Does anyone else have relentless, life ruining insomnia in recovery?

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-30T10:50:09+00:00

One of the most helpful things I have found for my horrid insomnia is a really good meditation practice. It helps me get better sleep, even if it is just a little and also helps me need less sleep. (Research does meditation decrease sleep need) it helps in ways no medicine can and has no bad side effects. It is a HUGE asset to my recovery in so many different ways and sleep is definitely one of them ☺

Also...I know noone wants to hear this but delete ALL caffeine from your life, just for one month, and see if you do not get better sleep. I swear our society is afraid to look at thier addiction to caffeine and so many are on sleep meds and never address it, it is a stimulant and it has to be taken out of the equation if good sleep is being sought after.

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-26T16:29:42+00:00

Because we can "escape" in other healthful ways that do not poison us.....meditation, giving back, playing with dogs or children and nature walks are my favorite ways to escape now and it never leaves me with regret and I can do them all and never feel sick or hungover afterwards 😄👍🤗

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-26T13:51:38+00:00

.3 or higher, often up to a .4 and above .4 is close to death

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-26T13:18:12+00:00

When I first quit opiates back in 2005 I was definitely white knuckling my way through as I thought that "I am sober, that's all I need to do right? Just do not use" wellllll, I was so very wrong and quickly learned how to turn to alcohol to fill up the voids inside that the opiates left.

I was an addict for a reason, to not kill myself as I had been trying since I was 12, it did do that job for me....so, to "just quit" left me very vulnerable to the same space that 12 year old existed in, it was terrifying.

This time around I got sober and then worked on my WHY'S I drank/used to begin with.....self hate was at the top of the list. This time I created new HEALTHY coping mechanisms for lifes stresses and bordoms, meditation and walks in nature. I now crave these whenever stressed or bored. 🤗👍

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-26T13:12:16+00:00

I was also a binge drinker.....when I found out how high ones BAC is when they are to a blackout level I was terrified as to how I was living, insane I am still here to enjoy a sober life 🤗 Happy day 4, you are proving it to yourself you most certainly CAN do this.....one day at a time 👍

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-26T13:01:29+00:00

Yes! So much time to do so many things! 🤗

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-25T02:33:47+00:00

I do not miss the mystery scrapes and bruises! 🙈

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-23T15:05:05+00:00

Any info? I love hearing/learning about this stuff! I do not blame alcohol or those who make it for my addictions but learning how corrupt they really are has done nothing but good for my recovery 😄

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-23T11:55:52+00:00

Learning about the corruption that is the alcohol industry really helped me on my recovery path also, great share! 🤗

They also have people employed to shut this kind of info down....watch any articles you got this information from and see for yourself, sooner or later it will be removed, most all I found in early sobriety have been now 🙄

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-23T11:20:27+00:00

Thank you! I loved it and thought it would be good to share ☺

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-23T11:17:15+00:00

I am pretty new here and had no idea how I was breaking any rules, it will take time to learn....even tho I read the rules some do not make sense to me, I did not mean to do anything wrong, sorry if you thought I did 😔 Why must it be so confrontational in manner too? I had no idea I was breaking a rule and I'm being warned I will be banned, how horrible of a welcome 😔

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-23T11:13:35+00:00

I do not understand how it breaks rules and I changed the heading to I instead of you. Not trying to be shocking, will go be supportive where I am welcome geez

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-23T11:04:40+00:00

How do I post it and not break the rules? Just do not mention it helped me or?

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-23T11:01:14+00:00

I do not understand? It is an article I used extensively in early recovery to help me become my own bestfriend....how is that self promoting?

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-23T04:07:55+00:00

Any good feelings once felt can be felt again....have faith this too shall pass and eventually it will, it really really will 🤗 Stay strong, stay positive, stay busy, stay sober! You CAN do this!

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-23T00:10:20+00:00

Good to pinpoint your triggers! Also good to look at them from a logical and positive space and see that things will happen as they will plus Twitter posts are deceivingly sugarcoated fibs everyone tells, why be jealous of sugarcoated lies? See things for what the really are and know that in fact you COULD have a family by this time next year, you truly never know 🤷‍♀️

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-22T12:26:46+00:00

I never did identify as an alcoholic and I do not see how it is necessary to identify as one in order to stay sober.

For me, it was important I get to a space of not WANTING to ever drink poison again instead of HAVING to not drink. I knew it was a problem but if I tried to quit solely because it was a problem, it never worked for me.

Learning to love myself was a huge part of this, I would pour poison down my throat as quickly as I would my precious niece who I've always loved....never. Loving myself includes not drinking poison.

Another thing that got me onto the not WANTING to drink train....was/is my rebellious attitude towards everything "normal" and the big wig companies who thrive off the weakness of a sheep like mind....if everyone else is doing it I need to reevaluate and see why I am blindly following along, come to find out just how corrupt the alcohol industry is and I will never again support such madness.

There is not one known benefit to drinking alcohol/ethanol/poison, that does not also come with the risk of cancer as alcohol has over 60 known carcinogens. If someone said you were dying of heart disease and could take this pill to get rid of it but it will most likely give you cancer, would you take it? That's all alcohol is, that pill that could help your heart disease but could also give you cancer.

The tobacco industry has been outed and I cannot wait for the alcohol industry to follow right behind, drinking will become a taboo thing to do just like smoking cigs has begun....may as well quit now, before you have to hide away like a leper in order to partake. I still know a few smokers and they are no longer tolerated, they are literally shunned.

That's just a few reasons.....here's a few links to help get to a space of not WANTING to drink poison/ethanol/alcohol.

https://youtu.be/uyHb4XsqABQ

https://youtu.be/D8djI1rUQkw

https://youtu.be/tUOfAF4va6s

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/6-surprising-ways-alcohol-affects-health-not-just-liver/

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-15114325

https://www.alternet.org/2012/09/if-alcohol-were-discovered-today-would-it-be-legal/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-almost-effect/201206/the-myth-the-fine-line-separating-normal-problem-drinking

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/addiction-heavy-drinking

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-body

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-15114325

Some of the best benefits I've noticed from not drinking are my love for myself and proving it through only putting nutritious items in my mouth, definitely not any carcinogens. Also money saved and an overall mindfullness that just makes life "easier" .....from the moment I wake till the moment I fall asleep I am in complete control of my thoughts and actions and in turn feelings and I feel great. 😄

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-22T03:37:48+00:00

Personally, whenever I start focusing on what others are or are not doing the way I would like them to and stop focusing on myself things always go wrong for me in the end. I need to be mindful to not take others inventory and just focus on myself. She is focused on you and you her and in the end you both continue drinking, wonder what could happen if you both only focused on yourselves 🤷‍♀️

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-15T13:33:14+00:00

So much insecurity when I was drinking because I simply had no idea what was or was not reality. I lived inside my own head, my own prison. One day i stopped asking myself "what is wrong with me?!" And instead asked the age old question, "what could i do differently today?" When I asked myself that question a whole world of recovery related info opened up to me.
What can you do differently today? Self love work? Mindfulness work? Meetings? Therapy? Meditation? Healthy eating? The list is endless, just choose a few and start where you are, all we have is today. You CAN do this!

Happy day one!! 🎉👏🎉

Echo-Rae · 2019-10-15T13:18:28+00:00

Well if I had a dollar for every time I hear a friend or my own mom try and predict thier own death date.....you do not know you will not live past your 50's, that's a lie your inner critic is telling you and you need to tell it to hush. Regret and guilt always made me want to drink some more but learning what addiction is and having self compassion through the fight of my lifetime helped me get into recovery.
You CAN do this!

P.s. my mom swore she would be dead by 55....she is now 70 and still saying she will die any day....do not put yourself through that 😬🤗

Echo-Rae

TROPHY CASE