Question About Sleep

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2006
Question About Sleep
14
Thu, 03-23-2006 - 2:18am

One of the main reasons I continue to drink is due to difficulty in sleeping. I can't fall asleep naturally anymore. I toss, turn, my heart races, my mind goes to scarey places. I've taken over-the-counter sleep aids, but they're not always effective, and seem to take forever to kick in. I never used to have this problem, so I'm sure the alcohol is the primary factor. I wasn't going to drink tonight (had no desire to actually), then it got later into the night, and I knew I was either going to have to take a sleeping pill (not really effective), or have a few drinks and tire myself. It's now 2 AM. I'm still nursing a drink, and don't feel the least bit intoxicated or tired (because I started late I guess). Can someone please tell me what this is all about? Whenever I'm up late like this, I usually nap with my baby in the daytime (oldest child has spring-break this week, so I don't have to get up early in the morning). I'm just kind of scared now, because I really didn't want to drink tonight, and I'm starting to feel trapped in this cycle.

Thanks!

PS. Also wanted to mention the "jolting awake" I've been noticing I do whenever I sleep sober (naps or at night). I'll just "jolt" (heart pounding as if someone shot off a gun). That also never used to happen to me.

Jen

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2004
Thu, 03-23-2006 - 4:31am

Alcohol is a depressant, but actually interrupts the sleep cycle. Long term use of alcohol, and contrarily, stopping abuse of alcohol does cause sleep problems. IF you do not pick up again, it does go away..but it takes a while. Instead of self-medicating, you might want to come clean to a DR and get their advice.


BETH





Pediatric Stroke, even kids get them


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2004
Thu, 03-23-2006 - 6:28am
One of the main reasons I used to drink every nite was to be able to sleep. I would drink hard and sleep like the dead (ok, passout...) when I stopped doing that, I had to RELEARN how to sleep sober. It took a little while. I still ended up feeling better after a nite of nonsleep, then I did waking up with the "aftereffects" of drinking. It took a while though for my body to adjust. Because I still drink on the weekends I still find that come sunday nite when I'm not drinking, sleep is a little slow in coming, but by Monday nite I am back to sleeping well. But I honestly didnt think that I would ever sleep without drinking. I was afraid to try. Once I got into the swing of it, my body adjusted. I feel more rested even when I am sleeping crappy then I do after passing out for the nite. It took a while though, it was relearning it. Now it is more of a habit. I opened a drink last nite, and drank about half of it, and all I kept thinking was how crappy I'd feel getting up today if I got typsy last nite. So I switched back to soda. Sometimes I DO miss sleeping the "dead sleep" but reoccuring, disturbing dreams I used to have are gone, and my mornings are so much better.
I honestly did not think I would ever find sober sleep again, and now on work days I prefer it. If I can make a turn around like that... well... anyone can!
chaos

Chaoslover

Sometimes you fake it, till you can make it.

Avatar for lucky30605
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 03-23-2006 - 7:44am

My sleep problems went away when I stopped getting drunk. I moderate now and try to not have alcohol after 9pm. That way it's metabolized before I go to sleep.

I always slept great until I had my son. He's 8yo. My MIL told me she always slept great until the birth of her first son. I wonder if nature makes us sleep lighter so we can come to our children's rescue if they need us.

I, too, had scarey thoughts at night and most of them went away once I stopped getting drunk. I don't know how it worked because the scarey thoughts would come first so THEN I would drink. If I have scarey thoughts now I try to talk to my dh or write them down. Sometimes I watch Animal Planet until 2am. But like Chaos said, even the crappy sober sleep is better than the dead drunk sleep.

Definetely talk to your doctor. Now that my doctor knows about my drinking, he can give the appropriate meds if I need them.

Lucky

Avatar for carol777
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 03-23-2006 - 10:52am

See if this helps Jen,,,

Sleep Link

http://www.well.com/user/mick/insomnia/Sleep Link

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2004
Fri, 03-24-2006 - 6:01pm
Oh yeah, alcohol interupts sleep patterns. Don't forget, it is a drug. It is a stimulant first, then it becomes a depressant. Disrupts all your normal functioning of your body. I use to have TERRIBLE nightmares when I drank. They were gross too. Now, I am good!




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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-17-2001
Fri, 03-24-2006 - 7:28pm

HI Jen,

Jen your asking medical questions to lay persons. Visit your Dr. I hope your not taking some of those sleep aids that are causing heart problems that have been reported. Mixing alcohol with other sedatives is dangerous. Be honest with your Dr. Tell him about your alcohol abuse and that you want to quit (if you do). If your sleep disorder continues visit a sleep disorder clinic, your Dr. should be able to refer you if there is one in your area. If you quit drinking you may notice a little difficulty in getting to sleep at first but that will clear. Do you live sedentary life? Exercise will help. Simply walking will help.

Regards,

Paul

Castaway


A Friend in Recovery


Paul

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Fri, 03-24-2006 - 8:40pm

Hi Jen - Boy, do I know what that feels like. When I was still drinking, it happened to me all the time.

Your body may be craving alcohol. In order for this to stop, you may have to wait it out, without drinking, and go for a few sleepless nights for a while. I know with children that it is hard, but it would most likely be temporary. It takes a while for your body to adjust to not having alcohol... The "jolt" you described may be part of withdrawal when you are not drinking.

Hope this helped a little,
Leslie

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Fri, 03-24-2006 - 8:46pm
Jen - I have to agree with Paul, and should have written something similar in my other post to you. I think it is very important to see your doctor, and be honest about what is happening to you. I don't recommend sleep aides of any sort, until you have the alcohol thing figured out. If the doctor offers you a prescription for sleeping, do be very careful - even the best-intentioned doctors can create a situtation where you will not only be having alcohol problems, but you may become addicted to sleep aides as well. I have seen that happen to many people. I think the heart of this is stopping the alcohol and let sleep improve naturally. But, in all of this, your physician is the best person to talk to.
Leslie
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2006
Sat, 03-25-2006 - 12:40pm
Have you ever been diagnosed for depression, because alot of alcoholics are depressed and they use alcohol instead of Meds, I would think about that, also you sound like you have anxiety., which is probably why you have trouble sleeping. I've been there myself, try counseling if you can and put down the drinks, they only make matters worse. I am here for you anytime.......
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2006
Mon, 03-27-2006 - 12:54am

Okay, I'm going to answer a bunch of questions here (I hope). Starting with "barefootbev", No I've never been diagnosed for depression. I'm 33, and the last time I talked to a professional was when I was 16. I've never been prescribed medication for anything. (2) I never have taken prescription sleep-aid (antidepresant, etc.) while drinking. (3) I'm a little bit scared to mention this to my ObGyn. I'm not ready to be sent off to rehab, so I fail to see how telling her about my drinking would help. (4) No, I would not in all conciousness ask my dr. to presribe any medication that I would take along side drinking. I'm not trying to die here. I really, honenestly want to live. I love my kids so much. I respect and care for my husband, but I'm not so sure I still love him (maybe I would feel differently if I was sober).

I will say that I went to sleep last night with very little alcohol. I did deep breathing, letting my mind go to other places. It failed about 4 times (that I remember), then I was asleep. I woke up feeling so good today. Tonight, I'm suffering high-anxiety, and I know the outcome if I don't draw the line, but I find myself often doing what "my body thinks it wants to do".

I'm hopeless. I'm so sad and scared all the time. I don't know how to even start to over-come that. Yes, I should stop drinking. I know that. I feel that every single day. What I will have to deal with in the aftermath seems scarier than what I'm going through right now. I hear so many people at the "bottom" that are immediately telling their spouses what is going on, and I'm not even close to that that kind of truth.

Jen

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