Notices

Mind is racing: Can't sleep/Going Crazy

Old 03-16-2009, 11:05 PM
  # 1 (permalink)  
Its_me_jen
Thread Starter
 
PaperDolls's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Salina, Ks
Posts: 8,547
Unhappy Mind is racing: Can't sleep/Going Crazy

I've been trying to get to sleep forever now.
I made myself turn the TV off and go read, even though I wasn't tired.
I read for an hour. Turned some soothing music on and all I can do is think.
Racing thoughts ...... then tell myself to shut up. I tried a meditation thing but can't concentrate long enough. I put lavender oil on to relax me.
Now I'm drinking hot tea.

I cannot be late to work tomorrow (today). I'm going to get fired. How the hell am I going to drag my butt out of bed in the morning!?

I'm lying there thinking about ........ everything. I've got to get to sleep so I don't get fired. Then, remember my favorite book as a kid, then think about my meeting tomorrow, then it's something else.

I'm feeling like I can't get everything or anything done. I can't do anything right. I need to start seeing my therapist again. I can't stand how I look. I need to stop eating like a cow. I need to workout. I need to eat right. I need to help out more around the house. I need to make a budget. I need to ........ freaking sleep.

I don't know what to do and I don't know if I'm going crazy or what. Why the hell is my mind racing like this?! :wtf2
PaperDolls is offline  
Old 03-16-2009, 11:33 PM
  # 2 (permalink)  
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
 
CarolD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
Gosh PD....

I just don't know what to say. The Serenity Prayer?
A bubble bath with soothing music?
Make a list...out of your head ...onto paper?
I hear our BB often induces sleep...

Here is a link that might be useful...

Insomnia? 42 Simple Tips to Help You Get to Sleep - Insomnia treatment, cures

I'm sorry to see you are having difficulties.
CarolD is offline  
Old 03-17-2009, 12:38 AM
  # 3 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bristol TN/VA
Posts: 12,431
I am aorry, I hope you are asleep by now!
Live is offline  
Old 03-17-2009, 03:27 AM
  # 4 (permalink)  
It`s ok to stay sober
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Central NC
Posts: 20,902
my sponsor tells me to lie there and count my blessings.I`ll eventually go to sleep.I have tried this and it worked for me.A racing mind is common at first in most cases.The only thing I have found to slow it down is the 12 steps.
Tommyh is offline  
Old 03-17-2009, 07:08 AM
  # 5 (permalink)  
Its_me_jen
Thread Starter
 
PaperDolls's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Salina, Ks
Posts: 8,547
I finally got to sleep around 2am I think.
I got to work with time to spare, thank goodness.

I guess the hot tea helped?
I did some praying too. That coulda been it too, huh?
PaperDolls is offline  
Old 03-17-2009, 07:34 AM
  # 6 (permalink)  
A new dawn and new chapter
 
Bard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 298
I was plagued with that at early sobriety. I was remembering conversations I had with friends when I was in elementary school! Stuff I've kind of forgotten that happened 10+ years ago was all coming back to me all at once like it only happen yesterday. It was definitely overwhelming but that part has seem to calm down now. I guess that's what happens when we give up the drinking. All that stuff that we forgotten from our past comes rushing back in like a two hundred foot tidal wave!
Bard is offline  
Old 03-17-2009, 07:44 AM
  # 7 (permalink)  
Miracles Happen
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 9,977
Hi PaperDolls
Glad you fell asleep. I am still plagued by sleepless nights or waking every 2 hrs. Last night no exception so I started to pray, I had forgotten to before falling asleep and I guess I must have fallen asleep after praying cause next time I looked at clock it was morning. Have a great day
Believe808 is offline  
Old 03-17-2009, 08:44 AM
  # 8 (permalink)  
Member
 
shaun00's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: uk
Posts: 2,548
Im pressuming your newly sober/clean...

Early stages are tough...

Once i stopped fretting about not sleeping...guess what..i fell asleep.

The more i tried the worst it got..

Bottom line in my drinking was i slept for england anyway so it wasnt like i was lacking..lol

Now im always asleep..lol

Go for a long walk....bike ride...hot bath...or dig a hole as my sponsor once said..lol

Try to relax rather than try to sleep...then it will come.

god be with you....trucker
shaun00 is offline  
Old 03-17-2009, 08:56 AM
  # 9 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Posts: 565
In the early days, I would be up for a week straight. Then I would start hallucinating and my body would just shut down and I'd be asleep for 3 days.

It was a horrible cycle, but it got better. Melatonin worked well for me. So did working on lowering my blood pressure. I also found a quick 20 minute walk around 6pm would help.

I also have a really cool "rain" cd I got at Target. I like the sound of rain, and that helped too.
Texasblind is offline  
Old 03-17-2009, 09:04 AM
  # 10 (permalink)  
Its_me_jen
Thread Starter
 
PaperDolls's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Salina, Ks
Posts: 8,547
Thanks everyone! It's nice to know I may not be going crazy ..... I mean for good anyway. Temporary insanity.
PaperDolls is offline  
Old 03-17-2009, 12:23 PM
  # 11 (permalink)  
not a greeter
 
gypsytears's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: padmasana
Posts: 13,926
I have no advice PD. I do sympathize with you though. I still suffer from insomnia myself... I haven't found anything that works for me. I try not to obsess on it when I can't sleep. I know that's easier said than done but beating yourself up and going through the list won't help. I guess I sort of made peace with knowing I probably won't sleep if that makes sense?

Anyway... big hugs. I hope you do get some sleep and I hope you don't get fired! Maybe a night job might be worth thinking about ?
gypsytears is offline  
Old 03-17-2009, 04:18 PM
  # 12 (permalink)  
Member
 
starfieldroad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 22
Originally Posted by PaperDolls View Post
I've been trying to get to sleep forever now.
I made myself turn the TV off and go read, even though I wasn't tired.
I read for an hour. Turned some soothing music on and all I can do is think.
Racing thoughts ...... then tell myself to shut up. I tried a meditation thing but can't concentrate long enough. I put lavender oil on to relax me.
Now I'm drinking hot tea.

I cannot be late to work tomorrow (today). I'm going to get fired. How the hell am I going to drag my butt out of bed in the morning!?

I'm lying there thinking about ........ everything. I've got to get to sleep so I don't get fired. Then, remember my favorite book as a kid, then think about my meeting tomorrow, then it's something else.

I'm feeling like I can't get everything or anything done. I can't do anything right. I need to start seeing my therapist again. I can't stand how I look. I need to stop eating like a cow. I need to workout. I need to eat right. I need to help out more around the house. I need to make a budget. I need to ........ freaking sleep.

I don't know what to do and I don't know if I'm going crazy or what. Why the hell is my mind racing like this?! :wtf2
Oh man, I've had exactly this problem since I was a little kid. I had to go on atypical antipsychotics (I'm OCD, that's what really caused it for me) to shut my brain up. It's a really horrible cycle, thinking "I need to fall asleep now", which in turn makes you think "Why am I not asleep?", which then makes you go into panic mode.... I am very familiar with this. For me, it's important to write every night before I go to bed, and to just spew my guts out on paper-- that way I can start to process what's going on and practice "giving away" the things that I can't control. Trying to control your mind and body by simply willing yourself to sleep almost always doesn't work, as you probably know-- you end up fighting yourself, which is definitely NOT productive for bedtime. What helps me is to stop the cycle and physically get out of bed, eat a small snack, maybe smoke a cigarette, and write until I get to what's really bugging me. If that doesn't work, and I'm simply not tired, I watch TV or read (NOT in my bed) or take a walk until I absolutely cannot stay awake. It's important for me to remind myself that it's not that big of a deal if I don't get as much sleep as I'd like-- that's what coffee is for, and I can always go to bed earlier the next night and make up for it. I had to face that feeling of panic-- that "it's the end of the world!" cycle-- in order to get over it. And if bedtime continues to be a huge ordeal, and it's affecting your life a lot, I would suggest seeing a psychiatrist. But if you do, be sure to be honest with them that you are a recovering alcoholic so that they don't prescribe you anything that's going to harm your recovery.:praying
starfieldroad is offline  
Old 03-17-2009, 04:55 PM
  # 13 (permalink)  
Member
 
Lynxster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Middle TN
Posts: 94
Hey PD,
I have the same problem with sleeping pretty frequently. Sometimes I also wake up really early and can't go back to sleep due to a cluttered mind. One thing that has really helped me is to put the earbuds in and listen to a really boring talk radio show. TV seems to keep me awake, but the talk radio usually puts me out in a half hour or so. Good luck!
Lynxster is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:22 AM.