I’ve been sober and active in 12 Step recovery for 16 years and I still have occasional drinking dreams. I’ve discovered that they show up when I’m stressed about something and not fully acknowledging it. ❤️
Thanks so much for sharing, Catherine. Sixteen years - yes! I love how you’ve noticed a pattern around when dreams show up. I always find that so helpful, especially in seeing the ebbs and flows of it all. ❤️
I’ve had dreams of smoking ever since quitting in 2002. They are less frequent now, better be after 23 years! And it’s always the same. This isn’t too bad, is it? You can just smoke once in a while. I wake up with a shudder and remind myself, yes, it really is that bad.
I found this really helpful. I experience drinking dreams. I’m three days away from my 3 year anniversary and the dreams have come every night for the past week. They really increase during times like this. They are also my main “anxiety” dream now. Although usually in those, at some point I recognize I’m in a dream and all is resolved.
Still quite mystifying and never fun. Thank you for this thoughtful piece.
Thanks so much for being here and sharing, Melanie. Huge congrats on your upcoming sober birthday! Three years is a really big deal, and you’re doing it. Cheering you on. xo
Funny this topic has come up as I have just been having those dreams lately. Coming up to 3 years sober on Friday. I have been dreaming that I have been offered spirits to drink and I am considering that that is ok as long as it is not wine (I was super obsessed with wine but really anything would do). No idea why, perhaps it is just because of the anniversary?
Yes!! It has been a long time since I’ve had a drinking dream, but I definitely think it is the subconscious working its way through an inventory of sorts. I remember sobbing when I woke up from my first drinking dream. I was so heartbroken! It was also a reminder of how much my sobriety DID mean to me.
I also think of this woo-woo leaning idea : if you remember it, it’s not a dream — it’s a message.
I never have had drinking dreams and I was an inveterate (invertebrate?) alcoholic, drank by myself, drank before work, obviously after, on the way HOME from the liquor store. Never once dreamed about it even 30 years after. Ever. Now smoking… I loved smoking. Pack a day, pipe, cigars. 20 year habit. Now THAT enters my dreams occasionally to this day 25 years after I smoked my last. Not often but occasionally. Some kind of primal Freudian sucking addiction syndrome. Not vaguely interested in drinking or smoking. But my subconscious…anyway, healthier than smoking a prime bird’s-eye cut, Arabic smoke-cured Latakia in my favorite meerschaum. Crap. Know what I’ll be dreaming tonight.
This is fascinating— I don’t mean to make it basic, but it feels like anything that’s got deep, personal magnetism would be ripe for the psyche to hook into in times of stress—or even just in ordinary times bc we’re always playing things out. My mom is an actor and dreams about not being off-book at an opening. My father in-law is a heart surgeon who dreams of not having studied for organic chemistry. I love my husband and sometimes dream of infidelity. Whatever we most care about we have nightmares of compromising/ losing. The more you care, the scarier that dream feels.
When I've had these dreams, they've felt symbolic - that I'm not payong attention to the here and now and being careless. I consider what aspects of my life this might be telling me to look at more carefully.
As a former smoker, I can recall having smoking dreams for at least 5 years after quitting. I can’t recall the last smoking dream I had but I quit back in 1992.
I get a variety of consumption dreams once in a while. For me they don't seem tied to anything going on in daytime. Lots of tobacco smoking dreams, a good amount of weed dreams and an occasional party down drinking dream. Sometimes all together. They seem like vignettes, clips from another life. I don't wake up worried, just puzzled, like woh! I remember when the clips were real. I guess that's enough.
I've just woke from one, coincidentally! I am 2 days from my 4th year of sobriety, and clean time, as I was a weed smoker, cocaine user and anything else at the party (pills/mdma/acid) Having 3 main shares booked, I've done 1 already and felt almost like I was lying 🤥 (sobriety has a lot to do with the spiritual principle of Honesty) This is because in sobriety I've had a new diagnosis of adult adhd and my new medication is a drug that would test me as positive. . I thought long and hard about this path, but boy I'm glad I have relief from my debilitating symptoms of adhd.
Im super greatful to read your post this morning and realise its our very clever brains that may be unsettled and needing to noodle something out there! I have been studying for the past year and my prayers and dreams are about come into light now I'm conscious and evolving, slowly becoming ready to return to employment. They say addiction is a fear based illness (some dont believe that know) but I do believe this to be true for me. So so glad to have a loving, powerful, compassionate higher power today, that is with me everywhere I go! Lots of loves to all on this journey ❤️ I truly wouldn't change my life today for my old one one that I cried in daily to be free from.. ✨️ Keep connected to that sparkle peeps ✨️
I've just woke from one, coincidentally! I am 2 days from my 4th year of sobriety, and clean time, as I was a weed smoker, cocaine user and anything else at the party (pills/mdma/acid) Having 3 main shares booked, I've done 1 already and felt almost like I was lying 🤥 (sobriety has a lot to do with the spiritual principle of Honesty) This is because in sobriety I've had a new diagnosis of adult adhd and my new medication is a drug that would test me as positive. . I thought long and hard about this path, but boy I'm glad I have relief from my debilitating symptoms of adhd.
Im super greatful to read your post this morning and realise its our very clever brains that may be unsettled and needing to noodle something out there! I have been studying for the past year and my prayers and dreams are about come into light now I'm conscious and evolving, slowly becoming ready to return to employment. They say addiction is a fear based illness (some dont believe that know) but I do believe this to be true for me. So so glad to have a loving, powerful, compassionate higher power today, that is with me everywhere I go! Lots of loves to all on this journey ❤️ I truly wouldn't change my life today for my old one one that I cried in daily to be free from.. ✨️ Keep connected to that sparkle peeps ✨️
I’ve been sober and active in 12 Step recovery for 16 years and I still have occasional drinking dreams. I’ve discovered that they show up when I’m stressed about something and not fully acknowledging it. ❤️
Thanks so much for sharing, Catherine. Sixteen years - yes! I love how you’ve noticed a pattern around when dreams show up. I always find that so helpful, especially in seeing the ebbs and flows of it all. ❤️
I’ve had dreams of smoking ever since quitting in 2002. They are less frequent now, better be after 23 years! And it’s always the same. This isn’t too bad, is it? You can just smoke once in a while. I wake up with a shudder and remind myself, yes, it really is that bad.
Hurray for staying the course, Tim! Thank you for sharing, and huge congrats on 23 years.
I found this really helpful. I experience drinking dreams. I’m three days away from my 3 year anniversary and the dreams have come every night for the past week. They really increase during times like this. They are also my main “anxiety” dream now. Although usually in those, at some point I recognize I’m in a dream and all is resolved.
Still quite mystifying and never fun. Thank you for this thoughtful piece.
Thanks so much for being here and sharing, Melanie. Huge congrats on your upcoming sober birthday! Three years is a really big deal, and you’re doing it. Cheering you on. xo
Thank you, Dana. Thank you for your insight and wishing you the best on your continued journey!
Funny this topic has come up as I have just been having those dreams lately. Coming up to 3 years sober on Friday. I have been dreaming that I have been offered spirits to drink and I am considering that that is ok as long as it is not wine (I was super obsessed with wine but really anything would do). No idea why, perhaps it is just because of the anniversary?
Thanks for sharing, Leigh. Huge congrats on your coming anniversary! 3 years!!
I've had them on and off. I always wake up panicked. But then so grateful to know that it wasn't real.
I love the moment after a bad dream when I realize it didn’t happen and doesn’t have to be that way.
Yes!! It has been a long time since I’ve had a drinking dream, but I definitely think it is the subconscious working its way through an inventory of sorts. I remember sobbing when I woke up from my first drinking dream. I was so heartbroken! It was also a reminder of how much my sobriety DID mean to me.
I also think of this woo-woo leaning idea : if you remember it, it’s not a dream — it’s a message.
A message - love that, Kristen!
I never have had drinking dreams and I was an inveterate (invertebrate?) alcoholic, drank by myself, drank before work, obviously after, on the way HOME from the liquor store. Never once dreamed about it even 30 years after. Ever. Now smoking… I loved smoking. Pack a day, pipe, cigars. 20 year habit. Now THAT enters my dreams occasionally to this day 25 years after I smoked my last. Not often but occasionally. Some kind of primal Freudian sucking addiction syndrome. Not vaguely interested in drinking or smoking. But my subconscious…anyway, healthier than smoking a prime bird’s-eye cut, Arabic smoke-cured Latakia in my favorite meerschaum. Crap. Know what I’ll be dreaming tonight.
This is fascinating— I don’t mean to make it basic, but it feels like anything that’s got deep, personal magnetism would be ripe for the psyche to hook into in times of stress—or even just in ordinary times bc we’re always playing things out. My mom is an actor and dreams about not being off-book at an opening. My father in-law is a heart surgeon who dreams of not having studied for organic chemistry. I love my husband and sometimes dream of infidelity. Whatever we most care about we have nightmares of compromising/ losing. The more you care, the scarier that dream feels.
This makes so much sense, Isabel. I love that: "The more you care, the scarier that dream feels."
Some call it '“FREEBIES!!!!” LOL!!
😂
Great post Dana! No drink related dreams (yet) for me- but it’s omnipresent on my mind~ I constantly have to use internal debate~
Thanks, Peter! Sending you wishes for strength and serenity, one step (and internal debate) after the next. 🙏
Thank you for your beautiful article. I've had a few such dreams over 37 years sober and wake up thanking God it was just a dream. Love and Light.
Thanks, Paul. And yes! Thank goodness we get to wake up from drinking dreams. 🙏
When I've had these dreams, they've felt symbolic - that I'm not payong attention to the here and now and being careless. I consider what aspects of my life this might be telling me to look at more carefully.
What a beautiful practice, Ren.
As a former smoker, I can recall having smoking dreams for at least 5 years after quitting. I can’t recall the last smoking dream I had but I quit back in 1992.
I get a variety of consumption dreams once in a while. For me they don't seem tied to anything going on in daytime. Lots of tobacco smoking dreams, a good amount of weed dreams and an occasional party down drinking dream. Sometimes all together. They seem like vignettes, clips from another life. I don't wake up worried, just puzzled, like woh! I remember when the clips were real. I guess that's enough.
Clips from another life: I love that way of looking at it, John!
I've just woke from one, coincidentally! I am 2 days from my 4th year of sobriety, and clean time, as I was a weed smoker, cocaine user and anything else at the party (pills/mdma/acid) Having 3 main shares booked, I've done 1 already and felt almost like I was lying 🤥 (sobriety has a lot to do with the spiritual principle of Honesty) This is because in sobriety I've had a new diagnosis of adult adhd and my new medication is a drug that would test me as positive. . I thought long and hard about this path, but boy I'm glad I have relief from my debilitating symptoms of adhd.
Im super greatful to read your post this morning and realise its our very clever brains that may be unsettled and needing to noodle something out there! I have been studying for the past year and my prayers and dreams are about come into light now I'm conscious and evolving, slowly becoming ready to return to employment. They say addiction is a fear based illness (some dont believe that know) but I do believe this to be true for me. So so glad to have a loving, powerful, compassionate higher power today, that is with me everywhere I go! Lots of loves to all on this journey ❤️ I truly wouldn't change my life today for my old one one that I cried in daily to be free from.. ✨️ Keep connected to that sparkle peeps ✨️
Thank you for sharing and inspiring, Jade. Lots of love to you! ❤️
I've just woke from one, coincidentally! I am 2 days from my 4th year of sobriety, and clean time, as I was a weed smoker, cocaine user and anything else at the party (pills/mdma/acid) Having 3 main shares booked, I've done 1 already and felt almost like I was lying 🤥 (sobriety has a lot to do with the spiritual principle of Honesty) This is because in sobriety I've had a new diagnosis of adult adhd and my new medication is a drug that would test me as positive. . I thought long and hard about this path, but boy I'm glad I have relief from my debilitating symptoms of adhd.
Im super greatful to read your post this morning and realise its our very clever brains that may be unsettled and needing to noodle something out there! I have been studying for the past year and my prayers and dreams are about come into light now I'm conscious and evolving, slowly becoming ready to return to employment. They say addiction is a fear based illness (some dont believe that know) but I do believe this to be true for me. So so glad to have a loving, powerful, compassionate higher power today, that is with me everywhere I go! Lots of loves to all on this journey ❤️ I truly wouldn't change my life today for my old one one that I cried in daily to be free from.. ✨️ Keep connected to that sparkle peeps ✨️
Thank you for sharing and inspiring, Jade. Lots of love to you! ❤️