Getting back to sleep...

[NeedsEncouragement]

Ok friends...I am now able to get to sleep and stay there for about 5 hrs (YEAH!!!), but what do I do to go back to sleep if it is interupted?  For example, tonight I went to bed at 1030 and slept until the dog woke me up at 330.  Now I can't go back to sleep.  I feel a little anxious if I lie there and think about things....I just want to get to my 8 hrs. I am 23 days clean of opiates. I have also gotten rid of the Xanax and Ambien during these 23 days.  It has been rough, but so worth it.  My sleeping has improved.  I am hoping someone could give me some tips on how to get back to sleep....Thanks!

[NeedsEncouragement]

Thanks for asking!  Today is day 32 and I slept great last night!  I went to bed at 10, woke up at 11 and then at MN to let the dog out.  Both times, I went right back to sleep.  The next thing I knew, it was 550am!  That was so awesome.  I can tell a huge difference in how I feel today!  The only other thing looming is that I am scheduled to return to work on September 1st....very apprehensive, but I have another couple of weeks to come to terms with it!

How are you doing?  

[atthebeach]

how are you doing?

[Methsuxbad]

thanks for the reply...just took one last nite didnt sleep well, might try two tonite..my bf has been sleeping on the couch and the last few nites we've tried to sleep together(not working) I seem to sleep better by myself...he offered to sleep on the couch tonite think I may take him up on that...trying not to obsess about the sleep and I notice that the sleep I am getting now I can tell ive rested when before Id wake up and couldnt tell if id been to sleep so it is getting better slowly!!  I may try to pick up some of the tea you suggested...trying to get some exercise but some days its a struggle and the heat isnt helping...but im doing ok and know with time ill get even better...thanks for the tips!!!

[atthebeach]

i just got "sleep" by nature made and alteral, both are all natural and have melatonin,chamomile flower extract,passion flower extract,lemon balm leaf extract,l-theanine, gaba,valerian root or a combination there of. doesnt the package have dosing instructions? the packages i have say take 1 or 2. it is all natural so i dont think it would be harmful but try not to keep thinking like an addict and just do the recommended amount. remember after years of abuse it takes time for the body to fully detox and to restore the natural brain chemistry. time to restore and heal the whole body,mind,soul,emotions and spirit.
you could also try a warm bath or shower before bed, some chamomile or sleepy time tea,
try not to get too stressed out about sleep. it is amazing what our bodies can actually handle. just take each day as it comes. exercise during the day, it really helps with the serotinin and endrophin production.
sending hugs and blessings
debbie

[Methsuxbad]

hello all since sleep or lack there of seems to be topic thought id ask a few questions...little about me im 26 days clean was on methadone for over two years and although Im starting to feel better sleep is a big issue...wondering how much of melatonin, valerian root, passion flower is safe to take??? I was just taking melatonin but have been reading that a combo of listed is more effective. I bought a product called Sleep max it has all took 1 last nite didnt work well..was going to try 2 but wondered what max dosage on all herbs listed were anyone know???

[NeedsEncouragement]

I'm not sure if it is safe to take that much Melatonin.  As hard as this is to type, you may be stuck with the insomnia....for a while!  It does, I promise, get so much better.  I was miserable the whole month of July.  Looking back, I am not sure how I functioned on so little sleep.  Try going to bed as early as possible.  The more before MN, the better.  I think the Chamonile tea helps.  Sleep in a dark room and try ear plugs if you wake easily during this time.  You can read back through my posts and see that I got this information from some very wise friends and it took all of it to get me to sleep.  I also believe there is something about the 28 day mark.  Oh~ no caffeine right?  Are you still taking any other drugs?  Sometimes things that are meant to help us sleep have the opposite effect.  I'm wishing you some sleep tonight, but even if it doesn't happen...remember it will get better, everything will get better the more days you put between you and the drugs....

[meegWpaw]

Day 1 clean, didn't sleep well before junk and since I've been in the last week of my taper schedule to now, one day clean, I don't sleep.  At someone's suggestion I took six Melotonin's last night and Valerian root as well as sleep aids oh yeah and calcium magnesiate or something.  I got up today at 3:15 a.m.  

Yeah.  I still like being clean.  I love it at times (a few minutes during a day).

but gosh I would love to sleep.  Needless to say I have a high drug/vitamin tolerance and I'm short and not a big person.

Meegan

[NeedsEncouragement]

Thank you!  I go back to work September 1st.  The headaches have been awesome.  I can't remember a time when my life was any less affected by headaches than it is right now.  Please keep praying....i am very apprehensive about stepping back into the high pressure job.  Thanks~
Mel

[atthebeach]

i am so happy for you and so proud of you. 28 days that is awesome. you are on the road to recovery. good for you. have you started back to work? how have your headaches been?
so glad you are feeling much better. :)
hugs and continued blessings
debbie

[NeedsEncouragement]

Nope, not bad at all!  Today is Day 28~four whole weeks!  I think the amount of time is slowly getting longer, but more impressively is the QUALITY of the sleep.  Before the last couple of days, when I would wake up, it was like I had been awake the whole time...like my mind was spinning while I was trying to sleep.  The last couple of days, I felt completely asleep and I can tell it makes a huge difference in my clarity during the day!  Getting high on life is a great feeling and one I haven't felt in a really long time.  My wish is for everyone to experience this!!

[laurel453]

hey, this is not bad at all, eh ;)

[NeedsEncouragement]

It really is getting better.  Last night I had to be up late waiting on my son to get home safely...and like a normal person, I slept in a little later.  It is not to a full 8 hrs yet, but I can deal with that as long as it keeps moving in that direction.  I'm at day 26...

[NeedsEncouragement]

I am so looking forward to that!!!  Thanks Rick99!!  Day 24 and last night was better.  It's not great sleep, but at least the wake up hour is moving more toward day light.  I have high hopes for week 4!!

[Rich99]

You will.   Once your body is rid of enough of the chemicals you used to be on,  you'll return to the way it was prior to using.    

[RandyHunt]

Hi Needs -

I'm on day 23 too and cant get a full nights sleep.  I wake up about every 2 hours or so.  Sometimes I take 1 mg Melatonin and I always drift off.  Hopefully we will ge ta full nights sleep soon without any help!

Good luck to you my friend!

[NeedsEncouragement]

What book?  I haven't run across any information about breathing exercises, but I am open to learning!  Thanks!

[atthebeach]

no hun way too early for premenopause. just thought i would throw that out there. when did you quit the xanax?  after quitting the opiotes?
i just got "sleep" by nature made and alteral, both are all natural and have melatonin,chamomile flower extract,passion flower extract,lemon balm leaf extract,l-theanine, gaba,valerian root or a combination there of. just got it 2 days ago.
debbie

[overopiates]

This was actually posted at the same time I posted asking a couple questions including the sleep thing.I know my mom suffers from insomnia+has since she was my age.Also I did quit taking xanax that was a high dose for years.I think this could b a side effect from benzos or I just have insomnia nothing to do w/pills at all.I'm29 so I hope I'm not n premenopaus

[atthebeach]

ladies insomnia is a very common problem. even amongst non users. i am 54 and sleep terrible. i cant fall asleep if i do i wake up and then cant go back to sleep. dont know your ages but also could be early signs of menopause.  many days i only sleep 4,5 or 6 hrs. i take what i can get.
debbie

[laurel453]

have you tried those breathing exercises advices for anxiety...? sometimes when i woke up in the middle of the night with anxiety and started focusing on my breathing, sleep came back as a result so.... try it  and you can always re-start that book that it was so boring that you didn't finished reading it ;)

[NeedsEncouragement]

Yeah, it was.  I know how frustrated I am about the insomnia and how quick my medical providers are to give a "pill" to fix an issue.  I wasn't sure what your experience has been with the same issues.  Glad to hear that you are not going that route!  From what I read, it does get better, it just takes time!

[overopiates]

Was the insomnia comment for me?If so don't worry  about me I'm not gonna get a prescription for anything for sleep.I will just deal w/it until I can find something all natural like melatonin whatever I  can find that's not habit forming.I have tylenol PM&nyquil n my cabinet&won't take that even.Thanks for the advice+ur experience w/herbal remidies.

[NeedsEncouragement]

Yes, the Melatonin/herbal mixture is the only thing I do take.  It helps, especially to get you to sleep.  Someone also told me that if you wake up during the night, you could repeat the Melatonin.  I tried that once early on and it didn't work. However, I may try that again the next time this happens. Don't settle for having a diagnosis of insomnia, it will just lead back to one pill or another.  Thanks!

[overopiates]

I'm not sure if its normal but I'm having occasional insomnia still(like2nite)Im78days clean.I too stopped xanax along the way when quitting the pain pills.My mom has insomnia I'm starting2wonder if it has nothing2do w/the pills if I just have insomnia.Im sorry I know ur asking4advice.I just want u2know ur not alone.I'm gonna get melatonin have u tried it?