I have been game and tv free for what will be 12 days today, and I am very happy about all of the changes that I can see happening in my life.
What I don't like are the dreams. I keep having these bad dreams, always involving me gaming again, relapsing, and then responding to that. While the dreams themselves aren't terrifying, it is rather difficult for me to remember that I'm dreaming at the time. It is pretty stressful to me to accept the reality of my relapse, start counting my days clean over again, recommit to not gaming, and then wake up. While I am relieved to not have relapsed, I can't imagine this stress is helping me rest when I'm sleeping, and although the dreams fade pretty quickly after I wake up, It is still an unnerving way to start my day.
All things considered, at least the stress goes away during the day. That is more than I could have said when I was still gaming.
Congratulations on your 12 days! As far as the dreams go, I'm now psychologist, but I do believe you are relieving (not reliving) your stress through dreams. This is part of the withdrawals I believe. Perhaps if you view it this way it might help you.
I've not had dreams about gaming but when I quit smoking umpteen years ago, I remember having dreams about smoking and then waking up thinking I'd fallen off the wagon. The difference is I'd feel relieved once I woke up and realized it was a dream.
I'm glad to hear the stress of remembering goes away during the day. It will lesson with time.
Hugs
"Even when you think it's about you, it's not about you." Dr. Bill
Yeah I have the same problem. Last night I dreamed I almost relasped and then woke up very freaked out. It was something I did not enjoy.
Clean since October 24th, 2013!! :D
I'm grateful to say that gaming dreams aren't something I've had to deal with, but there are a lot of people here on OLGA who HAVE had to deal with that, so know that you aren't alone. Why it shows up as a symptom of withdrawal for some and not for others, I don't know. I do know that they eventually go away, although they apparently can pop up from time to time for a long period after they stop being regular.
Look on the bright side...even in your dreams, you want to stay away from the games...meaning that part of your subconscious is on the same side as you are. That much at least might be encouraging to think about...hugs...
When you're going through hell...keep going. --Winston Churchill There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still --Corrie ten Boom
I don't know if I dreamed about my game...usually by the time I woke up, I forgot about my dream :-). The withdrawal symptom does get better, so hang in there.
Congrats on the 12 days of sobriety!
Hugs,
Maggie
It's good to have goals and dreams, but while you're waiting for things to change, waiting for promises to come to pass, don't be discontent with where you are. Learn to enjoy the season that you're in--Pastor Joel Osteen
Hello Wholetruth, I have experienced this vividly in the past couple of weeks. It was as if I was playing the game again and then I realised I didn't want to be doing that even in a dream and woke up with a jolt. It was very disturbing and unsettling at the time.
I tend to agree it is just our brains healing, I haven't had similar dreams (that I remember!) since.
That said, my sleep patterns have been all over the place since I quit a month ago, I hope it will settle down soon.
Keep up the good work,
James.
Hi Wholetruth, I can relate with the bad dreams, I had quite a few of them in the months after I stopped gaming. From what little I know, there is a lot of symbolism in our dreams, they are basically a way for our minds to communicate with us.
However, I do not have any particular expertise on the subject, so I recommend asking a professional if you so choose to learn more about these dreams.
My suggestion is to take it as it comes, AA is familiar with dreams like these and calls them 'Drunk Dreams' they suggest that you don't worry about them. Consider them a freebie! Because you are still sober when you wake up.
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, help me to be realistic about the challenge I'm facing and to take good care of myself. If you need help PM me! I will gladly offer you whatever aid I can.
I have been having dreams (well more like nightmares) everynight as well, but I dream I am in my game, just like when I used to play, I am in the game reacting with others. I wake up sad and miss playing. :( The strange thing is before I quit playing, I never remembered any of my dreams.
Well, I don't think it is a bad thing. and like others have said carry on, and don't let it upset you to much.
Best Regards
Mist
Low-anchored cloud, Newfoundland air, Fountain head and source of rivers, Dew-cloth, dream drapery, And napkin spread by fays; Drifting meadow of the air, Where bloom the dasied banks and violets, And in whose fenny labyrinth The bittern booms and heron wades; Spirit of the lake and seas and rivers, Bear only perfumes and the scent Of healing herbs to just men's fields!
Henry David Thoreau
They're called 'using dreams' in another 12 step program. You're life revolved around your addiction, and now you're dealing with it on a daily level while awake, but it's still on your mind, still in your thoughts, many actions are still the same save for the active gaming.
I'll speak for myself...My life revolved around my gaming, whether at home, work, with the kids, with friends, on the phone, on the iPad, on the computer, it didn't matter what the game was, I was hopeless.
When I started getting 'clean' from the gaming, I would still have lucid dreams of gaming, fighting with Wifey over the gaming, waking up depressed and guilt-ridden. That still happens from time to time.
Knowing that 'using dreams' are common when you first quit helped me realize that others have gone down that same path, and have emerged the better. Hang in there, it gets better!!!
It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness (E.R.)
Clean Date: not really sure anymore...
If you do something in real life long enough you are going to have dreams about it for a while. Just thank whatever higher power you belive in that it is only a dream, not the real thing.
Hang in there:)
leveling in steps, serenity, sponcys, sponsors, exercise, and sleep, (sanity has been downsized) sober from all electronic games since 11/19/2010
Hi Wholetruth,
I have 2 months up and my dreams are have finally begun to subside. From previous times in my recovery I understand that this it just part of the process for me. I will get more dreams, but they will be less frequent.
It's a horrible feeling waking up in a sweat, feeling sick to my stomach and I think "Oh no! What have I just done?" even the realisation that it wasn't real doesn't help in that moment.
Withdrawals are part of the process but if your having a hard time, get to a meeting, contact another recovering gamer to talk it out. Remember to work the program and it will get easier.
Hold tight one day at a time
Tam
"It has become appallingly clear that our technology has surpassed our humanity"
Albert Einstein.
Wholetruth, thanks for sharing. I'm really grateful you did, and I'm grateful to be able to share with you too, because I relate a lot to what you shared. my name is Dan. I particuarly struggled with the dreams as withdrawals. (To me, personally, they were more challenging than the temptations to game.)
In my dreams I would find myself gaming, then realise I was gaming; and I would feel all the frustration and despair of a loss of progress, being "back to day one", before I woke up and realised it hadn't actually happened!
To me these dreams were familiar...see, I had a drinking problem for most of my life, and experiencing sobriety from that for the first time 2-3 years ago I found I was taunted by dreams in which I found myself in a state of drunkeness! The same demon of addiction.
The withdrawals pass! 12 days is massive. I believe you will make it. And be encouraged my friend - all your struggles are shared world wide. I thank God that he has provided a way out of every temptation, so that we may endure. :-)
... I will walk with integrity of heart
within my house;
I will not set before my eyes
anything that is worthless.
Psalm 101:2-3
OH I had lots of gaming dreams. In one dream I was the actual character I used to play, and my co-workers were in my guild who were fighting another department's guild. The dream was so real that when I woke up I was devastated to "realize" I'd been gaming again.
What a relief that it was only a dream; it felt so real.
The dreams go away. I don't have them anymore. And the other withdrawals go away too. The headaches, restlessness, anxiety, agitation, inability to focus on any one thing, etc. These all go away.
Just keep hanging in there, a day at a time. The chat meetings at night might help you. Come join us.
Imglad so far that I havent had bad dreams. Just been overly exhausted. But ive heardits a good thing, your subconscious letting go of your thoughts of gaming. It will get better (atleast thats what I keep telling myself).