Firefight May Be Aftereffect of Battle

Dear Cynthia: I am a Vietnam vet. My dream begins with me lying in the bush during a firefight. (I am looking down on myself.) An enemy soldier begins to fire rounds into my back. I count nine rounds and my body bucks with each one. I turn and look at the soldier. He is faceless. I have had this recurring dream seven to nine times.

--S.S.

Via e-mail

Dear S.S.: As a veteran, you are probably aware of post-traumatic stress disorder and additionally of the assistance available from Veterans Affairs for this condition. Nightmares, including those that seem to put you back into battle, are not uncommon with this condition, and this diagnosis should be considered or ruled out. If, however, there are no other symptoms, your dream may simply refer to your personal history and frame of reference.

You may want to ask yourself the following questions: Whom do I consider an enemy? Would anyone “shoot” me in the back (that is, betray me or treat me with a lack of integrity)? In your recurring dream, you are lying in the bush. Ask yourself where do you feel you should be safe, but are exposed or vulnerable? What significance does the number 9 hold for you? The bullets penetrate your body. What is getting to you? What hurts? The “bullets” could be unkind, critical or judgmental comments from those close to you. A “faceless soldier” does not represent a single, known enemy; rather, he represents any and all perceived enemies. The faceless soldier could even be you because very often we tend to be our own worst enemy.

As a grateful citizen of our free country, I appreciate you for serving the U.S. The dream could be a carry-over from the time you spent in the military, or your subconscious may be using symbols familiar to you to illustrate another, more current situation affecting your life. Either way, it may be reassuring and helpful to share your dreams with a professional who is aware of the stress associated with military service and with the power of dreams to communicate the emotional state of the dreamer.

Cynthia Richmond’s book “Dream Power: How to Use Your Night Dreams to Change Your Life” (Simon & Schuster) will be available this month and may be pre-ordered at Amazon.com. Fax your dreams to Cynthia Richmond at (213) 237-0732 or e-mail them to in.your.dreams@worldnet.att.net. Please include your hometown and a daytime phone number. “In Your Dreams” appears every Tuesday and should be read for entertainment purposes only.