--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's hard to wake from a nightmare when…" description: "\"It's hard to wake from a nightmare when the nightmare is real.\" — Kristin Cashore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/kristin-cashore-369_dream_it-s-hard-to-wake-from-a-nightmare-when_2433419.png" --- # It's hard to wake from a nightmare when the nightmare is… ![“It's hard to wake from a nightmare when the nightmare is real.” quote by Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/kristin-cashore-369_dream_it-s-hard-to-wake-from-a-nightmare-when_2433419.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/kristin-cashore-369_dream_it-s-hard-to-wake-from-a-nightmare-when_2433419.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/kristin-cashore-369_dream_it-s-hard-to-wake-from-a-nightmare-when_2433419.png) > “It's hard to wake from a nightmare when the nightmare is real.” [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When reality mirrors a terrible dream, escaping its grip feels impossible. **In simple terms:** Real hardships feel like endless nightmares. Key Takeaway Accept reality and seek help. Themes pain reality resilience Mood anxious reflective Type literary motivational When to use this quote - personal crisis - mental health - stressful work - relationship conflict Key Concepts psychology trauma coping Questions to Reflect On - How can you differentiate fear from fact? - What steps can you take to regain control? A Different Perspective Ignoring the problem worsens suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Nightmare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare/) ## Related quotes > [“This was worse than a retched nightmare. 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So real that I refused to believe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/life-without-ethan-was-something-worse-than-a-nightmare-it-was-real/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [I'd still thought that everything I thought about that night-the shame, the fear-would fade in time. But that hadn't happened. Instead, the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-d-still-thought-that-everything-i-thought-about-that-night-the/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Getting trapped back in the '80s, it's almost like a comic nightmare, which for me is a very real nightmare. Every time I flip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/getting-trapped-back-in-the-80s-it-s-almost-like-a-comic-nightmare/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [“Life is capricious and cruel and totally fucking random and there is no hope of finding meaning in a nightmare. In a nightmare at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/life-is-capricious-and-cruel-and-totally-fucking-random-and-there-is/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“His ex is a nightmare’s nightmare. You know, the kind where you wake up and you think you’re safe but then you realize you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/his-ex-is-a-nightmare-s-nightmare-you-know-the-kind-where-you-wake-up/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [The nightmare? The nightmare was myself. I was my own nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-sanchez/the-nightmare-the-nightmare-was-myself-i-was-my-own-nightmare/) [Diego Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-sanchez/) > [“You should have known The price of evil And it hurts to know that you belong here Yeah No one to call Everybody to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avenged-sevenfold/you-should-have-known-the-price-of-evil-and-it-hurts-to-know-that-you/) [Avenged Sevenfold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avenged-sevenfold/) > [“His worst nightmare had become real; life was no more than a fragile breath, a fleeting instant od light in the eternal darkness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-rodrigues-dos-santos/his-worst-nightmare-had-become-real-life-was-no-more-than-a-fragile/) [José Rodrigues dos Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-rodrigues-dos-santos/) > [“This can't be real. It can't be. It's a nightmare. I'll wake up and find it's all been a nightmare. I mustn't think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/this-can-t-be-real-it-can-t-be-it-s-a-nightmare-i-ll-wake-up-and-find/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) ## More by Kristin Cashore > [“Back onto their horses, and shortly thereafter word had come around from the command units that any soldier brawling over any matter relating to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/back-onto-their-horses-and-shortly-thereafter-word-had-come-around/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“The girls clipped and swept, and Katsa’s hair fell away. She thrilled at the unfamiliar chill of air on her neck. And wondered if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/the-girls-clipped-and-swept-and-katsa-s-hair-fell-away-she-thrilled/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“Raffin appeared again, a floor above her, on the balconied passageway that ran past his workrooms. He leaned over the railing and called down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/raffin-appeared-again-a-floor-above-her-on-the-balconied-passageway/) [Kristin cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“When you’re a monster, she thought, you are thanked and praised for not behaving like a monster. She would like to restrain from cruelty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/when-you-re-a-monster-she-thought-you-are-thanked-and-praised-for-not/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“She glanced up at him, and in that moment he pulled his wet shirt over his head. She forced her mind blank. Blank as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/she-glanced-up-at-him-and-in-that-moment-he-pulled-his-wet-shirt-over/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“She had thought she'd already reached her capacity for pain and had no room inside her for more. But she remembered having told Archer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/she-had-thought-she-d-already-reached-her-capacity-for-pain-and-had/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“He thinks it's dangerous for us to leave each other so much freedom and make these vague plans to travel together in the future,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/he-thinks-it-s-dangerous-for-us-to-leave-each-other-so-much-freedom/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [Ideas were growing in all directions and dimensions; they were becoming a sculpture, or a castle. And then everyone left her, to return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/ideas-were-growing-in-all-directions-and-dimensions-they-were/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [But everyone has some kind of power to hurt people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/but-everyone-has-some-kind-of-power-to-hurt-people/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“Papa?” she said, turning in circles now, spinning to look at each of the entrances. “Do you mean Papa? Where?” He came through an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/papa-she-said-turning-in-circles-now-spinning-to-look-at-each-of-the/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“He decided to mark this new era in his life with a change of his foolish, sentimental name. The people of this land had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/he-decided-to-mark-this-new-era-in-his-life-with-a-change-of-his/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [I know you don't want this, Katsa. But I can't help myself. The moment you came barreling into my life I was lost. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/i-know-you-don-t-want-this-katsa-but-i-can-t-help-myself-the-moment/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“Como no te has dado cuenta de que tus ojos me atrapan igual que te ocurre a ti con los míos”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/como-no-te-has-dado-cuenta-de-que-tus-ojos-me-atrapan-igual-que-te/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [I've been afraid of being Cansrel,' she said aloud to her reflection. 'But I'm not Cansrel.' At her elbow, Musa said blandly, 'Any one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/i-ve-been-afraid-of-being-cansrel-she-said-aloud-to-her-reflection/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [Find something useful to do with your morning,' she thought to him as she neared her chambers. 'Do something heroic in front of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/find-something-useful-to-do-with-your-morning-she-thought-to-him-as/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) [Explore all 604 Kristin Cashore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) ## More Dream quotes > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Browse all 26,527 Dream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's hard to wake from a nightmare when the nightmare is real.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kristin Cashore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/it-s-hard-to-wake-from-a-nightmare-when-the-nightmare-is-real/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dream" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/it-s-hard-to-wake-from-a-nightmare-when-the-nightmare-is-real/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/kristin-cashore-369_dream_it-s-hard-to-wake-from-a-nightmare-when_2433419.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/kristin-cashore-369_dream_it-s-hard-to-wake-from-a-nightmare-when_2433419.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/kristin-cashore-369_dream_it-s-hard-to-wake-from-a-nightmare-when_2433419.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's hard to wake from a nightmare when the nightmare is real.” — Kristin Cashore", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kristin Cashore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's hard to wake from a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/it-s-hard-to-wake-from-a-nightmare-when-the-nightmare-is-real/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/it-s-hard-to-wake-from-a-nightmare-when-the-nightmare-is-real/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```