Request for Help: Sleeping Tips

[RomeoWhiskey]

Hello everybody, this is your friendly neighborhood RomeoWhiskey here asking for a little help. It is now day 3 and I feel great. My cravings are subsiding, my heart and lungs feel strong, and I have been replacing all my urges with 3-5 miles of running or lots of weightlifting to sweat out all the nicotine. There is just one thing I can't get...sleep.

I don't know if it is withdraw or system shock or what but I have been tossing and turning all night for 5-6 hours. Usually exercise is my cure. I make myself so tired that I can't not fall asleep...but it is not working.

Maybe some Melatonin? Maybe I should see a doctor? Perhaps I just need to tough it out until my body adjusts to my new routine?

Any help or suggestions would be welcome to help figure out the best strategy for me.

-RomeoWhiskey 

[IrishRose]

Great to hear you are doing well with your quit.  You will have an awesomely strong body with your running and weightlifting.  

Milk - a big glass of cold milk, or put chocolate syrup in it.  Just like the Nestle Quick Rabbit after he drinks a glass of milk with chocolate in it, he slides down the glass???  To this day, if I am having problems sleeping, if I drink a glass of milk, I will feel very full and warm inside, and it helps me to fall asleep.  I hate warm milk, so that is why I drink the cold milk.

Hang in there, and keep up the good work!

Irish Rose 

[Barbscloud]

Sleep problems are a common side effect of nicotine withdrawal. You're early in your quit with 3 days (congrats on that!), so try to give it some time.  

[indingrl]

CONGRATS taking care of YOU and staying NICOTINE free! WAY TO GO! Yahoooooooooo

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Insomnia is a withdrawal symptom.  I was very fortunate to be retired so it did not affect me as one that was doing the 9-5.  However, it still can be a beast.  I had a lot of empathy for anyone going through it and had to be at work the next day.  I have seen suggestions that using melatonin can be useful.  I would just get up and busy myself. Come here to read and write blogs.  This place is busy in the wee hrs of the morning also.  I got a lot of cleaning and organizing accomplished.  Arranged my furniture a lot. etc.  I had vowed if this was what I had to go through to be smoke-free, so be it.  No matter what. NOPE, Unfortunately, I  had to deal with it for what seemed like 60 days. NOPE  

[JACKIE1-25-15]

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex/blog/2018/01/04/early-withdrawal-symptoms 

[JonesCarpeDiem]

You have to grab sleep whenever you can.

Power naps 20 minutes

[anaussiemom]

Warm milk, small bowl of cereal, 3 minutes of mindful breathing. 

[sweetplt]

Hi RomeoWhiskey ... you are doing great, but you are early in your quit.  Fortunately, for me sleep wasn’t an issue, but I saw so many here write posts having the same problem.  Try going to the right to corner and see the magnifying glass and look up sleeping problems.  Hopefully, other blogs can shed some light and help you out.  I would like to think after a week or so the problem will turn around, however in time after making some changes (try melatonin, sipping herbal tea with chamomile, reading a book, etc.,)  you might want to see your Doctor.  Good luck. 

Colleen 107 DOF 

[maryfreecig]

White noise. Focus on thinking nothing. 1/4 dose unisom melt type. Avoid activity before sleep. Tough it out like you said. Keep up the good work staying smober!!!

[Beck37]

I went 52 days without sleep and then I started taking Melatonin. Don’t know if it was the melatonin or shear exhaustion but am finally sleeping. The only issue I have at this point is I’m still sleepy in the morning and have problems waking up which was never an issue for me before.... 

[SimplySheri]

Bedtime yoga   Works every time for me. 

[YoungAtHeart]

Caffeine has a stronger affect on you when you quit - so limit coffee, tea, soda AND chocolate after 2:00 (yeah - that's what I said!).  Turn off anything electronic at least two hours before bed - and keep a book or crossword puzzle book by the bed.  Lying there tossing and turning is just frustrating and usually not conducive to going back to sleep.  Try some mind-numbing mind games when you lay down - like thinking of boys or girls names for every letter of the alphabet, or US or world cities that begin with each letter, or objects for each letter - anything mind numbingly boring to keep your mind off of going to sleep.  Be sure your room is chilly (crack a window if you have to) and maybe wear a sleep mask for total darkness.  Do power nap during the day of you can - but try not to let it be longer than about 20 minutes.  Warm milk before bed can help, as can a Benadryl (if you can take that). 

This IS a withdrawal symptom and won't last too awfully long.  Hope some of the tips above help in the meantime!

Nancy

[elvan]

You have gotten some GREAT advice, I do think you will adjust but, in the meantime, you have many things to try.  I use benadryl 25 mg at night occasionally and I absolutely DO stop all caffeine by 2:00 unless I don't want to sleep.  I used to be able to drink a pot of coffee and several Diet Cokes in a day, now I have a mug of coffee in the morning and one Diet Coke, if any.  I also exercise and when I cannot sleep, I try to read something that is a bit on the dry side.  I think the suggestions you have are really good and one of them should work.

Ellen

[YoungAtHeart]

When I was still working, I kept a copy of the Procurement guidelines for the State credit card by my bed to read.  Put me out in about 10 minutes FLAT!

♥

[IrishRose]

I used to drink coffee all day long when I was working.  No can do anymore.  I would be cat-clawed into the ceiling at 11:30 p.m.  hahahaha

Irish Rose 

[IrishRose]

RomeoWhiskey , did any of these tips help with your inability to sleep at night?  I hope so.  Keep up the good work on your quit.

Irish Rose