• HEALTH & RECOVERY
    Welcome Guest
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules Thread Directory 1 Thread Directory 2
    Mindfulness Links Addiction & Mind
    Sober Living Partner Program (SLiPP)
  • H&R Moderators: streaM Freak

What's your 'reward' at the end of the day? How do you soberly wind down before bed?

custard

custard

Bluelighter
Joined
Apr 20, 2010
Messages
151
I've come a long ways in the past few months, quit a year-long addiction to zopiclone (sleeping med) and cut contact with my ex which was also very hard for me to do but what i needed to do.

My addiction hit its peak in the summer, as I became emotionally and physically dependant on it to sleep and get through life. I was taking it every night, a few hours before bed. It quickly got the point where it was the highlight of my day. I could still enjoy life sober at times, but having that reward at the end of the night helped get me through. Especially after a long and stressful day, it helped a lot to have a way of winding down and having some relaxing peaceful time before sleep.

I moved into a new house soon after quitting the drug, and as one of my roomies is a generous stoner, I've found myself smoking weed every night before bed now for the past two months. I don't like weed much, at least not this frequently, and it's a much less enjoyable high for me than zopiclone. But, it still numbs my racing mind and helps me pass out.

I am trying very hard to quit. I don't like the effect it has on my memory, and I need to learn to calm my mind and fall asleep while sober again. Just as I replaced zopiclone with weed, I now feel that I need to find a sober yet pleasurable way of winding down at the end of the day and calming my mind, as well as a sober way of 'rewarding' myself at the end of a rough day. I think this would help me kill the addiction. I also want sleep to become something I can look forward to again, instead of just feeling anxious about laying there awake, worried about another night of tossing and turning.

What activities have you replaced your drugs with at the end of the day? If you used drugs to fall asleep, how do you now wind down before bed soberly?
 
Last edited:
I usually exercise, or if it's too late and I just want to relax before bed I drink some herbal drink like hot peppermint "tea", rooibos "red tea", chamomile "tea" that has apples and cinnamon in it, or I read before bed. Meditation also helps relax you while you are falling asleep.
 
I dont know about "reward" but, hypnosis helps me when I cant sleep and occasionally a dramamine if its been a few days and I still cant sleep. The best hypnotist ive found is a guy named Brian David philips. all his stuff used to be free but, there are still some free files on his website. Or you could look on youtube for hypnosis for sleep. it may take some trying to find a person whose style works for you. So, if you do try it don't give up just because nothing seems to happen with the first video/recording you try. Also real hypnosis unlike stage takes practice. As far as rewards I use a free habit tracker called habit rpg. Some of my rewards on it are: ice cream, trip to park,go to movies, 1 chapter of whichever book/series i'm listening to, starbucks,
 
Meditation, Reading, Sex (amazing how much better and more frequent it becomes after not using for awhile), My non addictive sleeping meds....

I still have a really bad habit of watching TV or Documentaries on my laptop until I fall asleep....
 
A hot bath, calming tea, reading. If my eyes get too tired to read and I still have insomnia I try to do meditative breathing. The key for me is to not start worrying about not sleeping--once I go there it is really hard to get myself back from that dreaded spiral.
 
Thanks, those are some good ideas. It's amazing how easy it is to forget the healthy and meaningful rituals you used to do once a drug takes their place..

I've completely stopped reading before bed, but as of last night started again. Reading 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' to ease me back into it. Meditation is a good one too.

phactor - what non-addictive sleep meds do you use if i may ask? After wishing zopiclone goodbye, I'm in search of an effective sleep med with no psychoactive properties. my doc gave me nortriptyline but it doesn't work very well for me in terms of staying asleep..
 
throw on some headphones and enjoy some good music. i think listening to music and really enjoying it sober shows me that there is more to life than drugs. i also like to take walks and be around nature as i find it very real and beatiful.
 
custard said:
phactor - what non-addictive sleep meds do you use if i may ask? After wishing zopiclone goodbye, I'm in search of an effective sleep med with no psychoactive properties. my doc gave me nortriptyline but it doesn't work very well for me in terms of staying asleep..
Click to expand...

I am on a very low dose of Seroquel (50 milligrams). Others tend to like Trazadone better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top