Several nights ago, I had my first dream with my Dad in it. He was only in there for a fleeting moment, but it was great. In the dream, I was walking somewhere – I think I was walking near the plaza of a downtown skyscraper, and I saw my Dad sitting on a concrete bench outside of the building. We made eye contact, smiled and waved as I walked by.
It was so short but I remember the smile on his face and he looked happy.
My Dad at his surprise Party in 2010
Dreaming about my dad after his death was something I wanted to happen so badly. I wanted to know how he was doing, why he did what he did, and if he regretted it. I actually had a dream that I was screaming at him “Do you regret it??” Although my Dad was in that dream, I think I was mentally thinking him there versus him actually “being” in my dream.
I remember bringing this up to my counselor –how I wanted a sign from my Dad in a dream. She told me that she didn’t have dreams with her Dad (who also died by suicide) until she was at a good place with her grief. Maybe it wouldn’t have done me any good while I was still trying to process his suicide if he came to me in my dreams. Maybe I had to work through everything before he felt comfortable to visit me. I don’t know, but it’s always nice when you get something that you weren’t expecting or waiting for.
I’m hoping in the future I will get more dreams with my Dad in them, and hopefully we’ll get to have more interaction. Does anyone else see their loved ones in their dreams?
I remember wanting a sign from my father so badly also. Other people seemed to have dreams or experience “signs” right away, but I didn’t. It took well over a year for me to have a dream with my father in it and unfortunately it wasn’t necessarily a happy one. I remember waking up feeling perplexed and happy that I got to see him so vividly for a few minutes in my dream, but in the dream itself he was being a bit rude and bossy to whoever he was talking to. It’s been almost 4.5 years now since my father died by suicide and still have only experienced him in my dreams once or twice. Of course, there are other ways I think of and remember him on a regular basis.
Lindsay,
I also lost my father to suicide. I have only dreamt of my father once and in my dream he was criticizing me about a decision I made. I see my dad in lots of other places in my life…I truly believe he watches over me every day.
Since my boyfriend died I have dreamt about him, but it most definitely has not been a positive experience. Then again, my belief system is quite different, and I have no expectation of anything after death- so I wasn’t hoping for or expecting him to be there and give me signs. Perhaps if that was different the dreams he has been in would not be so negative. I dream of him often. Hopefully with time, the dreams will become more positive.
Hi there. Great to have found this site. I’m dealing with nightmares of my Dad quite frequently. He killed himself last summer in the same method as his own father did. I’m also hoping the nightmares cease, but they are still there every week or so. We were quite close (I’m in my 30’s, but never lived too far away). Most of the time the dreams start as regular dreams, and it’s only within the dream when it occurs to me that my Dad is dead that the dream becomes a nightmare. Anyhow, I don’t know if writing this is helping me, or in turn helping anybody else here either. Sorry if I reminded any readers of hard times of their own. Working every day to make sure the cycle ends with me living a long, happy life. 🙂
Hi Geoff – We are so sorry for the loss of your dad and for these dreams you’ve been experiencing. They are certainly a common part of the grief journey. We hope that sharing about your own experience has helped some! ~ Becky
Thank you Becky – Yep, I’m back here reading other posts within a week, so definitely – what you’re doing helps. Huge thank you’s from Canada.
All the best,
Geoff