Another sleepless night

TwelveSteps · Senior Member

Another sleepless night

Reffner · Senior Member

I still have problems sleeping, even thought it's been almost 1 1/2 years. Most of what keeps me awake is the gears turning away in my head. Prayer and meditation help me more than anything else today. I was told early on that no one ever died from lack of sleep. When my body got tired enough, the sleep came.

Brian

Lexie · Senior Member

My sleep habits were all screwed up for a few months after I quit drinking. Part of it was, I think, that I was so used to passing out every night that I was enjoying being up and doing stuff (watching movies, playing on the computer) when I would have been unable to do that before.

I started a bedtime ritual that included a bedtime "nightcap" of a couple of scoops of ice cream, while reading in bed until my eyes felt heavy.

I seldom read more than 15 minutes before that happens, now, and I fall asleep almost immediately.

jonijoni1 · MIP Old Timer

Medical help, as aggravating and redundant as it may seem. You have a medical problem, and all the beatnick advice you could get here probably won't help a hill of beans, if you have tried and failed at numerous attempts over the years. We have to remember that some of our problems are medical, and therefore medical professionals need to be called upon. Get a sleep study done and find a solution. I have been sleepless in spurts over the years, but could not imagine what you are going through, it must be insane. My prayers are with you, and I wish for you help to be on the way. ((((hugs))))

Larry_H · MIP Old Timer

When I went through the sleepless phase my sponsor told me no one died from lack of sleep. He told me instead of laying there trying to sleep I should get up and do something. (Not drinking of course) Anything a hobby, clean the house basically anything except lay there trying. When nmy body is ready for sleep it will tell me.

Worked for me.

Larry.
--------------
Nobody ever said life was easythey just promised that it would be worth it.

Lexie · Senior Member

Heh,

When I told my younger son that no one ever died from lack of sleep, he was quick to tell me about some rare genetic disorder where people have died from lack of sleep. Of course, there are a handful of people in the world that suffer from that disorder, but he's the kind of kid that has to get in the last word (gosh, can't imagine where he gets that!).

I wouldn't necessarily assume from a sleep problem in early sobriety (even if you suffered from insomnia in the past) that you necessarily have a medical disorder and need to go to a sleep clinic. That might be the case, of course, but there's a good likelihood it is just your body returning to normal. Most sleep problems resolve with remedies like exercise (not right before bedtime), establishing a good bedtime routine (going to bed only when it's time to sleep instead of working or watching TV), and time and patience.

I'm not making light of the problem, and I know it's very uncomfortable. If it persists too long, a visit to the doctor is probably in order (though you want to be careful of medications).

FlyingSquirrel · Senior Member

There are foods that help you sleep better, and melatonin has been helpful to many.

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/eatthis/8-perfect-sleep-better-foods/

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/sleep-disorders/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100245939

http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/best_foods_to_beat_insomnia

http://promotehealth.info/?p=932

turninggrey · MIP Old Timer

I could assign you a book report! That always made me want to sleep! Seriously, I loved Joni's answer. Have you been to a sleep specialist?? Have you looked online at all the possibilities?
http://www.neurologychannel.com/sleepdisorders/index.shtml
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/

How about an insomnia forum?
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-boards/viewforum.php?f=5

I would really look for a good Doctor and get answers! I am truly praying for your sound sleep!
Tom

happycamper · MIP Old Timer

Take your big book to bed with you. pretty much so guaranteed to put you to sleep

TwelveSteps · Senior Member

Thanks for the suggestions. I've actually discussed this with my doctor and was taking Ambien at first (which worked GREAT for me!) but is not intended for long-term use (and can be addictive) so I had to stop it after a while and switched to Trazodone, which is an older-generation anti-depressant prescribed off-label for sleep and which while (like SSRIs, etc.) is not addictive and can be taken indefinitely, doesn't really seem to be working for me. I guess I should go back and talk to my doctor again.

I do have to say that even when I only get 5-6 hours of sleep sober I still wake up feeling better than when I drank all that wine to sleep 8-9 hours because I thought it was what I "had" to have...

GG

pinkchip · MIP Old Timer

12 steps...the best help for that was for me to just try hard not to be anxious over lack of sleep. I figured that I functioned the next day on lack of sleep PLUS a hangover before, so it would not kill me to fall behind on sleep. Just try not to stress, you will not die from lack of sleep, turn the clocks backwards and do something you enjoy til sleep comes. It's anxiety that makes sleep not come (at least it was for me). Getting into an exercise routine helps too.

Mark

TwelveSteps · Senior Member

Thanks, Pinkchip. That's exactly it, I would get even more anxious because I felt like I "had" to have a certain amount of sleep. You are right on about exercise, my gym was closed this week for renovations so I didn't work out for 5 days and I think that has made it worse recently.

Anyway last night I finally slept for like 9 hours despite waking up 4 or 5 times during the night with crazy night sweats -- sweating profusely, but also freezing. I did some internet research and found that this is a pretty common symptom of alcohol withdrawal so I'm just trying to ride through it.

Who knows, maybe this happened when I was drinking too but I was passed out and wouldn't have noticed. :)

GG

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

HI GG, I didn't see this thread earlier hence my late comment. Have you taken a close look at caffeine and sugar in take? I would think that someone experiencing sleeplessness would be totally off caffeine. That's one of the reasons I all but eliminated it. Sugar and chocolate also rob me of sleep. I try to keep my carb intake low after 5 pm. Having a piece of fish or chicken and just a veggy for dinner, without bread, pasta, potatoes... works well. Going to meetings helped me. Learning how to use the 3rd step daily, try reading it every day for 30 days. That's what one sponsor had me do. This is stress relief for sure. More than likely you're tossing and turning over stress, so you might look at it from a stress problem (if it is) rather than a sleep problem perspective, and address/treat the cause instead of the symptom.

-- Edited by StPeteDean on Wednesday 21st of July 2010 05:59:36 AM

jonijoni1 · MIP Old Timer

Just checking back.... I hope that whatever the basic reason for your lack of sleep, that it is getting better with recovery and abstinence. I hope you are sleeping better and feeling refreshed!!

TwelveSteps · Senior Member

Thanks, I actually was just going to follow up and post for anyone who might be reading this thread later.

Dean -- yes I gave up caffeine a couple of years ago and it has really made a difference in my overall anxiety levels. This is not the particular study I remember reading, and in fact this one used unusually high doses of caffeine (450mg) -- http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/558744 -- but I remember reading other studies a few years ago that "normal" caffeine use can increase anxiety in people already prone to anxiety disorders. I definitely don't miss it.

Anyway, after about a week of really bad sleeplessness I am sleeping really well again, actually having dreams and remembering them, waking up refreshed. Last night I only woke up briefly and it was the first time I wasn't awake for at least an hour in the middle of the night. I'm sure the fact that I'm back on my regular morning workout schedule really helps.

I am starting to feel like my body chemistry is "evening out" and I may be past the really bad part that always led me to drink again just so I could have one "good" night's sleep. I say this as encouragement to anyone suffering through it right now, that it will get better -- even for someone like me who has had years of sleeping problems.

GG