By the Dawns Early Light

Feeling stuck in the insomnia struggle? Get the free insomnia sleep training course!

Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #48867
    HENRY22
    ✘ Not a client

      My name is Loomis Henry and I am currently trying to get off of Ambien after having it being prescribed to me for the last five years. It was a very effective medication that allowed me to get a good nights rest for the entirety of those five years without any negative side effects save for my total dependency on it. Now I am being weaned off the medication by my new Primary Care Physician after trying to quit cold turkey and this has been a month long ordeal with a number of near psychotic meltdowns due to total sleep deprivation.

      Just decided to join a support group to maybe build some solidarity and find encouragement from others who have undergone this particular hell. Anyhow, that’s my story…so far…

      #48879
      Chee2308
      ✓ Client

        Hi @HENRY22

        I am lucky because I discovered very early in my insomnia journey that ambien didnt work for me. Looking back the reason ambien didnt work was because I was going to bed way too early! Back then I was a late night owl, usually sleeping at 2am, so when insomnia hit after one whole sleepless night, of course I went to the doctor, horribly stressed over it and was prescribed ambien like everyone else. It kinda worked first night, I went to bed much earlier at 9pm versus the usual 2am, did manage to fall asleep after 1.5 hours but that was because I had backup sleep deprivation from the previous night. So second night, I took the pill again and went to bed at 9pm and guess what? Another sleepless night! Then I went back to the doctor who told me to stop taking the Ambien. Long story short, I only realised after finishing this course, that my circadian rhythm and the amount of time I spent awake continuously was the biggest determinant of how sleepy I’d get by a certain time in the evening. So now, I have been regularly going to bed at 11pm and out by 730am. So far so good, I am able to sleep a minimum of 6 hours on my worst nights, or the entire 8.5 on my best. I don’t stress about sleep anymore, I sometimes do wonder when an entire sleepless night would visit me again, and I do kinda anticipate it to happen because I have been taking afternoon naps, but so far, it hasn’t. I hope you find your relief soon. Best wishes.

        • This reply was modified 4 years ago by Chee2308.
      Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

      Get involved in this discussion! Log in or register now to have your say!


      Want help from a caring sleep coach?

      My name is Martin Reed and I am the founder of Insomnia Coach®. Enroll in my free sleep training course and start getting your life back from insomnia today.

      • * Get 1 email every day for 2 weeks.
      • * End the insomnia struggle.
      • * Pay nothing (it's free).

      Over 10,000 people have taken the course and 98% would recommend it to a friend. Your email address will not be shared or sold. You can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy.

      National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach
      Certification in Clinical Sleep Health
      Certified Health Education Specialist
      BBB Accredited Business