Connection between alcohol, cannabis and dream vividity

**Gspot** · 09-25-2011 12:16 AM

Just some food for thought.

I used to smoke weed very heavily for about 5 years and would find that I could only recall about half of my dreams accurately. They would always be a bit hazy and often rather uneventful.
I have since stopped using - as of about 2 months ago - and have found that I am able to recall my dreams with ease on a daily basis (as well as a general improvement in quality of life). My dreams are also far clearer and more consistent than before.

Strangely enough, I find that the more alcohol I drink before sleeping, the more vivid and interesting my dreams become. These are usually emotionally charged dreams with intricate plots and often a distinct feeling of melancholy.
Liquor also seemingly makes it easier for me to slip into a WILD.

Maybe it's just me, but does anyone else experience anything similar?

**ashraen** · 09-25-2011 02:40 AM

cannabis negatively affects your short term memory formation, so it should definitely dampen your recall.

I'm not sure about alcohol and dream vividness. I find that if I get too drunk, my recall suffers, so I wouldn't really know if my dreams were more vivid. but I'll keep an eye out for any differences.

**Naiya** · 09-25-2011 05:53 AM

I think your experiences are interestin...in general weed is not good for the memory. I haven't had any experience with that but I have noticed some things about how alcohol affects my dreams. First of all, I tend to have worse recall after I've been drinking. Second, I usually have a lot more trouble getting lucid--I might have a random LD or MILD but WILD is definitely out of the question. I have had I think maybe one or two lucids when I was actually still drunk (I rarely go to bed without sobering up at least a little to make sure I don't get hungover). I have to admit that drunken lucids are pretty fun...I actually got into a fight in one and then passed out and woke up still in the dream. (Yes, I am Irish).