Lpg

Can anyone help or have any advice on how to stop it?
I'm 2 weeks sober from cannabis today and I'm doing great, the dreams where returning but nice ones but last night it started again & tried to nap this morning & it happened in my nap.

Its so awful and scary I feel like someone dangerous is with me
​​and I can't wake up

Robbie64

Are you sure it's related to sobriety? I've had this happen in the past, it's a really scary experience. I put it down to anxiety which was stopping me from relaxing as I was falling asleep.

Lpg

It's probably not directly linked to soberity but it always starts when I'm completely sober.
I used to suffer alot with anxiety but not so much lately.
Its horrific like I'm awake & can't move or do anything but can't wake up for what seems like forever.

Robbie64

I went through a phase of having them. It seems to be connected to when the mind is unable to relax and so stays alert while the body is falling asleep.

At the following link https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-paralysis it gives one of the causes of sleep paralysis as being substance abuse yet I don't think I've ever suffered from it when I've been drinking. It seems to be when I've first got sober and that's why I just assumed it was anxiety. I hate tempting fate but I can't remember when I last had it happen, it must have been at leats a year or two ago. If it bothers you a lot then perhaps check with your doctor? Again, see the link I gave as it mentions seeing a doctor if it becomes problematic.

Be123

When I was drinking heavily I would have sleep paralysis on the second or third night without a drink. It is very scary.

I got really interested in the causes and also the fact that it has interested people throughout history. If you google it you'll find some stuff about artistic representations in the past.

It's caused by the brain waking up in stages. It's harmless and I never have it anymore. I put it down to my brain being addled and not having the correct boundaries between consciousness and unconsciousness.

This reply isn't offering any solutions, just solidarity. I 'made friends' with the condition and would become conscious of what was going on. But yeah, screaming your head off because you feel like you're being squashed to death, but unable to make yourself heard...not much fun

Surrendered19

That sounds awful Lpg. I must confess I had to Google "sleep paralysis" because I had not previously heard of that. I only theorize that booze formerly took you down through the normal stages of slumber very rapidly and that your brain didn't have time to navigate through the normal process of falling asleep. Now, your brain is curious at the extra time it is taking to get you under and it is experimenting? Just the most uneducated lay person's guess. This doesn't sound fun and I hope it passes. I have to think a sleep specialist (i.e. not a knucklehead like me but rather a real medical professional) could give you some tips on this phenomenon.

DriGuy

Lots of strange things and strange dreams happen in early sobriety. You are making a change in your life that may be much bigger than you think, and your mind is reacting in confused ways. Your paralysis dreams may be related to this change, or maybe not. My most upsetting dreams in early sobriety were the drunk dreams. I don't think I experienced a paralysis dream in recovery, but I'm no stranger to them. They were frequent when I was about 10 to 20 years of age, and then they just went away. I don't know why they were there in the first place or why they went away. But you are right, they were the most terrifying of the nightmare dreams I've ever had, with drunk dreams a close second.

Both types of dreams are fear based. In early sobriety, I was terrified that I could somehow accidentally get drunk like I was not in control of my body and not in control of my mind as well. This is an irrational fear, but irrational or not, it is a real fear, and we have to work through it.

Sometimes, especially with drinking, it feels like we don't control our actions, or worse yet, that we have no control at all, but we do. We are not paralyzed. We make the choice to drink or not to drink, and we have ultimate control over that. It's a behavior that we actually have to learn, as weird as that sounds. It is casually referred to as breaking a habit, but it is actually more complicated in ways that alcoholics can easily understand.

Don't be paralyzed. You've proved to yourself that you have control to take negative actions. You use that same control to do the right thing. Be assured that not drinking is the right thing if your an alcoholic.

I think your dreams will go away, and if they don't right away, remember that they are only dreams and not signs of some greater dysfunction. We all have them.

Lpg

Probably should have mentioned I've been sober from alcohol for 3 years but only just quit smoking cannabis 2 weeks ago.

I used to suffer from this type of dream as a child from very young age till teens. stopped when I started smoking cannabis I almost never had dreams, I think it must stop you from dreaming at all. So yeah must be my brain getting used to sleeping without cannabis in my system.

I did look on google and found some threads on reddit to do with sleep paralysis & soberity (alcohol related) seems quite common. Hopefully passes quickly because I don't feel rested at all today. Was just curious to see if anyone else has experienced it when becoming sober & if it passed quickly. Sleep is so important for me if I don't feel rested I don't do well.

stickyone

This has happened to me alot during my recovery. Has alot to do with the mind still racing and the body going into a shut down. I had many time where I would be going through it and being able to notice everything thats going on. Like my spouse would be watching TV and I would be lying down stuck in sleep paralysis to wake up a hour lying there. I would tell my spouse what she was watching etc. My kids and family knows if I'm kicking my leg then I'm stuck in sleep paralysis they wake me with a shake. Doctor says try relax and take it easy on the caffeine and have a down time before beds so your brain is not so amped. It gets better just have to find balance in your life schedule. Congratulations on your recovery.

For a time line I haven't had a drink in 8 years and no opiates in 235 days. When I cut the opiates it had gotten more frequently. Same when I first stop drinking alcohol.

Lpg

Yeah prob best i cut down on the caffine, thanks for the tip. I did have a redbull late in the day yesterday.

I did do a guided meditation before bed last night and less screen time. Trying to get a good routine at bedtime since cutting out the cannabis as sleep was my main reason for continuing use. Thank you, congratulations on your sober time too

Sober45

Congrats on your sober time from alcohol, Lpg. I just got my one year and in 2021 I'll be thinking more about giving up cannabis.
I've been a daily smoker for many many years...before I got into trouble with alcohol. I've had a few of those dreams but one in particular when I was only about 11 or 12...holy God almighty. It's like you're conscious but can't move...very very scary.

One thing I do know is that Cannabis affects dreams...I rarely remember my dreams. It's like I'm missing something and I don't like it. I can certainly see how stopping weed would bring them back with a vengeance. I'd say give it some more time and things will settle down. Quitting weed is MAJOR....hats off to you on your success so far.

Lpg

Hey sober45, thank you & congrats again on 1 year 🎉
Yeah it's horrid, it's actually making me nervous for sleep tonight but need to try and relax. I actually forgot about my pervious experiences of this until this morning.

Its weird how weed makes you either forget dreams or not have them... I feel like I just don't have them. Boy am I making up for it, I know it will pass in time. Thank you I have been trying to quit for 3 years, didn't realise I'd tried so many times until I looked over my old posts on here. It's not easy to quit but I think it will be worth it, especially money wise!?
I Wish you well when you do decide to quit too

relena

I've had sleep paralysis for a long time, but mine started before I ever drank. When I was drinking I still experienced it the same as I had before. I was told there was no way to control it so I just accepted it. I hope you find a solution/something that helps you through this. It's an awful feeling.

stickyone

Yes Ive had it in early highschool years. I spent many years just holding my breath during the episodes and I would wake up. I know the feeling very well seems like something is pressing you down you can't move then a fear of a shadow lingering. I've always fought demons in my dreams and nightmares. Deep down I had alot of emotions from childhood that I could not get over.

Dee74

I hope it will pass in time lpg. As horrible as it is its not worth going back to the weed.

No pressure but I hope you take the plunge this year sober45. Next to not drinking not smoking weed has been the best decision I ever made.

D

Lpg

Sorry you suffer it too, it is awful. Hopefully it will be momentery and pass after some time, if not I will also learn to accept it, but thinking back to before I smoked or drank I do now remember it happening then.

Lpg

Yep sounds just like what I'm experiencing, and hearing someone coming toward the room from outside. I do have alot of childhood stuff too. Thanks for replying, I'm not alone in it.

Lpg

Yep, you're right. Apart from this I'm feeling good, I don't really want to smoke I feeling I'm doing good steps to do the right things.

just good to hear from others.

stickyone

My worst experience was staying in a hotel. And I was used to it but it happened when I was in the room alone and the bellman had made entry into the room. He just took our bags but the feeling was scary cause he was knocking for a while . But yes limit the caffeine don't take sleep aids to compensate. Meditation is great before bed I always get a better rest when I put in the meditation self care time.

snitch

I used fo suffer terribly with this but it hasnt happened for a long time now. Maybe I did suffer the most when I had had a couple of days off the booze but I don't know but I def havent experienced it in sobriety. Sorry I cannot offer any way to deal with it I just wanted to let you know I've experienced it too and it is really frightening. I used to try and wiggle my big toe if I could move that then hopefully I could jolt myself awake. Someone else who suffered with it gave me that idea.

Well done on 2 weeks without cannabis that is amazing!

I hope you get a good nights sleep tonight