KarrieJay

I've just passed the 5 month mark in my sobriety (yesterday), and until now things have been getting better and better the longer I remain sober. But for the last few days I've been having problems with sleeping, and its worrying me a bit. I've had occasional bouts of insomnia since my early 20's, usually at times of stress, and one of the many things I used drink for was to help me sleep.

However, when I quit drinking 5 months ago one of the biggest benefits for me was that I slept really well every night. I would have the odd sleepless night, but mostly I slept like the dead. And as the weeks and months passed, I started to look and feel better because of it. It really encouraged me to continue with my sobriety.

However for the last week or so, my sleep problems seems to have made an unwelcome return. Instead of just having the "odd" night where I don't sleep well, I've had a series of 5 or 6 nights where I only sleep for 3 or 4 hours at most. And I'm now at the stage where I feel really exhausted. But what worries me most is that because of it, it has crossed my mind more than once to have a glass of wine to help me sleep.

I haven't had that glass of wine, and I'm pretty certain I won't but I do want to find some way to resolve this sleeping issue.

Has anyone else experienced this sort of problem?

Scolova

My insomnia is mostly in the first stage of sleep (getting to sleep), but has gotten better at 3 months. Seeing a doctor is the only thing I can suggest.
Good Luck & stay sober.

KarrieJay

Thanks for your reply.

Yeah, that's my insomnia too. I'm fine once I've actually gotten to sleep, it just for the last week or so I'm having real problems dropping off.

It's crossed my mind to see a doctor, but I normally find that the Dr. just gives me drugs and I want to avoid that. I've been hooked on sleeping pills in the past and breaking that addiction was a nightmare.

artsoul

Hi Karrie -

I got help from my psychiatrist who was able to give me something non-addictive (as opposed to the normal doc who just gave me Ambien). Insomnia can be so frustrating...... Just don't go back to the old "solution" because there are others out there. (Hugs)

Dee74

Some of these suggestions may help?
Insomnia? 42 Simple Tips to Help You Get to Sleep - Insomnia treatment, cures

D

TNSober

I am with you totally. I have, since childhood, had problems falling asleep. I'll lie there for 2 hours -- not good for stress. I'll read the 42 suggestions article posted, thank you.

KarrieJay

Thanks Dee. I'll have a read of that article. Frankly, I willing to try almost anything that doesn't involve alcohol or meds.

Peter G

I found a site a while back thanks to google when I was dealing with insomnia. I've had it bad since I was young, exacerbated by PTSD later on in life. You should really read through the articles there (site is Insomnia Cures) the author has some really solid (non-drug) advice for getting a good night sleep.

I bought some sort of relaxation/binaural beats CD from there a few years ago that I thought would do absolutely no good. I grabbed it out of frustration really. Turns out that when I played the thing and laid down it knocked me out fairly quick.

Only other thing I'd suggest is this: if you can't sleep, don't. A doctor will likely throw benzos at you, and IMO that's the worst thing you can take for sleeping. Benzos like Ambien and Xanax are horrid, evil drugs and dependance can sneak up on you quickly. Not sleeping sucks, no doubt about it, but eventually your body will correct itself. A chemical solution should be the last possible solution. If you feel it necessary to see a professional about it, go to a certified sleep specialist and have a sleep study done. Like I said, GP's will just chuck benzos at you and tell you to drink warm milk lol.

Whatever you do DON'T drink to sleep or you're setting yourself up for a whole list of future problems.

Good luck.