Ummm, how am I supposed to get to sleep now?

[abby1]

Ummm, how am I supposed to get to sleep now?

My vote is with Skendall.....Calms Forte. Great alternative to prescription medicine.
Abby

[MDBiker]

Ummm, how am I supposed to get to sleep now?

I have been having this same sleep problem, so I asked my Dr. why I couldn't get to sleep. He told me that when we drink excessively or continually the receptors in our brain that make us feel good are filled with the alcohol and pushed down such that we are in a depressed state. When we quit drinking these receptors are then free of the alcohol holding them down and move up to the excited or euphoric state which keeps us awake. He told me to take Benadryl and the problem would clear up with a little time.

Bear

[julie001]

Ummm, how am I supposed to get to sleep now?

Hi and welcome. I have a huge problem with sleep issues too and have relied on alcohol (or so I told myself) to help me fall asleep. Since I have been having more AF nights, I have realized that zonking myself out with alcohol is just an illusion. Last night was a perfect example of that. I had friends over and drank an entire bottle of wine by myself. Got drunk, needless to say. Of course, I passed out quickly, but was awake at 4:30 with those familiar feelings of dread and guilt. On the nights that I am AF, I take the prescription Lunesta. Even though I am relying on something to help me fall asleep, it is a much kinder, gentler way of falling asleep and staying asleep. Plus, I don't feel awful the next day (like today). I never had a huge problem with sleep until I started drinking too much. Ironic, huh. You've come to the right place. I'm here most nights until about midnight. I should have been here last night instead of draining that bottle of wine. The less I drink the less anxious I am and ultimately the less stressed I am about falling asleep. Good luck and again welcome!

Julie

[WilliamTheFree]

Ummm, how am I supposed to get to sleep now?

Melatonin 6 to 9 mg before bed...2 calms forte before bed...at first it didn't help much but it is helping more now after 9 days AF....

[imatree]

Ummm, how am I supposed to get to sleep now?

Thanks everybody. I will definitely try melatonin. I had forgotten about that option. MDBiker, thanks for sharing what your doc explained. Makes so much sense. I can definitely relate to the euphoric state. Last night and tonight, when it's time to wind down and get ready for bed, at which time I'm used to being drunk or very nearly, I feel like I could take on the world! I want to go kayaking! Solve world hunger! Write a novel!

[jo]

Ummm, how am I supposed to get to sleep now?

dont know where to turn . have basically ruined my formerly productive life . have exhausted most other approaches. no like "troubled"people around
dont:h :new:

[redrobin]

Ummm, how am I supposed to get to sleep now?

Jo , hang in there!

You have found this site - maybe you've just stumbled across it like I did several months ago ? Have you had a chance to check out the Introduction to the My Way Out Program programme at the top of the home page yet? If not do so - now!!

Please. Read all you can about this programme and then come back and ask as many questions as you want to. There is always someone here to talk to, to answer your questions and to offer support or a friendly shoulder...

This is a practical and sensible programme that can help you help you reduce or completely eliminate alcohol if that's what you want . Best of all is is the support offered by this web site! In the space of just a couple of months I've turned my life around and you can too. So have a really good look around and come back to us . (By the way no one here is on commission! We just want to help other newcomers find the same way out!)

Love and thoughts,

Robin
x

[Mags]

Ummm, how am I supposed to get to sleep now?

Totally relating

Dear Imatree
I can so totally relate to the sleep problems. I think one of the main reasons I began drinking years ago was to knock me out at night. Sleeping AF is still a problem for me, even though I have been AF most of the last two years. I toss and turn and sweat and have nightmares. It does get much better with time and I am a lot better now than I used to be.
Having trouble sleeping AF is still much better than drinking yourself to sleep. Then you wake up at crazy hours in the morning (always 3 AM for me) feeling guilty, thirsty, and having to go to the bathroom. It truly is better to wake up tired than hungover. And the sleep becomes muc'h better and calmer with time.
I have had problems with melatonin, so advise caution there. It gave me horrendous headaches. It is a hormone and I don't like messing with hormones. The Calms Forte is homeopathic so is not harmful at all and works very well. The CD's help a lot also - so does reading RJ's book at night.
You're going to get through this. Loss of sleep is better than living life as a practicing alcoholic. You are so far along the way and sound so committed. Please keep it up - and stay with us and keep posting. We love you.
:l

[Paddy]

Ummm, how am I supposed to get to sleep now?

I don't know whether anyone mentioned that one, but old-fashioned Camomille tea is magic. I first started taking the stuff when I suffered of panic attacks. Now, I'm on it in the evenings. Wonderful. Funny enough, at 35 I got into the habit of drinking herbal teas. I feel like a gran, ha, ha

By the way, Mags, great ad for RJ's book. Reading it at night puts your right to sleep, ha, ha. Nearly peed myself! ;-))))

[fire31]

Ummm, how am I supposed to get to sleep now?

Paddy, I second that- in addition to melatonin, which i find is helpful for me- Chamomile tea is very helpful and soothing, great for relaxation/right before bed.

Or anytime you're feeling anxious. I tend to have a cup or two before going out to social gatherings, to take the social anxiety edge off. it usually helps!

[stillcrawling]

Ummm, how am I supposed to get to sleep now?

imatree -- I read all posts one tip not mentioned was valerian either as tea or an herbal supplement has been recommended. We all are different -- so it may take a while to find the right bedtime relaxant. A hot bath may do the trick. La Liz

[imatree]

Ummm, how am I supposed to get to sleep now?

Yes, I used to use valerian years ago and will keep that in mind. I've been drinking lots of chamomile, and last night I took 1mg of melatonin and got deliciously sleeply.
Thanks for all the tips.