OUR DREAMS COME IN SERVICE OF OUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING — even the scary ones.

Dear SMYD,

About a month and a half ago, I was turned down for a supervisor position at my job and moved from one supervisor to another. My new supervisor is great but my old supervisor and I had issues. She started rumors and tried to hurt my reputation. I’m working hard to rebuild a positive reputation again now. I was shocked that someone who called herself my friend (my old supervisor) would be so nasty to me.

Then I started having this recurring dream. Basically, it starts off that I’m in the hospital with a headache and the doctor tells me I am having a baby. My first feeling is shock and disbelief.

Next thing I know, I have a baby that is about 6 inches long! I felt warm and happy when I saw the baby the first time, but worried that the baby is so small. It looks very premature. The hospital sends me home with the baby even though I keep telling them the baby is too premature. Once home, I keep checking the baby’s pulse and feeling for breathing. I was afraid I or someone else would hurt the baby. I never can tell if the baby is alive.

This dream is very frightening to me and I can’t seem to sleep because of it. Can you help?

Signed, Afraid to Sleep/Dream

Dear Afraid,

I’m sorry you had to endure so much unpleasantness at work and in your recurring dream.

It’s important to note a parallel occurrence — your difficulties at work and your new position began about six weeks ago and the baby in your dream is about 6 inches long. This is a tipoff to your dream’s topic.

Babies in dreams often signal hope and new beginnings. Your dream suggests there is more faith in you at work than you currently believe. They entrust you with a new baby — a new position. But it’s hard for you to believe that you have new life at work. You can’t believe the baby is alive.

In fact, you keep checking to see if it’s true that this new baby — this new life/opportunity — is alive and well under the circumstances. You’re afraid that somehow you will hurt the baby.

There is also a fear that someone else will hurt the baby. This is a reflection of what happened to you — a trusted person surprised you and hurt you. Your dream reflects your fear that this will happen again in your new position.

After such a stressful time it’s hard to get back to believing in yourself and trusting others, Dear Dreamer. Your dream offers an urgent affirmation through repetition that you are well thought of and have a true fresh start in your new role. Don’t ruin it with constant worry.

You may have follow-up dreams, but this frightening dream most likely will not recur again now. Sweet Dreams to you!

Carolyn Plath, M.Ed., is a Benicia resident and member of the International Association for the Study of Dreams. Reach her at sendmeyourdreams@yahoo.com.

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