Updated 2026. My mother passed at age 97 (2024) RIP. I will be updating this site so I can help retirees again. Write to me!

Stress drama about work... three years after retirement

by Pat
(Bristol, TN)

Almost every night I have a stress dream about work. I worked for the DoD as a civilian for 35 years.

I do not have any financial worries. I am a little bored in retirement but I think that is a conscious choice. My wife and I enjoy doing new things and traveling.

The almost nightly stress dreams about work is something I thought would pass with time... that does not seem to be the case. I often dream about a different person I worked with in some stressful situation. The situations do not reflect historical events... rather exposing a rather active and creative imagination that seems to highlight stressful situations. I occasionally still have the college test or situational stress dream.

Other than these stress dreams, my life would be as close to perfect as it could get. I just need to figure out what  they mean and how to stop them. I read that this might be an unresolved emotional issue... I wish I could figure it out. I welcome your constructive thoughts and ideas.

Pat

Comments for Stress drama about work... three years after retirement

Click here to add your own comments

Farmer stress dreams far beyond retirement
by: Don

When my father was in his 20s during the 1930s his farm responsibilities included keeping the hogs alive with cool drinking water during hot summers. Hogs die easily from such stress.

After his 20s he never again was involved in raising stock. In his 90s when on his death bed during late summer, he asked me continually how the hogs were doing and if they needed water.

Eventually I learned to leave the room for a few minutes as if to check on the hogs. When I returned to report they were doing fine he was always relieved.
Disregard the previous post!
by: Anonymous

I am retired for several years after a career in clinical psychology and also have occasional work dreams. Please do not concern yours of with them to the point of involving doctors or medication, and especially not a neurologist! Such dreams are normal and can persist for many years after retirement.
About those Dreams
by: Elna Nugent, Lenox, MA

Hello: I am not an expert on dreams although I studied them in workshops for many years and continue to do so.

I hope you consult a doctor, neurologist or psychologist about these dreams. They could be a civilian form of TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) even though you were never deployed. But having worked for the Dept. of Defense you must have been be privy to some horrific things men experienced in the services. You couldn't help but be very deeply affected.

Since these dreams could affect you physically, I strongly suggest you consult your doctor and have him refer you to a neurologist or psychologist. This is serious advice. Do you have irregular heart beats?

Also if you are one who goes to bed much later than most do, that can also aid and abet having bad nightmares.

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Retirement Story.


Senior Voices - Experience retirement living through the voices of our readers!