2016-10-09 - Nightmares

I occasionally have what people might call nightmares. That is to say I have dreams that are about scary things. I remember having a dream a while ago where I was running around an industrial plant at night and being chased by zombies. The thing is though, I don't find them to be scary. I actually find them rather enjoyable. I sometimes get startled awake while having these dreams but I never feel afraid to go back to sleep afterwards.

I think playing video games helps me to accept dreams as not being real. I'm used to controlling a character in a virtual world which makes it easier to separate myself from the dream world while still being a part of it. I can be impacted by what's happening in the dream but I know it can't actually hurt me.

What I find really terrifying is when you wake up but are unable to move. You lay there yelling at your muscles to do something. Trying to force yourself to fully wake up. That sense of dread that you are trapped in your own body. That's a nightmare.