Is it normal to have vivid dreams or nightmares in recovery?

Yes, vivid dreams and nightmares are very common in early recovery support and are actually a sign that your brain is healing. Many people experience intense, sometimes disturbing dreams, including dreams about using substances. This can be unsettling, but it's a normal part of the recovery support process. During active addiction recovery, substances often suppress REM sleep, which is when most vivid dreaming occurs. As your brain chemistry normalizes, REM sleep returns to normal patterns, often resulting in more intense and memorable dreams than you're used to experiencing. Dreams about using drugs or alcohol (often called "using dreams") are particularly common and can be very realistic. You might wake up feeling guilty or worried that you actually used, but these dreams don't indicate that you want to relapse or that you will relapse. They're simply your brain processing the changes you're going through. Nightmares may also increase, especially if you're dealing with Psychological trauma or guilt related to your addiction. Your brain uses dreams to process difficult emotions and experiences, so this can be part of your psychological healing process. To improve sleep quality, maintain good sleep hygiene: go to bed and wake up at consistent times, avoid caffeine late in the day, create a relaxing bedtime routine, and keep your bedroom cool and dark. Regular exercise can also improve sleep quality, though avoid vigorous exercise close to bedtime. If nightmares are severely disrupting your sleep or causing significant distress, consider talking to a therapist or doctor. Sometimes Psychological trauma-focused Psychotherapy or sleep medications can help. Remember that this phase is temporary. Most people find that their sleep and dreams normalize within a few months of recovery.