Hey people! On day 7 and struggling. Nightmares and 2 relapse dreams in the past 24 hours. Strongest urges I’ve felt so far. Any tips to get through the harder days? Also, if you want to message me the conversation helps get my mind off of it. Going to a meeting at noon.
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Believe it or not, what you are experiencing is pretty normal. The dreams, the urges, the anxiety, the fear…welcome to early sobriety my friend. Your mind is beginning to wake up from the medicated state it’s been in. The trick is to sloooow it down. Meetings help. Talking to other alcoholics helps. Prayer and meditation helps. Do you have a sponsor yet? If not, no biggie, but you should be on the lookout for a nice lady. None of these things will make it all go away, but they will slow down the hyperactive thoughts you are experiencing. That little pause and break from overthinking will be just enough to give you a little break. Do this ODAAT and you will find it getting better over time. Stay the coarse my friend. You can do this
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Glad you’re hitting a nooner
Relapse dreams come and go w me
The more spiritually fit I am the better my coping mechanisms
I believe that like my alcoholism, the drinking dreams are not going away
Just knowing that and accepting it makes it easier
For instance, sometimes in the midst of a dream I do recognize that it’s not reality and I kind of just go w it and when I awaken I’m not freaked out
It took a while to get to that point but I suspect it’s being more confident about my sobriety that enabled me to get to this point
Again, time and recovery work: meetings, step work, journaling, helping others, prayer, meditation, listening to people w long term, quality sobriety will all enhance your sobriety IMO
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As much as it sounds cliche, one day at a time or even an hour or moment at a time. I tell myself I can have a drink tomorrow if I want I’m just not going to today. And then meetings and connecting people always helps me. I listen to sober podcasts or just try to distract myself all together with an activity. If you’re doing AA, I would say getting a sponsor was huge for me. Helped me feel less like I was white knuckling it and I’m feeling more purpose for other things instead. You got this!
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I had to come up with a way to fend off my urges with something else, to redirect or reprogram my subconscious mind. For me, I’d hit McD’s and get a small fry and a small coke. For some reason that helped. I wonder
if others do something similar.
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I understand 6 plus years later I still get 2 a month. First month I hated to go to sleep because of the nightmares of the using dream’s!! It’s The disease calling us back. I hope you go to some sort of 12 step program. You’re here and doing great please don’t suffer post anything you’re feeling! Thank you for sharing this the struggle is real
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Those dreams always make me grateful for waking up sober!
Thank God.
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I’ve been to 18 meetings in 7 days 
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So thankful to God!
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Trying to get a sponsor 
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I have a person I’m going to ask to be my sponsor. Maybe tomorrow
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I’m doing a lot of work so hopefully it will get a little better in time
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Your well on your way! That’s awesome attendance! You’re doing great!
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Oh wow! This such a coincidence! I was just wondering the same thing. I had a dream last night that I had drank. It was very real. In the dream I had woke up to the disappointing realization that I drank. But I was actually still dreaming. Such a weird feeling. This is not the first time this has happened
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Same dreams here. I had to remind myself it’s just a dream. I’d like to think that the fact I was worried about them and scared by them meant I was even more committed to staying sober in reality.
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Check out the podcast sober powered episode 3 for more about these dreams
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Let us know how it goes. I was a sponsor for five years before I went back out. Love to hear your experience.
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Relapse dreams are normal. I still have them and they can be so real when I wake up and realize it was a dream I sigh with relief. Get in as many zoom meetings as possible. Even in person if they are near you. When I was first in recovery I was constantly in a meeting because I had to hear other people because I thought it was only me 🫣 crazy thought. There are more people in recovery now than ever. I talk on the phone everyday with at least one other person in my area in recovery we actually became great friends. Reach out go to meetings stay strong one day at a time. Best wishes.
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Totally normal. Your brain doesn't want to be rewired but it senses a change in routine. Consider it a sign that things are progressing. It's a good thing in an uncomfortable sort way (like most milestones in growth).
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I think I've had only two relapse dreams in my 100+ days sober. I didn't wake up with urges from them, though. I instead woke up angry, scared, and ashamed.
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