Amanda,
Two meanings possible with both being possible {all dreams have at least two meanings/applications}. One would be aspects of your current life that involves negativity and emotional suffering/pain that began before these dreams started. You may be involved in experiences/events where you are not using your better judgement.

The second, and the one that probably fits best and would be the cause for any current emotional conflicts, would be inner emotional demons that are becoming closer to conscious control over your life. The demons may symbolize repressed parts of your unconscious, past experiences from earlier life {before the dreams began} that are now coming up to conscious awareness. Not being able to see the demons {consciously awareness} but being able to hear, touch, taste and smell them would point to unconscious aspects that you are not consciously knowledgeable of. The attack is an internal one prompted by something in your past. The demons are emotional demons related to the past experiences. Your watching a lot of horror shows would not be the reason for the dreams but may be a stimulus for them {prompted the unconscious to loosen the gripe of any repressed experiences/emotions. Revealing unconscious aspects that are in conflict is a function of dreams in an attempt to help you acknowledge them and eventually find resolution.

What to do. Therapy may be needed. Self therapy is possible if you have the resolve, time and ability to work through the issues. In that you will need to open up to the unconscious aspects {demons} and discover what past experiences are the cause for the emotional conflicts {the demons in your dreams}. This is done through Jung's Individuation Process where the person examines one's whole life and brings out any and all past experiences that would have left emotional/psychological if not physical wounds. Childhood is where you begin {and where many of these issues were experienced} since the early years of life are where the foundations for the personality are formed. Experiences/influences during those early years are 'naturally' imprinted on the psyche and if egregious enough could be pushed deep into the unconscious and hidden so the person does not/will not have to deal with the emotional pain/issues. Although they may be hidden from consciousness, unconsciously they not only live they become motivators for personality and actions in later life. Repression is a method of not consciously knowing of these experiences or their influences. In dreams they are presented as demons which are metaphorical of the emotional experiences. Specific demonic dream images would be symbols for the emotional experiences.

If indeed these are repressed aspects {the dreams does strongly point to this} I would suggest therapy to help bring these issues to consciousness. If not brought out through a controlled environment {therapy} they may rise to the surface and because you are not aware of what they are could cause immense emotional distress and possibly worse. Like a shadow in the night that can not be determined as to what is casting it and is frightening, so to the inner shadows producing the same results. They could literally drive you over the edge if the past experiences are so painful and your personality too weak to endure. By bringing out the repressed aspects, knowing what they are wand what caused them can there be a healing of the emotional wounds. If this not done the demon dreams will continue and because they are 'getting closer' {to consciousness if not taking control} you may be in dire need of therapeutic help before they become so real you do not know the difference.

If you can post a particular dream it may help uncover what emotional issues the demons represent. Dreams speak in a language of symbol and metaphor and with the advances in understanding dreams {especially Carl Jung's approach and concepts} a trained analyst can help reveal the emotional energies that are motivators to a person's personality and life. Dreams are not the 'great unknown' they used to be. As with the immune system that protects and heals the body, nature provides us with dreams to help heal the psychological issues.

Jerry

Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 65 Cocoa, Fl

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