Coping with Insomnia
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: stockton on tees-cleveland england
Posts: 3
i have been in recovery for 15 mth now and still cant sleep propa tried alternative therapy it doent work,but at least im clean and sober so i look at it as a small price to pay for been insane for 25 yrs,the odd time i have had a decent nights sleep i feel worse for it.but at least im clean from everything,any ideas please
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 95
Insomnia is the bane of my life. My doc doesn't like to prescribe drugs. I sleep well if I do 2-a-day intense cardio, 60 minutes in the morning, 90 minutes after work. But who has the time? I enjoy it when I can, dread it when I can't. There must be a better way. I don't know it, though. I suppose I could substitute an intimate relationship for one of the two workouts, but again, it's a time issue. How do you ever meet anyone?
Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Greensboro, n.c.
Posts: 20
Okay I know all these posts are old, but like me maybe someone will click on this site. I've read all the posts before me, so here goes my story:
I have been sober for 15 years. I lost the ability to sleep four years before I got sober. In the rooms everyone said it would go away. Four years later, I still could not sleep. Don't believe that you can't die from lack of sleep because there are documented cases where people have. When my sleeping problems got really bad, l ached all over, couldn't comprend what I was reading and have blackouts during conversations. I could hardly put one foot in front of the other. Finally I went to a phych who said you have to get some restorative sleep or you can't function. I was given low doses of zoloff to relax and 15 mg of restoril. I woke up feeling refreshed for the first time in years. No ambien or lunesta or any of the others worked. Only the combination of theses two meds. Now 11 years later, I've had to increase the doseage of the restoril. I'm 64 and retired so I don't have to be as sharp as I once was. Get to a sleep specialist if you can, but don't give up. I would haven't have it without the right drs. And meds. And I don't have to drink.
I have been sober for 15 years. I lost the ability to sleep four years before I got sober. In the rooms everyone said it would go away. Four years later, I still could not sleep. Don't believe that you can't die from lack of sleep because there are documented cases where people have. When my sleeping problems got really bad, l ached all over, couldn't comprend what I was reading and have blackouts during conversations. I could hardly put one foot in front of the other. Finally I went to a phych who said you have to get some restorative sleep or you can't function. I was given low doses of zoloff to relax and 15 mg of restoril. I woke up feeling refreshed for the first time in years. No ambien or lunesta or any of the others worked. Only the combination of theses two meds. Now 11 years later, I've had to increase the doseage of the restoril. I'm 64 and retired so I don't have to be as sharp as I once was. Get to a sleep specialist if you can, but don't give up. I would haven't have it without the right drs. And meds. And I don't have to drink.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Chicago Illinois
Posts: 1
Unfortunately I suffer from chronic insomnia and PTSD the only thing I have found that shuts me down is lunesta3-6 mg and then I only get 4-5 hours of sleep no caffeine after 5 am no external stimulus other than tv on old movie or a massive bike ride to wear myself out (never works)
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 33
I stopped drinking January 1-10 with very little side effects but then started to
drink 2 days a week then 3 days a week at the end of the month. I felt disappointed
that after a limited success I was moving back to the same old pattern so again tried to cut off alcohol February 1st. Afterwards I suffered from insomnia every night and
night sweats. The night sweating was intense and scary as well as the dreams constantly being chased or on the run under dire circumstances. Now I am cutting off alcohol from my life but I have to work and have many responsibilities so the problem is how to cope
with the challenges and night sweats. Previously the addiction uses the side effects
of quitting as an excuse to drink again. 'need to drink so I can sleep and perform my job'
At this stage alcohol is not a form of entertainment or social coping mechanism...just
medicine to resolve anxiety after hours. Just want for this unhealthy relationship to alcohol to end. Recently I had googled the long term effects of alcohol on the body.
Before I had known about the liver and risk of cancer associated with drinking but kind
of laughed off the brain cell issue. But I realized that the brain is the part of the body
that will never recover 100 percent and that struck me in a different way.
Just the idea that I will never recover it and even if I do stop 100 percent
after 10 years the damage is irrecoverable. Quite sad to me. I know that we all decay
and die someday but I had hope before that if I stopped my body would come back
to heal itself. Better late than never but it's a double edged sword for me for if I feel
already the damage is done broken body, impetus to drink is there...any words?
the sweats and sleeplessness rob me of my daily pursuits more so than the 3 days of binge drinking ever did. So it is a difficult path to trod now.
drink 2 days a week then 3 days a week at the end of the month. I felt disappointed
that after a limited success I was moving back to the same old pattern so again tried to cut off alcohol February 1st. Afterwards I suffered from insomnia every night and
night sweats. The night sweating was intense and scary as well as the dreams constantly being chased or on the run under dire circumstances. Now I am cutting off alcohol from my life but I have to work and have many responsibilities so the problem is how to cope
with the challenges and night sweats. Previously the addiction uses the side effects
of quitting as an excuse to drink again. 'need to drink so I can sleep and perform my job'
At this stage alcohol is not a form of entertainment or social coping mechanism...just
medicine to resolve anxiety after hours. Just want for this unhealthy relationship to alcohol to end. Recently I had googled the long term effects of alcohol on the body.
Before I had known about the liver and risk of cancer associated with drinking but kind
of laughed off the brain cell issue. But I realized that the brain is the part of the body
that will never recover 100 percent and that struck me in a different way.
Just the idea that I will never recover it and even if I do stop 100 percent
after 10 years the damage is irrecoverable. Quite sad to me. I know that we all decay
and die someday but I had hope before that if I stopped my body would come back
to heal itself. Better late than never but it's a double edged sword for me for if I feel
already the damage is done broken body, impetus to drink is there...any words?
the sweats and sleeplessness rob me of my daily pursuits more so than the 3 days of binge drinking ever did. So it is a difficult path to trod now.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 28,801
Unbrokenman,
First of all, congratulations on understanding the seriousness of this all. You will get through this. It will not be easy but you will feel much better once you get through the first wave of adversity and once you begin to find real sleep again. It may take time. I would suggest you see your doctor asap to help you detox and to also maybe help you with your sleep situation. I am once again, in my early days of sobriety but know and feel the difference this time around. Perhaps it is because I am really availing myself of all the tools I need to quit once and for all. Insomnia is not fun but I still find it better than the days of living in Hell and drinking. A book that might help you some down the road is Searching for Snoozin. You are going to get through this. Wishing you WELL!
Kris
First of all, congratulations on understanding the seriousness of this all. You will get through this. It will not be easy but you will feel much better once you get through the first wave of adversity and once you begin to find real sleep again. It may take time. I would suggest you see your doctor asap to help you detox and to also maybe help you with your sleep situation. I am once again, in my early days of sobriety but know and feel the difference this time around. Perhaps it is because I am really availing myself of all the tools I need to quit once and for all. Insomnia is not fun but I still find it better than the days of living in Hell and drinking. A book that might help you some down the road is Searching for Snoozin. You are going to get through this. Wishing you WELL!
Kris
Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 444
I have said this for years (heck, years and years!) but, truly, I believe that if I could fall asleep like a normal person (I have had dreadful, constant insomnia since puberty), I both would never have had a drinking problem, nor a weight problem. 80-85% of the booze, and 70% of all the food, is consumed after 10-11PM in my life.
Is there a more concise 'grocery/laundry' list of insomnia treatments/cures/methods? This thread has gotten 'unruly' over the past 9 years, /wink!
HELP! Hahaha!
Is there a more concise 'grocery/laundry' list of insomnia treatments/cures/methods? This thread has gotten 'unruly' over the past 9 years, /wink!
HELP! Hahaha!
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 28,801
Heh Hobbers,
Always told myself the same thing about drinking and weight. Unfortunately, other huge problems come along with the drink. I'd most always fall off and start drinking after about 3 months of no sleep. At least I only have one problem to deal with now. At 8 months and dog tired.
After my doctors prompting me for a sleep study over the years, I've finally relented. I know I don't have sleep apnea but those brainwaves aught to scare the daylights out of the doctors. lol. See if they tell them anything.
That is if I sleep any.
Goodnight Friends.
Always told myself the same thing about drinking and weight. Unfortunately, other huge problems come along with the drink. I'd most always fall off and start drinking after about 3 months of no sleep. At least I only have one problem to deal with now. At 8 months and dog tired.
After my doctors prompting me for a sleep study over the years, I've finally relented. I know I don't have sleep apnea but those brainwaves aught to scare the daylights out of the doctors. lol. See if they tell them anything.
That is if I sleep any.
Goodnight Friends.
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,780
Insomnia remedy, note that you must use an organic banana weewillie
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Scotland UK
Posts: 56
The "FAF Effect"
Unable to sleep! Gosh, so I am not alone then.
I have found sleeping a real pain since I was a young boy, all caused by my parents, mostly my father. I was scared stiff of him, he had a dark aura about him. He died a few years ago but I still shudder when I think of him.
I will need to reply later and explain further, however............
I call the cause of it the "FAF" effect...."Fear Apprehension & Foreboding"
It is 03:22 here in Scotland at the moment... I am tired but I know It will be another three hours before I decide to join my wife in bed a try and rest a for a few hours.
I cannot say it is good to read so many others have the same problem, all-be-it for various reasons, but you know what I mean.
As I mentioned, my father is gone now.
I am 74, but I still shiver when I think of him. Is that not simply ridiculous.
Anyway, till next time.
Fond regards to all.
weewillie.
I have found sleeping a real pain since I was a young boy, all caused by my parents, mostly my father. I was scared stiff of him, he had a dark aura about him. He died a few years ago but I still shudder when I think of him.
I will need to reply later and explain further, however............
I call the cause of it the "FAF" effect...."Fear Apprehension & Foreboding"
It is 03:22 here in Scotland at the moment... I am tired but I know It will be another three hours before I decide to join my wife in bed a try and rest a for a few hours.
I cannot say it is good to read so many others have the same problem, all-be-it for various reasons, but you know what I mean.
As I mentioned, my father is gone now.
I am 74, but I still shiver when I think of him. Is that not simply ridiculous.
Anyway, till next time.
Fond regards to all.
weewillie.
Last edited by weewillie; 02-15-2019 at 07:46 PM. Reason: typo
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