Vivid dreams when stopping smoking?

[monky]

Posted by EmJay ROY CASTLE.

11 Jan 2013

For those of you who are newly quit, I thought I'd repost the following...

One of our lovely 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 where 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.

[droopyJ]

Errrrr WOW, that's impressive, thanks mister monky..... although I've always had weird (and I do mean weird) dreams.... wonder why as I've smoked longer than I care to remember

[monky Administrator 35 Months Winner in reply to droopyJ]

Think nothing of it young Lady

[Briarwood Administrator LONG TERM WINNER in reply to droopyJ]

Erm I don't know

[monky Administrator 35 Months Winner in reply to Briarwood]

Dont know what

[Briarwood Administrator LONG TERM WINNER in reply to monky]

I was saying I don't know why droopy has her dreams

[droopyJ in reply to Briarwood]

I once dreamt that my cousin Linda was trying to make me put on a Dalmatian dog outfit but I couldn't get it on past my thighs, we had been on our way to the airport at the time......

anyhow a few weeks later my other cousin in Canada phoned me to tell me that her sis was coming over and could I meet her at airport......... I told her about dream and she told me that she had to have spencer her Dalmatian put to sleep a few weeks previously.......

That's the sort of weird dreams I have ....

[Briarwood Administrator LONG TERM WINNER in reply to droopyJ]

Oh yes that's weird

[droopyJ]

See..... I have always had weird ones..... Why would anyone try and put on a dalmation dog outfit that was clearly too small for them??

[monky Administrator 35 Months Winner in reply to droopyJ]

Cos your dippy but a luvs ya really

[droopyJ in reply to monky]

Yep I actually think you could be right mister monky

[elissa]

So hopefully my dreams will now calm down and I can stop waking up in a panick.brilliant info,monkey.x

[EmJay Partner]

Thanks for posting this again Pete, you're a star

I've just tried to add in the picture that I usually put with it, but it won't let me

[monky Administrator 35 Months Winner in reply to EmJay]

Hi Emjay, its lovely to see you again gal

I tried to put the pic on last night, but just couldnt post it, so I had to cancel the pic THEN I could post it weird

Just come on here tonight, clicked edit, and chose the pic, and here we goooooo I think thats the one you used to have with it

Hmmmmm, am just thinking gremlins now good job I've got my heat seeking, gremlin detector , take that Spears at the ready eh ------------>> well, originally, our Sue made this one, but for Pete seeking purposes see but I've sort of altered it a bit for gremlin purposes Sooooo, if you need any help, my spears are at the ready gal

[deb9795 11 Month Winner]

Thanks for the post it helps a lot as during my last quit my dreams we horrid but now I know that its normal and my brain needs to work things out at it own pace. Again thanks x