into place again later--like a jigsaw being put together.

I just needed to say this somewhere, somewhere relatively safe. I should tell my therapist about this, but I know that this will prevent me from finishing my group, and I need to be done with it. It makes me more depressed going and listening to those people, not less like it used to.

Sorry I jumbled things a bit. I should be asleep, but I'm not.

Just a small statement of my loss. I don't want sympathy--don't give it. I want to know that this is not a dream, that now really is now, not some piece of the past being remembered.

SiliconWolf · 08-02-2003, 12:46 AM

Maybe lucid dreaming would help. I have seen descriptions of techniques to make you realize you're dreaming while you're having the dream, so you can take control of your actions. I think it might be useful in cases of recurring dreams such as yours. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how far such techniques have made it into common practice. Some of them might still be experimental. But if you mention to your psychiatrist (or a different one if you choose) that you want to try lucid dreaming, he or she should at least be familiar with the term.

ieyeasu · 08-02-2003, 01:03 AM

Hmm...I don't think the process itself is that odd. Happens to all of us periodically. What's troubling is that it makes you feel as if you are losing your grip on reality. That is a problem. And, so much as you want to be done with group, you know that you can't be until your fully honest.

Second...On the matter of this process...A lot of people think its actually prediction/psychic power stuff going on. I think it's a brain fart, a thought bubble, if you will. Your brain creates, at the moment of the action actually happening, the sensation that it already happened, or that you dreamed it. Deja-vu, really, but more pronounced.

Proxima Centauri · 08-02-2003, 06:22 AM

Try The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. Also use the Google Search Engine to find out about James Randi. Both can check your aparent prediction of the future. It is quite likely that you remember your aparent predictions differently after the event.

Calzaer · 08-02-2003, 09:39 AM

No way in hell would I trust the abrasive James Randi with something emotionally sensitive. What a jerk.

JTDC: There's a post that Koy recently wrote about the science of non-linear time in reference to these kinds of occurances. I'll see if I can dig it up for you.

Edit: Here ya go! Third post down. Very enlightening, and hopefully comforting.

Viti · 08-02-2003, 10:28 AM

I have had this happen as well, and I also agree with the "brain fart" theory. I think your brain triggers the memory "emotions/sensations" at an incorrect moment, making it feel like a memory or a dream or a memory of a dream.

A way to test it is to keep a dated dream journal, then check mark and date when (if) something from that dream happens in reality. I think you'll find they don't

If you are taking medication or antidepressents, they can cause this weird deja vu type phenomena...it's really just a chemical reaction, IMO

Viti · 08-02-2003, 10:38 AM

I have been trying to decide where to move this. Since you have specifically asked for no sympathy (meaning it is not just a support thread), I am going to try Science and Skepticism. Maybe someone there has some other ideas.

Wyz_sub10 · 08-02-2003, 10:54 AM

We'll leave it here for a while to see if our science-minded folks can shed some light on it.

Julie · 08-02-2003, 11:39 AM

I'm no help with expalining it but I can sympathize. It has happend to me a few times. Ive even written a few of these dreams down. But the weird part for me is I always dream them from a few outside of myself, like Im watching myself.

I do usually atribute thses episodes to a great big brain fart

NearNihil Experience · 08-02-2003, 09:50 PM

Its that Vu ja 'De thing. I know exactly how you feel. Sleeping more will help...unless you want to take advantage. I had similar experiences when I was a kid and teenager, then I went on about an 8 year bender so I slept well. But lately the same shit you described is happening again and I have not been sleeping well lately.

I think it has something to do with state of mind, but try this just for a kick, its kinda cool but creepy...learn to act on it. If you "feel" it comin', try doing something that might affect the situation you feel might be happening. If it does happen more often you will be more atune to it....assuming you might want to be, but it sounds like it kinda disturbs you. Don't let it.

Either its just fried-brain doing weirdness to your perceptions, or you've just encountered something really cool.

Maybe a little bit of pre-cog or prescience...if reality will allow such flights of fancy...

08-01-2003, 11:31 PM	#1
Jesus Tap-Dancin' Christ Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Heaven Posts: 6,980	I think I've lost it... My recent posts are not why I think this, by the way. It has more to do with the fact that reality is fast slipping from me. Periodically, I have these dreams. They aren't much--mostly about a random day in my life. A conversation fragment, a room filled with details, etc. Only these things haven't happened yet. They happen in months or weeks or days. I know exactly what will happen, word for word, a minute before it does. I cannot act on it, though, for it isn't how it happens. I hear the words coming before the person walks in the room, and I see what the will do. They never really are that important. Mostly boring, and mundane. One or two was important, I think, but reality, it seems, slips away to where I do not know the difference. This used to happen far more often, when I was thirteen or so. Then, it stopped. Now, it resurfaces. It makes me less sure of what is real, and what is not. I feel as though this life is a dream of a dream, that I am remembering my past in sequence, mostly, and pieces of it fall in the wrong spots and come into place again later--like a jigsaw being put together. I just needed to say this somewhere, somewhere relatively safe. I should tell my therapist about this, but I know that this will prevent me from finishing my group, and I need to be done with it. It makes me more depressed going and listening to those people, not less like it used to. Sorry I jumbled things a bit. I should be asleep, but I'm not. Just a small statement of my loss. I don't want sympathy--don't give it. I want to know that this is not a dream, that now really is now, not some piece of the past being remembered.

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08-02-2003, 12:46 AM	#2
SiliconWolf Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: A soulless suburb of Chicago Posts: 1,000	Maybe lucid dreaming would help. I have seen descriptions of techniques to make you realize you're dreaming while you're having the dream, so you can take control of your actions. I think it might be useful in cases of recurring dreams such as yours. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how far such techniques have made it into common practice. Some of them might still be experimental. But if you mention to your psychiatrist (or a different one if you choose) that you want to try lucid dreaming, he or she should at least be familiar with the term.

08-02-2003, 01:03 AM	#3
ieyeasu Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 844	Hmm...I don't think the process itself is that odd. Happens to all of us periodically. What's troubling is that it makes you feel as if you are losing your grip on reality. That is a problem. And, so much as you want to be done with group, you know that you can't be until your fully honest. Second...On the matter of this process...A lot of people think its actually prediction/psychic power stuff going on. I think it's a brain fart, a thought bubble, if you will. Your brain creates, at the moment of the action actually happening, the sensation that it already happened, or that you dreamed it. Deja-vu, really, but more pronounced.

08-02-2003, 06:22 AM	#4
Proxima Centauri Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: England, the EU. Posts: 2,403	Try The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. Also use the Google Search Engine to find out about James Randi. Both can check your aparent prediction of the future. It is quite likely that you remember your aparent predictions differently after the event.

08-02-2003, 09:39 AM	#5
Calzaer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,762	No way in hell would I trust the abrasive James Randi with something emotionally sensitive. What a jerk. JTDC: There's a post that Koy recently wrote about the science of non-linear time in reference to these kinds of occurances. I'll see if I can dig it up for you. Edit: Here ya go! Third post down. Very enlightening, and hopefully comforting.

08-02-2003, 10:28 AM	#6
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	I have had this happen as well, and I also agree with the "brain fart" theory. I think your brain triggers the memory "emotions/sensations" at an incorrect moment, making it feel like a memory or a dream or a memory of a dream. A way to test it is to keep a dated dream journal, then check mark and date when (if) something from that dream happens in reality. I think you'll find they don't If you are taking medication or antidepressents, they can cause this weird deja vu type phenomena...it's really just a chemical reaction, IMO

08-02-2003, 10:38 AM	#7
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	I have been trying to decide where to move this. Since you have specifically asked for no sympathy (meaning it is not just a support thread), I am going to try Science and Skepticism. Maybe someone there has some other ideas.

08-02-2003, 10:54 AM	#8
Wyz_sub10 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the land of two boys and no sleep. Posts: 9,890	We'll leave it here for a while to see if our science-minded folks can shed some light on it.

08-02-2003, 11:39 AM	#9
Julie Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: I'm not telling Posts: 473	I'm no help with expalining it but I can sympathize. It has happend to me a few times. Ive even written a few of these dreams down. But the weird part for me is I always dream them from a few outside of myself, like Im watching myself. I do usually atribute thses episodes to a great big brain fart

08-02-2003, 09:50 PM	#10
NearNihil Experience Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Up Shit Creek Posts: 1,810	Its that Vu ja 'De thing. I know exactly how you feel. Sleeping more will help...unless you want to take advantage. I had similar experiences when I was a kid and teenager, then I went on about an 8 year bender so I slept well. But lately the same shit you described is happening again and I have not been sleeping well lately. I think it has something to do with state of mind, but try this just for a kick, its kinda cool but creepy...learn to act on it. If you "feel" it comin', try doing something that might affect the situation you feel might be happening. If it does happen more often you will be more atune to it....assuming you might want to be, but it sounds like it kinda disturbs you. Don't let it. Either its just fried-brain doing weirdness to your perceptions, or you've just encountered something really cool. Maybe a little bit of pre-cog or prescience...if reality will allow such flights of fancy...

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