ChaoticSunshine

Hi everyone!

I've only been sober for 3 days (including today), but I have had the weirdest dreams EVER. I'm not drunk or drinking in the dreams, but they make no sense at all and of course I wake up thinking that they're real.

I've noticed this as well before when I would go to bed not having had any alcohol. I'm thinking that it's probably because I'm actually sleeping - as opposed to the drunk sleep that feels so good but isn't at all satisfying because you aren't actually asleep.

Is this how normal people sleep? I haven't gone to sleep without having had any alcohol in SO long!

-Thanks!

PS - Can I just say how nice it is to lay in bed and read this forum in place of cracking cans or bottles and googling stuff drunk? I am slowly figuring out what my triggers are, and apparently, bedtime is one of them (or the nighttime retreat to my room by myself when I know no one will bother me). I'm so grateful that this site is here for me to log onto to be reminded of where I was, am, and could be with alcohol and my addiction.

defyinggravity

I never dreamed when I used a substance (besides my prescribed sleep meds) to fall asleep...but when I stopped using and started getting real sleep (I think your assessment is correct - you're probably just actually getting more and better REM sleep, which is when dreaming occurs...substances tend to keep one in the other stages of sleep), I have the weirdest most life-like dreams. In fact, I'm frequently aware that I'm dreaming and, to a degree, can control what I do in my dreams - it feels totally bizarre. I'm not sure if it's "normal" but it certainly happens to me

Congrats on getting sober! I'm on day 4 (this time around)...isn't it nice to really sleep?

withdrawing

That happened to me too. When I was drinking I truly don't remember dreaming very much at all. But when I first stopped drinking my dreams were intense and it seems like I will dream all night long now. I still find that in some of my dreams, even after day 44, I am in my dreams drinking alcohol. I guess it's my brain screaming for the alcohol, which its not going to get.

Spawn

You can rest your mind......dreams have no hidden meaning.

SSIL75

After years of numbing my mind, it really went into overdrive when I stopped drinking. Intense, crazy dreams and lots of daytime fantasies. It took a bit to settle down (the fantasies took longer than the dreams which only took a week or so). In a few months I felt normal.

Charon

Yep - wicked weird dreams here too. Bedtime was a trigger to me too but I read. THen next evening I'd have to look back to see what the last thing I remembered and start from there. Some books I mush have read a dozen times before I finished them. LOL

ChaoticSunshine

Okay good, it's not just me. Last night I had some pretty wild dreams again. And, I must admit, I LIKE dreaming! For so long I just kind of remember passing out and just waking up. I wonder how I'll sleep when all the alcohol from the 2 years of abuse is finally all out of my system.


Day 4 today, and luckily because I just moved, my social life is pretty much non-existent so I don't have to worry about the Friday and Saturday night celebration triggers!

artsoul

Hi Chaotic -

I had really vivid dreams the first week or too as well. It's definitely a common thing. It's like a hyperactive state that our brains have to deal with after getting off alcohol. It settles down after a short time, though.

I agree about how nice it is to lay in bed with a laptop and be able to connect with everyone here, rather than drinking ourselves into a stupor. The mornings aren't so bad either!

Boater

i would welcome dreams. i can't sleep at all. tonight will be day one again. last time i think i slept about 2 hours in 3 days. good luck chaotic.

freshstart57

My experience was just like Artsoul's. It's almost been a month (my how dat time do fly), and I continue to sleep very very soundly. Hang in.

Dee74

Dreams are very common

I chose not to ascribe any deep meaning to them - I just keep on what I was doing - keeping my commitment to staying sober and things worked out just fine.

I hope you'll find you're sleeping normally soon. It was maybe a month for me?

D