I have some really serious sleep issues which of course causes problems elsewhere in life, well everywhere. I'm sure I fucked up my receptors with alcohol and benzo use which although I sort of enjoyed, the main purpose was sleep to begin with.
I still abuse alcohol, anywhere from 200 to 400 mL a night (or more). Sometimes I can taper to a beer for a few nights, but the poor sleep gets me right back to it, along with DT's in the day. I would like to be drug free, or at least infrequent, responsible use. I need some advice on getting through the alcohol dependence as well as the insomnia. I have 10mg Zolpidem which works, but still fucks with the GABA receptors and have only used it once- slept 8 hours. I do not want to continuously use this. I have alprazolam as well as clonazepam, but it is quite easy to trade one dependence for another. I often wake up at 3 or 4 am and have to take 0.5mg of alprazolam, or I get no sleep and my brain is mush the next day. (I'm not dependent on benzos). I will also sometimes take 60 to 90mLs of alcohol at 3 am, but this is beyond unhealthy and leaves me feeling like shit the next day too.
I don't like pot. I find melatonin and herbal teas are great for inducing sleep, but don't help you stay asleep. Same with trazadone, like 25 mg. I fall asleep fine but still wake at 3 or 4 am. This makes we want to jump from a bridge (this is figurative,) but it is way beyond frustrating. I want to start a new career and I can't if I'm living like this. This problem has interfered with the starting of a new carreer for almost a year. I honestly feel that anecdotal advise from others in similar situations can be more helpful than from a doctor.
Let me put in the disclaimer that I am not a big fan of 12 steps, or therapy, and my biggest issue is the physical aspect, not the mental (though this probably can't be discounted). Please help. I try to give the best advice to others that I can, but now I'm asking.
I still abuse alcohol, anywhere from 200 to 400 mL a night (or more). Sometimes I can taper to a beer for a few nights, but the poor sleep gets me right back to it, along with DT's in the day. I would like to be drug free, or at least infrequent, responsible use. I need some advice on getting through the alcohol dependence as well as the insomnia. I have 10mg Zolpidem which works, but still fucks with the GABA receptors and have only used it once- slept 8 hours. I do not want to continuously use this. I have alprazolam as well as clonazepam, but it is quite easy to trade one dependence for another. I often wake up at 3 or 4 am and have to take 0.5mg of alprazolam, or I get no sleep and my brain is mush the next day. (I'm not dependent on benzos). I will also sometimes take 60 to 90mLs of alcohol at 3 am, but this is beyond unhealthy and leaves me feeling like shit the next day too.
I don't like pot. I find melatonin and herbal teas are great for inducing sleep, but don't help you stay asleep. Same with trazadone, like 25 mg. I fall asleep fine but still wake at 3 or 4 am. This makes we want to jump from a bridge (this is figurative,) but it is way beyond frustrating. I want to start a new career and I can't if I'm living like this. This problem has interfered with the starting of a new carreer for almost a year. I honestly feel that anecdotal advise from others in similar situations can be more helpful than from a doctor.
Let me put in the disclaimer that I am not a big fan of 12 steps, or therapy, and my biggest issue is the physical aspect, not the mental (though this probably can't be discounted). Please help. I try to give the best advice to others that I can, but now I'm asking.