I suffer from major depression. It was undiagnosed from the time I was 11 (when my favorite uncle died) until 2008 when I suffered a serious accident which involved a back, hip and head injury. Then my normal coping skills no longer worked to keep the depression away. I am on medication for the depression and for anxiety. I was in a wheelchair for two years and through therapy have managed to get out of the chair to a walker. I also see a counselor as I have been abused by my brothers growing up and then attacked by my adopted daughter in 2004. I suffer from PTSD also.

I've had this dream ever since I was a child. It usually starts out with me being at home doing all the housework and my brothers not doing anything. My parents then decide that I no longer need to go to school, just stay home and keep the house. I am made to sleep in the garage on a small rug and they never acknowledge my birthday or give me Christmas presents any more. In fact they no longer consider me one of the family. I finally decide to run away and leave the family. At that point I wake up crying.

This dream reoccurs over the years and yet it changes as I get older. Now instead of me being treated like a servant, I am married with two children. I am disabled and not able to do much with the family. The boys start ignoring me, refusing to do anything I say and then my husband starts ignoring me, and then my parents and finally my extended family. They act like I'm not even around. I finally get up the courage to leave home and use my walker to get going. I'm walking slowly along the highway wondering if the family even knows I'm gone. At that point I wake up crying.

I want to stop these dreams from coming back because each time I have one it sets my depression even worse than it was before I had the dream. I start to feel better about myself and my place in the family and then I have the dream and I fall right back down again.

How do I stop the dream from coming?

So sorry to read about your health condition and its impact on you and your dreams.

I found some articles on his site that might prove helpful. Here are links to them...

how to modify bad dreams

meaning of recurring dreams

Dreams are reflections of your feelings about your waking life. Your dream clearly reflects feelings of abandonment and being ignored by those close to you. Whether it is "you," your disability or your depression, your dream shows that you don't feel understood by them. The good news about your dream is that it also reflects your feeling that you can courageously "get up and walk on your own."

But, why "walk alone"? Your loved ones probably have no idea and would love to help in any way they can. Do you think that you can have an honest conversation with your husband, family and friends about your feelings related to your condition? If you have any concern, you should seriously consider enlisting the help of a professional counselor. Once exposed, this dream should go away.

Wishing you good luck and happiness!

I agree with Kelly regarding your dream being a reflection of your emotional status. I would also like to mention some details of your dreams. The house represents the mind, and as you stated, you were cleaning up around the house. This shows that you were thinking a lot and trying to sort out your thoughts. Your brothers represent aspects of action/behavior. They are not helping with the work...this symbolizes that while you were often doing a lot of thinking, you weren't actually doing anything with your thoughts. Your parents symbolize your higher, more loving self. When they ignore you, this indicates the times when you feel down about yourself. A garage, is a place for your body (car) to rest. When you are sent to live in the garage, that is like saying 'be still, don't do anything'.
Again, as Kelly pointed out, this is about your depression/anxiety. The details could suggest that if you could possibly find a worthwhile activity...perhaps helping the less fortunate, this may give you the boost you need to move forward. I feel that the 'progression' of the dream from living at home to having your own family may actually be a good sign even though the symptoms are still there. I hope this helps you in some way and I will pray for your relief and recovery. Don't stop dreaming...just use the ones you get and it will change.
God bless.