Question
I have recently taken to beating myself up in my sleep, I don't know what is causing it. Having just started in the past month or so, I do take sleeping pills. And some of the non medication plans for getting to sleep, but I've given myself a black eye and several bruises without waking up. I don't know what I should do, if it's not overly important
Answer
Its likely that these sleeping pills you are taking are running havoc on your sleep cycle. First of all you should speak to your md,about coming off of them if you have been taking them for more than a month, do not withdraw from them completely as this will cause more eratic sleep and mania, you must cut back on the dosage lets say a quarter of a pill lower and stay on that dose for 10 days then lower another 1/4 of a pill. If they are capsules, open the capsule and spill some out. Withdrawal side effects will be insomnia sometimes worse then before, unfortunately sleeping pills work but then are not worth it to have to come off of them as the side effects are worse than taking them. If the withdrawal is unbearable ask your md to give you ativan to take to reduce the withdrawal effects however this is not given often, as mainly the e/r will administer an injection if need be but it stops the withdrawal effects but can also be addictive.also follow these steps.Happy new year and feel free to email again,karel
You must reset your sleep clock. Do the following religiously for
4-6 weeks though many have seen changes in as little as 2 weeks.
You must go to bed and awaken the same time every day regardless
of how much or little sleep you got the night before. This starts to
reset your sleep clock. 3 hours before bedtime stay away from
tea, coffee, caffeine, caramel colored soda like, coke,pepsi, ginger ale,
or root beer, chocolate and exercise .All these make for restless sleep.
Make sure room is quiet and dark. When you go to bed if you start to
twist and turn or if you wake up in the middle of the night and cant
go back to sleep, twist and turn for only 20 minutes, then get up, go
into a different room and read a book or magazine only! No computer!
When you start to doze immediately go back into the bedroom.Do this as
many times as you awaken during the night.It will lesson.This retrains
the brain into thinking that the bedroom is for restful sleep only.
30 minutes before bedtime take a hot bath and immerse hands under the
water.Latest research states that the palms of the hand when immersed
in hot water send signals to the brain to relax. 15 minutes before bedtime\
drink a glass of warm milk. Milk when heated contains tryptophan, a
natural amino acid sleep inducer. Go to sleepnet.com click on disorders
insomnia for more tips. Feel free to email again , Karel
