This is Day 5 for me being sober. I just got out of the hospital this afternoon. I slept ALOT while I was there and tonite cannot sleep. Is from the not drinking? something I just have to go thru? I have had insomnia in the past, but this is crazy!!!
Welcome Joanie, Dunno what to tell ya. Me & sleep have always gotten along real well. Have you tried.... writing out a worry list? concentrating ONLY on breathing in & out? doing multiplication in your head?
My old stand-by is to pretend that I'm in a sleeper berth on a train going someplace really, really cool and I imagine the sound of the tracks.
It's hard to say without knowing more details. I'm assuming you're like me and you went to detox or something similar? Assuming it was a medical detox, you slept well there because they probably gave you Ativan as well as other medications.
I'm on day 41 (woot!) and I'm still having sleep issues. I spent 7 days in the hospital and slept through almost all of it. I'm also not on a very structured schedule, which I know would help. Whatever you do, don't be quick to go to a doctor just yet. Your body has become accustomed to 'shutting down' or 'passing out,' and now it has to relearn how to do it on its own.. it's just confused.
Right now, it's hit or miss for me. Sometimes I'll go to sleep and it will last about an hour, which sucks. Other times I can sleep like a baby for a full 8 hours and wake up feeling great. Just remember it's not uncommon and there's nothing 'wrong' with you, it's just a process you have to work through.
I'd recommend exercise, walking, meditation, avoid caffeine, a silent and comfortable sleeping area, etc. Basically all the things a doctor will tell you on your first visit. Sleeping pills are never a good first try. If you must see a doc, make sure you let him or her know that you're in recovery and s/he may be able to help you out with different methods.
Again, there are a lot of variables and every person is different.
I'm day 18, and I have been having sleep issues on and off. I was primarily a night drinker for the last couple of years before putting it down, and I think my body just got used to passing out rather than getting tired naturally. It is getting better, but I still have issues. Reading my Big Book or writing out my 1st step before bed is something I've been trying. Also, drinking an herbal sleep-aid tea (non-narcotic, thank you!), and switching to decaf at 6 pm has been helpful, especially at those evening meetings!
Let us know how you do....
M
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"I answer to two people, myself and God... and I don't give a s#*% what anyone else thinks of me."-- Cher
thank you to everyone!! this was a desicion I did not make lightly, I put myself in the hospital to detox. I was there for 4 days, and they didn't give you any meds except my anti depressant. I didn't seize or anything major, just very naseous and shaking and SWEAT! I am glad I found this website, to talk to people who understand. Thanks again for all the ideas, I will def try them tonight.
thank you to everyone!! this was a desicion I did not make lightly, I put myself in the hospital to detox. I was there for 4 days, and they didn't give you any meds except my anti depressant. I didn't seize or anything major, just very naseous and shaking and SWEAT! I am glad I found this website, to talk to people who understand. Thanks again for all the ideas, I will def try them tonight.
Disruption in sleep patterns (aka I can't sleep) was normal for me in my first year and almost everybody I know
The old timers even had a saying back then, "No one ever died from lack of sleep" before they'd burst into laughter from listening to my whinging
After taking a depressant for years and years (alcohol) it takes awhile for the body to normalize
This is "normal"
This is healthy
What was HIGHLY recommended to me was get through this without resorting to sleeping pills, like we only have "suggestions" but they were most emphatic about this one
PS My experience also matched Larry's, I couldn't stay sober alone no matter how hard I tried
-- Edited by AGO on Tuesday 13th of April 2010 10:46:35 AM
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Build a man a fire and he will be warm for a night, light a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life
I'm a major newbie myself, as in started yesterday and certainly had some sleep issues. No trouble falling asleep, which I didn't expect, but I couldn't stay asleep at all. And boy did I sweat! Hot/cold on and off. Ugh. I have one thing I know that is great if you want to go to sleep is to take a 20 minute hot bath (I love to read in there). When you get out of the tub, dry off and get in bed. In getting out of the tub, your body temperature will start to decrease, which mimics what happens when you fall asleep. So if you are in bed and lying down, your body just assumes, "Oh! We're going to sleep!" Works like a charm. Something that also helps is lying down, and looking down with your eyes closed. Also mimics what happens when you go to sleep. Can feel a little weird but it works.
I'm on day 11382 and also have sleep issues and some nights I don't and some mornings I get pissed that I've done 10 hours of shut eye and don't feel rested and some days not. Sometimes I will use a prescribed antidepressant to stay locked down into my subconscious and other times I will use a asprin PM along with alot of other home remedies. Some times is a great term for this alcoholic because it keeps me in reality for 24 hours which is best practice for me. It will never be perfect and never has been what is missing from the sleep angle for me and has been for those amount of days is that whether I got it or missed it has nothing to do with drinking. The solutions are boundless just don't drink.
Hope you find workable solutions and pass them on to the others here. Stay in the day and keep coming back.
Im a little over a month Sober, I still get Insomnia pretty bad. my body flip flops, one week I cant sleep, the next I cant get enough sleep. I guess its all part of the process.
I've been wondering about taking melatonin at night as a way to help me reset my clock, but honestly, even though it's not a drug or a narcotic I'm a little hesitant.
However, at this point it's 8:20 p.m. and I'm on my 3rd Diet Coke of the PM....probably not the best choice.
M
__________________
"I answer to two people, myself and God... and I don't give a s#*% what anyone else thinks of me."-- Cher
Sleep patterns are all over the place in early days off the booze, but I once said to an oldtimer, 'I don't sleep very well' and he told me, 'Well if you can't sleep well, stay awake well'
He suggested I read some AA literature, oir try some prayer and meditation, or just try to relax, even if you don't sleep just resting can be beneficial. This of course was in the dinosaur days befor I had even heard of PC's, so now, IF I cannot sleep well, I still do what he suggested and stay awake well, which is why I am often on this thing in the wee small hours.
No-one ever died from lack of sleep. Accept that is where you are for the moment, it WILL become less of a problem the longer you stick around.
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Serenity is Wanting what you have, not having what you want
Always remember non-alcoholic beers are for NON-ALCOHOLICS
