Sleep

[macksabratt]

Today is day 8 for me and still no sleep.I just wanted to ask people what they did that helped them to go to sleep.My body is so drained but the voice in my head will not shut up!

[kimmieb]

i hear ya....even when not going through withdrawals....i've had insomnia for the past 10 years....that's why i was on ativan for 5 of them.....now off....i tried EVERY SINGLE THING MENTIONED IN EVERY ONE OF THESE POSTS AND THEN SOME.....nothing worked....nothing....even my doctors were completely stumped....figured i was going to have to take matters into my own hands and find something....so i did major research....found a program called "the road back".....they have products for anxiety and for sleep (they're a program to help taper/wean off of benzos and other psychotropic meds)....the sleep stuff works great....i get 6-7 hours of sleep with them...no complaints....not QUITE the same feeling as the ativan gave me, but a heckuva lot safer and still does the trick....would highly recommend them to anyone searching for a solution to their sleep problems (whether it's difficulty initially falling asleep, staying asleep, or both)

good luck!!!!!  i know how the cumulative effect of lack of sleep sux....believe me, i know....i feel for you....i hope you find something that gives you some relief!!

blessings,
kim

[CR_ST_NA]

MELATONIN!!!!!!!!!!!! works wonders......also and i know i sound like a broken record but KAVA works wonders too. good luck "C"

[Crispy]

exercise. Completly run your body down and force it to shut down at night

[enemy48]

I know Mack.  That was my famous word.  WHEN?

I would say that you're gonna rest well pretty soon.  You'll be so happy when you finally awake from at least a 6 hour sleep.

The no sleep is not helping your energy level.  That's what *****.  

Force yourself to do small things.  Like make the bed.  And that's it!  You'll feel better!

[macksabratt]

when am I going to get any energy back?Today is day 9 and I still feel so weak.I know I haven't slept much in 8 nights but I would think I would have felt better by now.I am eating and drinking a ton of water.Took some SAM-E this morning have been taking that for about 2 weeks now.Took B12 and ate bananas.So bored hard to pass the time.It is going to be 90 here today and I am on the sofa with a blanket on me.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Melatonin up to 10mg worked for me. If you wake up groggy it may be from taking too much. Melatonin is broken down by bright light. So get into bright light and the groogyness goes away.
Keep in mind the normal dose is 1-3mg.

[enemy48]

I was able to get my hands on a few ambien & xanix.  I alternated them with over the counter sleep meds in order not to get hooked.  When sleep started to come back, then I just took bites from the pills. (still alternating)

[lady67]

Be very careful with the sleep meds too.  Ambien, Lunesta, etc.  I became addicted to them very quickly.  Even faster than the hydros.  Again,  Good luck and keep us posted.

[nursegirl6572]

Sorry you are not sleeping...that's awful.  I agree that you should prolly ask your doc for something. Oh, and be VERY careful mixing so many different things to help you sleep...there was recently a vert tragic loss of a MH poster who was desperately trying to get some sleep....took too many meds...and mixed with alcohol, sadly, she passed away.  

I hope you get some sleep soon.  You've gotten a lot of excellent advice.  Especially the exercise part.  Even if you take a few walks a day...they don't even have to be long ones.  That will help you in more than one way.

Best of luck.

[macksabratt]

Thanks for the advice Susan.I slept somewhat better last night and feel ok,but still weak.I will look into the rapid sleep pm.If I can get a few more nights sleep I should be much better.Today is day 9 .If I sleep tonight great if not I will live with it because I never ever want to be at day 1 ever again.

[lady67]

As I have mentioned before I am the world's biggest insomniac even when I am not going through withdrawls.  I have been taking the RAPID SLEEP PM from Wal-Mart for the past week and it is still working wonders.  So far the only problem I have had is some mornings I wake up with a headache because I sleep so hard.  Good luck and congrats on being clean.
Susan

[sadinmichigan]

You can call your dr and see if they would be willing to give you some samples..You don't need a whole script..and they often times have ambien and Lunesta..etc..I would stay away from the Nyquil..That isn't going to help..what sleeping pills are you taking..I found that non of the over the counter ones worked to well..Just added to the whole lack of energy thing..You really should force yourself to take a brisk walk..it doesn't need to be long.Just get your muscles moving etc..that will help release all your bodies natural endorphins and other good stuff..(ask Goingtomakeit) lol..It might sound painful at first but actually making yourself is the hardest part..

[macksabratt]

I don't think my body can move.I am so very weak and groggy from taking the sleeping pills and nyquil.I will try hard to but I don't think I can do much.I did start moving around on day 3 and forced myself to do things but still no sleep.I have taken more hot baths with epson salt than I can count.I have no health insurance so can't get prescriptions.

[limodan73]

Hi, just wanted give a little advice as to how I got to sleep. Getting My body back on a regiment was crucial. By Day 4 I started to force myself to move around as much as possible. When the wired/tired anxiety would kick in, I forced myself to exhilerate as much energy as I possibly could. I.E. Exercize. I know, sounds rough, but your body isn't whats broken. Its your mind. So, my advice is this. Get up, get moving as much as poss. during the day and AT Night, pump yourself out as much as you can. Then, take a good hot shower and lay in bed and read. Try this without the additionals first. You might be suprised. Good luck. It gets better. None of us got in a couple of weeks. It takes time but i promise you it gets better. Ya just have to find what works for ya.
God bless.

[gustaria]

Non of the things you mentioned worked for me. Only the ambien. They say it is non narcotic. If you get 30 of them it wont cause you no problem. Take one and when you got 15 left start breaking them and reduce to non. You are going through enough without having to add sleepless suffering nights. The fact you have come this far is awesome. I am on day 23 and feel real good and normal, but I am still weaning of the ambien. It not suffering like the narcs were, its just sleeplessness. I went from taking 3 a night in the first 6 days to 1/2 a night now.

[Penelope14]

I can relate to not sleeping, I to had many sleepless nights during my detox off methadone, I did,nt sleep for almost 3 weeks! I was so desperate I went to see a therapist over it, he told me that after drug use your brain gets a bit anxious & you develop a busy mind, of course I already knew this but was willing to listen to his recomondations, which by the way most of what he told me to try to do to sleep were things that were right here on this forum, finally I gave up & called my doctor & she put me on trazodone, which I must add shut down the constant thinking I was doing at night & helped me sleep. Hang in their & keep in mind it will get better. Penelope

[macksabratt]

Thanks for the advice everyone.Yes I have tried melatonin and Valerian root,and zanex ,nyquil,unisom otc sleeping pills you name it.Nothing works.It is like the voice in my head won't stop.

[sadinmichigan]

I am sorry your not sleeping..That is certainly one bad part of this whole process..Have you tried some of the natural sleep aids..Such as melatonin..I had/have insomnia pretty bad too..I did take some Lunesta for a few days..but I just didn't like the groggy feeling that stayed with me..Try also getting some good exercise if you can..that will help many things...I agree with worried..if you can't sleep ,get up instead of being miserable..that is a horrible feeling..But it will pass..and CONGRATS on day 8

[confused456]

Wow I never heard of getting up and trying later so as not to associate bed with misery....hmmmm

[worried878]

This is not ok for everyone but i used small doses of ambien...can be abused tho...some use xanax or a benzo but they can be abused as well and are a bit more habitforming that ambien...u have to use something safe for u which could be different for u than for me...i think u said u tried valerian root and melatonin....VR works for me when i have used it..melatonin makes me feel droggy in the am..gaba works good for me....phenergan works for me as well..it is an antihistamine in reality used for nausea..helps my sinuses and makes me slepp if i take just 1/2 of one I am fine..not habitforming....cold temps makes ur metabolism slow down...also..if u are having trouble, dont toss and turn,,get up and try later so u dont associate the bed with misery