purging dreams?

[FoxInSox]

Not sure what to do with this...

I've been dreaming about purging. Like, actually making myself throw-up, which I *do* think about and consider, but I've never done it because I'm so afraid of throwing up (it's up there with dentists and war and viscious dogs).
Interestingly, its not scary in the dreams.

There seems to be discussion about dreams lately, which are quite ephemeral and open to LOTS of interpretation.

But...what does one DO with this?!?!

[LittleIdabee]

I dream about purging a lot, too. Come to think of it, I dream about hurting myself or being hurt by others in one way or another almost every night. :ummm I don't know what to make of that except it is clearly a sign of seriously low self esteem, which is something that I need to work on. I wonder if you are tempted by these dreams? Like, does it make you want to go through with purging when you dream about it and it is not scary?? Perhaps this is something you should bring up to the new T. :gimmehug

[bonniedearie]

:wacky Crazy...I just had my first purging dream last night. I hated it and it made me really sad because I've been purge-free for a bit over a month now :bounce It really triggered me all day, but I managed to just put that feeling aside and concentrate on my mp.

[bigmanlilman]

I have dreams about not being able to purge. In my dream I'll eat a ton of food, and then I can't find anywhere to purge or I can't get away from the people I'm with. It always seems so vivid, I wake up sometimes thinking that I actually ate all that food and I need to get rid of it. It can be incredibly disturbing.

[T.R.C]

Wow! Nice to know I'm not the only one!:zoinks

I'm trying to get over my purging episodes, and I keep having recurring purging dreams. Its disturbing, frustrating, and doesn't help me accomplish my goals. I swear I have my purging dreams every other night.

[United_K]

bigmanlilman--I have that same dream about binging but then not being able to physically purge. It freaks me out the rest of the day and makes eating hard. I talked some to my t. about it and she said that the things we think about during the day often come in dreams. So, for me, recovering from bulimia means no more purging which is scary. but we'll always (unfortunately) know how to do it, so it's not something we need to fear losing. No one is going to try and take it from us, it's us who must choose to give it away. I found that idea comforting.

[Little Miss Perfect]

This is, of course, totally amateur psychology... but I do have a graduate degree which has allowed me to focus extensively on old-school Freudian psychoanalysis. So I can give you a few ideas about what this might mean. You shouldn't take any of this as gospel - dream interpretation is very slippery, weird and personal. But some of this theoretical rambling might give you a framework for making some sense of the dream.

I think Freudian theory could spin this dream in a few ways. The purge obviously involves something coming out of your mouth. So we're probably dealing with an "oral" problem. In classical theory, food or nourishment is what we think of going in or out of the body/mouth, but one of the other "first things" that the baby does with its mouth is speak.

So, the purging might suggest that you have words that need to come out, that you need to "purge" from your body, which need to flow from you. It may bode well that something inside you that is making you "sick" (on an emotional level) is coming out. Perhaps it indicates a breakthrough in your therapy or your psyche indicating to you that you are healing and ready to get rid of some of the bad stuff that you have been holding in. I don't think this dream is "bad" in any way. It is perhaps scary insofar is it indicates a rather violence heaving of whatever is "inside," but I think the "purge" could ultimately represent a symbolic a cleansing gesture that is not "bad." (note: do not try this at home... I'm only arguing for the symbolic value of such a purge... in waking life we know that this is not a healthy gesture for us).

Another possible, although not unrelated spin might be that you are "losing nourishment," which you might read as a psychic plea to slow down and be more gentle and take care of yourself.

Hope this proves somewhat interesting or helpful. In my opinion, these dreams may actually bode very well or at least prove helpful signposts for growth and development.

[Little Miss Perfect]

A little postscript... for those of you who are dreaming about not being able to purge, I wonder whether this might indicate that you are "holding something in" or that you "can't get something out"? Again, I would associate this "oral" need with a longing for sickening words to come out, not "food." At least, I think this is where psychoanalysis might go.

I do think dreams are worth bringing up with your T. Despite their malleable interpretations, they are great windows into the psyche.

[peepapie]

:hugon FOXINSOX:hugon

I have dreamt of purging too, though I have NEVER actually done it....and I am also phobic of vomiting....weird.....

but, i talked to one of my closest friends about it and she had some good insight. She said the obsessing I do is probably the cause of my dreams, because you know the thoughts are in your mind somewhere and because I am fearful of actually doing it, dreaming is the only way I could go through with it.....

I dunno....it was only one dream for me, but the thoughts have been there.......hang in there....
amanda