insomnia

[constanceclum]

The last few nights have been horrible and that is a trigger for me. I have mild sleeping pills but, when my insomnia is bad, they don't work. I don't want anything stronger. In the past, when I couldn't sleep and my anxiety would build, I would get up and smoke to relax.

I'm really thinking there is something wrong with the patches I'm using. I'm just not getting my usual relief. They're not expired but I got up about 4:30 this morning (after 2 and 1/2 hrs. of sleep) to go on what was supposed to be a day trip on the Blue Ridge parkway with my husband. We haven't done anything for yrs. while we were drinking and now the boredom is settling in. It hasn't rained here since the beginning of May and, wouldn't you know it, they called severe thunderstorms today. We took a shorter trip outside of Charlotte through the old mill towns, about 2 hours, had breakfast and then returned. It's so nice to get out of this rat race for a little bit. Anyway, I was supposed to change my patch this morning but, when we got home, I was so sleepy I took a nap. I was able to sleep for a couple of hours. Now it is about 5 hours after I should have changed my patch but I'm really not feeling any different. Fairly easy day as far as cravings go. If anything changes I will put on a new patch but, for now, I'm just going to see how things go. I also have lozenges for emergencies.

I hope everyone is having a good smoke-free weekend!

Connie

[Jennifer-Quit]

Hey Connie - The insomnia will improve.  I used the patch also but it is not a cure all - I still went thru withdrawals just not as severe.  Some people say to take it off at night before bed but I kept mine on at night because I was used to getting up in the middle of the night and smoking sometimes.  You are doing great!

[djmurray]

In the early days there are all kinds of things that can pop up that will mystify you, but it really does get better.  You can do this!!

[Barbara145]

Hi Connie.  Insomnia in the beginning is what most people experience.  The good news is once it is over most people sleep better.  My sleep at 68 years old is wonderful.  on no meds.  I had the same problem if I couldn't sleep, I wanted to smoke.  Maybe put a lozenge in your mouth for a few minutes.  It might take the edge off.  Do what ever it takes to make this work.  That is how I got through it.  You are doing great!

[MarilynH]

It really does get better and it's so worth it. 

Marilyn 

[Em_12]

It gets so much better! Promise. 

Meditation helped and continues to help me. Even if you havent' done it before, something like a "body scan" may be a good introduction. UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) has a series of FREE guided meditations.  

You can also google Jon Kabat-Zinn. I really really like his body-scan for relaxation and sleep. 

Hang in there!

[Thomas3.20.2010]

I agree with Em. Meditation can surely help I would avoid Nicotine because it is a stimulant and would probably make it impossible to go back to sleep. There should be no sickerettes within your reach at this point especially at 4:30 AM. Do your best to relax and breathe into your muscles. You will feel better even if you don't go back to sleep!

[Sootie]

Hmmmmmmmm----I'm thinking that if I am reading this correctly you got up art 4:30AM and spent a day driving around and fell asleep and had not bad cravings.......so I'm not understanding why you think the patch is not helping? That sound like a pretty GOOD day to me.

I never used the patch so I don't know what kind of "relief" you are speaking about-----but sounds like you did pretty well today. So, repeat, repeat, repeat!!!!

Stay strong.

[lois2]

Hang in there you are doing great.   NOPE

[Eric_L.]

regulating nicotine levels is hard work!  hang in there connie. 

[exsmokermom]

Connie, I kept a bottle of water by my bed (and still do) and instead of a cigarette when I woke up in the middle of the night, I would drink some water. It really helped. Good luck!

[bonniebee]

Connie are you sleeping with the patch on? If so it will give you insomnia and when you fall asleep it may give you vividly weird dream. I took the patch off every night at least 1 hour before I went to bed.

[elvan]

Good days and bad days Connie and I agree with Bonnie that if you are sleeping with the patch on,  it will disrupt your sleep.  Insomnia is tough but it won't KILL you, SMOKING WILL!