Archive for the ‘Insomnia’ tag
23 days
Finally got clean and sober when I left for The Virgin Islands. I have 24 days today. One day at a time. Gotta say, if a guy can stay clean and sober there he can do it anywhere. Now the insomnia is kicking in. I wake in the middle of the night and cant go back to sleep.
Trying to give up again
Back here again for some help and support in giving up. The Christmas period has seen me drinking a huge volume of alcohol, mostly on my own. I have started drinking as soon as I get up.
I have been diagnosed with anxiety, which is made worse by the drinking. The worst time is first thing in the morning, hence the morning drinking. I feel anxious as soon as I wake up, sometimes to the extent of having a panic attack. I also have a lot of anger and insomnia, both of which are helped by medication, zyprexa (olanzapine).
I can't keep doing this to myself anymore, but I find it so hard to give up. Even though I know the alcohol is killing me I still want to drink. I think rehab would be very helpful for me.
I have been to the AA but I didn't like it. I don't like the references to God and I don't like the assumption that I need a higher power to resolve my alcohol problem. I believe that I hold the power in myself to give up.
Today I've made a huge step in not drinking so far. Just need to make it through to the end of the day, then then end of tomorrow, etc!
I'm feeling scared and lonely. Thanks for reading.
I have been diagnosed with anxiety, which is made worse by the drinking. The worst time is first thing in the morning, hence the morning drinking. I feel anxious as soon as I wake up, sometimes to the extent of having a panic attack. I also have a lot of anger and insomnia, both of which are helped by medication, zyprexa (olanzapine).
I can't keep doing this to myself anymore, but I find it so hard to give up. Even though I know the alcohol is killing me I still want to drink. I think rehab would be very helpful for me.
I have been to the AA but I didn't like it. I don't like the references to God and I don't like the assumption that I need a higher power to resolve my alcohol problem. I believe that I hold the power in myself to give up.
Today I've made a huge step in not drinking so far. Just need to make it through to the end of the day, then then end of tomorrow, etc!
I'm feeling scared and lonely. Thanks for reading.
Just begining recovery, wanted to get involved here
Hello! I am new to the this forum but have searched it for advice in the past and have been lurking for the past month. I am off of Oxycontin for a month now, started cold turkey and then have been on Suboxone for about two weeks
I am also on:
Adderall
Klonopin
Zoloft
and have just started
Lunesta and Sonata
Just wondering what other people's experiences are with these drugs and recovery. Just a quick note to get started is what this is, really! Trouble with insomnia and depression (look at the meds). Things have been rocky so far, especially with the holidays, but I have not relapsed and the Sub is managing things very well! I have a great doctor and other people I am working with, but I decided not to go the inpatient route for a number of reasons, chief among them are privacy and not wanting my life disrupted any more than it has to be.
So I guess I am looking for some support here, support that would be kind of akin to what "group" meetings are about, in that I would hear from people who have had similar experiences. I am eager to get involved and offer what experience and help I can. Hope you guys are as welcoming as the board seems!
My first question is about the drugs I am currently on, I can post dosages in a later thread if it would help, and I know it may seem unusual but they are all scripted from one doc...I know some won't prescribe benzo's or adderall or others to someone who is coming off an addiction but I'm only taking whats scripted for me.
posternutbag
I am also on:
Adderall
Klonopin
Zoloft
and have just started
Lunesta and Sonata
Just wondering what other people's experiences are with these drugs and recovery. Just a quick note to get started is what this is, really! Trouble with insomnia and depression (look at the meds). Things have been rocky so far, especially with the holidays, but I have not relapsed and the Sub is managing things very well! I have a great doctor and other people I am working with, but I decided not to go the inpatient route for a number of reasons, chief among them are privacy and not wanting my life disrupted any more than it has to be.
So I guess I am looking for some support here, support that would be kind of akin to what "group" meetings are about, in that I would hear from people who have had similar experiences. I am eager to get involved and offer what experience and help I can. Hope you guys are as welcoming as the board seems!
My first question is about the drugs I am currently on, I can post dosages in a later thread if it would help, and I know it may seem unusual but they are all scripted from one doc...I know some won't prescribe benzo's or adderall or others to someone who is coming off an addiction but I'm only taking whats scripted for me.
posternutbag
Sub detox, trouble dropping below 1mg, anyone able to share experiences?
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!
I've tapered down from 16mg to about 1mg of suboxone per day. All went well, felt great, until got below 2mg. I'm struggling to keep the dose less than 1mg; managed .75 one day, next day had to take an additional .5 to be able to stay at work.
I usually take half my daily dose in the morning when I wake up, then the rest around noon or 1 (whenever I start feeling a little unwell). After dropping below 1mg, I started having the restless feeling hit, trouble sleeping at night (RLS type symptoms), sneezing and yawning during the day.
To those who have been through this, did they find that the fairly mild w/d symptoms (especially as it's holiday time, so I have a lot of time off work) went away fairly quickly, or did you stabilize on the last dosage (for me, 1mg) before dropping the dose again?
If I choose to drop the dose despite not being stabilized, will the w/d symptoms get much worse? For me, my worst w/d symptoms is the restlessness and later the lethary. Even when I kicked methadone in the past, the body aches and chills were less an issue for me than the restlessness and extreme lethargy, insomnia. Cold sweats are a problem but I haven't hit that point yet, or the diarrhea, so my whining is relative.
In other words, my w/d isn't all that bad, definitely tolerable, but if they get worse, it might be difficult to work/function, and I may go running back to sub dr for another prescription (I have 6mg left right now). I have a handful of days off (4 1/2) for New Year weekend, but last time I quit c/t, I wasn't feeling any better by day 5. Maybe I should schedule another day or two off to use this time as my jumping off point? If I suffer through dropping the dose as scheduled in the next couple days, I'll be jumping off from .5 or .25. I'm curious as to others' experience regarding the jumping off phase and the very end of the detox.
At this point, no cravings, even on this low dose. I don't want to let myself get in a bad spot during a holiday weekend.
Any words of wisdom, advice, from anyone especially those who've been through this sub detox?
I've tapered down from 16mg to about 1mg of suboxone per day. All went well, felt great, until got below 2mg. I'm struggling to keep the dose less than 1mg; managed .75 one day, next day had to take an additional .5 to be able to stay at work.
I usually take half my daily dose in the morning when I wake up, then the rest around noon or 1 (whenever I start feeling a little unwell). After dropping below 1mg, I started having the restless feeling hit, trouble sleeping at night (RLS type symptoms), sneezing and yawning during the day.
To those who have been through this, did they find that the fairly mild w/d symptoms (especially as it's holiday time, so I have a lot of time off work) went away fairly quickly, or did you stabilize on the last dosage (for me, 1mg) before dropping the dose again?
If I choose to drop the dose despite not being stabilized, will the w/d symptoms get much worse? For me, my worst w/d symptoms is the restlessness and later the lethary. Even when I kicked methadone in the past, the body aches and chills were less an issue for me than the restlessness and extreme lethargy, insomnia. Cold sweats are a problem but I haven't hit that point yet, or the diarrhea, so my whining is relative.
In other words, my w/d isn't all that bad, definitely tolerable, but if they get worse, it might be difficult to work/function, and I may go running back to sub dr for another prescription (I have 6mg left right now). I have a handful of days off (4 1/2) for New Year weekend, but last time I quit c/t, I wasn't feeling any better by day 5. Maybe I should schedule another day or two off to use this time as my jumping off point? If I suffer through dropping the dose as scheduled in the next couple days, I'll be jumping off from .5 or .25. I'm curious as to others' experience regarding the jumping off phase and the very end of the detox.
At this point, no cravings, even on this low dose. I don't want to let myself get in a bad spot during a holiday weekend.
Any words of wisdom, advice, from anyone especially those who've been through this sub detox?
Heavy drinker here
Hello
I blacked out again last night and I sit here with a bad headache which lead me to discovering this forum.
I drink beer every night until I'm drunk. Insomnia seemed to be a big reason for why I do it because when I don't drink it takes me a very long time to fall asleep.
I'm not even 21 and I need to stop drinking right away. It's killing me.
I feel completely helpless.
I blacked out again last night and I sit here with a bad headache which lead me to discovering this forum.
I drink beer every night until I'm drunk. Insomnia seemed to be a big reason for why I do it because when I don't drink it takes me a very long time to fall asleep.
I'm not even 21 and I need to stop drinking right away. It's killing me.
I feel completely helpless.
Difference in WD symptoms
An anecdotal experience that might be helpful . . .
A few years ago, I tapered off of a 15 mg/day hydro habit down to 2.5 mg. Quitting was pure hell. I suffered from G.I. distress, RLS, and insomnia. Those things were tolerable, but the depression and lethargy weren't. I felt like sleeping all of the time but couldn't. I figured that I was just reaping the rewards of a 8 year opioid affair.
It took a few weeks before I felt civil and a few months before I re-approached anything like normal.
Afterwards, tests run during a routine colonoscopy (i.e. an odyssey to my ileum) determined that I was anemic; specifically I was lacking folic acid.
I started taking OTC folic acid and that fixed my anemia. Today marks the 2nd day of no meds, and except for some gut sensitivity, mentally I'm just fine. I know I'm not out of the woods yet, but the difference is huge.
I'm thinking that WDs are easier this time because I'm a lot healthier. The moral of the story may be to have a thorough check-up and blood work before you quit cold turkey or taper. It seems that certain deficiencies can make the whole process a lot more difficult.
Will post if anything changes quickly . . .
Buzz
A few years ago, I tapered off of a 15 mg/day hydro habit down to 2.5 mg. Quitting was pure hell. I suffered from G.I. distress, RLS, and insomnia. Those things were tolerable, but the depression and lethargy weren't. I felt like sleeping all of the time but couldn't. I figured that I was just reaping the rewards of a 8 year opioid affair.
It took a few weeks before I felt civil and a few months before I re-approached anything like normal.
Afterwards, tests run during a routine colonoscopy (i.e. an odyssey to my ileum) determined that I was anemic; specifically I was lacking folic acid.
I started taking OTC folic acid and that fixed my anemia. Today marks the 2nd day of no meds, and except for some gut sensitivity, mentally I'm just fine. I know I'm not out of the woods yet, but the difference is huge.
I'm thinking that WDs are easier this time because I'm a lot healthier. The moral of the story may be to have a thorough check-up and blood work before you quit cold turkey or taper. It seems that certain deficiencies can make the whole process a lot more difficult.
Will post if anything changes quickly . . .
Buzz
That Inconvenient ‘Second Wind’ - The Origin of My Insomnia
Sorry folks, this one is a mixed bag here...
It seems right as the perfect time to go to bed comes along (10pm-ish), I get my second wind. It's now three am and I'm still awake, feeling crappy and remorseful that I didn't seize the opportunity.
Something in my head always tells me I need to stay awake and finish some stuff first. But usually that 'important stuff' winds up being my petty compulsions; being on the computer looking up irrelevant stuff, or binge-eating. And sometimes that voice is telling me that I'm going to be missing out on something if I go to sleep, but it's false.
I have been trying to figure out where my insomnia came from. As a kid I used to stay up late for 'high' effect it gave. And then as a teenager, I used to stay up late so I could be prepared to do what I needed to when one of my parents came home drunk and I'd either have to leave, hide or fend off their attacks.
Now I think it's just a force of habit and I may be this way all my life. I've never held a consistent sleep routine longer than two weeks. And I know some people who are just 'nocturnal'. But for my needs, I think it's best that I start getting up early like a normal person.
The whole town is going to be snowed in tomorrow (I mean, today!) and so I don't feel too guilty about sleeping in, but I my goal is to not sleep past twelve am, and next I'll keep trying until I can get to not sleeping in past 9am.
:thinking:
It seems right as the perfect time to go to bed comes along (10pm-ish), I get my second wind. It's now three am and I'm still awake, feeling crappy and remorseful that I didn't seize the opportunity.
Something in my head always tells me I need to stay awake and finish some stuff first. But usually that 'important stuff' winds up being my petty compulsions; being on the computer looking up irrelevant stuff, or binge-eating. And sometimes that voice is telling me that I'm going to be missing out on something if I go to sleep, but it's false.
I have been trying to figure out where my insomnia came from. As a kid I used to stay up late for 'high' effect it gave. And then as a teenager, I used to stay up late so I could be prepared to do what I needed to when one of my parents came home drunk and I'd either have to leave, hide or fend off their attacks.
Now I think it's just a force of habit and I may be this way all my life. I've never held a consistent sleep routine longer than two weeks. And I know some people who are just 'nocturnal'. But for my needs, I think it's best that I start getting up early like a normal person.
The whole town is going to be snowed in tomorrow (I mean, today!) and so I don't feel too guilty about sleeping in, but I my goal is to not sleep past twelve am, and next I'll keep trying until I can get to not sleeping in past 9am.
:thinking:
Just need some reassurance/ attn: detox veterans
sorry its long, at least read the bold print.
So this is my 2nd detox.
Ive only been drinking a lot for the last 2 years... mostly in the last year. leading up to a binge weekend in August.. then a detox that lasted 6 days.
then it happened again, I was drinking socially/regularly for a month or so, then drinking every night again, then heavier leading up to ANOTHER binge 3 day weekend with some friends, leaving me where I am now on Detox2. Both times had the usual dry heaves, night sweats, not eating, ANXIETY, no DTs or anything worse just the standard stuff I guess.
dont worry I went to the doctor both times, got some Rx's to help, etc.
I've been on here, around long enough to know all the stories and Ive even been the advice-giver on here. but:
heres where i need reassurance.
last time i was fine by day 7. this time im on day 11 and im not doin so well.
Physically symptoms are over, appetite is fine, eating is fine, stomach is fine.
BUT I CANT GET RID of this ANXIETY, INSOMNIA, and DEPRESSION.
I feel like I'm never going to feel normal. Drink craving is not a problem, never really is. I dont want to drink at all I dont even think about drinking... I just wanna feel normal. I cant sleep til like 4am (and thats with the ativan the Dr gave me) sleeping isnt very quality, im just not myself, im okay-ish during the day but come 8pm my nerves skyrocket and i cant sit still.. i feel hopeless and sometimes I cry. I dont want to be alone but I am not social. Nothing keeps my attention and I feel like im GONNA LOSE MY MIND. it makes it hard for me to work so I have to take half of an ativan to get through it.
please somebody tell me that im not the only one who has had it like this, and tell me its gonna go away. its been 11 days! Even my dad cant understand why its so bad for me when I didnt drink as much as some people, and they dont even have withdrawals when they stop! I want this to be done with and not have to take the ativan cause Ive read how addictive that can be too, so I usually tough out the anxiety all evening until RIGHT before I know I'll be able to fall asleep with its help (like 2am). Someone reassure me that this isnt completely abnormal.
thanks, oh and happy holidays everyone.
bj
So this is my 2nd detox.
Ive only been drinking a lot for the last 2 years... mostly in the last year. leading up to a binge weekend in August.. then a detox that lasted 6 days.
then it happened again, I was drinking socially/regularly for a month or so, then drinking every night again, then heavier leading up to ANOTHER binge 3 day weekend with some friends, leaving me where I am now on Detox2. Both times had the usual dry heaves, night sweats, not eating, ANXIETY, no DTs or anything worse just the standard stuff I guess.
dont worry I went to the doctor both times, got some Rx's to help, etc.
I've been on here, around long enough to know all the stories and Ive even been the advice-giver on here. but:
heres where i need reassurance.
last time i was fine by day 7. this time im on day 11 and im not doin so well.
Physically symptoms are over, appetite is fine, eating is fine, stomach is fine.
BUT I CANT GET RID of this ANXIETY, INSOMNIA, and DEPRESSION.
I feel like I'm never going to feel normal. Drink craving is not a problem, never really is. I dont want to drink at all I dont even think about drinking... I just wanna feel normal. I cant sleep til like 4am (and thats with the ativan the Dr gave me) sleeping isnt very quality, im just not myself, im okay-ish during the day but come 8pm my nerves skyrocket and i cant sit still.. i feel hopeless and sometimes I cry. I dont want to be alone but I am not social. Nothing keeps my attention and I feel like im GONNA LOSE MY MIND. it makes it hard for me to work so I have to take half of an ativan to get through it.
please somebody tell me that im not the only one who has had it like this, and tell me its gonna go away. its been 11 days! Even my dad cant understand why its so bad for me when I didnt drink as much as some people, and they dont even have withdrawals when they stop! I want this to be done with and not have to take the ativan cause Ive read how addictive that can be too, so I usually tough out the anxiety all evening until RIGHT before I know I'll be able to fall asleep with its help (like 2am). Someone reassure me that this isnt completely abnormal.
thanks, oh and happy holidays everyone.
bj
Question on Ambien
As many of you know the insomnia after coming off years of opiate abuse is horid. I have 6 months clean time yet I stil have trouble falling asleep. Once I get to sleep I am fine, but it could take 4+ hours for me to actually fall asleep. I have been taking Tylenol pm whichs helps a little but not always. But now I have a bottle of Ambien and I am not sure if I should take it or not. What do you guys think? Am I hurting my clean time buy using Ambien? I was never hooked on it or had a problem with sleeping pills but I have always had sleeping trouble ever since I was in high school and didn't even do drugs . I am really on a crossroad here and don't know what to do.
Any suggestions, exp,str&hope would be appreciated
:Xmasmca
Any suggestions, exp,str&hope would be appreciated
:Xmasmca
10 days…losing hope
I'm on day 10. No alcohol or oxy's in 10 days. Longest I've went in a very long time. I haven't posted on here in about a year. My wife overdosed 6 months ago. That should have woke me up, but it just made things worse. I just got out of detox and it's so hard not to go right back to using. Using is the only way I know how to function and deal with things. Not to mention, I'm at day 10 and still feel like complete crap. How long will the insomnia last? AAARG!
