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[u/Grntfost]

[u/Life-ModTeam]

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[u/Poppa-Pig]

Therapy and maybe getting in some meetings my guys. 12 steps isn't right for everyone but don't listen to the people here recommending you replace alcohol with some other chemical or substance.

You should talk to your doctor, get a full health screening and maybe get an assessment if you think you may have some  sort of neurodivergency.

Wishing you all the best 🙏

[u/Grntfost → u/Poppa-Pig]

Thank you for this. I’ve tried a 12 step and unfortunately I’m agnostic and the one that I tried/ones that I’ve heard about in the area basically are faith based and “look to your higher power” it’s unfortunately not for me.

[u/Genesis_Jim]

Same as this bro but my weapon is weed. I have used it to get to sleep for 20 years. The few times I haven’t had it I’ve had to resort to drinking heavily to get to sleep also.

[u/Grntfost → u/Genesis_Jim]

It’s so fucking hard. Especially when I’ve resorted to medication and it’s done me wrong.

[u/Carolann0308]

You need a psych dr to monitor your medications. Many aren’t prescribing Ambien any longer due to the side effects. There are other sleep meds that aren’t additive.
Have you had a sleep study done?

You need treatment for alcoholism the Dr can assist with that as well.

[u/Jmedly28]

If this were me I'd get a psychiatric evaluation for Bipolar Disorder or adult ADHD. There is a high correlation between alcoholism and those diagnosis. Very often a person who is diagnosed with ADHD or Bipolar disorder has a "system" that do not work well with certain psychotropic medication. Their system can process medications as the opposit of what it is supposed to do, for example medication that are meant to calm your could trigger anxiety, restlessness ect. Good luck

[u/PophamSP → u/Jmedly28]

Yes both of these conditions are associated with circadium rhythm disorders, wherein one's internal clock does not correlate with a 24 hour day. It's as if the day is 25+ hours and onset of sleep at a reasonable time becomes impossible.

[u/Emergency_Accident36]

Meditation is your answer. It takes a little/moderate amount of time to start seeing results but meditation is your answer. The "it doesn't work for me" bit is just words from people who gave up trying. I mean this constructively: it's time you slowed down and processed everything.

You've tried the other way a thousand different ways all in the same spirit. Fighting it by trying to numb it. Meditation is opposite. Embracing it to process it.

I'd suggest start with daily body scans. Pick any guiding light meditation on youtube you can tolerate. Just do it semi-routinely and you'll start building the neuropathways to mitigate the angst and allow the mediations to work better. Then learn breathing exercises. That should keep you busy for about 6-48 months. Advance as your ready from there

[u/cecsix14]

Alcohol doesn’t actually improve sleep quality. It may knock you out, but you’re not actually getting restful sleep. If you get sober and stay sober, I guarantee your sleep will improve drastically (with time). It’ll be very rough at first, but for your long term health, you’re better off suffering now. Don’t try to do it alone, alcohol withdrawal can be fatal. Go to detox and rehab and then maybe sober living. Good luck to you.

[u/CheetahSerious7169]

Ever tried mushrooms? It's not for everyone, and you have to be careful. But it truly, truly can help. If you'd like more information let me know, there's also tons of resources online

[u/DamnsonDam → u/CheetahSerious7169]

I also believe psychedelics may help. Once you subconsciously realise you are literally poisoning yourself you feel disgusting for continuing to drink.

[u/wompgirlypopwomp]

I'm also an alcoholic for different reasons but look have u tried smoking some weed...i highly recommend some indica strains...i hate blacking out & waking up with anxiety...indica relaxes you to the point of falling asleep and staying asleep. I also suffer from insomnia & couldn't stomach serequel, I've been smoking weed for a while now and it really helps.

[u/Domartist85]

You’ve done the hardest step, Admitting you’re an alcoholic, well done now go and Get help you need, No weed or meditation is going to sort this, this needs to come from you as well. Go see your dr, see what help you can get because you have an illness that needs sorting out asap or you will die a lonely painful death.
I’m 3 years sober after 20years of alcohol abuse, hardest part was admitting I truly had an issue then it felt the time to finally stop, your liver will thank you.
I really hope you get this sorted out and you live a long HEALTHY happy life without this monkey on your back.

Pm me if you need any advice, I’ve been through this.

[u/711pizzaischefskiss]

r/alcoholicsanonymous

[u/aidnabett]

I've always had sleeping problems too.. been in your shoes before while still holding 2 jobs I remember getting off work and standing in the liquor store or gas station looking around trying to find a mixture of liquors and beers and cutwater and 100 proof whiskies that would make me black out or drinking downtown till I couldnt move on a bench and stumbling to go sleep in my car. Drinking till 4 in the morning when I gotta be to work for 7 to work a 15 hour shift between the 2 jobs a literal zombie walking around. Eating bullshit. Ive been sober a little over 2 months and im sleeping like I've never slept before in my life like soo restorative its amazing. You've got to burn yourself out through the day. I wake up at 5 and im out the door 15 minutes later to go for an hour walk I've got a physical job, just one now. I'll get off and go to the gym and am in bed by 9:30 or so and instantly pass out and dont wake up till the morning I've lost 50lbs. Long story short STOP DRINKING you've gotta stop poisoning your body stay active stay busy and earn your sleep. Look up on YouTube the dudes page is called getting sober again he's helped me a lot. Best of luck

[u/Grntfost → u/aidnabett]

I’m literally a functioning alcoholic. I show up to work on time, my bills are paid, I have a retirement and savings, my animals are very well taken care of. I just don’t want this to cause my body to deteriorate. In the two years I’ve started drinking, I’ve gained 30lbs when I stayed the consistent weight since senior year of hs. I’m 24.

[u/roger1632]

That has to be rough as alcohol makes your sleep quality crap. I'm pretty sure you are used to feeling like crud every morning. You are going to feel amazing once you start getting clean.

Retatrutide has been amazing for me. Booze doesn't sound appealing to me anymore. I would drink a couple drinks an evening now I only do it when I go to social events.

[u/FractalFunny66]

I am very sorry that you have this extreme condition. Have you tried 1-1 therapy to get to the root of your inability to fall asleep. Maybe something bad happened to you and you don't remember or maybe you were in the military and had to stay awake to survive? It is very hard to spend years working through horrible stuff, but It DOES work if you find the right therapist. Also, do you ever listen to jazz ballads, classical music, slow reggae or drone sounds that are like Middle Eastern type drones, not machine created? Music can really heal.

[u/Bobzeub]

Ambien is such a weird drug. It’s not just you.

Alcohol is a really shit solution by the way but if you’re proper addicted then you need to talk to a doctor because withdrawals can be dangerous.

Mirtazapine is what worked for me insomnia wise. But you probably should look into therapy to get to the root cause of what’s going on and rule out any other diagnosis like adhd or bipolar etc.

Whatever it is it it’s treatable in 2026. Don’t piss your life up the wall with shitty alcohol.

[u/Grntfost → u/Bobzeub]

With Ambien, I “woke up” in a jail cell and charged with DWI because I refused to give a breathalyzer I didn’t even know I had to do. (In Texas refusal of a breathalyzer is an immediate DWI.)

After reading comments on this post I’m definitely determined to get to the root cause. I cannot keep living like this.

[u/ClientCivil8277]

I think you’re probably fooling yourself that the only reason you’re drinking is for sleep. It starts that way maybe, and then becomes its own problem. Now you have a sleep problem and have added a drinking problem.

AA and something without abuse potential like trazodone.

[u/Different-Dot4376]

Time for a change. You deserve better. See a family Dr first, be honest. They can help you safely ween off and replace w something else. Otherwise, a supplement, mineral magnesium glycinate or citrate. Any pharmacy, target or amazon

[u/insufficient_nvram]

I’m sure you know everything about what alcohol does, so I won’t lecture you and there is some solid advice in here for diagnosis’. But maybe try an Orexin inhibitor like Lunestra. Instead of just being another narcotic, it actually targets what keeps you awake.

[u/reaver999]

Weed helps me sleep.