03-29-2017, 08:50 PM
Hello MadHatter!
While I am nooooo doctor, I've been off and on benzos for years. I tapered off two years ago. YES, for many this is QUITE normal. The benzos do dampen or "mask", or whatever word fits, some of our emotions. So, when we dream, all we have suppressed while awake (without realizing it, as in the medication suppressing a lot of feelings, etc.) comes out in our dreams. And in some VERY wackadoodle ways!
Some of mine were "way out there" as in weird, but some were just kind of more "normal" and yet so real, like say, a dream of having a conversation with my sister...and I'd be certain I did, then later realize I did not have that conversation with her, but that it was a dream.
This also happens to me whenever I take anti-depressants. And from what I hear from MANY people I know who are on benzos and/or AD's, or even tapering off of them, this happens to them, too.
Also, years ago when going through a horrible divorce, I asked my Pdoc if the medication sort of suppressed emotions during the day, and so they came out in my subconscious at night in dreams. Because we cannot medicate our subconscious. He said "ABSOLUTELLLLLLLLY! EXACTTTTLY RIGHT!" This was a psychiatrist who was on his way to retirement from a verrrrry long career. AND, he had no trouble telling a person a "Yes" or a "No" regarding their questions. I mean, if he knew the answer. If he did not, he would say "I don't know."
If you look at side effects of Gabapentin, you may find that it too, can cause "vivid and/or strange dreams."
Okay, I just looked it up and found that it is common for those on Gabapentin to have vivid dreams, and many mentioned nightmares. There are also support forums online for those who have them from Gabapentin, etc.
I am NOT saying you need a support forum! I just wanted you to know about it because I found one right off, in such a short amount of time being online, which simply shows you that you are not alone, as in "the only one experiencing this."
Abigail
While I am nooooo doctor, I've been off and on benzos for years. I tapered off two years ago. YES, for many this is QUITE normal. The benzos do dampen or "mask", or whatever word fits, some of our emotions. So, when we dream, all we have suppressed while awake (without realizing it, as in the medication suppressing a lot of feelings, etc.) comes out in our dreams. And in some VERY wackadoodle ways!
Some of mine were "way out there" as in weird, but some were just kind of more "normal" and yet so real, like say, a dream of having a conversation with my sister...and I'd be certain I did, then later realize I did not have that conversation with her, but that it was a dream.
This also happens to me whenever I take anti-depressants. And from what I hear from MANY people I know who are on benzos and/or AD's, or even tapering off of them, this happens to them, too.
Also, years ago when going through a horrible divorce, I asked my Pdoc if the medication sort of suppressed emotions during the day, and so they came out in my subconscious at night in dreams. Because we cannot medicate our subconscious. He said "ABSOLUTELLLLLLLLY! EXACTTTTLY RIGHT!" This was a psychiatrist who was on his way to retirement from a verrrrry long career. AND, he had no trouble telling a person a "Yes" or a "No" regarding their questions. I mean, if he knew the answer. If he did not, he would say "I don't know."
If you look at side effects of Gabapentin, you may find that it too, can cause "vivid and/or strange dreams."
Okay, I just looked it up and found that it is common for those on Gabapentin to have vivid dreams, and many mentioned nightmares. There are also support forums online for those who have them from Gabapentin, etc.
I am NOT saying you need a support forum! I just wanted you to know about it because I found one right off, in such a short amount of time being online, which simply shows you that you are not alone, as in "the only one experiencing this."
Abigail