Can't sleep! What to do???

[shestruggles]

Hi all!

I am having some serious trouble sleeping these days. Not a big surprise considering I am tapering off a 7-10 year xanax habit and am on suboxone for 10 years of opiate addiction . Some folks find the sub keeps them up, others that it makes them tired- I have trouble sleeping on it, but I think that has more to do with not taking xanax before bed.

Anyhow, I don't want to start taking OTC sleep aids, as I am working to make my life 100% drug free. I am going a little zany, however, as I hate not being able to fall asleep at night. I toss and turn and feel like I am the only person IN THE WORLD that is awake (silly, but I even remember thinking this as a child when I could not sleep) and that leads to panic and then more panic over all the stuff I have to do the next day, and round and around it goes...

I have tried a few things - I take my sub as early as possible to reduce the chances of not sleeping. I have started exercizing (mild exercize, mind you), I drink only herbal tea and avoid any caffinne after 6pm - I have also tried to turn off the TV when I go to bed, in case that's what keeping my mind going.

Since joining this site, I notice a lot of recovering addicts have sleep problems, particularily when they stop using. So, I am wondering, when you all find yoursleves lying there, unable to drift off - what do you do???

Just curious and eager from some re-assurance that I am not the only human being ever who has sleep problems....

Thanks guys! SS

[tyler]

Totally with you there. Used to be a heavy pot smoker and that was one of the reason's I started smoking to begin with, to get to sleep. I haven't smoked in almost 3 months now, but still have trouble sleeping. If you like tea, there is a herbal tea called "Sleepytime" that used to help my ex sleep. I can't stand tea personally, so that wasn't much help to me!! I use relaxation exercises, where you systematically relax every part of your body. You try to concentrate only on relaxing first your foot, then leg, stomach, etc. Just focus only on that and your breathing. This is not an overnite solution, no pun intended! Another suggestion is to get up at the same time everyday, even if you only got a few hours of sleep. Yea, you will be sleepy that day, but when it finally is bed time you usually sleep better. Hope some of this helps.

[Stephanie]

In my addiction, I used drugs to get up and drugs to sleeep and drugs for everything else. I couldn't sleep in my first year at all. I tried everything but the no sleeping I felt was hiurting me more than anything. It was making me nutty and not in a good place. I went to see my doctor and he put me on a very little dose of ambien which is a non-addictive sleeping pill. It really helped. I found I didn't need it every night but but it helped my body get used to sleeping at night and waking in the morning. I was a meth addict so I would be up for 3 days in a row and then sleep for 24 hours. My body wasn't used to the regular sleeping pattern.

[angelgirl]

I toss and turn and feel like I am the only person IN THE WORLD that is awake (silly, but I even remember thinking this as a child when I could not sleep) and that leads to panic and then more panic over all the stuff I have to do the next day, and round and around it goes...

Wow, we really are alike. I can't believe this... When I was young, I remember that I could not go to any sleep overs with my friends, I always tried to go, and I would be fine alllll day, then as soon as night came, and people in the house would start going to bed, I would get very sick to my stomach, and I would be overcome ith panic. My dad always had to come and pick me up. Usually very late. But he always did, no matter what time it was. I'd call, he's be "on the way". Ok, I am telling you this for a reason. As an adult, when I can't sleep at night, ( this uis when I am clean) I ALWAYS get this panic feeling, and I FEEL like everyone in the world is sleeping, but me. So when I got clean this time, I started with the same sleep problem. Well, I was beginning to wonder if some thing happened to me when I was little, AT NIGHT, that left me in fear and totally insecure. I don't know, but I know the feeling that everyone is sleeping, and I am not, is a very terrible feeling. Maybe I am just grasping at straws, but why this fear and panic at night. I know that everything seems worse at night, for everyone, but this is so much worse than that. I think there has to be a reason we are like this. My husband thinks I'm nuts, when his head hits the pillow, it takes about 5 minutes, at the most for him to be snoring.
I think most of the problem for you, is the xanax being lowered. I really believe that is why you aren't sleeping. I think it is very unreasonable for your doctor to expect you to wean off that, after so many years, in such a short period of time. That is not only unreasonable, but also dangerous, at least from what all the doctors have told me. I was on xanax for a while, but never much. You are on a high dose, I really don't understand that. maybe you should do some research on med, and present it to your doc. ?
Well girl, I hope it gets better for you. I know what does help me a bit, is positive self talk. It calms me down a bit. I keep telling myself, it''s ok if I don't sleep. it won't kill me. I reason with myself, over and over. You know, it also helps me, when my anxiety gets high, to read the bible. It really does set me a bit more at ease.
Sleep is such a major issue for people. Not just addicts, but "normal" people too. It has caused me to relapse before, so be very, very careful. I will pray for you. You pray for you too.
Just try to relax... I know it's difficult, but you can do it. i promise. Love, Becky

[angelgirl]

Also remeber, no matter how much you sleep, you will get your "stuff" done the next day. Work really hard mentally telling yourself positive things.. Please try. Love, Becky

[Rho]

Hey girl, hang in there:-) U R not the "only" person that can not sleep. I am having that problem myself right this moment & well that is why I am online and reading what U had on your mind to now respond.

I always seem to tell myself when I can not sleep that well "when we pass on in life we will be in a place of sleep for ever" " That life is TO short and to enjoy every minute of that life GOD has given to each of us:-)

I feel this way for 2 reasons, 1 it is just an excuse so I do NOT drive myself crazy over not being able to sleep & the other part is because GOD has aloud me to survive an awefull accident where I flat lined 3 times, went into a coma & to make a LONG story short I was blessed by GOD to learn to read, write, walk, talk & be a person and mother ALL OVER again.

No it was Not a drug related accident I was on my way to work living a clean life at the time. I just became a UGLY drug addict after my release from the hospital thanks to the negative influence of my VERY drug addicted husband at the time. When I can not sleep at night I now look at how far I have come since 2/22/04.

I am clean, working, a great mom, & living one day at a time, sometimes living by the hpur. I help myself through the sleeplessness by thinking of POSITIVE thoughts, goals, dreams my children

Peace be with you tonight and always. I'll say a prayer for you tonight.

Sorry if this is so long I guess I need to talk and well you helped me...

[djshubert]

When I can't sleep I read a book, magazine, or do some online surfing and before I know it my eyes start to get heavy and I'm out!

[Jane63]

SS,
Wow! Sometimes I get abit panicy too when I find myself up into the wee hours and everyone else is sound asleep! {I don't do it much anymore, but when the morning birds start chirping that is when I would really get freaked out!!} I think it might be because we "know" we should be asleep or are worried that we won't be able to function the next day and that leads to stress, anxiety and sometimes panic attacks.

The exercise is a great idea and also sometimes just "giving in", getting up and reading or surfing the net will help and it's better than tossing around in the bed! I have also taken Melatonin which they gave me in Rehab and it works pretty well...It is all-natural and non-addictive. On occassion I will also take just one Tylenol PM and that works well too. I have never taken Ambien but contrary to what one might be told, it is very addictive...My Dad had a bad time with it awhile back so that is why I am not much for it!

I second what Angel said...that your doctor is asking you to wean off the Xanax too fast, especially after taking it for so long and for legit reasons! I understand though too, that he gets argumentative when you try to discuss it with him but I would hope there would be some way you could get him to listen and maybe help you wean more slowly.

Keep hanging in there hun! I have always been somewhat of a niteowl...hence this late post tonight! We DO need our sleep though and I hope you get back to a good routine there and feel better about it soon!
{{{HUGS}}}
Jane

[tobstah]

exercise in the morning!!!!

and then finish the day with:

bubble bath bubble bath bubble bath and a good book

[ToriGirl]

I heard somewhere that you should just get up and do something instead of tossing and turning. I have always tried to do that and it seems to be a better option than being miserable in the bed. It might take your body a little while but it will get tired. I am finally able to sleep a little bit better. Now the crazy dreams are happening. But I am just happy that I can sleep again without weed. I just wish I could sleep all day to get rid of all this anxiety but there is work to be done...so I have to muddle along in a deppressed stuper....but I am still proud of myself for quitting and I hear it gets better.

Reading does make ya tired...it doesn't have to be the bible but maybe it is boring enough to make ya sleep...lol...jk. I hear the Da Vinci Code is good.

[Blue2085]

Be Careful, I Too Have Fallen For Ambien, And Yes It Is A Narcotic And Habit-forming. Recomended For Only 7 Days To Help Reset Your (sleep Clock). Take All These Great Peoples Advice & Find What Works For You.

I Have An Awful Time Sleeping As Well, But Drugs? Not The Answer, I Find I Tend To Switch 1 Addiction For Another. A True Addict I Am.

[Mudd]

Blue's Right if you wanna stay away rom addiction and narcotics stay away from ambien cause you will like it too much. Try remeron not sure if i spelled it right but say it to your doc, he'll know. I went to a rehab that didnt allow us caffienated coffe but let us take remeron for sleep and it knocks you out cold ,non-narcotic, non-addictive. just what u need. Vitamin B-12 b-6 or A b supplement will calm you and help with anxiety and insomnia also. Another poster was right too by saying your DR. tapered you down too fast.

[shestruggles]

Hi all!

Thanks for all of the responses. I knew you'd have a tons of good ideas...

I am learning to just accept it when I can't sleep, get up do something BORING - such as reading my college textbooks - they always put me to sleep back in the day - it was like a trained response - as soon as I cracked open the text, I'd immediatly start nodding off....

Now, another question. I've started a wierd habit over the last few weeks - when I do fall asleep I talk non-stop. My hisband always recounts my blabberings to me the next day, and some are quite funny - full conversations, not just mumbling.

But maybe not so funny...does this mean I am not sleeping well? Does talking indicate you are in a 'deep sleep', or is it the other way around? Is it weird for someone who has never talked in thier sleep before to all of a sudden talk incessantly?

Any thoughts?
SS

[michski]

Stash makes a tea called "Nighty Night" that put me out fast when I was in early sobriety. They had it in my rehab, and it works! Celestial Seasonings makes a "Sleepytime" with Valerian root that is pretty good too. Use 2 or 3 bags!!

But as others have mentioned there really is no substitute for exercise! Hang in there cause it will pass and you'll be sleeping like a baby soon!