Dreaming Under the Influence
I’ve always had a vivid imagination. I have no problems conjuring explicit scenarios for the noises I hear coming from outside late in the night, or new theories for some of the mystery and cop shows my husband and I watch.
So, it comes as no shock that my dreams are pretty vivid at times, too.
But what never ceases to amaze me is the dreams I have when I’m taking medication. What is it about cold medication that makes my imagination seep into my dreams and make them go awry? For instance, last night I had two dreams that made absolutely no sense to me at all.
The first was that a big, icky, spider bit my toe. Don’t ask me why in the world it went for my toe, I haven’t the slightest, but the sucker wouldn’t let go. I kept kicking my foot and trying to fling it away but it just held on tight. So finally I plucked it off and it crawled under a book on the table. I kept telling my husband that a spider bit me and he had to treat it, but he wouldn’t believe me until I showed him the very obvious puncture marks in the swollen tip of my toe.
Then to make matters worse, as my husband was looking as said toe, the darn spider flew – (yes flew! This monster had WINGS too!!) across the room and landed on the back of the couch right by where I was sitting. Of course, I screeched and tried to move. But the hubby held my foot and scolded me for moving while he was trying to put antibacterial stuff on my wounds.
My sister, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere to sit beside me on the couch, told me to hold very still because the spider was on my shoulder and crawling down my back. I screamed bloody hell and kept telling her to get it off of me and kill it. But instead, she decided that poking at it with a pen and studying its reactions would be better.
The last thing I recall was having somewhat of a breakdown because I didn’t understand why my big sister (who was supposed to love me and protect me from crap like that) would let a spider stay on me when she knows how petrified I am of them. Much less why she would provoke it while it was on me. I mean it had already bitten me once, was she trying for two times? Jeez.
It was very traumatic for me. Or at least the dream me. The real me woke up in a medicated fog thinking, “Huh.” And then turned over, hacked a few more times and fell back to sleep. This is when dream number two occurred. Don’t fret – this one didn’t have me suffering from post-traumatic stress. It was in fact, quite refreshing in a “I’m in an alternate universe” kind of way.
In dream number two, I was rooming with Dean and Sam from the TV show Supernatural. Yep. It was quite the set-up we had going on. We had just found this great, old house and were moving all of our stuff in. We were picking bedrooms and deciding on who got the shower first. Oh, and lets not forget that we were hunting evil in our spare time. You know, between rearranging furniture and picking out the color of paint for the walls. Literally, this dream had me in Home Depot with Sam and Dean discussing interior decorating.
Yeah. I’m not sure what to think about those dreams. I mean, come on – Sam and Dean? I am positive that my brain could have come up with something much more creative to do with those two hotties than to decorate a house! Let’s not even discuss the sister/spider thing… there are obviously issues there that my dream self needs to work out in therapy or something.
So what about you? Do you have unusual, off-the-wall dreams when you are taking medication? Please share them so I don’t feel completely crazy!
March 22, 2012 @ 7:17 PM
Ha! Makes me want to dope up! (Kidding! ;)) I have paradoxical reactions to many sleep medications, so any crazy dreams end up being daydreams. I’m sure I’ve had some doozies. I once (night) dreamed that Oprah was stalking me, lurking around my yard in a trench coat.
March 23, 2012 @ 6:08 PM
Oh my gosh, August! I think you totally have me beat. That is just too funny!
Are you sure Oprah wasn’t just trying to get an interview with you? lol!
Thanks for stopping in!
March 22, 2012 @ 8:03 PM
interesting reaction to meds, I’ve never had that experience. thank heavens.
March 23, 2012 @ 6:05 PM
Louise,
I’m not so sure I want to be having these experiences – well the dreams with the cute guys can stay. But anything with spiders, they just have to go!
Thanks for stopping in!
March 22, 2012 @ 9:32 PM
I have the strangest dreams whether I’m taking medication or not. My husband can’t believed how detailed they are (when I tell him) and how long they are and go on and on. I’ve always had weird dreams. As long as they’re not nightmares, I’m good!
March 23, 2012 @ 6:03 PM
Lynn, do you write your dreams down? There might be some really good writing ideas mixed in there. lol!
I’m good without the nightmares too. Most of them do tend to include spiders, though. Ick.
I’d rather stick to the ones with Dean and Sam any day.
March 25, 2012 @ 11:31 PM
No, I don’t write my dreams down. Just never enough time, but sometimes something from a dream does make it into one of my stories. And I’ve used things from other people’s weird dreams in my writing!
March 22, 2012 @ 11:28 PM
I sort of envy you. I rarely have dreams. The hubs does. And they often seem to entail violence, with people breaking in or attacking me. He actually talks in his sleep (although the words are slurred) and thrashes about in the bed. I’ve been kicked a couple of times as he fights off the foes. I’m lucky they’re not too frequent. 🙂
March 23, 2012 @ 6:00 PM
Oh no! I’m glad he doesn’t have them that often either, Greta. It could be dangerous for you. You might have to get an extra dose of health insurance just for his dreams. lol!
My daughter used to talk in her sleep. She would even carry on full conversations with you. Her sister would use it against her and tell her about their “conversations” later. Ah, siblings!
Thanks for stopping by!
March 23, 2012 @ 12:41 AM
I have completely insane dreams without medication. Occasionally I can recall the plot of the dream, usually I just wake up knowing i had an insane dream. Sometimes I recall them later.
Lately, I’ve been staying up much later than I should writing, so I haven’t been dreaming a lot.
March 23, 2012 @ 5:57 PM
Sometimes I remember my dreams, and sometimes I don’t. But most of the time my dreams are pretty normal, unless you add medication.
I understand the late nights of writing – been there. Just not recently because of this monstrosity of a cold. I’m hoping to be back on my writing frenzy soon!
March 23, 2012 @ 2:38 PM
I almost never remember my dreams anymore. Usually I just get a period of blackness that’s over far too soon because it’s time to wake up again. I wonder if there’s some way I can encourage myself to remember my dreams more often by altering my sleeping habits in some way.
March 23, 2012 @ 5:54 PM
I have those periods sometimes too, Mike. Mostly when I’m exhausted and my body decides it is going to sleep whether I want it to or not.
I can tell you though, that spider dream – I could have been fine not remember that one! lol!
Thanks for stopping by!
March 24, 2012 @ 4:20 PM
Mike, I think if you try this you might get a dream: Just before you go to sleep, tell yourself you are going to dream-do it several times accepting that you will. Then do that everynight for several nights and you should have a dream somewhere in there. Otherwise, I dunno.
March 23, 2012 @ 6:44 PM
I used to have crazy dreams and then I went through a period of insomnia. I took some medication to help teach my body to sleep again. Since then I don’t recall my dreams anymore. But when I take the pill to help me sleep (which I hardly do anymore) I hallucinate right before falling asleep. I think I’m seeing some pretty crazy things. The kind of stuff nightmares and creepy chapters are drawn from. I actually kind of enjoy it. I know, I’m a strange one.
March 24, 2012 @ 4:19 PM
Yeah, I’ve had some weird dreams under medication, but I’ve had weird dreams without medication, too. I think medication intensifies the dream and more often it is disturbing. Your dream reminded me that about a month ago I had a dream of a big black spider. It started out as a group of little spiders that I kept trying to step on, but when I did that they got bigger, until this one big black one was really creeping me out–the size of a gerbil. I changed tactics and nudged it with my toe and then it disappeared.
March 25, 2012 @ 5:14 PM
Interesting blog. . .I really LOVE IT!! Just reading this one prompted me to look in my Animal Spirit Guides book for some sort of meaning. . .one that jumped out at me regarding Spiders is: It’s time to write creatively without limits or tradition or habit, allow yourself to be inspired by Nature. . . Kinda makes you go hmmmmmm. . .huh. . .
Love You. . .
K
March 25, 2012 @ 5:53 PM
I’m so glad you found my blog!
The meaning about spiders is probably not far off for me right now.
I’ve been having a tough time just writing without worrying about my inner editor fixing everything as I go along. So, I guess its high time to write without limits or tradition or habit!
Thanks for the much needed reminder. 😉
And I’m so glad you stopped by!
March 25, 2012 @ 11:39 PM
I’m so glad I clicked on the box to subscribe to comments for this post. Dreams always interest me, especially the meaning behind them. That’s so interesting about Kay’s book about animals and the meaning of spiders! How cool is that?
I remember years ago I had a dream that there was a gigantic black widow in the corner of our garage. It was really freaky/scary, and I had a spear and was going to throw it and try to kill the spider! I never would have guessed the meaning of spiders was that you need to write creatively without limits. Huh, and to think I almost killed it! And how funny that the spider was in the corner. I wonder if I had writers block and felt cornered! It’s fun to try to figure out the meaning of dreams.
March 26, 2012 @ 12:22 PM
I agree, Lynn. Figuring out the meaning of dreams can be great fun. It can also lead you to wonderful “Aha!” moments too.
March 25, 2012 @ 6:04 PM
Talked with Beth yesterday, we were talking about writing and she told me you were writing as well, so she told me about your blog. . .so glad she did. . .love reading it all. . . Hugs. . .K
March 26, 2012 @ 12:16 PM
Looking at all aspects of a dream is important. That’s why it’s important to write the dreams down, there is a message inside for you. . .just like the Cracker Jacks box. . .there’s a prize for you to get.
K
March 26, 2012 @ 12:23 PM
I love that analogy Kay – prize in a Cracker Jacks box! And it is so very true!
March 26, 2012 @ 10:00 PM
Oh I hate spiders Jennifer! Hate Spiders! What a nightmare!
What is it about medicine? My husband has had some weird nightmares, I mean bad ones from pain meds. Well he certainly doesn’t take those anymore. LOL! But I’m like Mike. I don’t remember my dreams. I thinks I have dreams. I hope I have dreams.
But thank you for sharing yours! And please, I do hope you feel better! 🙂
March 29, 2012 @ 11:29 PM
I have unusual, off the wall dreams even when I am not medicated. lots of recurring dreams, too… which is interesting when they are not nightmares. But yes, medication + sleep = bizarro dreams.
Interesting about the spider bite and your sister though…we may need to evaluate…lol
April 2, 2012 @ 6:23 PM
Your first dream was damn scary! Spiders are terrifying creatures. But I wouldn’t mind having the dream about Dean and Sam amped up a little 😉
April 3, 2012 @ 5:32 PM
Spiders are my least favorite creature ever. And yet, it never fails that I have dreams about them.
Yes, I would have liked the Sam and Dean dream a little more amped up myself. Why do I get all the creepy details of spider dreams but I only get to decorate a house with the cute guys? Sigh…