Hi Guys!
Well, my internet had been down a few days, it does that when the power flickers for some reason. I'm now running in 'safe mode' if anyone knows what that means.
I was surprised to see my topic locked! People had lots of strong responses to that topic. I'm not surprised to see that lots of people dealt with insomnia too. I appreciate all responses, and I can see both points of view. My natural response to a problem is to take a pill (no surprise there). But, I also know that that is not the best answer all the time especially for someone like me. I do tak the natural stuff like melatonin, and non-addictive things like elavil. However, I do need proper rest (as does everyone) but also to try to help heal the nerve damage in my leg. Sorry, I must get off the computer now, but I will check in again later today. Thanks again, for everyones advice. Ya'll may not agree with each other, but I feel the advice came with sincere concern from all.
Another pill isn't always the answer, but for some, they have no choice. For some, sleep may mean life or death because of depression. So I get where some are coming from, but for addicts in general, it's just our nature to reach for another pill to help us fix the mess we made with the first one. Our bodies need to heal and they can't do that with some of the meds that people here are taking. All it does is prolong the misery. Eventually you will sleep, eventually you will feel better. Time takes time.
Hi Lola;
I suffered with insomnia for years, My mo was to fall asleep easy enough, but wake up between 3:00 and 3:30 and not be able to get back to sleep. It's called sleep maintainance insomnia.
I tried all the over the counter remedies, Melitonin, Cava Cava, Antihistamines, Internet blends of various herbs, etc. etc.
Then I went to prescription meds. Dalmane, xanax, valium, ativan, ambien, halcion.
I became addicted to hydrocodone after the insomnia, and used the above meds and hydrocodone for 7 yrs. I thought I would never sleep normally without Drugs on board.
Today I am 18 months clean of all drugs and I sleep 7 to 8 hrs/ night, On the rare occasion I wake up in the middle of the night I go right back to sleep. I never slept like this before.
What worked for me, and it wasn't instant (like taking a pill), and being an addict I am all about instant gratification, is a book called
" Say Good Night To Insomnia" by Greg Jacobs, He has a web site CBTforinsomnia.com
It stands for Cognitive Behavioral Threapy for insomnia, as I said it didn't work right away, but it did give me hope I would eventually sleep....and It worked!
These days I try to exercise every day, cut caffeine out of my diet, go to bed and wake up at the same time every day...even vacations and weekends, I eat at the same time....basically I treat myself like a baby I put myself on a schedule. Oh and I do take one supliment GABA 30 minutes before I go to sleep.
Hope this helps someone
Paul
I suffered with insomnia for years, My mo was to fall asleep easy enough, but wake up between 3:00 and 3:30 and not be able to get back to sleep. It's called sleep maintainance insomnia.
I tried all the over the counter remedies, Melitonin, Cava Cava, Antihistamines, Internet blends of various herbs, etc. etc.
Then I went to prescription meds. Dalmane, xanax, valium, ativan, ambien, halcion.
I became addicted to hydrocodone after the insomnia, and used the above meds and hydrocodone for 7 yrs. I thought I would never sleep normally without Drugs on board.
Today I am 18 months clean of all drugs and I sleep 7 to 8 hrs/ night, On the rare occasion I wake up in the middle of the night I go right back to sleep. I never slept like this before.
What worked for me, and it wasn't instant (like taking a pill), and being an addict I am all about instant gratification, is a book called
" Say Good Night To Insomnia" by Greg Jacobs, He has a web site CBTforinsomnia.com
It stands for Cognitive Behavioral Threapy for insomnia, as I said it didn't work right away, but it did give me hope I would eventually sleep....and It worked!
These days I try to exercise every day, cut caffeine out of my diet, go to bed and wake up at the same time every day...even vacations and weekends, I eat at the same time....basically I treat myself like a baby I put myself on a schedule. Oh and I do take one supliment GABA 30 minutes before I go to sleep.
Hope this helps someone
Paul
That is crucial....regular bedtime hours. I go to bed at the same time and generally wake up at the same time. I have trained myself to do this as I suffered YEARS of horrible insomnia. Worrying makes it worse...Drs. had me on various drugs since I was 12...Go figure....I ended up addicted to al kinds of pills.The book sounds interesting though...practice good sleep hygiene......no exercise or caffeine before bed...regular bedtime "rituals"NO NEWS!!!! I am amazed with all my health problems I do sleep fairly well....a lot of it was developing habits.Sharonn
Paul everything you described is what I did to beat my depression. But due to a bunch of health issues my doctor put me on Seroquel. I am totally hooked on it. Its a b**** of a drug but for me it enables me to sleep. I have read where its helped many people sleep -depression etc
But it has awful side effects as well. So like any drug you pay. For me I have no choice. For Now. I take a med called Vytorin and its brought my cholesterol to 165? Thats awesome for me but hthe bad cholesterol is still there caused by the serequel and my own natural body. So i watch what i eat and am very healthy for me anyway.
Paul if I do not sleep my body gets run down and i become sick immediately. my immune system is not 100% but common sense keeps me healthy. This past year besides "pain" I went over a year now know hospitals or procedures. I have not missed one day of work --almost 9 months. That's a miracle.
Its all about sleep for me along with exercise -diet and serenity. A major issue for me with sleep was always STRESS--get rid of stress and sleep is always better.
Anyway it amazes me to read people who kick 15 pill a day habits yet smoke --eat junk drink coffee etc etc
Its kind of common sense to me and very logical. All those years we destroyed our bodies? think of the harsh living all the partying.
Well today our bodies deserve the opposite.
That's my logic.
Jeff
But it has awful side effects as well. So like any drug you pay. For me I have no choice. For Now. I take a med called Vytorin and its brought my cholesterol to 165? Thats awesome for me but hthe bad cholesterol is still there caused by the serequel and my own natural body. So i watch what i eat and am very healthy for me anyway.
Paul if I do not sleep my body gets run down and i become sick immediately. my immune system is not 100% but common sense keeps me healthy. This past year besides "pain" I went over a year now know hospitals or procedures. I have not missed one day of work --almost 9 months. That's a miracle.
Its all about sleep for me along with exercise -diet and serenity. A major issue for me with sleep was always STRESS--get rid of stress and sleep is always better.
Anyway it amazes me to read people who kick 15 pill a day habits yet smoke --eat junk drink coffee etc etc
Its kind of common sense to me and very logical. All those years we destroyed our bodies? think of the harsh living all the partying.
Well today our bodies deserve the opposite.
That's my logic.
Jeff
I agree with your last statement Jeff. Our bodies deserve a break from all things chemical....
Well I have to admit I feel a teeny bit guilty here, because.....I never ever had a legitimate reason to take the pills that I did. I have been so blessed to be healthy all these years.
I am one of the ones that smoke, eat junk and drink coffee....but I have to admit that I am also very active...I run (not lately) and like to lift weights to keep toned....I am a very active person. Part of the reason why I live where I do is that I can be outdoors most of the time doing something. I don't like the sedentary lifestyle that comes with colder climates.
I do like what some people might consider junk (pizza, cheesy breads and the occasional milkshake, I have been known to scarf down some french fries from time to time, nothing like a steamy hot salty fries) however I really believe everything good and bad in moderation.
Anything in excess is just not good...even body builders...to me that's extreme....morbidly obese people that's extreme.
I really live by this...every action, has an equal and opposite reaction.
Before becoming addicted to pain pills, I hated taking pills...I never ever took them beside Tylenol, I never had to.
Except one time in 98 I was severely depressed and gaining weight..this is not like me, I knew I had a problem so I went on Paxil for about 5 months...It was a good experience, I can't tell you how much it helped. I truly believe my brain was completely depleted of serotonin. That is why I believe that there are people that need medication. From my own experience.
I never had sleep issues or an illness that was severe enough to take meds. I feel guilty about that sometimes and perhaps one day I will pay the price for some of the things I do.
I do live a healthy life for the most part, I don't believe in self deprivation either. Everything in moderation except of course mind altering drugs purely for recreational use. As addicts we can talk ourselves into anything.
I have only ever had a real problem sleeping while detoxing off pain meds. Of course there are times when you can't sleep because of stress or worry. Those things usually cure themselves in a few days. If it were to go on weeks and weeks...then of course a medication might be needed.
I hope this makes sense...LOL...
I am one of the ones that smoke, eat junk and drink coffee....but I have to admit that I am also very active...I run (not lately) and like to lift weights to keep toned....I am a very active person. Part of the reason why I live where I do is that I can be outdoors most of the time doing something. I don't like the sedentary lifestyle that comes with colder climates.
I do like what some people might consider junk (pizza, cheesy breads and the occasional milkshake, I have been known to scarf down some french fries from time to time, nothing like a steamy hot salty fries) however I really believe everything good and bad in moderation.
Anything in excess is just not good...even body builders...to me that's extreme....morbidly obese people that's extreme.
I really live by this...every action, has an equal and opposite reaction.
Before becoming addicted to pain pills, I hated taking pills...I never ever took them beside Tylenol, I never had to.
Except one time in 98 I was severely depressed and gaining weight..this is not like me, I knew I had a problem so I went on Paxil for about 5 months...It was a good experience, I can't tell you how much it helped. I truly believe my brain was completely depleted of serotonin. That is why I believe that there are people that need medication. From my own experience.
I never had sleep issues or an illness that was severe enough to take meds. I feel guilty about that sometimes and perhaps one day I will pay the price for some of the things I do.
I do live a healthy life for the most part, I don't believe in self deprivation either. Everything in moderation except of course mind altering drugs purely for recreational use. As addicts we can talk ourselves into anything.
I have only ever had a real problem sleeping while detoxing off pain meds. Of course there are times when you can't sleep because of stress or worry. Those things usually cure themselves in a few days. If it were to go on weeks and weeks...then of course a medication might be needed.
I hope this makes sense...LOL...
Hey everyone!
Well, as I am posting this at 2:55 a.m., you can see how insomniac I am. I, too, take Paxil KeeKee. It helps with panic attacks, insomniia - not so much. The good news is that I take another non-narcatic, non-addictive drug called Elavil - the bad news is that it doesn't really work.. I'll totally look into that book you recommended, Paul. Again, my natural response is to take a pill and I know that's my addiction talking - but then again, I do need to sleep. I'm up at 3:00 a.m. watching "America's Next Top Model" that I;ve TiVoed. Now that's just sad. (I must admit to a secret addiction like the above-mentioned show, or Project Runway, Top Chef, Work-out, etc. Love that stuff, love it!! I do nothing half-way) My insomnia started at about age 11-13, somewhere around that age. I used to sleep-walk too. The idea is to use the sleep medicine for short term, the reality is that the insomnia is long term, so I do need a natural way to sleep besides a pill. I'm sick of a pill for everything - but after a few days of this waking up at 3:00 and not being able to go back to sleep, I'm desperate. I so appreciate everyone's different points of view. My goal is to one day sleep like a "normal person", hell, my goal is to one day live like a "normal person"..
Well, as I am posting this at 2:55 a.m., you can see how insomniac I am. I, too, take Paxil KeeKee. It helps with panic attacks, insomniia - not so much. The good news is that I take another non-narcatic, non-addictive drug called Elavil - the bad news is that it doesn't really work.. I'll totally look into that book you recommended, Paul. Again, my natural response is to take a pill and I know that's my addiction talking - but then again, I do need to sleep. I'm up at 3:00 a.m. watching "America's Next Top Model" that I;ve TiVoed. Now that's just sad. (I must admit to a secret addiction like the above-mentioned show, or Project Runway, Top Chef, Work-out, etc. Love that stuff, love it!! I do nothing half-way) My insomnia started at about age 11-13, somewhere around that age. I used to sleep-walk too. The idea is to use the sleep medicine for short term, the reality is that the insomnia is long term, so I do need a natural way to sleep besides a pill. I'm sick of a pill for everything - but after a few days of this waking up at 3:00 and not being able to go back to sleep, I'm desperate. I so appreciate everyone's different points of view. My goal is to one day sleep like a "normal person", hell, my goal is to one day live like a "normal person"..
