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Every time I wake up I want to put my fist through a wall

sekio

sekio

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Sep 14, 2009
Messages
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The title says it all, really. For about two or three years now I have found myself unable, or only very rarely able to actually get resful sleep and be able to wake up at "normal hours" (7am). The only suggestion anyone has given me is a flippant "well go to bed earlier silly"; sure I can go to bed earlier, but any modifications to my sleep cycle go out the window as soon as social activity goes past my bedtime (which i try to set at 10:30 but is much more often 11 or midnight).

Daylight savings time isn't fucking helping. Nobody understood my concerns when I realized I would lose an hour of sleep. Monday morning I woke up and was not awake and aware until 11 am - even with a cup of tea in the morning. My head feels like it's stuffed with cotton wool, my ears are ringing, and I can't think at all - my neck is so stiff all I can think of is resting it.

I've tried cannabis, melatonin, kava kava, catnip, chamomile, hell even green and balck teas. They all do nothing appreciable aside from a slight relaxing effects and nothing affecting my sleep quality. I do not use or abuse stimulants or depressant drugs with any regularity; I've tried cutting back cannabis use before bed to no benifit either.

Is there really no option aside from exhausting myself physically every night so I can get some restful sleep? I'm getting really sick and tired of having my head feel like the damn Liberty Bell when I wake up and thinking only of dragging myself back under the covers. It's starting to alienate my friends and family who all refuse to believe I could be that tired in the morning - they all wake up fine so why can't I?

(sorry mods if this is more healthy living material)
 
I've had problems with sleep i the past. Granted, mine were only for brief periods compared to yours but there are some natural things that you can try. Some may take a little more time to take effect because they require consistency:

* only use your bedroom for sleep and sex
* no naps during the day (thats the hard part)
* establish a routine and stick with it
(ie set your alarm for X o'clock and get up immediately - no snooze button)
go to sleep at relatively the same time every night
* exercise daily (even if its just a little bit each day)
* eat healthy

I'm unsure of the validity of what was recommended to me when I went to rehab but I still follow it. The nurses mentioned that taking 500mg of calcium and 500mg of magnesium every night before bed helps. I personally do this but can't verify if it has helped my sleeping

The hard part is establishing the pattern because you will get sleepy during the day. Ya gotta push through and recognize that there will be a reward of (hopefully) a decent sleep when you finally call it a day

Sorry that this isn't much but its all something I have been doing and has been working for me.

I hope it helps even if its just a little
 
serotonin is converted to melatonin around bedtime (in the dark) and the melatonin is converted back into serotonin during the day (when your exposed to light). i read somewhere that when you wake up, your serotonin levels are VERY low because your melatonin levels are at their highest. this could be the reason behind the way you feel. anybody else agree/disagree?
 
^ yes that is very true, at night when melatonin is being released ( currently ) I am fucking miserably depressed. To OP , I feel for you buddy , I have clinical insomnia and the only time I sleep is sheer exhaustion overwhelming me. I go 1-2 days without sleep and just have to function , it drives me to using , to all sorts of really shitty actions.. I wish I had a response that could help you, just know you are not alone - i've made my walls battered also and while they get fixed I don't feel like I do, it fucking sucks.
 
Do you take any supplements prior to sleeping or close to bed time? I know B Vitamins, especially B12, act like "5 hour energies" and can be stored for a considerable period of time. One of my buddies was taking a supplement before he would go to bed and he would wake up everynight and not be able to go back to sleep.

Also, melatonin will help induce prolonged sleep. You should really consult a physician and tell him about your issues. Tryptophan will also help with your sleeping and depression.
 
nwofoxhound said:
Also, melatonin will help induce prolonged sleep. You should really consult a physician and tell him about your issues. Tryptophan will also help with your sleeping and depression.
Click to expand...

yeah look into this,

although you can use 5HTP instead of tryptophan if ya like (i think its safer)

but dont use it for 3+ days or it'll mess up ur dopamine levels
 
ive had problems falling alseep on time and waking up in the morning my whole life. now im in benzo wd and getting up at a reasonable hour is almost impossible. i am frequently 2-3 hours late for work. i can't be believe i havent been fired yet.
 
OverDone said it right.

It could have a lot to do with a lack of exercise and a bad diet. A lot of people tend to ignore this issue and assume that they're insomniacs through and through when in reality their inability to sleep is a result of proper diet and exercise. Have you tried cutting out caffeine and lots of sugars? Have you tried starting a workout routine?

I was pretty in denial that my lifestyle was the cause of my sleeping problems and was trying all sorts of drugs (Seroquel, Trazadone, Ambien, etc.) which didn't exactly help as I still woke up feeling like absolute shit and they also altered my ability to feel, well, normal. I was actually kind of insulted when people started recommending exercise and diet change ("What, you think I'm lazy??") but I was so fed up with the lack of sleep that I tried it. Lo and behold I noticed IMMEDIATE results. The first day I worked out for just 45 minutes and cut out caffeine, I fell asleep instantly.

It's worth a shot.
 
I know two other people have already suggested exercise, but do you get any in OP? This will really help, if you aren't doing it already.

I myself have struggled with finding out how to acquire good sleep, it's hard but I manage to find some times to go to sleep. :)

There is a lot you can do, what have you done to eat better as well? The right kind of diet can really help.

I don't know if you use any of these drugs but I would stop using them if you are: tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, benzodiazepines. Any other stimulant really, that you aren't already using for a medicinal reason (if it was stimulant caused insomnia, I am sure the doctor would help you out with that).

If you are using benzos regularly, it's interfering with sleep. If you're not, then it's interfering with sleep if you take them before you go to sleep or at night when they will still be effecting you when you otherwise would be experiencing REM sleep. Temazepam does not interfere with REM sleep however, and is an exception to this rule.
 
OP (+TAOW)-I have had insomnia ALL my life. About 17 yrs ago a psych put me on imiprimine (a trycyclic antidepressant). This med puts u 2 sleep, u wake up alert + not grouchy, it makes u not need 2 p during the night + it is helpful for ADD. It would b best 2 sleep naturally but this med has been an absolute godsend 4 me. Of course it takes 2 wks 2 really start working but I have found dyphenhydramine(sp?) to b a super OTC for the interim. Or valerian, or chamomile T helps some.
 
It's possible you have this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_sleep_phase_syndrome

...but much, much more likely you have a slightly unhealthy lifestyle. You said you have tried cutting down weed before bed - implying you do still smoke at least some most nights - and the third paragraph of you post tells me that most of you attempted solutions are only making you unhealthier. A lot of people have already said it, so if you won't take their word you probably won't take mine either, but just being healthy is the main thing. Quit the drugs for three or four days and see what happens. If you can't it means you're more interested in getting high than getting to sleep, and there's really nothing anyone here can do to help. You'll have to work at it a little bit, expecting a miracle answer that will cure you immediately never works.
 
I'll have to look into that CrystalSerenity, ty. I'm looking at Lamictal atm for these damn moods. Can't stay stable for too long, all I want to do is sleep but it still evades me.
 
Hey guys,

I've stopped drinking caffeinated stuff after noon and I try to get outside for at least a little while every day. I get a fair amount of excercise in when weather permits. Walking to and from work, working in the yard, doing lifting and running around. The sun has actually been coming out now so I have some motivation to actually get outside - torrential rain is no good to do stuff in.

I'm not using, and have no desire to use, any benzodiazepines, Seroquel etc.

Personally I feel my insomnia is tied to stress. As soon as I get stressed, caffeine gets involved and that doesn't help things. I've got less to worry about right now (dealt with some thigns that were stressing me), and are adjusting to daylight savings time. Consequently I woke up clear-headed and at a 'normal' hour today. I hope this continues :)
 
theartofwar said:
I'll have to look into that CrystalSerenity, ty. I'm looking at Lamictal atm for these damn moods. Can't stay stable for too long, all I want to do is sleep but it still evades me.
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Just seen ur post TAOW-I think 1 reason drs don't rx imip is cause it is older n no more money left in it. I've learned that poor dopamine production is more my problem w/moods etc n imip works on that (is an uptake inhibitor r something) instead of seretonin so I imagine its effectiveness is selective, but definitely check it out-lifesaver for me! Good luck.
 
TAOW another tricyclic antidepressant that is helpful for sleep is Amitriptyline, whose off label use is insomnia. My parents use it and when I've used it, in 10mg or 25mg tablets, it worked. But my problem is not sleeping, it's sleeping too much!

Would the OP consider talking to his/her Dr. about Amitriptyline (used for pain, depression, and sleep) and can work right away instead of having a build up time...
 
No. Tricyclic antidepressants are major psychiatric medicines and have lots of side effects aside from making you sleep. I'm really averse to using any strong pharmaceuticals, tricyclics included - the only problem I have (had?) is getting to sleep. I don't need a wide-spectrum dopamine and serotonin modulating drug.

The reason imipramine and other tricyclics aren't used in depression is because of their relatively high risk of overdose compared to SSRIs, SNRIs, and benzodiazepines.

My sleep has been improving recently now that the sun is coming out in the morning. I've also been getting more opportunities for excercise - I imagine that's a big contributor.
 
What is your height and weight? Do you have tonsil and sinus problems? Are you sick frequently? Most importantly, do you snore or wake up frequently during the night?

Might want to look into getting a polysomnogram. You might have sleep apnea. Usually you can get an overnight pulse oximetry test or an ENT can give you an assessment and let you know if you're at risk.
 
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