Cyhenna,
The nightmare you've shared is quite intense and vivid, especially for being one of your earliest memories. Nightmares at such a young age can be particularly unsettling and often leave a lasting impression. In your dream, the car journey with your father, which should denote safety, takes a turn into the unknown as he leads you towards a building filled with mannequins. The gripping of your wrist instead of your hand suggests a lack of comfort and security you'd expect from a parental figure, leading to feelings of vulnerability.
The imagery of the mannequins can signify a fear of the inanimate or soulless; objects that should be lifeless are suddenly imbued with agency and malice. The store, typically a place of commerce and choice, becomes a trap where you are left powerless. Your father's role in the dream is particularly striking, as he is the one who brings you to the center of your fear and then abandons you to it. This could reflect deep-seated anxieties about trust and dependency on those meant to protect you.
As the mannequins converge and suffocate you, this could symbolize an overwhelming feeling of being controlled or losing your autonomy. The dream's emotional intensity, culminating in a feeling of suffocation, indicates a powerful fear of being overwhelmed or consumed by external forces or expectations. The fact that you called for your mother upon waking suggests a yearning for comfort and rescue from a nurturing figure.
It's important to consider the context of your life at that age, even though memories might be hazy. The influence of such a dream can carry into later years, possibly reflecting in various aspects of your life where you might feel a loss of control or a fear of abandonment. The mannequins, impersonal and unresponsive, could also represent a fear of being misunderstood or not truly seen by others, a common fear as one navigates through life's relationships.
Given the dream occurred when you were about two years old and is one of your earliest memories, it's likely that the emotional residue has intermingled with your subsequent experiences. The intensity of the emotions you felt, reaching a level of 9, suggests that this nightmare had a significant impact on you. While it's a single dream from early childhood, if similar themes have recurred in your dreams or have manifested in your waking life, it may be helpful to reflect on these feelings and consider their influence on your current mindset and relationships.