I was at school, in the jr high gym, for a volleyball game against our enemy school. When I was trying to serve everyone kept walking in front of me and the game ended before I could serve. After the game, we won so everyone was happy and was chatting. Since it was against an enemy team, everyone from school was there. I was chatting with friends and a teacher. The teacher had brung her pet squirrel. My parents told me it was time to leave so I told them I’d be ready in a minute because I wanted to pet her squirrel. I was petting the squirrel and it had bit me and was weirdly drooling. My mom came over do check if I was ready to leave and she ask me what was wrong with the squirrel so I explained it bit me and was drooling and she told me it had rabies. We went home but the squirrel followed us to our house. When I got home the squirrel kept chasing me and biting me on my shins on the same spot over and over again. By that time I knew I contracted rabies from it because I was also foaming at the mouth and was becoming paranoid. I told my parents I needed to go to the hospital because the squirrel gave me rabies. But my mom told me it was fine and I didn’t need to go and I need to get the squirrel out of the house. I then asked my dad, as they were sitting together, and he said he wasn’t going to take me to the hospital because he found it funny when I was trying to run from the squirrel and how it was biting me in the same spot over and over. Then my dream ended as I was running upstairs to get away from the squirrel.
Your dream presents a rich tapestry of themes and emotions that can offer valuable insights into your current state of mind and life situations. Let’s break down the key elements:
Setting of a School and Competition: The school setting suggests a place of learning and development, often associated with social interactions and formative experiences. Competing against an "enemy school" may symbolize a challenge or rivalry in your life — perhaps a situation where you feel you are being judged or compared against others.
Inability to Serve: The act of trying to serve the volleyball but being obstructed can indicate feelings of frustration or a sense of being hindered in your pursuits. It may reflect anxiety about performance or the fear of not meeting expectations. The interruption could symbolize distractions or obstacles you perceive in your waking life that prevent you from seizing opportunities or asserting yourself.
Winning and Social Interaction: Despite the initial hurdle, you experience a moment of triumph as your team wins and you engage positively with friends and a teacher. This aspect of the dream highlights your desire for social connection and validation, especially during group achievements. The presence of schoolmates, potentially perceived adversaries, suggests that competition may not only be external but also ingrained in social circles.
The Squirrel as a Symbol: Animals in dreams often represent instinctual behavior or aspects of the self. The teacher bringing the pet squirrel could signify a nurturing figure trying to bring playfulness or curiosity into your life. However, the squirrel biting you and drooling alters its symbol from innocent to menacing, suggesting an element of unpredictability or danger associated with something you desire.
Rabies and Fear of Loss of Control: The transition to paranoia and the acknowledgment of contracting rabies paints a picture of overwhelming anxiety. The idea of rabies — a disease linked with loss of control and aggression — may represent fears about a situation in your life spiraling out of control or the fear of being harmed by something seemingly harmless at first (the squirrel).
Parent Dynamics and Neglect of Needs: The response from your parents, particularly the humor exhibited by your father when you seek help, may reflect feelings of being misunderstood or unsupported in a time of need. This dynamic can symbolize a fear that those close to you may not take your feelings seriously or support you in addressing your vulnerabilities.
Running Away: The action of running away in the dream could symbolize a desire to escape from responsibilities, fears, or challenges that seem to overwhelm you, especially those that cause distress. It may suggest a flight response to issues that must be confronted rather than evaded.
In summary, your dream encapsulates a blend of competition, social dynamics, fear of losing control, and the need for support. It suggests a struggle between your aspirations and the challenges you face, particularly in how you interact with others and seek validation. It might be beneficial to reflect on areas of your life where you feel supported or unsupported and consider how you can assert yourself more confidently while addressing any underlying anxieties.