Children are more likely to have "fantastic" dreams involving giant, unreal things but these dreams do sometimes occur in adults. For children, monsters usually symbolize the adults in their lives who have power over them. If your child dreams of monsters frequently, this may be a sign that someone or something is bothering them in waking life. Your child may be having a problem with a teacher, a bully or even a new adult recently introduced into his or her life in their own home or neighborhood. Abused children are likely to dream of monsters which symbolize the adults who are hurting them. Children are highly impressionable - one minor disturbing event can grow into "monstrous" proportions in their young minds. Children may also dream of monsters after seeing a scary movie or hearing a scary story.
We teach our children to respect and trust adults. Some adults, such as sex offenders, take advantage of this position. A typical characteristic of the molester is to tell the child to keep secrets and to make threats. A large percentage of molesters are known to the victim and family, which often makes it difficult to identify them before it's too late. Recurring nightmares may be an early sign that should be investigated with professional help. It is very rare for children, especially younger children, to lie about molestation. If your child makes such a disclosure, contact your local child protective services office immediately.
Also see: Incest - Dream Symbols
If your child actually gets out of bed during a nightmare and doesn't respond to attempts to calm them down, they may be experiencing a sleep disorder called Night Terrors. If night terrors persist, a medical consultation may be necessary.
In adults, monsters can represent fear or overwhelming emotional issues. Many adults with terminal illnesses dream of monsters chasing them. For these people, the monster represents death. Dreaming of monsters can also symbolize stressful situations such as mounting bills or an overload of work. Take a look at what's been bothering you. Have you been avoiding your problems? It may be time to face them head on.
Dreaming of slaying a monster represents victory. Reflect upon how you killed the monster in your dream. This may provide a clue as to how you can slay your demons in waking life.
May all your dreams come true!
Parthena Black is a professional social worker and ordained minister with experience in tarot and runes. For private spiritual counseling and intuitive readings via e-mail, please visit her at oymygoddess.com.
