EX-DRUG ADDICT DREAMS

Hi there.

I use one of my business cards as a marker for my dauther's book. She dropped in our way out from a restaurant and the owner pick it up. He was very interested and we chat for couple of minutes.

He quit on crack almost 20 years ago, but till this day, very often, he has dreams about it.

In his dream, he's desperate using and his dream is so real, that he woke up sweating and agitated.

He told me he has talk with many ex-drug users and they all experienced those kind of dreams.

I know you vent out messages units during REM, but, for 20 years?

Any explanation why those dreams persist?, and also, what could I do if he contact me for help in these situation?

Thanks in advance.

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Permalink Reply by MeandMyself on December 17, 2011 at 1:41am

When he was on drugs he most likely had many negative emotions and experiences which have been recorded by the sub conscious mind. When people fall into sleep, the let their guard down (critical factor), allowing old emotions to re emerge in the form of dreams. If he ever contacts you, you could use age regression to resolve any old issue; like the ones related to his drug use. Hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by Alfredo Velasquez CHt. on December 17, 2011 at 7:44am

Thanks for your answer.

I'm agree this should be handle with age regression, but, I still thinking if won't be risky if he may re-experience the "pleasure" of using.

When he watched the dead body of his sister (overdose), he told me about the sadness but also the enormous anxiety when smelling the drug she was using.

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Permalink Reply by Alfredo Velasquez CHt. on December 17, 2011 at 7:45am

Thanks for the link Doreen.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Neale on December 17, 2011 at 1:37pm

whilst you could use age regression another simpler method would be to induce trance and then comunicate with the "part" of him that is causing the dreams and have it communicate its intention and then use a 6 step reframe or alignment therapy process or some other parts reframing process and that should take care of it without any danger of regaining "pleasure of past using".

I also would be inclined to clean up any negative emotions (memory of dead sister) with timeline therapy.

I hope this helps

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Permalink Reply by Alfredo Velasquez CHt. on December 17, 2011 at 3:37pm

Thanks Barry.

I'm not familiar with the 6 steps reframe, but "parts therapy" makes sense. Didn't think about that .

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Permalink Reply by Ian Williams on December 18, 2011 at 4:48am

Hi Alfredo,

I have worked with many addicts both clean and still using for a number of years and I see this problem over and over again, and although some might have been clean for a number of years and working a 12 step programme rigorously there is always an element of loss in relation to there drug of choice.

The drug gives them so much and even 19 years later when a problems happen or triggers emerge sometimes within there subconscious it normally comes down to loss and finally having the wiliness to let go for good is the answer.

Maybe look at what they are trying to hold on to.

Regards

Ian.

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Permalink Reply by Alfredo Velasquez CHt. on December 18, 2011 at 12:00pm

Thanks Ian, it's amazing how this drugs work.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Neale on December 18, 2011 at 12:15pm

The six step reframe is an old NLP technique. It works really well with these types of unconsious signals/problems. Check out the early NLP books such as "Frogs,/ Reframing/ or Tranceformations.

Alfredo Velasquez CHt. said:

Thanks Barry.

I'm not familiar with the 6 steps reframe, but "parts therapy" makes sense. Didn't think about that .

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Permalink Reply by Barry Neale on December 18, 2011 at 12:21pm

Alternatively, you could just do a conversational reframe and say something like...

Isn't it amazing that you mind can, unconsiously recreate those old drug experiences so that you, consciously, never need to risk your life again by taking the real thing? That means that you can stay in control of your life, doesn't it?

It's just a thought

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Permalink Reply by Alfredo Velasquez CHt. on December 20, 2011 at 9:50am

Thanks Barry.

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Permalink Reply by Susan French on December 20, 2011 at 11:39am

You might want to consider a really easy answer: since that time was always traumatic and always carried feelings of being out of control, along with guilt, shame and terror, I think people are fearful of falling back into an activity in which they lose control and will experience the things they fear.

From what I've read, the newest speculation about dreams is that they only pertain to the last 24 to 48 hours, that their function is to "dump the trash" of anger, fear, sadness, etc. However, my own observation is that dreams that leave people feeling unsettled are usually triggered by something recent that reminds them of old fears, self-doubts, things that they thought were gone for good.

Kind of like: OMG, not THAT again. But we never really 'forget' anything traumatic and are always somewhat hypervigilant about those things.

I hope that helps.

Susan