I dreamed I was smoking o.O

[DEFJamBaby]

Last night I dreamed about smoking. It felt so real that while I was dreaming I was angry with myself for doing it. I had a full on conversation with myself in my dream. One side asking "Why are you doing this? Are you crazy?" and the other side coming up with all sorts of excuses like "It's just this one time. You already know that quitting is easy, so what's the deal?!" I don't remember what happened after that.

I just woke up a little while ago and write about it asap, because wow that was concerning. Has this happened to any of you before?

I think my fight has just started. I thought the first week was too easy...

[Mortalzeus]

I don't dream as often now, but the first couple of months, I had some very vivid dreams of smoking. 

[TerrieQuit]

Many report the dreams, especially if they are using the patch. I haven't had many smoking dreams but mine were fun. I was glad when I woke up and didn't really smoke. My opinion: Don't place too much significance on it. Only a dream. Thank goodness 'eh?  Have a great smoke-free day!    ~Terrie~

[DEFJamBaby]

Not using any patches or any other form of replacement. I guess it really shouldn't matter, but noticing that my subconciousness is arguing with itself like that a week in... I just didn't expect that...

[Mortalzeus]

I wore patches 24/7 for the first two months and it helped me, but my dreams were very vivid!

[JustSharon]

I agree with Terrie very much. It's only a dream, you did not really smoke, so congrats on that. I know that there are times those dreams can be so realistic that we do wake up thinking we really blew our quits. Just remember that its all just part of the withdrawal symptoms right now. This too shall pass!

[Nestly]

I had a few smoking dreams. Guess it's the addiction trying to assert itself. I don't think it's anything to be worried about. Have a giggle and enjoy that you are still smoke free!

[bacardigirl]

I quit cold turkey and, at almost 5 months, still have the 'smokemares' from time to time. Smoking was a huge part of my life for 3 decades and it's an addiction and sometimes an obsession, so the dreams will come but they will only be dreams, not reality.

[Cimstrong]

I had that dream last night. 2 days in and was dreaming about smoking. I had one in each hand and trying to convince my family they were not mine because I quit. I had to laugh when I woke up,I thought " yeap you sneak cravings,sneaking in on my sleep and convincing me to smoke 2 at a time" . It is concerning, was not ready for that. Made morning cravings strong. It's only a dream......

[YoungAtHeart]

My experience with smokemares (that's what we have called them here) was quite interesting.  The first couple I had, I had a cigarette in hand, ready to light, and STOPPED myself.  I was so proud that I was committed, even in my dreams.  A few years into my quit I had another where I was sitting on a set of steps, surrounded by beautiful gardens.  I lit and smoked the entire cigarette, and enjoyed it tremendously, thank you very much!  No idea what they meant, but thought the difference was significant!  I haven't had one, now, for a couple of years - but it wouldn't surprise me.

Do let them inform you how rotten you would feel if you smoked and use that knowledge when the going gets tough!

Be happy when you awaken and realize it was only a dream!

Nancy

[elvan]

I didn't have any really vivid dreams but I sure have heard a lot of them and they seem incredibly disturbing.  They are dreams and smoking was part of your subconscious as well as your conscious life.

Glad it was a dream.

[diamond01]

Hi, I had quite a lot of dreams of me smoking, but if you catch yourself in the dream that means you are ready to quit so now you can rock it. Helen.

[Posamari]

Since I quit over 100 days ago, I have very vivid dreams. Mostly I enjoy them. Lol. Kinda like going to the movies in your sleep. When I tried the patch for less than a week at the start of my quit,  I did have the most bizarre dreams/nightmares. Those were not so pleasurable. Unsettling. I dreamed a few nights ago that I was smoking, but it doesn't happen very often. I'm in NML and true to what I've read, my cravings have intensified and become more frequent. 

[Giulia]

I dream of smoking about once a month.  Even after 10 years.  Lots of us have had such dreams.  Just type "smokemares" in the search icon (magnifying glass - upper right).  You can read about them all day!  Quite common.  Here's someone who mentioned such two days ago:  /blogs/Mandolinrain-blog/2017/02/14/smoking-dreams?sr=inbox&ru=10273 

[Strudel]

It is very normal to have these dreams - someone explained to me back when I had my first - your body is going through many, many changes and your brain and unconscious mind is trying to figure it all out! I considered it all part of the healing process. You are doing fine! Congrats to you! 

[DEFJamBaby]

I usually don't dream at all. At least I don't remember them. I only remember nightmares, so not a fan in general...

About your NML: Are you doing anything about it? Like reading Alan Carr's book again, or something like that?

[TerrieQuit]

/blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/06/26/what-to-expect-in-the-first-four-months?sr=search... and this one is about 6 months old, but there is a new one posted every Wednesday! Great posts, please take a look! https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/SarahP-blog/2016/08/31/no-mans-land-weekly-blog-the-forever...   ~Terrie~

[TerrieQuit]

Here's another link to Sarah's weekly blog /blogs/SarahP-blog/2017/01/18/no-mans-land-weekly-blog-celebrate-nml?sr=search&searchId=021b7c01-2d8... 

[Kkay]

I have had those too. My latest one was I smoked and chewed my fingernails down to where they bled! I havent chewed my nails in 15 yrs. haha I think its such a good feeling to wake up and there is no cigarette and with me, my fingernails were intact. Before that one I was offered a cig and turned it down. Our brains are working things out while we rest. : )

[Posamari]

Sorry for the late response, just saw this. As far as NML, I'm doing a lot of walking, riding my bike--as in bicycle--and doing projects when I can. Plus I read a lot on this site even if I don't blog or comment everyday. Right now, I'm painting the trim and front door of the house. If I keep my mind and hands busy, I do pretty well.  Plus the fact knowing my adult daughters would be absolutely LIVID and so disappointed in me if I started smoking again. Throw in the fact my health is substantially better now and I want to live longer hopefully without being tethered to an oxygen machine. Oh, another thing, I keep a jigsaw puzzle going at all times. If I watch TV at night,  I have the puzzle. The whole keeping my mind and hands busy thing   I still crave and sometimes get nostalgic about smoking (if that's not the craziest , most asinine thing ) and sometimes even depressed.  Unfortunately I did start gnawing on my fingernails at times of stress     'This too shall pass'.  My 2 biggest motivations,,,, health and family. My mom passed 2 years ago from a massive stroke that was related to her heavy smoking. After her stroke, she was basically incapacitated for 9 months before finally succumbing to death. I never want to go through what she did, all because of nicotine. 

[diamond01]

Hi, I had those dreams the first month, now I really don't have them, it is hard for me to sleep, I just toss , and turn. I have it in my head that I will not smoke so that part is not that bad, my worst part is the crying over nothing, and laughing so hard, and I don't know what is causing that, if you find out let me know, good luck Helen. 

[Posamari]

Since I quit my emotions tend to be all over the place. I think that's normal as we're trying to navigate through life without the cigarette crutch. It's tough. My feelings get hurt very easily now but at the same time I don't put up with as much nonsense like I used to.  Yikes, talk about contradictions!  I used to *stuff* my emotions. Not rock the boat. Now I can be so direct it's almost abrasive, trying to find a happy balance with that one. I don't allow things that once bothered me, slide as much. Cigarettes actually made me more complacent in affairs of life. Now I tend to deal with things more directly and swiftly.  Thomas wrote a great blog mentioning the complacency in life smoking can cause, not in those words but relating to it.  

[DEFJamBaby]

I had another dream last night. Again: very realistic, but this time I just watched myself smoking away, then it actually was me, stealing other people's cigarettes, not being able to stop this time around. I really, really, really don't like these dreams!

[elvan]

So sorry these dreams are continuing, you can get past them, just concentrate on how far you have come when you wake up.  Reward yourself for the fact that it was only a dream...a realistic dream but a dream nonetheless.

[Posamari]

Are you using the patch by any chance? I used the patch for less than a week at the start of my quit and had unsettling nightmares amongst other side effects. 

[DEFJamBaby]

No substitutes at all. I really think my subconsciousness is having a battle while I'm asleep.

It hasn't changed my mind when I'm awake though

[TerrieQuit]

YAY!  Keep moving forward!  ~Terrie~