Still struggling with the sleep isssue

[Mo S]

Maybe i am just venting. If so; thanks for listening. Since xmas time- anxiety flare up due to holiday stress (happens ever year). I go to sleep and wake up 3 hours later. Suddenly i am wide awake. I went to bed at 1230am last night and was up at 3am...no rolling over- i am wide awake. Someone suggested I just accept that my sleep patterns are "not normal" and thats the way it is (he has been having trouble for years). Its just very inconvenient as i have a nice trip out on the boat today planned with friends and I know I am going to be exhausted. I am living on Redbulls- like 5 a day. God knows what vile chemicals are in those. I almost never had this problem til last xmas. ugh.

Like i said- just venting again about the same problem i posted before.Thanks for letting me share.

[BlueEyedBoy]

I can empathize my friend. I haven't slept properly for a year or two now. No matter how tired I am I can never get to sleep. I used to periodically black out from alcohol but as for good quality sleep....it always seems to evade me. Maybe try sleeping pills? I am seeing my psychiatrist on Monday and part of my treatment for my addiction is looking at sleep aides.

[Lizrox]

Definitly see your dr and ask for something to help you sleep.

I have been taking Seroquel forever and it helps me so much.

Good Luck

[aihflvt]

Anxiety-induced insomnia was a large contributor to what eventually became heavy drinking. After I finally sucked up the embarrassment of seeing my family doctor about my drinking, he ordered a sleep study and prescribed 50 mg of trazodone. Even though he offered to write me a prescription for Ambien CR, he really pushed the trazodone for it's lack of cross-tolerance with alcohol, and the fact that it is dirt cheap. I can get a 90 day supply from the Wal-Mart pharmacy for ten bucks.

The pros of trazodone are that if you do wake up in the middle of the night (sometimes I have to let animals outside to wee), it puts you right back out.

The cons are that its efficacy as a sleep aid (at least with me) seems to decrease after regular use (5-10 days) and I have to take a break from it for a few nights before it will work again. Also, the trazodone "hangovers" can be pretty wicked. I get up an hour earlier than I ordinarily would so I can go run a couple of miles so that I will be awake and functioning by the time it's time to go to work.

It's cliche, but don't discount exercise. I hired a personal trainer to work off that beer gut (I've come down from a high of 210 last November to around 185 now). Exercise has a definite effect in reducing my alcohol cravings and increasing feelings of tiredness and relaxation at bedtime.

[akalacha]

Mo S, I can relate to the sleep problem. I've had occasional bouts of insomnia all my adult life. But for about the past year it's gotten much worse. Unfortunately I don't have any good news to share-I've tried valerian root and melatonin with no success. I've given up naps during the day and have no caffeine after noon. Still have trouble sleeping. Just a thought for you-the Redbulls you're drinking may be interfering with your sleep at night. I know it's a pain to get through the day when you're sleep deprived, but maybe try going without the Redbulls for a few days and see if that makes a difference.