Anyone else can't sleep without alcohol?

[SaltyNuts]

I've been boozing hard every night for the past few months. Passed buzzed, into wasted territory. Time to quit so I don't kill myself. But now I can't even sleep without massive amounts of booze. Even 3 benedryhl don't help - I'll just lie there unable to sleep until I get back up and get enough booze.

Any ideas on how to overcome this?

Thanks.

 

[vi edit]

"Sleep" after heavy amounts of alcohol isn't even really sleep. Your heart rate is through the roof and your body is working overtime to metabolize the booze. Your eyes may be closed and your brain seems shut down, but you body is hard at work trying get that stuff out of your body.

Check in your PCP and see if there are more appropriate solutions. Stress management, more healthy solutions (warm milk, tea, kefir, ect) and failing that prescription medications such as ambien or lunesta that are sleep aids for people with chronic insomnia.

 

[nakedfrog]

It will take time to get used to it. You may need to work into a pre-sleep routine, dimmed lights, not looking at screens for an hour before bed, etc.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I sleep better without alcohol.

 

[highland145]

I sleep better without alcohol.

Same. Damned cooler and 12 pack take up too much room in the bed. Should have gotten the king.

 

[IronWing]

Check in your PCP and see if there are more appropriate solutions.

Whatever his problem is with alcohol, PCP is never the answer!

 

[highland145]

Whatever his problem is with alcohol, PCP is never the answer!

I'd like him to test that theory.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Melatonin might help to bring about the onset of drowsiness, however, really you need to talk to a doctor since melatonin also can contribute to depressive symptoms, and if you're having a hard time suffering form alcohol withdrawal, you might already be in a bit of a dark place.
If you cant afford a doctor, at least talk to a pharmacist to make sure whatever you might want to take won't have weird interactions.

 

[nakedfrog]

Whatever his problem is with alcohol, PCP is never the answer!

vi was the one recommending PCP, not me

 

[PricklyPete]

I'm the opposite...anything more than a single beer (6.5%) disrupts my sleep.

 

[IronWing]

vi was the one recommending PCP, not me

How did that happen? User error would be an unpossibility! fixed

 

[highland145]

I'm the opposite...anything more than a single beer (6.5%) disrupts my sleep.

That's the problem...a single beer.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Exercise before bed, then take a hot shower and jerk off.
No caffeine after lunch.
No LCD screens for 30 minutes before bed.

 

[PricklyPete]

That's the problem...a single beer.

I didn't say I stopped there...I'm just aware. First step right?

 

[Darwin333]

Talk to your doctor and have him prescribe you a valium taper. Generally you start with 2mg and taper down to 1 or even a half mg over a week or so. It will help you sleep and keep other withdrawal symptoms at bay. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be pretty severe, including little things like seizures and death so be careful bud.

 

[Humpy]

So in summary, the solution is either different drugs, more drugs, or fewer drugs.

 

[cbrunny]

AA meeting might help. Both because you`re clearly a raging alcoholic and because it will likely be boring enough for you that you`ll fall asleep there.

 

[MrSquished]

I use alcohol to help me sleep. I have severe insomnia. I tried melatonin and it didn't do anything. I currently take 3mg Lunesta along with another pill that makes me groggy, but I have tried taking just those two alone and I stare at the ceiling in bed. So I add 2-3 stiff drinks to the mix. Not getting wasted like the OP, just buzzed.

Alcohol is good at getting you to sleep, but you don't get the best quality sleep. But by the time the alcohol has gotten me to sleep the other drugs are kicking in and my sleep is pretty good. Oh I also tried working out everyday for like 3 weeks and that didn't help either with sleeping.

Sounds like you are drinking more than me though, so that could be problematic. Watch out for the shakes if you quit cold turkey, or else you might have to taper off your drinking over a week-long period. Read up and be careful.

 

[Mayne]

keep a waste basket beside your bed so when you wake up in the middle of the night you can pee into it without having to get up and go to the washroom...the lights from a bathroom will trigger you to stay awake. I have more life hacks if you need them.

 

[highland145]

lol Mayne, life hacks, your next thread topic.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Probably not serious, but if so ....... my recommendation is to start going to the gym. Drain yourself. You'll sleep like a rock.

If trolls exist, see: Mayne's post.

 

[zinfamous]

you were never actually sleeping after that drinking, it was just...

ah fuck you made this shit up. why bother.

 

[Stopsignhank]

Why don't you start taking an anesthetic administered by your own personal physician to sleep. I hear Propofol is good.

 

[highland145]

Why don't you start taking an anesthetic administered by your own personal physician to sleep. I hear Propofol is good.

The downside is we'll have to put up with him singing Thriller.

 

[Stopsignhank]

The downside is we'll have to put up with him singing Thriller.

Not for long.