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Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums -> Alcoholics Anonymous -> Alcoholics Anonymous -> Importance of sleep
Post Info TOPIC: Importance of sleep
vinrouge


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Importance of sleep
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Hi all

For a long time I have realised I do not sleep like other people. I have noticed many effects, some powerful and some subtle, that alcohol has on my sleep. I am looking for somewhere I can discuss this. I am only interested in discussing it with other people who know what it is to be a habitual heavy drinker, at levels above those you can divulge to the "normal" people around you. I am not interested in discussing it with people who do not know what it is to be accustomed to secretly consuming four times as much as other people on a "social" night. I just came across this forum so apologies if I have not been through the posts yet.

Your friend

Gareth

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Doll


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Hi Gareth....Welcome to MIP.....As a recovering alcoholic I have learned that SLEEP was non-existent. For me, it was a matter of passing out and coming to!

I've been told by a GP it will take a very, very long time for my body to undo what the alcohol has done because we (alcoholics, heavy drinkers) develop a tolerance to the sedative effects of alcohol.



So, I'd say if you're a "habitual heavy drinker" actual sleep is nonexistent for you also.... you have developed that tolerance.

Jen

http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/health/a/blacer030816.htm

http://clk.about.com/?zi=18/1AR&sdn=alcoholism&cdn=health&tm=26&gps=212_23_869_562&f=21&su=p726.2.152.ip_p284.8.150.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//alcoholism.about.com/od/cure/a/blwf041027.htm

-- Edited by Doll at 06:04, 2008-01-22

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Tuggboat


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Your at the right place. Yes it affected my sleep too. Sometimes I slept too much and other times not enough and other times I would wake up when I wanted to sleep. What kind of effects are you experiencing?

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Quetzal


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Hi Gareth,

Welcome to MIP.

When I was drinking, I would always claim that I needed eight or nine hours sleep every night. Even then, I was usually pretty tired. When I stopped drinking, after several months, I discovered that I only needed six or seven hours sleep and that I was fine on that. I realized that I hadn't been sleeping, but more falling unconscious. I wonder what sorts of effects you have been experiencing. Please keep posting, won't you?

Take care,

Carol

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jonijoni


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Hi Gareth. Welcome to the forum!


I experienced horrendous nights while drinking heavily for many years. At one point, I would pass out drunk, then "come-to" in bed, in the middle of the night feeling awful, and drink myself back to "sleep" (if you really want to call it sleep... it was more like an alcoholic coma). Even nights where I could get a reprieve from being trashed, and "sleep" for 10-12 hours, I still woke up not feeling rested at all. I think alcohol does a real number on our sleep center, and totally screws up our body's rhythms.

I am very fortunate that now, when I go to sleep, it is a peaceful and restful, comfortable slumber, and I don't have to worry about how crappy and tired I am going to feel the next day. But my body has had to adjust a lot without alcohol to get to this point. My brain has also had to adjust, and all those nightly worries and panics and fears shut OFF, thanks to AA.

Thank you for posting this great topic, and I hope to hear more from you.

Joni


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Sobrietyspell


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Thanks for joining us, Gareth. Welcome to MIP. I've always had a strange relationship with sleep too. I was an insomniac before my drinking so I haven't really managed to notice a pattern. Any pattern! I know that when I was drinking it wasn't really even sleep that I got. My body couldn't have that repairing sleep that we're supposed to have when we go to bed. It was like being knocked out & then coming to & sooner than I wanted to at times too & then I'd be tired for the rest of the day. Sometimes I was so tired I had to have catnaps regularly like in work pretending to go to the toilet just so I could rest my head on the lid for 10mins. I didn't know it was because my body was trying to recover from alcohol all the time. I work nights now & have been sober for 15mths so it's still hard for me to tell if I'm sleeping properly but it's different today than it used to be. Whatever sleep I manage to get seems to be just about enough these days so that must mean the quality is much better! No more sleeping on the toilet! Wish I hadn't remembered that one lol I used to get extra shots at the bar too so I could get more hammered. I don't have that fear & nervousness today & I don't try to hide from my feelings any more. A.A. has helped me to lift my head & face my fears in reality. I don't have to escape today & I've learned the value of 1Day. Alot is achievable with the gradual succession of days & A.A. has taught me patience to cope with that too. Forgive me if I've ended up getting a bit grateful in my reply & missed anything you would have preferred to hear ;) Thanks for being here! Danielle x

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lani


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Hi Gareth:
Welcome! Its good to see you around. I too am feeling tired alot after three months sobriety but have to agree with everyone here. My sleep is soo different now. My mind and thoughts are sharper and I feel rested after I sleep. Crazy dreams creepin up once in a while but I think when I was drinking, I couldnt remember my dreams at all....Or, the dreams I thought I had were really all the awful things I probably did when blacked out! (oh god, like danielle, thanks for the reminder!!!!hee)

I work nights too and my sleep is better than it used to be when drinking. Before I would slam a few beers, jump on a raft and fall asleep in the pool. Rested? Probably not! Lucky I didnt drowned!!!!
Best of luck! Lani

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Tuggboat


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I had a thought that i wasn't dreaming at all but when I got sober My mind had to catch up.. 6 months to two years they told me. It won't kill ya :) Don't drink and keep coming back. It'll get better.

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eastcoastscott


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Hi folks,

I too have a bad time with sleep, getting enough, waking up too early etc. My doctor prescribed me 2 different drugs at 2 different times to try. First is called Trazodone, I found it left a groggy feeling the next morning which I hated. Second is called Imovane (zopiclone) which is my favorite. It lets me get a great night sleep with one 7.5 mg pill. Both meds by the way are non habit forming, so they claim. Of course I hate the idea of taking anything but since I don't require it more than 2-3 times per week, I'm ok with that.

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lani


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I always hear, "you can sleep when you die!!"

My husbands famous words!!!!! Dont hear it as often now that he works nights!!!!

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"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. "
Lee


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Hello all.

Sleep? I have almost forgotten what that word means. On a good night I might sleep 6 hours. I haven't really discussed this problem with my sponsor or with our group because I thought it was just another part of my withdrawal symptoms from alcohol and would pass. The shakes did! But I am starting to get a little worried. I thought I would be over the withdrawals by now. Maybe I'm not. Its only been a couple of months since I drank myself to oblivion each night.

I have terrible headaches as well and when I do drift off to sleep I have some of the weirdest dreams. They really aren't nightmares. Just weird.



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lani


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Hey Lee:
Your not odd....I think someone told me on here in the beginning the headaches are from not having all the sugar from alcohol in our bodies....Try eating some candy or sweets of some sort for that! (Then you can join overeaters anonymous with the rest of us!)

My dreams are pretty bizarre too but its probably because were actually getting to the "rem" stage of sleep and our bodies are truly at rest, rather than having our brains numbed by the booze!!
Its supposed to be healthy to dream...We dump a little subconscious junk out???!!!!!

So, back to sleep for this girl to dream about being a waitress again, having everyone yell at me because Im so behind and cant get to their table, forgetting what they ordered and running around with my head cut off! Soooo relaxing! haha
Lani

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"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. "
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