Stress Center Peer Support

Hi Diva,

I'm sorry you're having so much trouble. Lately I've been experiencing sleep difficulties too (waking up early and can't get back to sleep). It's the most frustrating thing. I'm trying to develop a routine that will be condusive to sleep. I've been exercising during the day whenever possible. About a half hour before bedtime I drink some chamomille tea. Right before I go to bed I take 1/2 a Xanax. Then I read for a little while and my last step is to listen to the relaxation cd. It's been working pretty well, although I did wake up again this morning but it wasn't as early as it has been. I also wasn't able to exercise yesterday so that could have been a factor. I tried an Ambien last week and while it knocked me out I still woke up two hours before the alarm went off. However, last week was especially stressful for me. I had a sick cat that I was tending too and we had to put him down last Wednesday. It's getting better now but that lack of sleep is a killer.

Hang in there. Try to establish a routine that will ease you into a comfortable bedtime transation and hopefully sleep will come.

Stef

I AM SORRY BUT I THOUGHT THIS PROGRAM WAS ALL ABOUT LIVING LIFE FREE OF DRUGS. I CAN TOTALLY RE LATE TO NO SLEEP I AM COMING OFF YEARS OF SLEEP MEDS ANXIETY MEDS ETC AND I CAN TELL YOU FOR SURE THEY ARE NOT THE ANSWER TO YOUR SLEEP PROBLEM I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE AWAKE ALL NIGHT WHILE EVERYONE ELSE IS SLEEPING. I WILL BE AWAKE ALOT NOW I AM ONLY ON DAY 5 OF GOING COLD TURKEY OFF DRUGS I AM FINE I WILL MAKE IT I HAVE DONE IT BEOFORE AND COULD KICK MYSLEF FOR EVER GETTING ON ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES. I AM ONLY TRYING TO SPARE YOU THE PAIN I AM GOING THROUGH NOW WITHDRAWL IS HELL BUT I WANT WHAT LUCINDA AND ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HERE FREEDOM FROM THE BELIEF THAT POP A PILL THAT WILL FIX EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT HASN'T FIXED ANYTHING FOR ME NOR WILL IT FOR YOU THOSE DRUGS YOU MENTION ARE FOR SHORT TERM USE ONLY AND AFTER TAKING THEM TOO LONG YOU GET REBOUND ANXIETY AND INSOMNIA. I HAVE TAKEN AMBIEN I HAVE TAKEN XANAX AND I HAVE BOUGHT INTO THE QUICK FIX AND IT NOW LEAVES ME WITH AN ADDICTION I FOUGHT HARD ONCE BEFORE TO KICK NOW I HAVE TO KICK IT AGAIN TO GET MY LIFE BACK I SAID BACK THEN I WOULD NEVER TAKE PILLS AGAIN IT DESTROYED MY MARRIAGE AND MY LIFE AND HERE I AM ON THAT ROAD AGAIN GETTING CLEAN FROM PILLS I AM SORRY YOU HAVE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE THAT HURT SO BAD THEY ROB YOU OF YOUR SLEEP AND IF I COULD I WOULD TAKE THEM ALL AWAY FOR YOU I HAVE GREAT COMPASSION I WORKED A FULL TIME JOB FOR 10 YRS ON 2 HRS OF SLEEP A NIGHT WITH NOT DESIRE TO EVER TAKE PILLS AND THEN I MADE THE MISTAKE OF BELIEVING MY LIFE WOULD BE BETTER IF I COULD JUST SLEEP AND THAT HAS LED ME ON A 12 YEAR ROAD OF PILLS FOR SLEEP I PRAY TO GOD EVERY NIGHT WHILE I GO THROUGH WITHDRAWL THAT HE WILL GIVE ME PEACE AND HEAL ME I HATE THE THOUGHT OF NOT SLEEPING AGAIN BUT I HATE WHAT THE PILLS HAD DONE TO ME WORSE. FOR YEARS I COULD STAY ON A LOW DOSE AND THEN I LET STRESS START ADDING A LITTLE HERE AND THERE AND THEN THIS LAST MONTH I HAD PANIC ATTACKS LIKE I NEVER HAD IN MY LIFE WHILE ON THESE MEDICATIONS AND I COULD SEE MYSELF ENDING UP JUST LIKE THAT LEADGER GUY WITH AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE YOU KNOW WHAT HE WAS TAKING THE SAME THING XANAX KLONOPIN SLEEPING PILLS BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN LIVING ON 2 HRS SLEEP A NIGHT WHAT DID THE PILLS DO FOR HIM ? IT STARTS SMALL BE CAREFUL YOU ARE DOING SO MANY THINGS RIGHT EXERCISE TEA GOING TO BED ON A SCHEDULE GRIEVE YOUR CAT DEAL WITH WHAT YOU ARE FEELING AND YOU WILL SLEEP DON'T COUNT ON 8 HRS A NIGHT OR EVEN 6 YOU WILL NOT DIE I AM LIVING PROOF I WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU TONIGHT AS I AM AWAKE TOO

Punky, thanks for your concern. I am struggling with a few things in my life right now which I know I'll get through. I only mentioned the Xanax because there are a lot of people on this board who take anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds. Heck, there's even a whole forum just for that topic. Lucinda is giving us the tools to (hopefully) live a life with less stress and anxiety and I know the ultimate goal is to do those things without any medications. Again, thanks for your concern. You take care and I hope we both get some rest tonight.

Stef