Hi! I use to drink several beers to get to sleep but since I quite 20 days ago I often have trouble getting to sleep. I avoid caffeine after lunchtime and take a Benadryl about a half hour before bedtime which also helps with spring allergies. I hope that helps!

I try to avoid caffeine and also find that calling another alcoholic and telling how I feel makes things better.
1-2

You are not alone and glad you posted

Benadryl makes me climb the walls. I take a prescription sleep med. If I take it I sleep like a rock, but can't remember my dreams. If I don't take it, I sometimes wish I didn't remember my dreams. And, I don't have caffeine after noon.

I was going to suggest Benedryl too. If that doesn't help maybe talking to your Dr. I know Melatonin has helped people, but i wouldn't use it wiithout gettingva suggested dosage from the Dr.

Hi --

I have suffered from anxiety/ panic attacks since 2003. I've found that since I've stopped drinking my anxiety has been much more manageable although I do still have occasional attacks.

Are you seeing a therapist and/or taking any medication for your anxiety?

I am doing both but I have also found that a good nights sleep and exercise have been very beneficial as well. When I've been going about exercising during the day I sleep better. Once I get into a good routine of sleep, exercise and not drinking I feel really good.

Good luck

Rich

Everytime I tried recovery in the past I experienced a lot of anxiety and panick attacks. Never really payed attention to it. I didn't know nothing about what feelings were, or what to do about them. Mostly did the thing I knew best, which was go get a drink, and after I ended up feeling even more anxious and being afraid.
This time around I'm learning that alcohol was only my cussion that I went too. it never did solve anything, and the problems just kept piling up, drowning me.
To recover I can't do that now, so aside from my meetings, and doing what I'm told in recovery, I did ask for outside help. I have appointments to see a phsychiatrist, a Dr, and I'm open to anything, except going back to drinking. I want to get well.
For sleep a Dr put me on Trazadone. Of course I wanted the more addictive drugs that I used to take, but Dr's are getting smart now. they wouldn't give me those. For me the Trazadone is working. I sleep a good 8 hours per night, and don't wake up grogy. I also take melatonin from a health store. That can help. It does me. I found most other herbal things like valerian root didn't work for me. Might be different for you though. If it's really bothersome talk to a health professional. That's what they are there for, and often we may need them. After all the drinking I did, and all the other shit that I put into my body, there just might be a possibilty that I might have sqrewed up the original wiring, or it may have been not all right in the first place. I don't know, and I'm not that concerned about how it came to be.
All I know is that for me sleep is very important. I've always had a problem with sleeping ever since I first started drinking at about 14 or so. If I don't get some good sleep somehow, in the past I'll try and fix it myself with booze or drugs, and that's never been the right way. So now I have to ask for help.
Like some others have said here, try to find out what's causing it. Pay attention to the caffeine, how much you exert yourself in a day, maybe you need more physical activity.
Anyway, I hope you get some answers to it. All the best. James

Hi everybody, Thank you sincerely for all the awesome information. It means a great deal and it helps to feel the company of others. I drink only decaffeinated drinks and I do not ever drink soda pop anymore (close to 8 years now) I am caffeine sensitive anymore. When I first started drinking I drank beer, it of course lead to a great deal of beer. Then I had to graduate to liquor thinking at least I was reducing my caloric intake (silly I know). I have never tried benadryl. I will try to increase my activity first and I already avoid caffeine so I'll see if I can do it without a med or supplement first. FYI I am trying meditation still, I'll see how the next week or so goes. Thanks again all.

DWS (Warrior against Big AL)

Another thing i tried that helped my anxiety a little was Kava Kava. Under my Dr.'s supervision i drank one to two cups of tea that had it in it. I think it did lessen anxiety a bit

Thank You msmermaid I will be checking into that. I have heard that somewhere once before.

I've had insomnia since I was a teenager. When i quit drinking I slept well for the first month, then the insomnia kicked back in. I read up on all the things you can do to improve sleep. after a year of not enough sleep I went to the doctor and got a prescription (non habit forming) that I can use -- Trazadone.

Here is a pretty decent article. The suggestions might help with anxiety as well:

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/sleep/cant-sleep-insomnia-treatment.htm

I have also struggled with terrible sleep patterns since I was a child. I just suffered through it for years - waking up numerous times a night, terrible nightmares, night anxiety. Like ExJ I tried all of the suggestions to get a "better night's sleep" but to no avail. I was against medication for the longest time but when I realized how much my mood, activities and overall quality of life were being affected by lack of sleep I relented and went in to speak to my doctor. I have a horrendously busy work/life schedule so I just couldn't go on the way I was. I've been on Zopiclone (Imovane) for 4 years now. My fear was always becoming "dependent" on sleep meds and having to continually up the dose as time went on. I'm still on a pretty low dose (have only upped my dose once in 4 years) the difference proper sleep makes in your life is amazing. I would highly recommend having a conversation with your doctor about options available to you.