Stop Drinking

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This is a place to motivate each other to control or stop drinking. It is also a place for non drinkers to discuss and share.

We welcome anyone who wishes to join in by asking for advice, sharing our experiences and stories, or just encouraging someone who is trying to quit or cut down.

Please post only when sober; you’re welcome to read in the meanwhile.

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Zerlyna@lemmy.world

rosamundi@lemmy.world

Ever since I quit drinking three years ago, I haven't been able to sleep more than four hours a night without medication (lemmy.world)

submitted 18 hours ago by alias_qr_rainmaker@lemmy.world to c/stopdrinking@lemmy.world

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So stopping completely is hard. Last time I was hungover I was INSANELY productive because I actually got a decent night's sleep. Oh I also got a TBI at the same time and no one at the residential treatment program I'm at knew I had a TBI

I mean I would have died if no one called an ambulance but they still didn't know about it. But they do now, and I'm gonna see a TBI specialist about it. They're gonna be the only one who knows the whole story, lmao. Whenever I try to tell the story online, people tell me I'm having a psychotic break.

But any way, uhhhhhh, IWNDWYT or whatever the fuck it is

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[–] SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 1 points 2 hours ago

Congrats on staying mostly sober, but don't throw yourself a party. I mean this in the best way, having quit smoking. Every time I would quit, I would give myself a huge pat on the back and then I would start smoking again because one won't hurt.

Addiction is weird because your body now knows something foreign and instead of just ignoring it you have to consciously avoid it. It's like you have to develop and constantly flex some muscle not up slouch back into it.

I believe you can keep it up. I bet the TBI has a lot more to do with your sleep at this point than your sobriety. Keep that appointment and I hope you get answers and a plan.

[–] rosamundi@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

drinking to get some sleep isn't necessarily a good strategy. Alcohol consumption stops you going to deep sleep, because your body prioritises getting this toxic substance out of you, and of course if you drink enough you're not actually sleeping, you've just passed out.

Recovering from prolonged alcohol consumption takes time. Your body starts to anticipate your drinking, and starts ramping up the production of hormones and other things in advance ("oh, it's nearly 6pm, here we go,") and then if you don't drink, there's a "WTF am I supposed to do with all this?" moment, when it realises you're metaphorically all dressed up and nowhere to go.

I've posted some stuff about sleep hygiene before, it's one of the pinned posts. I appreciate that not all of it will be possible for you if you're in a residential programme and therefore not in full control of your surroundings, but there's things like coming off your phone, going to bed at a set time, that are all achievable and start giving your body sleep cues to help you get restful sleep.

[–] alias_qr_rainmaker@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago

i've been recovering from alcoholism for the last three years. been sober almost the whole time. it's just that at the same time, i got a TBI that woulda killed me if no one found me and called an ambulance

[–] alias_qr_rainmaker@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago

trust me, i know it's not a good strategy, and i'm trying not to make a habit of it. been sober all month. i'm just saying that it's the most effective sleep aid i've tried. other shit helps (kind of?) but not a lot.

but it's not like i'm constantly tired or anything, i feel like i have plenty of energy. but i also drink a ton of coffee

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 6 points 17 hours ago

Depending on your age, that may just be a natural part of your body rhythm. Lots of people in their 40-60's don't sleep much more than 4-5hrs at a time.

Exercise and generally raising your metabolic rate is very helpful in forcing yourself to sleep more, and timing that exercise in your day is a good tool to making sure it happens when you need it to.