Overcoming Night Terrors and Addiction: A Path to Recovery

By Steven Cheney

Addiction. Night terrors. Two demons that can wreak absolute havoc on your life, leaving you feeling like you’re trapped in a never-ending nightmare. I’ve been there—staring down both of these monsters, wondering if I’d ever escape. But let me tell you something important: you can fight back. You can win.

This isn’t some fluffy, sugar-coated recovery post. I’m going to take you deep into the trenches of my personal battles with fentanyl addiction and night terrors—two forces that nearly destroyed me. I’ll show you what it’s really like to claw your way out of darkness, and more importantly, how you can too. Every struggle, every setback is a step toward something greater—resilience, strength, and freedom.

Addiction: The Beast That Consumes Everything

Addiction doesn’t knock politely before entering your life. It crashes through, tearing apart everything in its path—your relationships, your health, your sense of self-worth. For me, it started with fentanyl, and before I knew it, I was a shadow of the person I used to be. Every day was a battle for survival, and every night brought another wave of haunting terrors that only seemed to grow stronger the more I tried to drown them with substances.

But here’s the thing: addiction thrives in the shadows. It loves when you feel isolated, hopeless, and powerless. That’s where it gets its strength. And that’s exactly where you have to fight it. I didn’t wake up one day and suddenly decide I was done with addiction. It was a hard, ugly fight. But I kept pushing, clawing, refusing to give up on the idea that I could live without the chains of fentanyl strangling my every move.

Night Terrors: The War You Fight in Your Sleep

While addiction terrorized my waking hours, night terrors took over my nights. Imagine this: you fall asleep, but instead of rest, you’re dragged into the depths of your worst fears. You wake up screaming, drenched in sweat, sometimes not even realizing where you are. That was my reality—night after night. These weren’t just bad dreams—they were vicious, soul-splitting nightmares that made sleep a place I dreaded more than my waking life.

But there’s a connection between addiction and night terrors that a lot of people don’t talk about. Substances like fentanyl mess with your brain chemistry, distorting your sleep cycle and throwing you into deeper, darker nightmares. Your mind, already strained by the hell of addiction, can’t find peace, even when you’re unconscious.

So how do you fight something that attacks you in the dark?

That’s where the real work comes in. It’s not just about getting sober. It’s about facing the demons that live in your mind head-on. You can’t outrun them. You have to confront them, day after day, until they lose their power over you.

My Turning Point: A Moment of Clarity

There was a moment—one of those gut-wrenching, rock-bottom moments—where I thought I was done for good. The addiction, the night terrors, the isolation—it all felt too much. But in that moment of brokenness, I realized something: I wasn’t dead yet. As long as I was still breathing, I had a shot at turning things around. That’s where the fight really began.

I started piecing together tools to save my life. Little by little, I rebuilt myself with three crucial elements:

1. A Solid Support System
   I had to swallow my pride and reach out for help. No one beats addiction or night terrors alone. I found people who got it—people who had fought their own battles and won. Surrounding myself with those who understood my pain became the foundation for my recovery.
2. Professional Help
   I got into therapy and rehab, learning coping mechanisms to handle both addiction and the nightmares. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) taught me how to reshape my thoughts, reduce the panic that came with the terrors, and manage the cravings that haunted me every waking hour.
3. Mind-Body Connection
   Meditation, mindfulness, and breathwork became my weapons against night terrors. Slowly, I learned how to calm my mind, focusing on the present instead of letting fear take over. It wasn’t easy, and it sure as hell didn’t happen overnight, but each day brought progress.

Setbacks Are Part of the Journey

I’m not here to sugarcoat it—recovery isn’t some straight path to peace. I relapsed more times than I’d like to admit. I had nights where the terrors came back, and days where the cravings were so intense I almost gave in. But let me tell you something: setbacks are part of the process. Every time I fell, I got back up. And every time I got back up, I came back stronger, more determined, more resilient.

There’s no such thing as a perfect recovery. It’s messy, it’s brutal, and it’s absolutely worth it. Every setback is just a chance to learn more about yourself and what you need to do differently next time.

Practical Tips for the Journey to Recovery

Here are some battle-tested tips I used to overcome both addiction and night terrors. Whether you’re in the middle of the fight or just starting, these might help you take back control of your life:

1. Get a Routine: Both addiction and night terrors thrive in chaos. Establishing a daily routine helped me regain control and gave my mind and body something to depend on.
2. Find an Outlet: Exercise, art, writing—whatever gets your emotions out. For me, writing became my way of processing the fear and rage that fueled both my addiction and night terrors.
3. Stay Present: When you feel the cravings hit or the fear creep in, focus on your breath. I’d breathe deep, close my eyes, and remind myself that I’m here, I’m alive, and I’m stronger than whatever demon’s trying to pull me back under.
4. Limit Triggers: Substances and even certain environments can trigger both addiction cravings and sleep disturbances. Creating a safe space, free from triggers, was crucial in protecting my mental and physical health.
5. Celebrate Wins: Whether it’s one day sober or one night without a nightmare—celebrate it. It’s easy to get lost in the bigger picture, but focusing on the small victories is what keeps you moving forward.

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Resilience: The Key to Recovery

If you’re reading this, if you’re battling addiction or night terrors, you’re already on the path to recovery. Resilience is the only thing that matters. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to keep going, even when it feels impossible.

So here’s to you: the warriors, the survivors, the fighters. Let’s take this battle one day at a time, and come out stronger on the other side.

Trust me, I’ve been to the edge of that darkness. But I fought my way back. You can too. The strength is inside you—it’s always been there. All you have to do is unleash it.

You’ve got this.

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If you’re struggling with addiction or night terrors, don’t wait. Reach out, get help, and take that first step. Resilience is key, and every small victory is a step toward freedom.

Ready to Join the Fight?

— Steven Cheney

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