[Mike Hooker]

Hi, all, It's been a long time since I posted on InsomniaLand, but I'm back. For the past two years I've been sleeping great after 30+ years of i

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a. I hate to even say the word any more. I was almost thinking that I might be cured. I was getting around 7 to 8 hours every night.

Prior to two years ago, I was waking in the middle of the night without being able to go back to sleep. Back then I was at the point where I was willing to take six bottles of sleeping pills so I wouldn't have to live that way any more.

Two years ago I changed jobs within the company for which I worked at the time. I was selected for their tractor-trailer driver training program. It two applications, but I finally made it in. I had worked evenings for them for seven years driving smaller trucks. Once my training started, I had to be in class at 7 a.m. which naturally means I had to be up even earlier than that to be in class on time.

From my experinece with i

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a, if I'm under pressure to sleep, I can't. If I have to be up early, I'll pretty much be up all night because of sleep pressure. Since 1995, I've had a prescription for temazepam 15 mg. I took them on an as-needed basis. Sometimes I'd go for months without taking one.

But two years ago, to ensure that I'd sleep enough hours to function while learning to drive the big rigs, I started taking temazepam every night. That's also when I started sleeping all night. My shift changed after I passed my state driving test. It started at 6:30 p.m. and ended at about 2:30 a.m., give or take a few minutes. I was effectively working the night shift, though not the typical 11 to 7. That forced me into sleeping during the day. So I'd done a flip-flop in my work/sleep schedule–hard for an i

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c to do. The temazepam was responsible for getting me the sleep I needed to drive the next night.

Well, I changed jobs and companies in January of 2012. I no longer drive for a living, but I'm still taking temazepam. I now work from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.–another flip-flop of my work/sleep schedule.

That brings me to today…a couple of weeks ago I awoke in the middle of the night and couldn't go back to sleep. My thought: Oh, no. Not again. I hate this. Then this past Wednesday night I was up until 1:30 a.m. Thursday morning. I simply could not wind down enough to fall asleep–even with the meds. So I read and read and read different books and magazines until I started nodding off. I was up at 4:30 a.m. to get ready for work. I slept for three hours which was the fewest hours I've slept since January of 2011. I've had enough experience with sleep deprivation to know how I'd feel and how I'd function the next day, so I knew what to expect.

I see my psychiatrist twice a year. At my last office visit in February, I asked her about taking temazepam every night. She said it was okay, but she was concerned about addiction. And so am I. Am I so desperate for sleep that I'll risk becoming addicted to prescription medication? I guess I am. I don't want to be addicted to any drug, but I certainly don't want to face life without sleep, either. I lived that life between 1979 and 1995, and I was miserable. Beyond miserable, actually. I'm sure you all know that feeling.

[Martin Reed]

Hi Mike

Sorry to hear that you're going through a rough patch.

However, your experience has proved that you ARE capable of sleep. You also know that when you put less pressure on yourself to sleep, you're more likely to get some.

Do you have any ideas why your sleep may have changed so dramatically all of a sudden? Do you think you may be building up a tolerance to the temazepam?

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If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.

The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

[lily]

Be strong on the sleeping pills. I think you have the right idea by not wanting to rely on them. Keep in touch and come talk to us.

[rusty rake]

Any update?

[Author]

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