Insomnia in sobriety

[Sinister Rabbit]

I have been sober for a little over three weeks, but have not yet been able
to sleep more than 2 hours a night.

I am Dual Diagnosis, I suffer from Bipolar disorder as well as alcoholism
and lack of sleep can and has sent me hypomanic. My doctor is really worried
and I fear hospitalisation, which I can't afford, my life is getting on
track I've just started a mature access course at uni and would lose my
place if I went away for any amount of time.

How long does the insomnia tend to last - just roughly.

Any advice, links, reccommened books would be appreciated.

PS Sleeping pills don't work anymore, tried all except barbituates which
will not be prescribed if you were going to suggest them.

Regards

SR

[Mias]

Hi SR
When I stopped drinking, the last time that is, I could almost not sleep at
all for a month. Just lay on the bed stiff like a plank. Real sit-com
material. After that month I virtually slept for a month again! Just got up
to eat. Things that were different from that stop to the thousands of other
stops I had made were:
1. I was drinking very seriously before this stop. (Like a bottle of brandy
or whicky a day)
2. Was taking medication as well.
3. Was physically a wreck.
4. I knew that stop would have to be the final one.
My advice would be that you hang in there. It is worthwhile pushing through
and the rewards are tremendous. Also, try doing deep breathing and
relaxation exercises. They help.
Not drinking is *GLORIOUS*!
Kind regards
Mias
15 years clean and sober and enjoying every second of it!
"Sinister Rabbit" <sinister.rabbit@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:2s6qlqF1g9hlaU1@uni-berlin.de...
>I have been sober for a little over three weeks, but have not yet been able
> to sleep more than 2 hours a night.
>
> I am Dual Diagnosis, I suffer from Bipolar disorder as well as alcoholism
> and lack of sleep can and has sent me hypomanic. My doctor is really
> worried
> and I fear hospitalisation, which I can't afford, my life is getting on
> track I've just started a mature access course at uni and would lose my
> place if I went away for any amount of time.
>
> How long does the insomnia tend to last - just roughly.
>
> Any advice, links, reccommened books would be appreciated.
>
> PS Sleeping pills don't work anymore, tried all except barbituates which
> will not be prescribed if you were going to suggest them.
>
> Regards
>
> SR
>
>

[Dan McGown]

> How long does the insomnia tend to last - just roughly.
>
> Any advice, links, reccommened books would be appreciated.

SR,
It's like listening to leads - we are all so different at the same time
that we're all so alike. Like you and Mias I have had a sleeping disorder
after I quit drinking. Like Mias I have had recovery from it. Unlike Mias,
it didn't come suddenly or fully. I've been sober been sober for 16 months
and last month I was in here bitching about sleeplessness -- but is has
become occasional rather than everyday.
If it happens to you like Mias, then good on ye. If it happens to you
like me, then it will still be good and *way* better than drinking. For me,
I don't think that the stopping caused the sleeplessness. I think that was
already there for other reasons and the drinking mask it.
Back to you question, I didn't have any tranquilizers or other types of
drugs. For my own neurotic reasons, when I did start getting any sleep I
did so by dozing off on the couch or in a recliner or even on the floor with
a blanket. Now I can even fall asleep in a bed just like the big kids.
<grin>
It *will* get better. It will get great.
Dan

[J]

For me, the first few weeks of sobriety were a nightmare. Couldn't sleep,
couldn't eat and had low energy levels. But things do get better, now I
sleep like a log.

--
J



Sinister Rabbit wrote:
> I have been sober for a little over three weeks, but have not yet
> been able to sleep more than 2 hours a night.
>
> I am Dual Diagnosis, I suffer from Bipolar disorder as well as
> alcoholism and lack of sleep can and has sent me hypomanic. My doctor
> is really worried and I fear hospitalisation, which I can't afford,
> my life is getting on track I've just started a mature access course
> at uni and would lose my place if I went away for any amount of time.
>
> How long does the insomnia tend to last - just roughly.
>
> Any advice, links, reccommened books would be appreciated.
>
> PS Sleeping pills don't work anymore, tried all except barbituates
> which will not be prescribed if you were going to suggest them.
>
> Regards
>
> SR

[Ian Murray]

SR, are you taking Lithium, or any anti-psychotic meds? I only know a
little about bipolar disorder, as I have a friend with this condition, but
she takes Lithium ongoing, and anti-psychotics when a manic state is coming.
Sleeping only 2 hours per night sounds like you might be manic, doesn't it?
Do you have a good doctor or psychiatrist? All the best.
Ian

"Sinister Rabbit" <sinister.rabbit@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:2s6qlqF1g9hlaU1@uni-berlin.de...
> I have been sober for a little over three weeks, but have not yet been
able
> to sleep more than 2 hours a night.
>
> I am Dual Diagnosis, I suffer from Bipolar disorder as well as alcoholism
> and lack of sleep can and has sent me hypomanic. My doctor is really
worried
> and I fear hospitalisation, which I can't afford, my life is getting on
> track I've just started a mature access course at uni and would lose my
> place if I went away for any amount of time.
>
> How long does the insomnia tend to last - just roughly.
>
> Any advice, links, reccommened books would be appreciated.
>
> PS Sleeping pills don't work anymore, tried all except barbituates which
> will not be prescribed if you were going to suggest them.
>
> Regards
>
> SR
>
>

[anon]

On Sat, 2 Oct 2004 05:55:07 +0100, Sinister Rabbit <sinister.rabbit@btinternet.com> wrote:
> I have been sober for a little over three weeks, but have not yet been able
> to sleep more than 2 hours a night.
>
> I am Dual Diagnosis, I suffer from Bipolar disorder as well as alcoholism
> and lack of sleep can and has sent me hypomanic. My doctor is really worried
> and I fear hospitalisation, which I can't afford, my life is getting on
> track I've just started a mature access course at uni and would lose my
> place if I went away for any amount of time.
>
> How long does the insomnia tend to last - just roughly.
>
> Any advice, links, reccommened books would be appreciated.
>
> PS Sleeping pills don't work anymore, tried all except barbituates which
> will not be prescribed if you were going to suggest them.
>
> Regards
>
> SR

The trick to beating insomnia is to just go with the flow. If your body
refuses to go to sleep at night, don't even waste your time trying to
fight it. Instead, employ those quiet, calm nocturnal hours in some
enjoyable/productive endeavour, and schedule time during the day to
catch up on your sleep, which shouldn't be too hard, unless you're
working 16-hour shifts or something. Eventually your body clock will
re-adjust itself.