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Quit drinking last night

Posted , 8 users are following.

Gareth51625
Gareth51625

Hi guys I haven't been able been drinking as long as some of you but after 2 months of drinking every night mostly to get to sleep I decided it was a

Gradually making my sleep worse and I felt so tired all day the next day. Anyone else got more and more tired the longer you consumed alcohol? And is minor muscle spasms a withdrawal symptom? I also have a pressure in my head that comes and goes.

My doctor said alcohol also severely depletes your body of vitamins and minerals if you are a regular drinker and this depletion also contributes to the fatigue.

Anyway last night I took a sleeping tablet and slept like a rock. Today I felt pretty good after sleeping 7 hours instead of waking up after 3 hours of booze induced sleep. Just don't want to get addicted to sleeping pills, basically go from one addiction to another. But I haven't had a 'natural' sleep without alcohol for two months. I would much rather sleep naturally so any ideas how I can get a natural sleep without resorting to drink or regular use of sleeping pills? Thanks

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Gareth51625
    Gareth51625

    Posted

    Sorry for the typos guys. The first paragraph should read I have been drinking for a couple of months every night to get to sleep but it gradually made my sleep worse and made me fatigued during the day but I have quit.
  • roisin62844
    roisin62844 Gareth51625

    Posted

    Gareth, r u following any programme like TSM? How long have you been drinking? What levels? Everyone is here to support & offer advise & share their experiences. X

  • h1954
    h1954 Gareth51625

    Posted

    I've been told that the sleep you get from drinking alcohol is not proper sleep.  But when you first go without the booze sleep is hard to come by.  Eventually your body will adjust and you will sleep well.  You just have to stick with it.  Sticking with it is always the advice. And easier said than done in my experience.  I wish you well getting off the booze.

    • vickylou
      vickylou h1954

      Posted

      Absolutely right! Sleep with alcohol isn’t proper sleep. It isn’t the right kind of sleep. R.E.M. is what is needed. I suffer with insomnia, 4 hours per night without waking up is a good night for me.

      I did use to use alcohol for sleep problems and would worry constantly about not sleeping.

      Ive accepted that four hours natural sleep is far better than alcohol induced sleep. Luckily I don’t work, apart from looking after a very busy two year old grandson!!

      Gwen, a regular member on this forum suffers the same problem. I think she mentioned melatonin tablets which I must look into

    • gwen45436
      gwen45436 vickylou

      Posted

      Yeah vicks, I was prescribed Melatonin from my Kinesiologist for sleep.  She has used them herself and says it gives a very soothing calming feeling and to not take any during the day but an hour before bed.
  • Robin2015
    Robin2015 Gareth51625

    Posted

    Welcome Gareth. I was also wondering how many units you drink regularly? Best to try and have a couple of days sober per week, if possible.☺ Robin
  • Gareth51625
    Gareth51625

    Posted

    Thank you all for the replies and to answer Roisin and Robins questions I was drinking every night for about 2 months, a bottle of wine a night. For the first 2 weeks (apart from a headache) I felt ok the next day with normal energy but then my days were just fatigue all the time like already my body was accumulating the toxins from the alcohol. Maybe I am more prone to the bad health effects of it.

    It got worse until I stopped and it seems I am slowly getting some energy back now I've quit, last drink I had was the early hours of Monday morning.

    • Gareth51625
      Gareth51625 Robin2015

      Posted

      Thanks Robin hopefully I can keep it up. I have to admit to enjoying the buzz of getting drunk but doing it every night just made me tired and depressed/anxious the next day, I forgot to mention the anxiety & I'm someone who suffers with anxiety without booze, it seemed the more anxious I got each day after drinking. Anyway I hope sleep ok tonight, I have a pack of phenergan tablets which is a sedating antihistamine. It normally works well for me at 50mg. I'm trying to not use the proper sleeping pills that I have as I don't want to build a tolerance & dependence to them which can easily be done.

  • Gareth51625
    Gareth51625

    Posted

    Unfortunately for the past few nights I have gone back to drinking again, I feel so mad at myself but I just cannot seem to kick this habit for good. I did drink a little too much last night so much so I forgot to turn off the tv and light in the lounge when I went to bed, I fact I cannot really remember getting in to bed, is all that a blackout? It was only when my mother said she woke up at 3am and went downstairs she noticed the tv and light was on but I wasn't sat there. Anyway I hope to at least give up for at least a short while to give my body a break again.

    • Robin2015
      Robin2015 Gareth51625

      Posted

      Perhaps write down now much you drink and see the progress. Do not worry too much about the setback since we have all done that. Problems sleeping isn't good. I had lots of anxiety when I imagined i was running out of wine or cider! Eventually had to stop after many years. Great that you are being honest😀

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