Many of you will say that you need a drink in order to sleep, that alcohol actually helps you sleep better. While it may be true that drinking will get you off to sleep quicker, unfortunately the quality of your sleep will be much worse overall.
Alcohol inhibits the brain from entering REM stage sleep, which is when we do most of our dreaming, and prolongs the initial stage of deeper sleep. So when you wake up, you will probably not have dreamt enough - and dreaming is an essential component of sleeping. That or you wake up early once the alcohol has worn off.
Alcohol also inhibits your kidneys from absorbing water, so you tend to urinate more, and end up dehydrated. This further disrupts the quality of your sleep, and often produces a headache by morning. As such you end up feeling tired and unable to concentrate for the rest of the day. If you drink every evening, then you may be chronically sleep deprived, even though you might sleep all night, the quality of your sleep is not what it should be.
Making the transition to drinking less is often marked by a difficulty in falling asleep however, so you’ll have to readjust to dropping off naturally again. Getting regular, strenuous exercise is a good idea then - if you’re physically tired you’re much more likely to be able to sleep without needing your usual ‘knock-out drops’.
Hey CDN in USA,
I couldn’t understand where youre coming from more and this article was an interesting read. Right now, I’m lying here unable to sleep actually too scared to
sleep because I’m having almost a night terror’s thing going on right now that happens when I drink too much for too long, 7 days in my case.. I am tired but
am scared to go to sleep because of these stupid nightmares.
One day at a time is right…. God its hard messing up sometimes, I missed work (both jobs), a family dinner and workout dates 🙁 That’s not helping me sleep.
Too bad there’s not a online site to talk to someone at times like these.
One day at a time….
But there is - check out the members forum on this very website for some support.
So… for someone like me, looking to reduce REM sleep and increase deep sleep, alcohol would actually be perfect then?
I’d always avoided having a nightcap because “it makes you sleep worse”, but worse for me is too little deep and too much REM. My top score for deep sleep in over a year was 67 mins of 9 hrs asleep (not counting time awake during night) and the average among the rest of the population is 86 mins, whereas I’ll easily get enough REM even if I’m only asleep for 6 hours.
And I’m already on anti-depressants which suppresses REM (as nearly all do) by ~30% and a gaba analogue, the starting dose of which increased my deep sleep by 9 mins/night average (again, 30%).
Your forum has been a help to someone I know and to myself in learning how to deal with these situations, so I return the favor from some personal experience and observations regarding sleep. As I got older, I had trouble staying asleep. I could get to sleep really well, but then would wake up a few hours later and never get back to sleep. If I tried drinking say even a little wine before I went to bed, that just made the situation worse.
The life saving thing that someone had me try was WalMart Equate brand Allergy Relief capsules. This is generic Benadryl or Diphenhydramine 25 mg. Only the capsules work. The tablets are worthless. Of course you must not drink or limit drinking as much as possible when taking these or the medication is released too quickly into your system. But do keep a glass of water by the bed as you will get thirsty. A cup with a sealed lid and a straw is handy as you may eventually knock it over once a year or so. The cost here in the US is cheap, $4/100 capsules.
All the other popular sleep aids did not work for me. Do your own experimentation if needed.
When I wake up in the morning, I perform 10 to 15 minutes on an exercise bicycle set to moderate resistance in order to wake up and get fresh blood to my brain. I exercise at least enough to get a slightly damp sweat to my skin. The exercise bike has a heart monitor and my heart rate improved quite well after just a few weeks of usage. My health and clarity of thought are now vastly improved. I cannot stress too much the importance of light morning exercise and healthy eating habits for breakfast and during the day. Avoid packaged meats and fast foods. Make your own lunch and bag them if needed. Put in extra snacks for during the day even if you make them yourself which is certainly the most healthy and least expensive way.
A mistake some people make who are desperate for sleep is that they will start out with too high of a dose, say three capsules (1-2 capsules is the adult dose), with some alcohol significantly still in their system, and then to make matters worse not exercise in the morning when they wake up. From observation, that ends in disaster as they are tired the whole day and they swear not to try it again. Avoid that mistake. Start small, avoid alcohol as much as possible, be ready in the morning to force some exercise and include a healthy breakfast. Personally, I avoid coffee, but that may be for my own health and brain issues. I do drink fresh brewed iced tea. (I can hear the moans from across the pond;-)
Over time, your body will build a resistance to the medication such that you will have to increase the dose to perhaps two tablets or three on a high stress day. At some point, say once per year, you will need to take a “vacation” from your medication for a few weeks to get the medication out of your system and to allow your body to regain its sensitivity to the medication. This is okay and by that point your life will be in better shape to deal with a little less sleep. Indeed you may find that your sleep habits have moderately improved and that you are not dependent upon the sleep aid though it still is useful.
This saved my life. After years of poor sleep I finally got back to normal. This is just a method of compensation for older age and changes in brain chemistry. Apply reasonable discipline and rational thought in its usage.
When I first stopped drinking, trying to get to sleep was hell. I would just lie there and stare at the ceiling. Usually I would get up and watch TV (probably not a good idea) until I fell asleep, usually hours later. But stick with it- eventually it changes and you will start to fall asleep quicker. Exercise helps.
The biggest change I realized after I stopped drinking was the dreaming. I simply didn’t have dreams when I drank (or at least didn’t remember them). Every night now I dream the way I used to dream when I was younger. And from what I understand, that is a good thing. Stick with it!
And I will add for good measure alcohol wrecks your central nervous system, lans you in court with all measure of indictments, causes one to feel the utterly most wretched , seizures, (had a series of them last year) prison, violent and horrific hallucinations and onto this page…….. and that ma gorff comment was real was funny a must read……
Jack basically nails the whole shebang; he sounds like he might be an ex-con and I don’t wish to be derogatory….. Many jailbirds are dyslexic and come across with the plain truth ( perhaps a lesson at a drug abuse clinic requesting that you write down in you’re own words what you think about drink….It’s good and we need reminding….
You guys are all great! I too, years and years of boozin. So now i quit and cant sleep. I’m going to tough it out, I hope. Had a coffee at 11 am, so that cant be it. Had meatloaf for supper, that used to always make me sleepy. It’s 2am and I’m wide awake as hell. I lie in bed just thinking of everything. I got laid off from my job and that’s fryin my brain cells. So I get up late tomorrow to look for work to be able to get some sleep. I’ll let you all know if it gets better. This is my forth night like this. My family is supportive and that’s what will keep me going. One day at a time, right.
Hope by now you’re getting a good night’s sleep. I used to fall asleep so easily when I had “a few” before bedtime. Everything in this article is so true though, about using alcohol to sleep and then it just interferes with getting proper rest. I don’t know what to suggest, if you’re still having trouble. You just have to find something that helps you relax enough to get sleepy. I found some chanting music I like and I play that over and over. I drink hot milk. I don’t even try to go to bed early. The evenings are long when I’m not drinking, so I’m trying to work out hard at the gym so I can be more exhausted. I do feel better though and tend to stay asleep all night now.
Thanks for the comments and went online to check if having sleeping problems after stopping drinking is a problem. Well it sure is! I have been drinking every night for several years and just stopped to clear my body. Its hard to sleep and get to sleep and have terrible nightmares and bad sleeping patterns are normal. I’m sure I will get better but is nice to know that I am normal with the similar issues. I also didn’t realize the anxiety issues that arise. I have been taking Xanex to offset the issue, but it hasn’t helped as much as I thought it would.
Is good to see that am not alone in this struggle against drink , have been drinking for The last 20 years and had my fair part of problems . Many sleepless nights and some very horrible dreams which looks like The making of horror movies am now even sacred of sleeping in The same bed with my wife . Afraid that in some of those murderous dreams I may harm her
I woke up with horrible tremors and of course threw up once. Missed not seeing my wonderful boyfriend tonight because I felt horrible. Didn’t drink tonight. I just discovered this site tonight and loving it!
As for sleep I’ve had an issue with chronic insomnia for almost two years now, drink or no drink. I know it’s the guilt and all other feelings associated with my drinking which causes the sleeping issues. But when I’m dry I start to feel better and sleep more… And just better quality. But I have to remain sober. This site has given me new hope
Good that I stumbled upon this site and share my experience.
I am from Kenya, been drinking really **cheap** liquor(as expected from these economically challenged countries) for the last 14 yeas- on daily basis.
Just yesterday, I decided to clean up my act and today, I tried to sleep…….but the nightmares, the sweats, the shakes and, worst of all, the very vivid and nasty- and I mean nasty- dreams were too much. I could have sworn I saw a really horrible looking cannibal with really nauseous wounds/lips kissing me. I’ve had also my really ‘enviable’ share of hallucinations, too- two cops were apparently trying to detonate a bomb under my bed. .
I guess this isn’t worth it…..if a survive today(though I am TERRIBLY fearing DT) , I can survive tomorrow and so on.
All the best everyone,
Hey Leeann
I have only just come onto this forum and I sound just like you! Hope the doctors went well and that you told the truth. I think we all need to start admiting to ourselves, and then to others around that there is a problem.
My son is being assessed for Autism on Friday and I really cant say I drank because of his issues.
I have always drunk. I remember being incredibly proud for not getting drunk on my wedding day! Pathetic!
Wine every night is my thing too. Mummy’s sleep juice as my kids call it. How bad is that. Then I wake around 3am on the sofa after a drink induced coma. My husband will have just taken himself off to bed alone. He never complains about my drinking. I end up going on websites I would rather not and saying things I shouldnt.
I know I have lots of issues to resolve and still cant decide whether I should remain married, he has cheated in more ways then one and I think that that may have a small effect on my drinking.
Anyways, good luck to all.
I have literally just found this site and i must say it’s amazing. I thought i was alone but obviously not. I have drunk for years (anything up to 12 pints of lager per day, everyday. Embarrassing eh! especially for a female), just to blot everything out and that dreaded word sleep!!! I thought i was the only person who suffered with the hallucinations, vivid nightmares, I even watched my 6 year old son die in one of them. But as the rest of you, we drink to sleep with no effect after a while, a couple of hours here and there. I have managed to ruin my Job, marriage and my son thinks i own the ‘Fosters’ Lorries. Not good, Despite many requests and begging from my relatives I couldnt stop because I was too scared to go to sleep, but also to tired to sleep if that makes sense. Now I have decided that I have to do something about this, I want too before its too late. But the one thing that I am really scared of is that in the back of my mind, i read an article a few years ago about a women whom had always drunk, gave up and died 4 days later, sounds really stupid. I have just found this site and now know i am not alone and going to tackle this head on………….. so I would just like to say thank you, I can do this as some of you have, there is hope for us all.
I have been drinking 2 bottles of wine a night. It started with stress over my son who has autism, he was very young and I didn’t know what to do. I recently had a social worker out to the house about my son and I stupidly admitted to drinking to get to sleep,. The social worker spoke to my Doctor and to my childs school teacher, I am mortified. I now have to see my Doctor on Monday and I don’t know if I should deny drinking so much or come clean. Any advice ?
Thought id share my story in case it rings any bells and helps at all. I have drank every nite for 10 years, and I mean every nite. At worst after a close bereavement I was at 20 units per night, I cut this back to 10 units and finally decided to ‘dry out’. I know from stag weekend benders the sweats, feeling of fling as you drop off to sleep and walking round the house thinking your gonna die stuff, the drinking must be easier than stopping etc. I prepped for night 1 by busy day, get myself tired and warnedy other half what to expect. I bought a bottle which she had, and hid in case it got too bad, and I watched films all nite till 5 am when I finally dropped off. Nite 2 was as bad, I did ask for the wine, but was told you can do 1 nite you can do another. By nite 3 I knew that whilst physically I was still feeling it, mentally I had won! I got the bottle and put it on the kitchen side, to some this may be torture, but to me it was looking my demon in the face and sticking 2 fingers up to it! The sleep settled down after a week, and now 5weeks on I havnt touched a drop, I have also rewarded myself by rewarding myself with a cheap project car for the garage from my savings.
If I can pass on any advice it would be as follows.
1- admit it’s a problem and want to beat it
2- cut down to an amount that will be less painful to come off
3- plan for nite 1, no work following day etc
4- get support from family or friends
5- accept nite1 won’t be easy, but the following will get easier.
6- work out your monthly spend and give yourself a reward for success
7- amend your habits do your not open to slips till your ready
Anyway if 1 part if this helps 1 person then it’s been worthwhile writing
Good luck
Hi all, new to the site, but very interesting. Pass the denial stage, know I’ve got problems with alcohol. Miss my old life. Holding things together, family, friends, my business, but only just. The thought of not drinking scares me, as has been such a major part. Going working offshore next week (no booze allowed), should be interesting. I guess my issue is learning how to face life’s problems without alcohol. Love to hear any advice. Thanks.
Thank you for your comment.
I understand and identify with every thing you have said. Sadly, i don’t know where to go to get help. I can’t sleep but i have two jobs so that prevents me from sleeping anyway.
i had a detox on 27th may, for 5 days, to combat the withdrawal symtoms and anxiety,it worked but could not sleep, its been 3 and a half weeks with out alcahol,so last night i decided go out and have controlled drink (5) pints then come home, result no good i went to bed at 11, slept till 2 woke up with anxiety attack,so i went for a walk to try and calm my self down in the rain, now i am back on pc letting everyone know drinking is no good, feeling a bit tired going to give sleep another go, what i need is things to keep me occupied instead of drink so that i dont get bored any ideas
I have spent the last hour or so reading this site. Not just this section on sleep, but all of it, and I have to say, I’M INSPIRED.
I was arrogant enough to think that I could control what I was drinking and that , if I wanted to , could stop any time. How wrong I was !
It’s now 20 past midnight and I have to be up for work in 5 hours but I haven’t finished my drink yet. Surely I can’t go to bed without finishing my drink ? can I ?
That’s my attitude most nights. if I don’t have the full amount then I wont be able to sleep.
I drink lager mostly. 4 litres per night, every night for the past 20 years or so. It has become so easy to do that I barely get merry off it any more so at weekends I will add a couple of bottles of cider to it.
Looking back. I have gone from size 34 waist to size 42 and am 4stone over weight just from drinking lager.
I have never attended an AA meeting but I am seriously considering it after reading this site.
I would like to wish everyone the very best of luck in their personal battle and thank everyone for inspiring me to start mine.
I have been a binge drinker since i was 18 now 40!
I find the first night off the drink i cant sleep.
My Doctor says i have an anxiety disorder but i wonder whether my nervous problems are down to alcohol withdrawal?
Sometimes i feel i need a drink so i am less edgy and not thinking too much.
Research says i might have low gaba?
Louise. Firstly you should never hate yourself. That is just another reason for you to think it is ok to have a drink as you have a low opinion of yourself. Most of us have a long family history of drink problems and thats why we never saw it coming. Some people can drink socially and enjoy a drink. I on the other hand can not. I only drink for one reason. To get drunk. The more i drink the more depressed i get. I am starting AA again after 3 failed attempts. I will get there though and so will you.
I am scared to face the reality of being an alcoholic. It runs in my family and I binge drink. I am very depressed and I hate myself.
I’ve not drunk any alcohol since 16 January, i was on Librium which stopped the excessive sweating and anxiety, when i was drinking my stomach was massive i looked 9 mths pregnant, since the 16 Jan I’ve lost a stone in weight, my appetites returned but im craving sweet things like chocolate etc, the last thing i wanna do is pile the weight back on im already size 18 . As for my sleep pattern well i cant get to sleep its usually around 5am & i’m back up at 7.30am to take my son to school. Even though i don’t miss or crave the alcohol i do miss that ‘merry drunk feeling’ so i got some diazepams of a friend. Not good i know but it must be safer than starting drinking again. just hoping i don’t weaken n drink again just to get that same feeling.
I just wish I could have a macic formula to get to sleep that did not include alcohol. when I dont drink I have to take some sort of medication in order to sleep. I do not remember the last time I actually had a night sleep without anything whatsoever ? I know you make excuses as to why you cannot sleep without having a drink, but it is true, isn’t it ? Anyone any advice ?
It is amazing how often insomnia and alcohol problems go hand in hand.
I am an insomniac too and have used alcohol to sleep.
What can help, is to take no stimulants with caffeine at all. That means chocolate, coke drinks, tea and coffee. Even tonic water has quinine which we keep you awake.
You may be like me and very sensitive to caffeine.
It has also helped me to go for an half hour brisk walk.
I love tea and coffee so it is difficult for me, but they are just another addiction.
Glad to see you left that bit up about jack tobin….Shame those to pricks before me are brain dead
hi there
i have only just joined this forum , and i have found it useful ,reading other peoples experiences . I am trying to cut down my drinking after years of drinking large amount of lager every night , my main excuse was because i couldnt sleep , i have had 2 dry nights the first night which i didnt sleep very well and had a load of weird dreams the 2nd night i slept better ,i felt refreshed when i woke up in the morning at 7.30 the following night i only had 3 cans and slept realy well, i have felt much better in myself and i am suprised how well i have been sleeping without having to have loads of lager in side me .
Thanks Sean, hope all is well with you too.
Hey, these body jerks, do you awaken abruptly and in panic or does this happen unconsciously?
This I know of and in fact suffer from a sleeping disorder known as exploding head syndrome and is liken to plugging your brain to the main circuit board and leaping awake in a panic as a result.
I think that with alchohol sleep is very abnormal and a number of sleep disorders are related directly to its use and symptoms such as involuntary movement is common.
On another note rapid jerks can be a seizure where medical assistance should be sought.
I went to my doctors because i couldnt keep my legs still when in bed of a night and he said i got restless leg syndrome,because i am a heavy drinker i noticed if i didnt drink lager i never got it again,problem solved? well not really i went and started drinking cider?
If your still drinking grant get off the cider m8 find a drink that suits you….I no cider drops down the hatch nice when your belly is sick as a dog and you need to get alcohol in you but i will give you 2 years on it as in heavy on it and thats as little as 2 bottles a day and i no full well you will visit a hospital one morning when you least think its going to happen.
Sorry shugster for not getting back sooner lol sorry my page well its not my page it belongs to the world but the page i am on is alcohol withdrawal and tobin has many pages that i only look around when i am at a loose end like tonight….I have been drinking for about 22 years now and packed in maybe 4 times as in proper packed in say for any thing from 3 months to a year. Withdrawal i have had to many times like a lot of people… I do not like drink i hate the stuff it hates me it has no taste and leaves you with a mouth like shite. I think there are many reasons why i became an alcoholic but i think if i go back to my first drink or well 2 pints of strong lager tennents it gave me a confidence boost…Nuts really as all the people i no and have grown up with say i was the most confident person out of them…I would take the bull cleen by the horns no matter wat scared never came into it i was scared of nothing and no man as little as i am 6 foot streak of piss now from years of abuse of booze. I was never a big man but i had a bit of a shape about me and a good pair of shoulders..All gone……..Sleep was a problem as a child and all ways has been…..The jolts were there as a kid but not any were near as much as when i drink…I do not drink much these days as i don’t want to and its a battle but it gets easy is not the word ohh you just learn to deal with it or your cravings or to put it better the shite that is around your life that makes you want a drink…Life sucks as an alcoholic and it sucks a bit ,more as a sober man but i get to see this world in a different way and i have got used to it….Could i be a piss head again….Yes there is every chance i never say never it only takes one blast out or a day…..Sleep jerks or as like to call them relaxing jerks well the last time i read up on them there was not to much detail in to them you no no nitty gritty that the average person could get there head around…..As far as i no i don’t jerk in my sleep….Its more just going to sleep just waking or just letting my self relax…This could be army marching legs or arms jumping or chest jumping ….Now mainly if say my left leg jumps it stems from my chest like your hart muscle contracts and your leg try’s to go over your head……Some times i wake with loss of breath and can not breath in only out …I think this is because i all ready have a full breath in me and can not breath in no more and the first thing you do when you loose breath is try to breath in but if your lungs are all ready full your brain tells you to breath out but at the time your in no were land…..Now even if i stop drink for a year i still get them….Yes they do lesson a bit and there no were near as strong but there still there….There are meds that can help and i tried them but they made me feel like i was about to die…..I have found a couple of ways of dealing with them one that has a good affect is a cramp med for people that get cramp when sleeping. Its over the counter stuff…….But i would have to take a little bit more than it tells you to…..Maybe thats the addict in me……..I don’t no how much you drink or have drank in the past but if i could wave a magic wand at you it would be to abstain from it or have a long term break….I mean me i am just a bit of miss spelled righting on a cyber web page with no face but i am mashed yes i still look all right in a way but not like i would had i not drank so heavy…And booze can take you down many roads and you can or will do many things that you will live to regret and that can be a circle and will be…..The things i have done in the past to get booze i would not even tell a death man….Fancy a drink
Well done Shugster keep Digging in there…..If Your still a little bit anxios try not to eat to much in one go as stupid as that sounds…….Little and often simple stuff soup you no nothing to heavy….Good luck m8
??????? How many people on here suffer or have sufferd body jerks when trying to sleep….As in say your legs jerk or arms or chest
Sorry i meant anxious and suffered
Very sweaty night, shivery cold but sweating terribly and had to change the duvet. In the end I finally succumbed to sleep but that was dogged with the most unusual and vivid dreams but felt fairly rested after about 5 hours REM kip. Appetite still fairly poor but will go to the shops and see if a few tasty things will encourage that!
The family are being very supportive as well as the company and its good to know that people are behind you and it makes you feel less guilty, because this is a result of a northern society where drunkeness is socially acceptable in some circles and where it is very hard to break the mould. But keep thinking life is better without the drink and life should be a whole lot longer as a result.
Hi There,
I have read all your comments with great interest and it is very encouraging that we all keep each other going.
I am a heavy boozer and have recognised there has been a problem for years. I gave up completely for six months and thought I could return to a normal intake; this it seems is not the case and the binges have got back to the level that got me stopping in the first place. So here goes again!
Sleep is tricky for the first week or so but as the body begins to get back to a natural balance then sleep patterns should return to normal. I found that I slept more deeply than ever before after time. Once the sweats, intense dreams and restlessness disperses we are getting used to being without the alcohol.
It is difficult these days when going to a GP due to all the notes being taken down. I wonder if a private doctor may be less obstusive to ones privacy?
I spoke to a friend this evening who is one of my great drinking buddies and on discussion we went over the age we all enjoyed a big night on the town and now being in late thirties and early forties realise that being plastered in the pubs these days just really doesn’t feel very clever. If I hadn’t drunk and partied like I have I am sure I would have had a house or two by now.
First night for a long time with out a bevvy!
I have not had a drink since May 29, I finally slept through the night last night. The other nights I tossed and turned and could not shut my mind off, I felt like I slept with my eyes open. I usually use melatonin tablets to regulate my sleep in the days after I binge, but this time around it just did not work. I think I was just feeling too crappy and anxious about the consequences of my last binge on the weekend. It is just something you have to ride out I guess, today is the first day I actually had energy to get things done.
I have given up drinking for about six weeks now. I was prescribed ‘librium’ by my GP and it worked wonders for getting me relaxed enough to sleep.I still think my body needs to settle down a bit though. I was waking up and getting up and about at around 4:30-6:00 in the morning. I sleep a lot longer now, though it’s hard to get to sleep quite often. I have long since finished the librium now. I find I’m constantly drinking tea, chocolate and coffee. I think it’s the calories my body is missing from the alcohol days. I have gained weight with the return of my appetite, so I will be going to the gym soon to try and get some exercise, which, incidentally is recommended on this very website for a more healthy night’s sleep.
AL!
I Think wat your saying is that your speeding then crashing….I find I’m constantly drinking tea, chocolate and coffee.
I binge drink and then I sleep for a couple of night, but after that its awake for 2 or 3 nights on the trot, I,ve never slept well anyway waking up between 4 or 5 times on a good night. I,m not always drinking and when I don,t drink I don,t sleep. You name it I,ve tried it, sleeping pills, herbal pills, etc.. etc.. some days I am so tired,yet nothing works. I,ve seen huge dragonflys coming up from the carpets, and once woke to find a tall dark hooded figure standing over me in bed. I really thought the grim reaper had come to get me, I wonder why we do it!
Well every single alcoholic or drug taker has there own different story of why they first started but most alcoholics or drug takers have the same story as in why they stopped
Good article! Alcohol is killing brain cells. Each time we have a zip of alcohol, a few thousand cells die irreversible.
About three nights ago, after about a half bottle of vodka, I climbed into bed at about 2 a.m. At 4 a.m., I bolted upright in bed, panicking from a nightmare that was undoubtedly alcohol induced. It was not pleasant. My nightmare was along the lines of the Exorcist!
As an aside though, I have learnt to totally avoid hangovers no matter how much I drink and how wasted I get - even after a half bottle of vodka. Of course, I am not particularly proud of that accolade, and will be tackling this drinking problem soon.
hey vintage … you just described the same scenerio i go through alot with nightmares of that sort after drinking alot of vodka .. makes ya wonder huh … devils sweat
Wow, I made it! 4am and wow I am freaked out now. Lightning just went crazy outside with a storm….almost scares me into a drink. I am so thankful to get through what some say is devils hour. I tossed and turned and got up thinking it had to be at least 4am to find it to be 3:01 and have had a bottle of brandy next to me…this is my first post and all because of the exorcist dreams, seeing 666 on my phone, and death on my text on my phone by accident, and now being very ill to the point of having blood in my urine so bad that I went to the doctor and am trying to get better. I want to quit so bad, and do not drink hard stuff for pleasure yet it just takes away all the bad so fast that it is hard not to just drink it. So now with my heart racing I just wanted to say that I am freaking out and think this maybe my first recognized dt???
I always worry that i wont be able to get to sleep then of course i cant an i just lay there drifting in an out of consciousness but i think drinking has made it worse because i used to drink every night for 2 years just to get to sleep so i have to try an get used to it without it.
Damn, there’s always someone there to state the obvious.
i think that people shouldnt drink becuase they will get really ill and they will ruin there family they wont get looked after and also ur liver will eget s big as a ball, dribnking really effect no just you but also the people around you. Also if you only one drink you want to keep drinking more and more. Thne from then you cant stop it. Also if you drink you dont look nice and people think taht you are an idiot and you satrt to smell.
goddamit man….everybody thinks now you are the coolest one cause you dont smell,you are having nice relatioships,you are fucking healthy,to sum up you are the BRIGHTEST DIAMOND….and the rest of us will go to hell…..return back to the primary school and ask your theology teacher,even quicker speak tonight with mr God and then please let us know if we are going to hell soon.thanks a lot holly friend…and never forget to wash your hands twice after touching one of us,THE CURSED!!!piece of stone around dark thornfull roses!!!!stoko!
THAT IS JUST TOO FUNNY!!!!! I AM SITTING HERE ALMOST WETTING MY KNICKERS. Not only has Oh Ma Gorth made some very pertinent remarks regarding Jack’s very low opinion of people who drink, I think Jack should not only consult his Theology teacher but I think he also needs to re-connect with his English teacher as his spelling and grammar at at the level of either someone themselves who is highly intoxicated or at the educational level of a 6yr old. Maybe Jack needs to START drinking and his intelligence and ability to have a HAPPY ADULT RELATIONSHIP may have a better chance at success.
Aside from that, I have to say his posting and Oh Ma Gorth’s reply have to be one of the most entertaining things I have read in a long time. Thanks for the laugh.
@oh ma gorth!! …. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA that was classic well said… ^5
Hi jack i forgot to look when you posted that comment so it could be very old i don’t no and i cant be pissed with rolling the page up to see lol….How ever i would like to say thank god there are people like you….I am not shore if you are a teenager or not but wat i will say is you do come across as one in that post…I think you may all so be a little dyslexic like me looking at some of your words but don’t let that stand in your way….Fire Fox spell checker works wounders….You have a old hed on a young mans shoulders…Lol like i use to have….Do try not to take any notice of any one on here trying to tell you to get back to school…..Wat they should be doing is saying YOUR RIGHT in fact your right in every word you said….I can relate to every word you put down…I don’t like to admit the smell one but yes i all so have smelt like a rat for weeks on end……Some thing you could do jack or try is to take one word lets take your KEY WORDS …..Drink….iLL….Family…..Liver…..Effect….Keep Drinking….Cant Stop….Look Nice as in wat it does to your skin and how it can age you……And SMELL lol….Now if you start with the first one DRINK as in Alcohol the best thing to do would be to read up from one good sauce about Alcohol …..Then move on to all the ill affects it can have on the body…..Then how it can affect the family and so on so as you get a good understanding of how Alcohol works…..In some things it can be a great healer in others a killer…..Now if you read up and remember a little bit of all you have read then the next time some drunk try’s to make an idiot of them selves and put a kid down for Talking about alcohol on here not knowing if he or she has only came on here because he or she has a mum or dad that’s an alcoholic then you will be able to come right on back and put them right on the spot so to speak……Good luck in every thing you do m8
Thanks Sean. I agree. He sounds like a young boy. And perhaps I could be wrong but maybe a boy who’s been affected by his parents drinking. Just a guess.
i think hes deaf they speak in broken words from useing the tty
I had a lot of trouble sleeping when I quit drinking. I started taking prescription sleeping medication in order to sleep (I took Ambien). I still didn’t feel like I was getting good sleep and I was always tired the next day. So, I decided to quit taking Ambien and had an even worse time trying to sleep than when I quit drinking. It took awhile to be able to sleep normally after I quit taking it. I think I exacerbated the problem by taking something to help me sleep and I would have readjusted faster without it, that’s just my opinion looking back. It was like I had to go through it twice.
Hi Rebecca
From the first day/night you stopped drinking approximately how many bad nights sleep did you experience?
We stopped yesterday and last night I had such nightmares that I was afraid to close my eyes. I also did not have much more that a couple of hours very broken sleep. It was so bad I am tempted to have a few drinks before bedtime just so I can have some sleep but I realise that that is against what I am trying to do.
Many thanks for any advice
Ann and Paul
Paul & Ann,
I had 2 nights of absolutely no sleep at all. I think I slept ok on the 3rd and had crazy dreams, but it gets better because you eventually have to sleep. I wouldn’t recommend drinking to sleep, just wait it out. I’ve been through withdrawal symptoms more than once and like I said I also took sleeping pills - getting off of them took about a week to get back to normal sleeping, maybe more, I can’t remember but it was worse!
Good luck!
Rebecca
Lack of sleep,nightmares, i know the feeling,mine takes about a week to stabilize
It is only TIME and abstinance that helps for me. Good luck,and never give up.