Damn, I sure wish my sleep could return to normal. Like clockwork I wake up at 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. and wide awake every day now. I used to dip like a fiend before going to bed so could easily understand difficulty sleeping then but I guess my body was trained in that regard and I would sleep like a baby. Now when I'm going to bed clean I don't understand why I can't get a good night's rest. Sure hoping that gets better soon.
Anyway, so I'm in Beaumont, Texas on business and this lawyer bud of mine (who I used to work with at a firm a few years back) happens to also be here on business. We go grab a bite for dinner and I start asking him about his "quit". Back in 2007 when we worked together we decided to quit. The only difference is he followed thru and I just continued the lie. He was schocked I never quit. Anyway, this dude is a beast. He was on the cope for 25 years and was a poster child for nicotine addiction. He would have a dip in and then as soon as he took it out he would immediately throw in his mouth two 4 mg pieces of nicotine gum. When the gum became stale he'd put another dip in. No joke. Anyway, so he decides to quit and does like a mad man...still quit almost 4 years later. He refuses to even find a replacement for the oral fixation - refuses to chew on sunflower seeds or anything. I know I'm truly done and quit this time but damn, I have a hard time not putting something in my mouth. Maybe one day.
Sleep will return to normal. The time frame varies from person to person, but it will come. My first three weeks were pretty ugly but before I knew it I was sleeping much better. One strange thing I've noticed is that I seem to be having more dreams, or at least remembering my dreams, than I did before. Still haven't had the dip dream (that I know of) but I sure am having some weird ones. Guess that's all part of the process...
Stay strong!
I 2nd the fact that the sleep will get better. Shit, we'd all be f'd if it didn't :)
On another note concerning your old pal. I decided early on that I would not compare my Quit to anyone else's. Especially those that are able to Quit without this site. I feel strongly that this is the ONLY way that I am able to remain Quit.
Kind of a "good for those who can do it on their own"...but I like our way and it's the only way for me.
Ag - We are like two peas on a pod in our quits (no homo). I too have had sleep issues. Before I quit, bed at 11, up at 7, nice 8 hours. Now, it is bed at 9 up at 3. For the first 50 or so days, I could not fall back asleep. I still get up at 3 but thankfully am able to fall back asleep until 5 or 6. Point is what you are going through is normal. Keep in mind. Nic is a drug. It does devastating things to the brain, namely make you a junkie addict. In doing so, it had an affect on the part of the brain regulating sleep. Just like it affected when you took a dump, appetite, etc. In other words, the sleep issue is all part and parcel of your body and brain learning to live and readjust without Nic. As I have told others, embrace this, because you know what is going on. You are winning the daily battle against Nic and the various changes are direct evidence of same. For me, the "side effects" of quitting, including sleep issues, are much better than the side effects of being a sorry ass junkie Nic addict. As to advice when you wake up. I read on my I-pad, post roll early, return office e-mails, etc. Good luck. JT
