Why am I having dreams about being chased?

When a CHILD has dreams of BEING CHASED,is it due to an adventurous mind?or probs at home??

• Just discovered during a camping trip, my nephew who seems to be a happy kid got to talking to me about dreams .... he explains [with a smile on his face] that since he was in a crib he's had a LOT of dreams of being chased "and attacked". He described his dreams as a baby "stuffed animals at night --their eyes turning into angry cartoon eyes ALL coming forward to him about to attack him" then he'd wake up. He's 13 now. However still has dreams of being attacked within highly detailed dreams, many different characters, and many times he says "it's usually about authorities chasing him down and them becoming evil at the end of the dream about to hurt him b4 he wakes up or sometimes attack him." I guess I am concerned because I mean really --a kid claiming he's experienced this on and off in dream state since he was a BABY?!?! --And the nightmares are still occuring? The weird thing is, I've NEVER seen him unhappy, except very moody when he was like 2-8. Since them, it's been

• Answer:

  "Chase" dreams are pretty common. I would always hesitate to read any specific meaning into dreams. However, if he's 13 and you know perfectly well that he lives in a violent environment, then you already know all you need to know without factoring in the dreams. It sounds like he was trying to tell you that he *is* having problems. Do you think spending more time with him would be possible? Or making sure that he knows where to go for help (pediatrician, school counselor, trusted teacher) if he needs to talk? It's good that you're concerned. Please make sure someone is there for him if he needs help--if you know your sister is a problem, you are in a good position to help him.