Drugs come in many forms, legal and illegal, for healing and for recreation and relaxation. They have an impact on your body and mind and therefore are important to consider for insomnia. To get the most help for your sleep problem, honestly evaluate your own use of drugs and get the appropriate advice and help as needed.
Information about your use of drugs is confidential. This self-help section does not keep or store any information about you, but we cannot control who looks at the screen while you are using the system. |
Alcohol has a strong impact on sleep. It is known to suppress REM sleep which is one of the stages of sleep needed by your system. It can interfere with your ability to get to sleep and stay asleep.
33) Do you or have you used alcohol to help you sleep? If so, how much and how many nights per week?
Using alcohol to sleep is a common self-help that people try when they first have a sleeping problem. It is a very short-term fix because it may help you get to sleep, and if you drink enough you can stay asleep. But, the sleep you get when there is too much alcohol in your system is not refreshing, your REM sleep is impaired and this stops part of your mental and emotional systems from rejuvenating. It is cumulative, which means the trouble adds up over time. Often when people are in a recovery program and stop using alcohol they will experience what is known as REM-rebound and will have more than normal REM sleep. They have more vivid and often disturbing dreams. This scares them into thinking that going without alcohol is going to drive them crazy or will be too painful - but it is a temporary situation that must be gotten through.
34) How much alcohol do you drink?
An indicator of whether or not you're having a problem. For most people anything over #4 is a problem. For some anything over #2 or #3 is a problem.
35) Have you ever been treated for substance abuse problems?
Another indicator of a problem as well as a resource for help. If you've been in treatment then you will already know a lot about alcohol and what it will do to you.
36) Have you ever awakened in the morning after some drinking the night before and found you could not remember a part of the evening before?
If you answer Yes to this, you probably have or have had a drinking problem.
37) Have you ever had trouble with alcohol or drugs?
This is to help you answer for yourself the role that alcohol and drugs play in your sleep problem. Usually, people are reluctant to admit that their use of alcohol or drugs may be a problem . This gets in the way of helping a sleep problem when it is alcohol or drugs that is causing it.
38) Do you take medications that contain: caffeine, ephedrine, or amphetamine?
39) Are you taking weight-loss products or stimulants? If so, which ones and when do you take them?
Stimulants of any kind will make it harder to sleep. If you are seeking professional help for your sleep problem be sure to tell your health care provider about your use of these substances, it's hard to get the help you need if you don't tell.
59) How many cigarettes per day do you smoke?
Nicotine is a stimulant. It can inhibit sleep.
187) Have you ever used sleeping medications?
41) Do you use sleeping pills? Have you used them within the last month? What kind and how much do you use?
Many people can get help for the short term by using sleeping pills. However, they are shown to decline in effectiveness when taken over time. The person taking them may increase the dosage as the effectiveness goes down. This can cause troubles with overdosing.
Sleeping pills can be psychologically addictive in that a person may think they can't sleep without them. This can be a scary time because you have to be willing to risk some nights with troubles sleeping in order to clean out your system. As with any drug, you should start and stop taking it under the advice of your physician.
40) What prescription drugs, dietary supplements including vitamins, and over-the-counter drugs are you taking? When do you take them?
Many drugs have an effect on sleep. Be sure to ask your pharmacist, doctor, or other health care professional about the effects anything you are taking have on sleep.
46) Are you concerned or irritated by your sex life?
Some drugs have an effect on your libido and sexual responses. Be sure to ask your pharmacist, doctor, or other health care professional about the effects anything you are taking have on your system.
86) In the last 6 months have you been particularly nervous, restless, or anxious?
Some drugs cause these symptoms. Be sure to ask your pharmacist, doctor, or other health care professional about the effects the drugs you are taking have on your body and mind.
129) Do you have frequent nightmares? If so, how often do you have them?
Some drugs are associated with increased nightmares.
133) Are you on hormone replacement therapy such as thyroid or estrogen? If so, when do you take it?
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