Hi, I’m new on here and haven’t had a drink in 11days. This is following a huge relapse after the best part of a year sober. I’m doing fine (despite the constant battle with my own thoughts) but am dreaming more than usual and they are all about alcohol. In some I’m drinking it secretly, in others people I love are finding it and giving up on me once and for all etc etc. None of them are pleasant happy ending dreams and I wake up at about 4am most mornings sweating and feeling anxious. The battles through the day are hard enough but to have to have them in your sleep as well is exhausting. When does this stop?
1 Like
I think it varies. Maybe try occupying the mind with something else just before bedtime. It’s worked for me.
It’s totally normal. I’m over 11 months and I still have drinking dreams from time to time.
Just know that it’s a dream and not reality. 11 days is a great start, lets check back in at 12 days.
3 Likes
Ah, drinking dreams. They’re a pain in the arse. I still get them occasionally and I’m near on seventy days sober. I’ve recovered from bulimia (2/3 years) and I STILL get binge and purge dreams. They wake me up in a cold sweat.
My best advice is not to resist them. As far as I l’m aware, there’s no time limit on them. Our subconscious is just sorting information out. They’re harmless, if slightly anxiety producing.
X
1 Like
I’m on 47 days and these are almost gone. The first few weeks every dream was drinking or a nightmare about being trapped somewhere and unable to find the way out, it does get better. Ride it out and wake up thankful that it is just your mind sorting through your old baggage and moving on. As you consciously settle into your new found freedom your subconscious will follow and your dreams will improve
1 Like
My drinking dreams got better as time goes on. I had them all the time in the beginning. I just had one this week where I didnt even drink in my dreams-I set it down on the table and pushed it aside and left it there. Victory!
1 Like
Mine stopped for awhile and have recently started again. Mine don’t bother me but I am always happy to wake up and find out that it was a dream and I did not drink. I used to have dreams similar when I was first married that I married an exboyfriend instead of my husband and I was always happy when I woke up. I think of it as my minds way of processing what could have been and appreciating what I have.
1 Like
I’ve only ever had one dream about drinking and it scared the hell out of me I hope never to have one again, I do get weird dreams but it’s more about intimacy
1 Like
I get them from time to time. I don’t get them as often as I was I am 70 days sober. They don’t really bother me too much anymore but, the first couple I had bothered me a little bit. I barely dreamt at all when I was still drinking.
1 Like
The word for that is security, when you dream about your addiction you can see first hand what it looks like on the other side. Just take it one second at a time, don’t think about one day at a time because for some people it’s very hard to think about all day. Give that some thought.
1 Like
Honestly they may never stop, if you don’t start treating your alcoholism… Truth is normal drinkers don’t dream about drinking or using drugs… Only true alcoholics do…
Its a huge sign…
Get involved fix the underlying problems (the reasons why you drank) go to AA find a sponsor work your steps… The dreams will probably stop… I haven’t had a drinking dream in years… But early on when I wasn’t actively working my recovery I had them all the time…
And on the rare occasion I get one now I’m missing something in My recovery and it is telling me I need to get busy and do something bc I could very well slip up if I don’t stay active in my program❤️ I hope this helps
1 Like