Anyone here that can lend their experience(s) on when, upon deciding to sober up, how long it took you to find atleast somewhat normal sleep patterns?
In short, I was the pint a night guy for roughly four years. I sobered up--not to mention three days of very uncomfortable physical symptoms--but sleep is bound to take much longer to re-attain.
It seems my brain has forgotten how to sleep because I saturated it with alcohol for so long. When I do fall asleep I suddenly awake startled. This goes on every few moments and maybe about 6:30am I sleep for 1 to 3 hours.
Furthermore, I am very interested in any literature/studies, etc. that teach how alcohol effects the brain and how the brain heals over the years once sobriety is maintained.
I think it varies, but I do know that I myself suffered from some slepp-deprivation-induced-dimentia. My dreams were all out of whack, if there at all... no REM sleep for some time. Keeping in mind that I was also hopelessly addicted to a stimulant, and I would not sleep for days on end. But in my drinking-only days, I did not sleep well either. I too am interested in seeing if anyone can find any studies to post here.
What I do know is that it took a lot LESS time for me to sleep well when I finally decided to start working some of the 12 steps. There is a part in our Big Book which mentions that when we focus on spiritual healing, "We straighten out mentally and physically". It's not the other way around, and certainly wasn't for me!!
Again, good topic and I too look forward to hearing more views on this.
When I stopped drinking my sleep pattern was a complete mess for about two weeks. I guessed that it was because I had drank until I was almost unconscious night after night and compared it to coming off sleeping tablets. But, in the end my sleep pattern did return to normal. And, I know that the sleep I am getting now is vastly better quality sleep, too.
I have found this page on alcohol and its effect on sleep patterns.
I found the articles you shared with us to be very interesting and frightening!! Explains a lot of challenges I had during treatment with staying awake for a full day of classes.
My sponsor had learned of a treatment center here, I believe in Chicago (?) where the entire first 30 days is devoted to encouraging sleep and modifying nutrition to promote sleep. These patients do not take strenuous exercise or attend many classes the first 30 days; this first month is almost entirely devoted to rest. Then in subsequent months, psychological therapy and 12 step programs are intorduced, slowly increasing the period of wakeful activity. When I had heard about this, I thought it a wonderful idea, as the treatment I went through consisted of rigorour classes, from 5 am til bedtime, with an outside meeting wedged in there too. All of the residents complained (sometimes desparately) of total exhaustion; they had to get 'permission' to take a nap and were often denied.
later on, I went to work for this treatment center as a residential supervisor. I discovered that STATE FUNDING was the cause for thios rigorous itinerary. The more classes the center incorporated, i.e. parenting, anger management, etc..., the more MONEY the center received in State funding every year. I found that to be so unfair; that a center and its professionals did not have the resources or the ability to tailor their own program; that somehow what the State thought was good for people had to win out due to financial concerns.... ahhh, politics.... that is another rant for another day, though!!
hmmm.....Well....I know I get more sleep...If Im alone in the same bed....and over the past year...that hasnt changed any..:)
After 7850 days dry....I average about 5 hours of good sleep per night.......the rest is interfered with...re: nightmares...voices in ones head...things that go "Boo" in the night...washroom breaks are more frequent...(the over 40 syndrome)....Used to wake up at all hours with that "Impending doom" stuff...and "fear"...its pretty well gone now...
Used to ride a lot of trains..during the night, also...but things have slowed down..quite a bit..
Some nights I start the day...before the day gets started...:)
I usually wake up at noon...just in time for an afternoon nap....zzzzzzzz
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"LOVE" devoid of self-gratification, is in essence, the will, to the greatest good...of another.
