Stop Drinking

1339 readers

13 users here now

This is a place to motivate each other to control or stop drinking. It is also a place for non drinkers to discuss and share.

We welcome anyone who wishes to join in by asking for advice, sharing our experiences and stories, or just encouraging someone who is trying to quit or cut down.

Please post only when sober; you’re welcome to read in the meanwhile.

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

What do I do when it hurts too much to sleep? (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

18 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I have struggles with PTSD. Some very terrible things have been done to me by people I loved and trusted.

I can be very distracted during the day. I have a very active mind, lots of coping mechanisms and most of the time I’m fine. But it’s trying to sleep that is impossible.

Weed can help, but there’s this pain that hits late at night. It’s crushing. Weed will quiet flashbacks, will help me get to the point that my parasympathetic nervous can kick in and I don’t feel afraid and hyper vigilant, but it can only sometimes help the pain.

Drinking helps. It’s making me sick at this point but I don’t know how else to cope with the black pit of despair. Doomscrolling and drinking all night at least stops the rumination.

And so I pay for help with this and see the therapists I can. There’s barely any options for therapy and I try to journal and do all of the things but it just doesn’t help when I feel like my heart is bleeding out and I need to sleep.

It feels almost physical, a gaping wound that needs a beer to hold it together.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

That’s definitely a rock in a hard place.

I’ve been in a similar situation from a bad experience that I’d rather not get into here that lead me to have panic attacks related to ingestion of any “substance” or drug. Even ibuprofen or Tylenol. I thought it’d give me a heart attack or my skin would fall of all sorts of stuff. Couldn’t even drink caffeine or I’d panic so hard I’d pass out and loose feeling in my limbs.

Was a difficult time. What ended up helping me was exposure therapy. Over several years exposing myself to triggers in a safe setting. Teaching my logical mind to soothe the monkey throwing levers up there.

Don’t ever blame yourself for your trauma. It’s ok to take things slow. Mental health care in the US sucks. I’m sorry you’re going through this. I couldn’t imagine not being able to sleep

A coping mechanism I will share from dealing with my own pain is running. Long distance specifically. I find it really helps clear the mind, and exhaust the body. Helps to sleep when you can’t