Need Advice re: weed & dreams

I've smoked weed for many years, lots when I was much younger, but in the past 10-15 years it's been only about a bowl or two an evening. Every so often, I take a break for a few days to maybe a couple weeks or so because with prolonged use I start getting less and less high. Anyway, about 10 days ago, I decided to take a break again and in about the last 6 or 7 days something really strange has started to happen.
I've read that a person pretty much dreams nightly when asleep, a lot of people just don't have memory of what they've dreamt. This has almost always been the case with me. But suddenly now I'm dreaming like every night, and am fully conscious of what I'm dreaming. I wouldn't be so stressed about it, but the thing is, they're all bad dreams, not necessarily horrific, just more or less dreaming about myself in bad situations. It keeps waking me up every goddamn night. I've NEVER had this happen before, but I've usually only taken a break from my bowls for a few days. I should also mention that I'm under a lot more stress than usual - a new job with a huge cut in pay, etc...
What do you think? Does anybody know about the relationship between smoking/not smoking and dreaming? Do you think the dreams are simply the result of the stress I'm under? Why would I almost never have recollection of my dreams, then suddenly an explosion of negative dreams that wake me up and I remember in detail? Do I just need to find a bag quickly? Unfortunately being broke is making the last option tough, but I have a few friends that could probably help till my cash flow recovers.
I'd really appreciate your thoughts!

 

I never really remember my dreams, but when I was 17 and got kicked out of my house, I had a few nights in a row of probably exactly what you are experiencing. Once I got situated in my new place with my friend, got my hours switched to fit my schedule, smoked a bowl or two, and listened to tom petty and grateful dead for a few nights, they went away and haven't come back.

I honestly think they will go away once the stress is down, because I have never had bad dreams (or really any dreams) while I smoke and go to bed, so just give it a few days.

 

man i don't know what the fuck it is, but it happens to me too! i stop smokin weed and i dream my ass off. and yes, i offen have vivid bad dreams when i'm under alot of stress,it's normal. and when the stress passes you'll have probly have good dreams, i do.
but yeah,pot somehow interferes with dreaming, no doubt! i've had the disscution with several of my freinds,and we all agree that we dream more while obstaining! and we also agree, that if you only smoke once in a while the dreams stay. but if you smoke everday, even once everday, the dreams subside.

just wonderin did you have a few nights of insomnia before the dreams started,seem like i always do,three or four days after quitting i can't sleep worth a shit . thats the worst part of quitting, after smokin' everyday in my book.

 

Hey all,

I've been smoking since forever lol. After not smoking for a few days the nights of insomnia and vivid dreams are typical with me too. Not to mention being REALLY touchy. I usually never remember my dreams. The vividness usually wears off though so if you don't find some stuff you won't dream yourself to death or anything but if you want it to stop again, scoring some buds will most likely give you a good nights sleep.

later,

Michael

 

I had the same problem, but thoughs vivid dreams are never bad, just EXTREMELY vivid, and lucid. I do end up in strange situations in them usually, but nothing bad, or scary. Just like i'll walk into a room in my house and i'll be in a swimming pool somehow or some crazy shit like that. That's just one I remember.

 

Yeah, I did have a few nights of insomnia before this started. It really sucked!

 

Just wanted to say thanks to all who shared their thoughts/experiences. This alone has lightened the stress a little.
I realize that scorin' some herb isn't really that difficult. It's just that I've been living for a couple months now with my funds seriously dwindling. Also, I've always taken pride in being a responsible individual when it comes to paying my bills. I also take pride in being a living example that pot smokers aren't typically lazy, irresponsible people when it comes to financial responsibilities. I guess I just lately assumed the attitude that the bills come first, and if there's anything left over, then I'll indulge in some smoke. However, I'm now thinking that if my mental sanity is suffering, then the landlord and the utility companies will just have to wait their turn. I remember seeing Kat Williams stand-up special recently where he said, "If you ain't got a job (which I do) and you ain't smokin' weed, I don't know what the fuck you're doing!"

 

^^ Great quote right there.

 

I personally have had a lot of vivid dreams, some I remember form when i was about 5 y/o. (i dream in color, by the way, and I have dreamed in spanish 2 times, what a pain!)
I smoke for a lot of reasons, one is to stop the random vivid dreams from getting through. I never get good rest when they are frequent, or when I am in control that way, its just too much work while I am sleeping. weird disturbing happy sad premonition and prophecy, and I cant stand it every night, again and again! ugh! so I smoke, and the ones I really should have come through, to remind me or warn me, whatever, and I have pleasant dreams otherwise.
the longest time I went without smoking (after smoking for a long time in High school) after 4-6 months I started having night terrors, and anxiety/ panic attacks during the day, it was unpleasant, and got me discharged from the Navy under "medical"...
I would reccomend trying a dream journal, to see if there is a pattern in subject matter, but also for feelings or hunches, and how you feel for the rest of the day. are they really disturbing, are you lucid/ in control? are you aware that you are dreaming? just try to analyze what you have been experiencing, and you'll figure it out. just keep track of how you feel. good luck

 

I think it might be the stress u are under, hope ur job goes well! For me I pretty much have crazy vivid dreams every night it is awesome and a lot of fun. Its not from weed, with or without i still have some pretty bad ass dreams. Hope urs get better

 

I typically don't wake up from my dreams remembering them unless I went to sleep sky high. Weed gives me nutty dreams. It seems to be the opposite with you. How odd...

 

I have the same issues.

 

smoking causes you to be in deep sleep longer and REM sleep less. and all your dreams come from the REM stage. not smoking for a few days will give me very vivid dreams.

have you looked into controling your dreams with lucid techniques?

 

Yeah man, remembering your dreams is the first step to lucid dreaming. I suggest you read up on controlling techniques. You should be looking forward to dreaming every night! I recommend the forums at (http://www.ld4all.com/). You should go post the same thing there and see what those guys think.

 

I'm pretty much the same as this dude; it seems like I have very vivid dreams if I smoke or not. Although these days I smoke several times daily and the last time I took a break was over the summer for around 5 days.
My dreams are almost always unpleasant to horrifying and sometimes the bad part of the dream is more like a feeling of anxiety or fright rather than visual scenes. I had a dream the other night that was complete with scary music. Often these dreams are disturbing and keep me from getting rest. My dad complains of the same thing, his is much worse.
Maybe for me the herb increases my remembrance of these dreams and I should cut back, but I doubt that's gonna happen soon...

 

Wow, this has gotten really interesting, reading about the wide variety of dreaming/not dreaming when smoking/not smoking. There's obviously a great variance in dream activity according to the individual.
As I originally stated, I rarely remember my dreams or have any idea I've dreamt at all. I'm sure, as some of you stated, it's largely due to the stress I'm under. When life is going smooth for me, I obviously feel that everything's "under control." But now, with my current situation, I'm invited to feel that things are "out of control." And this is basically the underlying theme of these bad dreams. I'm always in a situation where I'm trying to bring things back under control, and failing to do so. What's been most disturbing is that some of the dreams take it to the next level as my reaction to failing to control the situation becomes a nasty outburst of anger and even violence. This is what rattled my brain the most. Angry, violent outbursts are completely out of character for me. My friends always tell me I'm the most easy going person they know. But perhaps there's some message here for me. I think maybe I sometimes need to allow myself to feel the freedom to get a little more pissed off when something irritates me, and express my displeasure, as long as it doesn't lead to anything actually violent.
Goddamn, I feel like I just had a session with a therapist.
Anyway, my "herbal therapist" should be returning soon. I saw some good friends today and soon my pipe will be empty no longer. Thanks again for all the thoughts, suggestions, and support. There's some really cool people here!

 

I think you're right man.

And just one more interesting thing to add. The other morning I was having a dream where my girlfriend was out of control yelling at me, I was getting more and more frustrated with her in the dream, and woke up as I was biting her on the arm in real life. She was pretty displeased to say the least.