Camperboy

well day 5 is almost done, my first post was on Monday which was the first 24 hours....it was a rough road, as mentioned in my first post, I was going to try to quit Xanax and alcohol at the same time and try to fight them both. Well there was no way that was going to happen and that was apparent after 24 hours. still have not had a drop of alcohol but couldn`t handle the weirded out and anxious feelings as well and the insomnia I had to see my doctor. I came clean with her and told her that I was taking Xanax for the past 6 to 8 months and that I wanted to stop both the booze and the Zanax NOW!......after a very calming and helpful chat she suggested that I should continue with the last 8 or 9 Xanax .05mg pills, she asked me to stretch them out as long as I could and then to switch over to a prescription of Klonopin that she gave me.
She actually asked if it was okay if she could have a chat with my wife soon as well she would like to involve a "specialist".
Of course I agreed to both as did my wife. She told me that she feels that my alcohol abuse is the cause of my anxiety! I felt soooooo much better after leaving her office I almost cried in relief but then after picking up the Klonopin I was a little bummed to read that Klonopin is in the very same family as Xanax and is just as hard to get off of.
She is not a lover of Xanax for anything other that using it for short term panic attacks prior to a plane flight for example. So although I am happy that I`m 5 days sober and have been through every emotion in the world these past few days, I am somewhat concerned all this pain and suffering that I`m going through with insomnia and all the other withdrawl symptoms from the alcohol that I am going to have to do it all over again trying to get off the Klonopin (which I have not started yet, I still have enough Xanax for probably a week)........I was honestly hoping that I could try to stretch the last of the Xanax to the point that I won`t have to even get into the Klonopin but man, laying in bed awake all night is the worst of all of my withdrawl symptoms and I can`t keep doing that.
I honestly hoped she would have just given me more Xanax to wean from instead of introducing Klonopin.
Any people been in my shoes?
Oh well, I just needed to ramble a bit folks and thanks for being here........HEY!, I got from the first post of only 24 hours sober to 5 days sober........great site and great folks.(the chat with my wife and the "specialst" is to be conducted after the holidays)

Sapling

Do what the Doctor orders.

Camperboy

agreed!

bostongeorge

Omg man... im on day 16 with no drinking and still cannot deal with the anxiety of not being ableto sleep. During the day im alot better. When night hits, is when i get really nervous..(maybe because i drank mostly at night?) Doc perscribed xanax for anxiety but I don't want to leave one habit for another its been very hard. My wife doesn't really get it. Try to talk and she seems distant? Probably just the anxiety station....omg... I hate this no sleep bull.

Mafalda

Hang in there! I quit around the same time as you. You are fortunate to have someone who cares about you and will be supportive. Makes it easier. I go to therapy and I do realize that I drank when I felt anxious so it was just a cycle. I didn't drink that heavily so I'm lucky I have no withdrawal symptoms so maybe once your body is clear of all the toxins it will reduce your anxiety. Of course I know nothing about the effects of your meds but just eliminating the alcohol at least will make you know what meds work for you maybe.

takintyme

These too were my greatest issues. I was fine during the day and then
the anxiety of sleepless nights was overwelming.

I decided to see an chinese herbalist. Her evaluation included an examination of my tongue and other pressure points, and extensive questions. She gave me some great supplements that I take throughout the day, as well as at bedtime. She also created a herbal tea blend that I have 3to 4 glasses a day.

I am happy to report they are working. Working so well that I called to ask her if they are habit forming. She assured me they were not. Last night was the first night that I was so sleepy that I actually fell asleep before I realized I forgot to take the sleep aid. Slept the whole night

I agree that you should listen to your doctor, but maybe this could help too.

Best of luck

Camperboy

Thats exactly it, during the day is bad but not as bad as in the evening when the clock winds down and you know its getting near bed time and you get nervous worrying about whether you are going to sleep at night......that is a terrible feeling.
Its one thing to be nervous or anxious but to add the fear of 'another" sleepless night only to feel like a bucket of foggy crap the next day weighs heavily on one mind for sure...........its day 6 for me this morning and although I know it was my little .5mg of Xanax that gave me my first nights sleep in the past 5 nights I also realized that already some of my alcohol withdrawls are beginning to back off just a titch (i can`t believe I said they are backing off after reading people say that over the past few days wishing that was me) which Im sure aided in a better nights sleep. If you can get Gravol in the US then try one of them for sleep.....they are for nausea but boy do they help and are non additive...........