2 months and 20 days in and I still have nightmares of drinking every single night without fail. Different scenarios each time but I always drink. Still upsetting… when will it stop.
I go to therapy to work on letting go of the guilt and shame I feel from the things I’ve done while drunk, I thought it would alleviate my mind at night. Not yet 
!
6 Likes
Have you tried a recovery program yet to talk about these on a daily basis? Once we get sober our brain has to get rewired. Can take time. Yet with time, it will always get better. Keep sharing and getting that brain under control.
1 Like
I haven’t tried a recovery program yet… I need to go to an online meeting I think. My therapist recommended I get the Big AA book to start
1 Like
Uggg I hated the drinking dreams. There is scientific explanations for them and are very normal, I still have one occasionally. They do get less frequent and at this point of my recovery I kinda laugh at them when I do get one. In my experience it’s the disease trying to hold on in your deep part of your brain. Meetings should help and I also encourage you to find one that you relate to the people. Reading the first 164 of the big book will also be helpful. It gets better and your worth sobriety
1 Like
I've been plagued by nightmares my whole life. H**l, they're one of the many reasons why I drank. But yeah, the recovery nightmares are the worst. Try doing sleep meditations on your phone as you go to bed. Sometimes they seem to help put your mind in a better place to sleep thru the night.
1 Like
I had them for 2 years before they completely disappeared! It’s a reminder of how bad things can get
1 Like
Is that ptsd or anxiety? Most trauma diminishes when feel what you feel and allow it to go through you. What do you feel in nightmares and where else in your life do you feel the same way? That’s what I would do as a therapist with you:blush:
1 Like
Meeting makers make it. Zoom, local in person. Google AA NA Smart, etc.
1 Like
Although I’m indifferent about AA I will say this…reading the big book was extremely helpful. It can help you realize that you aren’t alone in all this. Staying connected with other sober people is a great way to not only feel safe about opening up and being understood, but also you’ll learn how to cope with situations you’ve both thought of and not. Don’t give up on sobriety just yet. Once you’ve truly come to terms that it’s not for you the nightmares will start to drift. At least they did for me.
1 Like
When I have drinking dreams they are so real that they physically shake me into feeling almost hung over when I wake up. I was always devastated after. My sponsor told me early on that drinking dreams don’t have to be a negative. The positive can be that the only way the disease can get to you is through your subconscious. Your conscious self is working a program and keeping you physically and spiritually fit.
1 Like
Going to meetings in person, getting a sponsor and taking the 12 steps is a fantastic way to start. The Big Book was written by alcoholics for alcoholics. It saved my life.
We didn't get this way overnight and so we don't get better overnight. It's 10 mi into the woods and 10 mi back out.
1 Like
Possibly PAWS (POST ACUTE WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME) should slowly fade in intesity and frequency, but for me I used alcohol to treat PTSD, so I still have some nightmares, but multiple relapses taught me, alcohol only mades it worse.
2 Likes
I’m almost a year deep in recovery and I still have them, the way I figure, it’s better to do it during a dream then in real life. They will become less frequent, keep going strong and keep the faith!
1 Like