Dreams

I have suddenly started having dreams where I'm drinking alcohol again,I wake up feeling terrible that I have failed and have to tell everyone that I'm back at day 1.Of course I soon realise it was only a dream but it scares me,has anyone else had the same thing.I am looking into aftercare,Hopefully it won't take too long to get into an addiction therapist.PS I haven't had any dreams where I take codeine again!

Denise

[boogieman]

Hello. Ya, this is very common. As time goes by, they will become less frequent. Though they may be disturbing, I believe they do serve a purpose, which is to remind us that we are still alcoholics/addicts, and we are only one drink or drug away from returning to the hell we have escaped from. In mine, all the guilt and remorse that I had, the hiding, the desperation of running out and making it to the store before it closes, and all the attendant fear that accompanies our sickness is there. I never have dreams in which I enjoy myself, everything about the experience is negative. So in a way I'm grateful for them, as they provide reinforcement against the peculiar way we tend to forget just how bad it was. Take care, GM

[narla]

I admit the dreams I've had are negative,So I suppose that's a good thing.Thank you for your reply.

Denise

[ibizan]

these drunk/using dreams were very common with me in my first year of recovery.As time went on they became less frequent but i found when i was experiencing periods of high stress i would have one!A few years back at 20 years sober i think i was watching a tv special on a recovering addict who found a recovery house for other addicts.I fell asleep while watching.i had a dream that i was running thru the streets in my flannel pj's smoking crack!i awoke and thought JEEEZ!

[narla]

It's good to find out others have been through the same thing and it doesn't mean I'll drink again.Thank You for your reply.

Denise

[working dog]

my dreams were so bad when i stopped drinking...it's funny in my drinking years i never remembered any of my dreams..but i remembered everything i did while i drank....then as soon as i quit i started remembering my dreams and they weren't good..the bad dreams got better over time..took a while..someone here told me that there are stages of sleep...and when you drink you miss out on the last stage...good luck....billy