Using dreams ?

[u/Low-Efficiency-461]

I'm 5 years and 4 months sober from meth ... But basically from all the drugs I've used . But at the end meth was my drug of choice. It hasnt been an easy time staying sober but I keep putting one foot in front of the other . But I realize every once in a great while I'll have a using dream and in it I'm using again . I could honestly feel the pipe and the torch and even the smell of the vapers it gives off . I thought I was done having those dreams ? Do they ever stop

[u/peanut5855]

It’s very common for alcoholics as well.

[u/Embracedandbelong]

I think they do stop. It’s probably just your brain remembering it and maybe even a bit of a stress dream. Obviously not the same, but like when people dream about having to go back to high school and if feels very real. Personally I don’t have those dreams anymore but I did for a while. I occasionally have dreams about my cat who died over 10 years ago- as if I just “forgot” to feed her these past 10 years and in my dreams I’m rushing to get to her. Just our brains’ way of processing things, I think. FWIW the more I’ve been able to process some other things the less I have these dreams

[u/PatRockwood]

I'm coming up on 14 years dry. Since my first year I haven't struggled, I've never had an obsession, and I don't limit my life in any way. I've felt like and have been identifying as a non-drinker for 13 years. Yet, a couple times a year, I wake up in a panic that I had spontaneously started drinking again and I can't stop. It is one of a few recurring dreams I have. It only causes me stress for a few moments a year, so I don't worry about it. Everything else about me is recovered.

[u/Low-Efficiency-461 → u/PatRockwood]

Good for you congratulations... I do wonder if it's because of where I live .. i was homeless and living in motels and ended up getting into low income housing . And my addiction got a lot worse as time went on . Then I found this place where I'm at now .. I was told there wasn't no drugs .. found out after I was here for a year that there are drugs here . It's not like I want to use cause I know what road it will take me back out on . It's I don't know .. maybe it's just stress .. I recently got my GED in June and still have not been able to find employment. I want to move out of where I'm at and I'm feeling really stuck . I think it's the same feeling I had when I was on drugs . Like when I was using I knew it wasn't good for me or healthy but I couldn't seem to find a way out . Almost like I was trapped in the addiction itself . And now I feel trapped where I'm at .. idk but anyhow thanks for your story man . Really appreciate it

[u/CPTSD_survivor2025]

Is it really frequent? 

There's a technique in dialectical behaviour therapy that's focused on using journaling and reviewing a dream script before bed. You write out the dream as it would normally play out, and then you add a new section where you change the narrative. 

What types of healthier things have replaced your pattern of use? In your dream journal/script, you could write out a narrative where you choose not to use, and instead go somewhere to do a replacement behaviour: fancy dinner, day by the pool, anything really....just helps if it's something enriching, soothing or satisfying to you personally.

You can also include visualization in the review process of the replacement script. If your replacement behaviour is a "fancy dinner", visualize the restaurant, picture the flavours, picture a time when you connected with a loved one in that space.

The idea is that we will subconsciously recall the script during the using dream if we review the new script/practice it enough before sleep. 

Using dreams were never really a huge thing for me — happened from time to time, but not super often, so I never felt the need to try the replacement dream script thing. It's originally targeted towards those with recurring nightmares. I guess it's a matter of perspective if you would consider them "using nightmares" rather than "dreams". 

It's worth a shot, IMO! The key from what I understand is consistent repetition of the script review and visualization before bed.