For those of you who are newly quit, I thought I'd repost the following... (shall add the picture when I'm back in the office)
One of our Stop Smoking Advisors has found some information that I thought you might all find interesting;
Vivid dreams are found to not be a side effect from stop smoking products. It has been discovered through research that it is part of the recovery process. The brain begins to repair itself and reverse damage caused from smoking. Neurobiologists have discovered that brain cells sprout new axons and nerve fibres during dream sleep. A chemical named serotonin in the brain triggers the brain to dream.
Smoking depletes serotonin production in the brain. When serotonin levels in the brain are balanced it creates a happy and contented state of mind. When serotonin levels are low a depressed and anxious state of mind is created. It is believed that smoking cigarettes can deplete serotonin levels by up to 50%. What compounds this problem is that the brain accepts the chemicals in a cigarette as a serotonin substitute on the basis that any chemical response is better than no chemical response at all. So therefore, when an individual stops smoking, serotonin production improves and the brain begins to compensate itself for lost serotonin production. The brain then produces more serotonin than needed, resulting in vivid dreams and nightmares.
Research has shown that it takes the brain 3 weeks to regulate serotonin levels.
Further research suggests that with an increase in serotonin levels there must be an increase in oxygen levels too. When a person stops smoking, carbon monoxide no longer takes priority over oxygen on the red blood cells. As a result of this change, oxygen levels of the individual increase. More oxygen is carried around the body and to the brain. When the stop smoker sleeps there is a higher percentage of oxygen reaching the brain than when they were a smoker. This process helps promote a process called rapid eye movement (REM) while sleeping. REM is an important process in dream production along with serotonin production.
It is essential to reassure a client that the first three weeks of a quit attempt are crucial. Vivid dreams are all part and parcel of the recovery process and the pathway to a healthier life style.
It is a positive symptom as it is the brains way of repairing itself and returning to a better deeper sleep.
Written by
EmJay
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I was really wondering about sleep and this has answered some of my questions. At first I thought that my sleep was better because I was finding it easier to breathe when sleeping. After a few weeks I seemed to go back to not sleeping so well. Then the other night I had the most vivid nightmare. Now this has only happened once because I rarely remember any dreams that I have anyway. But the nightmare was so real I was really frightened and it was really hard to wake myself up from it. I feel better knowing that in time my sleep will very likely improve.
Thanks EmJay
I have lots of dreams since I stopped smoking, in them I am 6 foot tall, long blonde hair with size 38 thingys, gosh it,s lovely, but oh what a nighmare when I wake up and realize I.m still 4ft nothink with black hair with size zero other bits Oh to dream.
You are very welcome Sally As long as you know you'll never come to any harm in your dreams / nightmares and that it's a sign of recovery. Try and enjoy your dreams, and maybe even see if you can control what happens to you in them, it could be fun
Do you think this happens if you passive smoke as well, I lived with my boyfriend for a couple of years, he was a smoker and I suffered extreme night terrors during this time, sometimes they were so bad I was afraid to sleep.
Hi Christin1234, a big warm welcome to our quit support community and look at you gooooo, a month quit already and I hope your very PROUD of yourself
Christin, we are all so so different in mind and body when we quit the smokes so we just cant give you a time BUT, it will get a lot easier for you as you go on
Please have a look at the Pinned Posts, cos there is a breathing exercise on there - How to slow a busy mind down - OK, it takes a bit of practice, but it helped me, so I know it works
Christin, please let us know your quit date, then we can award you with a Winners badge after your name, cos you well and truly deserve it
I quit cold turkey and it was the first couple of months I had crazy dreams, i can't say how long it will be for you but like Monky said it will pass😊.
Well done on your quit and stick with it as it does get better every day 💪💪🚭🚭
I quit 11 weeks ago and I'm doing great! Haven't even been tempted to smoke but I'm on nicotine replacement. I take my patch off an hour before bed but, the dreams -, WOW! I don't feel rested and I wake up feeling tired. I'm hoping this starts to calm down because after 11 weeks, they're still just as vivid. I always complained that I never dreamed and now I'm complaining that I dream far too much. Lol 😒🔫
Today is day 15 I'm doing well and not having cravings so much now but I'm experiencing very strange dreams every time I sleep maybe the past 3 days I've woke up from vivid dreams. Hoping it'll calm down but feel it's got to be good right?
thank you for the info, im seven days a non smoker and just this morning my night mares started and they are accompanied by a very strong sense of im pending death if i fall asleep, they have continued into tonight which is why im awake at 130 am.. i hope this is short lived because if it's not it might make me be short lived.
This was a very helpful article. Today is day 4 of being smoke free, and I was starting to think i was loosing my mind. I've had a terrible time sleeping. Super restless. And when I do manage to fall asleep, I've been having dreadfully vivid nightmares.
It makes me feel comforted to know I'm not alone.
I found the part of the article about serotonin to be especially interesting.
Thanks. I hand a nightmare dream where I woke up screaming. Now I understand the process my brain is going through because I'm in my 2nd week of quitting.
I just went cold Turkey...no patches or gums used .
such a great post - makes me feel better about all the nightmares I’m having . They are really stressful and so real , even when I wake up it takes a while to realise they aren’t true life . Currently going into week two of quitting cold turkey .
Ah thankyou . Still thinking of smoking a lot but know it will get easier and such a waste to get this far and give in …it’s taken me years to even attempt to quit again so this 2 week mark is quite a milestone for me . Thanks again .
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Oh to dream.
As long as you know you'll never come to any harm in your dreams / nightmares and that it's a sign of recovery. Try and enjoy your dreams, and maybe even see if you can control what happens to you in them, it could be fun 
so we just cant give you a time 
Still dreaming that I'm smoking !! Why ?
WHY STOP SMOKING?
vivid dreams and a horrid metal taste in my mouth