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2024-11-11

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Research found drinking even a small amount of alcohol before bed can adversely affect sleep quality. People who do not get enough REM sleep can experience emotional problems. (original.newsbreak.com)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 64 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Recovered alcoholic since 2017.

One of the trippiest parts about getting sober was experiencing something called "REM rebound" where you dream intensely and vividly all night long, night after night. The way it was explained to me is that alcohol inhibits REM sleep to such a degree that it's like it has to catch up for lost time. It's exhausting but also an interesting experience, I'll say that much.

It took quite some time to feel like I got a restful sleep, but oh man, what a difference when I did! Reflecting on my drunken decade, I don't think I knew what a good night's sleep was. I felt like I was sleeping, but it's more like I was passing out from alcohol overdose day after day. It's no wonder I was constantly depressed and suicidal all those years.

That and the "pink cloud" phase (which I wish could've lasted forever) were the most interesting parts about becoming sober.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 9 months ago (1 children)

This is very interesting, and thank you for sharing your story. I am unfamiliar with the “pink cloud” phase; do you mind elaborating?

[–] [email protected] 36 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Not at all. I don't know the exact mechanism, but a lot of people experience a period of intense unbridled happiness while becoming sober. It only lasts a couple of weeks to a month, but it's so great when it happens. I'd dance by myself listening to music and just be happy as a kid on a snow day. Some people have described it as having "rainbows shooting out your asshole." I wish I could feel like that all the time.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 9 months ago (1 children)

That sounds amazing; it’s unfortunate that you have to go through hell first. About how long after being sober does it occur? Or does it differ between people and how much alcohol they consumed regularly beforehand?

And congrats on staying sober for so long! That’s a huge accomplishment and you should be proud of yourself!

[–] [email protected] 14 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Thanks! And I'm not sure to be honest. I never heard of it until I mentioned in AA how happy I'd been feeling lately. I'd say it was maybe 4 weeks into my sobriety? But as with a lot of things, I'm sure it can vary wildly.

I was pretty deep in, and I couldn't afford the medical support I should have had because I lost my career and I was also legally forbidden to drink alcohol for one year. It got so much easier after the first year and a half to two years, but I still remind myself every day that I'm choosing not to drink because anyone can easily become an addict or alcoholic.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, and I wish you the best of luck in the future!

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[–] [email protected] 21 points 9 months ago (4 children)

Marijuana also hampers REM sleep, so daily smokers experience the same thing when they take a T break or get sober. I'd be interested to see a similar study for weed, especially since it's marketed as a sleep aid

[–] [email protected] 18 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I'm a generally habitual pot smoker who has long periods of sobriety due to switching jobs or a few times to support my wife during her pregnancies and I can say that without fail about a week after I stop cannabis I start having super intense dreams for about two weeks then normal dreams after that. When I go back to smoking, I stop dreaming after around a week of use. My sleep quality generally increases without cannabis but I do have ptsd associated nightmares, sweating, yelling etc. Cannabis completely stops my dreaming but I need like 9 or 10 hours of sleep to feel as rested as I do with 6 hrs sober.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yes, and oddly enough in my husband's case, I feel like that's helped him immensely with his PTSD induced nightmares so much, with fewer nasty side effects than what he was taking before. His provider even mentioned that it would likely help with the dreams when she helped him get his medical card. Probably less than ideal for the general smoker, though!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (3 children)

Yeah, I suffer with PTSD as well as chronic pain and fatigue and other issues, so good sleep has not been on my cards for a long while - I have trouble getting to sleep and don't sleep well when I do. Weed helps ease some of that which in itself makes sleep a little more attainable, as well as helping me get to sleep (and eat, and not sink too far in to dark places).
I'll take that trade off..

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