sleep aid
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 92
sleep aid
After going to sleep,,,,or should i say passing out all those years,,,,im having problems sleeping!!!!! Dose anyone have any suggestions on a sleep aid that wont mess with me???? Don't want anything to aggravate my anxiety attacks!!!!
I think there are a lot of things you can do to help your sleep situation. Exercise helps a lot, so I always try to get out walking during the day. Being aware of what you're eating helps too. I find that I fall asleep easier and sleep better if I'm not hungry, so I usually eat oatmeal at bedtime. Herbal teas can also be comforting and relaxing. You could ask your doctor about melatonin.
I found a long shower before bed helpful ,
clean bed sheets ,
doing some excersise ,
if i was still in the first few weeks and getting the sweats then wrapping the pillow in a towel meant i was more comfortable and got less hot headed and irritable .
no coffee or tea after noon, which was kinda difficult as i used these as a surrogate drink ... i switched to fizzy water .
The screens of computers are pretty bright i've skipped those in the evening .
watching bad news or stimulating TV are not calming or soothing, i've avoided them for a few hrs before bed.
Eating well and healthy, when i was an active alcoholic i didn't eat right and the alcohol messes with what you body can absorb ,
Have a google of "sleep hygiene" for more ideas .
for the first 6 weeks my sleep was 12 - 18 hrs a day with the odd night of nothing at all .
If it persists then a trip to the Dr might be required .
Bestwishes, m
clean bed sheets ,
doing some excersise ,
if i was still in the first few weeks and getting the sweats then wrapping the pillow in a towel meant i was more comfortable and got less hot headed and irritable .
no coffee or tea after noon, which was kinda difficult as i used these as a surrogate drink ... i switched to fizzy water .
The screens of computers are pretty bright i've skipped those in the evening .
watching bad news or stimulating TV are not calming or soothing, i've avoided them for a few hrs before bed.
Eating well and healthy, when i was an active alcoholic i didn't eat right and the alcohol messes with what you body can absorb ,
Have a google of "sleep hygiene" for more ideas .
for the first 6 weeks my sleep was 12 - 18 hrs a day with the odd night of nothing at all .
If it persists then a trip to the Dr might be required .
Bestwishes, m
Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: MN
Posts: 8,704
How long have you been sober? I can only share my experience with prescription sleep aids. Worked wonderful at first, just like intended, it becomes addicting and then you need them to sleep. Also dangerous if drinking alcohol. I quit them cold turkey and the withdrawal was worse than oxycondone and almost as bad as alcohol. Horrible. Avoid if possible.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 92
How long have you been sober? I can only share my experience with prescription sleep aids. Worked wonderful at first, just like intended, it becomes addicting and then you need them to sleep. Also dangerous if drinking alcohol. I quit them cold turkey and the withdrawal was worse than oxycondone and almost as bad as alcohol. Horrible. Avoid if possible.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 92
I found a long shower before bed helpful ,
clean bed sheets ,
doing some excersise ,
if i was still in the first few weeks and getting the sweats then wrapping the pillow in a towel meant i was more comfortable and got less hot headed and irritable .
no coffee or tea after noon, which was kinda difficult as i used these as a surrogate drink ... i switched to fizzy water .
The screens of computers are pretty bright i've skipped those in the evening .
watching bad news or stimulating TV are not calming or soothing, i've avoided them for a few hrs before bed.
Eating well and healthy, when i was an active alcoholic i didn't eat right and the alcohol messes with what you body can absorb ,
Have a google of "sleep hygiene" for more ideas .
for the first 6 weeks my sleep was 12 - 18 hrs a day with the odd night of nothing at all .
If it persists then a trip to the Dr might be required .
Bestwishes, m
clean bed sheets ,
doing some excersise ,
if i was still in the first few weeks and getting the sweats then wrapping the pillow in a towel meant i was more comfortable and got less hot headed and irritable .
no coffee or tea after noon, which was kinda difficult as i used these as a surrogate drink ... i switched to fizzy water .
The screens of computers are pretty bright i've skipped those in the evening .
watching bad news or stimulating TV are not calming or soothing, i've avoided them for a few hrs before bed.
Eating well and healthy, when i was an active alcoholic i didn't eat right and the alcohol messes with what you body can absorb ,
Have a google of "sleep hygiene" for more ideas .
for the first 6 weeks my sleep was 12 - 18 hrs a day with the odd night of nothing at all .
If it persists then a trip to the Dr might be required .
Bestwishes, m
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 92
I think there are a lot of things you can do to help your sleep situation. Exercise helps a lot, so I always try to get out walking during the day. Being aware of what you're eating helps too. I find that I fall asleep easier and sleep better if I'm not hungry, so I usually eat oatmeal at bedtime. Herbal teas can also be comforting and relaxing. You could ask your doctor about melatonin.
All is Change
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,284
I have periodic insomnia. For example I slept about four hours last night. Technically it's still night here but I've been up for the last four hours. I meditate. Not only has it relieved me fo the chronic anxiety I lived with for much of my life it can be as good as sleep. Sometimes I think better than sleep. I also find that not overloading my stomach helps. No stimulants and being active during the day all of which seems to come naturally with the reduced anxiety so I think at the core of it all is the meditation. I hear a lot of people saying they don't have time but the fact is that meditation gives you time. It's an investment with a very high return.
Hi jwc
Insomnia is pretty common. I didn't take any sleep aids or anything and eventually my sleep sorted itself out - I had only one completely sleepless night and then progressively better sleep from there...took me around 10 days if I remember rightly.
I hope you will find the same
There are some good common sense ideas here
10 tips to beat insomnia - Live Well - NHS Choices
but if you're still really anxious maybe you should see your Dr about both things?
Insomnia is pretty common. I didn't take any sleep aids or anything and eventually my sleep sorted itself out - I had only one completely sleepless night and then progressively better sleep from there...took me around 10 days if I remember rightly.
I hope you will find the same
There are some good common sense ideas here
10 tips to beat insomnia - Live Well - NHS Choices
but if you're still really anxious maybe you should see your Dr about both things?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 92
Hi jwc
Insomnia is pretty common. I didn't take any sleep aids or anything and eventually my sleep sorted itself out - I had only one completely sleepless night and then progressively better sleep from there...took me around 10 days if I remember rightly.
I hope you will find the same
There are some good common sense ideas here
10 tips to beat insomnia - Live Well - NHS Choices
but if you're still really anxious maybe you should see your Dr about both things?
Insomnia is pretty common. I didn't take any sleep aids or anything and eventually my sleep sorted itself out - I had only one completely sleepless night and then progressively better sleep from there...took me around 10 days if I remember rightly.
I hope you will find the same
There are some good common sense ideas here
10 tips to beat insomnia - Live Well - NHS Choices
but if you're still really anxious maybe you should see your Dr about both things?
Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Midwest, USA
Posts: 394
I have suffered from sleeping troubles since the womb, not exaggerating. Never have slept a full night. EVER. Finally diagnosed in jr high when migraines and blackouts were a clue. Aw, sweet puberty (sarcasm). As a female it is doubly hard because of the constant change in hormones. PLUS I suffer from depression. PLUS I have a thyroid issue. And alcohol at a high amount makes me lose sleep.
Anyway, I have taken script sleep aids since age 14 ( 36 now) and they do help me but that is because I went through sleep test way prior than alcoholism. And I still suffer from sleep unrest and insomnia. That is my makeup. I recommend a dr, but if u want my suggestions or experiences, pm me.
Anyway, I have taken script sleep aids since age 14 ( 36 now) and they do help me but that is because I went through sleep test way prior than alcoholism. And I still suffer from sleep unrest and insomnia. That is my makeup. I recommend a dr, but if u want my suggestions or experiences, pm me.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 92
I have periodic insomnia. For example I slept about four hours last night. Technically it's still night here but I've been up for the last four hours. I meditate. Not only has it relieved me fo the chronic anxiety I lived with for much of my life it can be as good as sleep. Sometimes I think better than sleep. I also find that not overloading my stomach helps. No stimulants and being active during the day all of which seems to come naturally with the reduced anxiety so I think at the core of it all is the meditation. I hear a lot of people saying they don't have time but the fact is that meditation gives you time. It's an investment with a very high return.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 92
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