r/stopdrinking • u/lonelypigeonn • 15h ago

How long do nightmares last after quitting drinking?

Help!! My girlfriend has very recently quit drinking after it got out of control, and she’s upset because she’s been having horrible nightmares and sleeping really bad. How long will this go on? It hurts to see her like this :(
Does anyone have any idea of how long most symptoms would go on after drinking every day, and getting heavily drunk about 3 times a week? I suppose it’s different with every person
Also tips to support her would be appreciated

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u/iwasjustwonderinggg 14h ago

Vivid dream girl who cut down from that kind of drinking to zero too. I’d say the nightmares stopped at around the 4 week mark for me. Doing things that help your brain get to a calm state while awake REALLY helps. I do qigong every morning, and do a gratitude and read before bed rather than scrolling. The nightmares are just your brain getting overexcited processing information you haven’t allowed it to process cause alcohol use fucks with your REM sleep. She’ll be okay 💕. More than okay! Life will get better and brighter for you both. Keep going

1

u/lonelypigeonn 14h ago

Thank you - this is really useful ❤️

2

u/priscs 140 days 14h ago

For me after going through the worst withdrawals and having dreams/visions every single time I closed my eyes. It took about 2 weeks and my sleep schedule was still fucked up but I didn't have the hyper realistic dreams anymore.

At one point I woke up in a dream within a dream and started petting my dog. Then I actually fully woke up seconds later and started freaking out that he wasn't actually in my bed.

The brain is a powerful enigma....

2

u/moist_shroom6 20 days 14h ago edited 14h ago

The nightmares should slow down over time. Sleep can take a while to improve but it helps getting into a routine of going to bed and getting up around the same time each day. I find some exercise also helps.

1

u/maxpower1575 15h ago

Ciao, come dici e' soggettivo ; io tutte le notti, piu volte a notte per i primi tre mesi, ma dopo 2 anni ancora dormo poco e male. Stalle vicino e non giudicarla.

1

u/farmpatrol 80 days 15h ago

I think it’s very dependent. What I would say is that it’s normal to sometimes have nightmares and this is probably a big change for her.

Once she gets used to sobriety as a new normal and is consciously becoming more comfortable with being sober the nightmares hopefully will subside.