Sleep problems

[markshark]

lately ive been taking xanax to calm my nerves and help me sleep. i have been getting used to them, though, and one doesnt help me much anymore, and i find it difficult to sleep without it. im worried about getting enough sleep each night to build muscle and will go to any lengths to get it, but im afraid of getting addicted to sedatives. i cant shut off my mind at night unless i take something, and i really wanna build muscle. how important is it for you guys to build muscle to sleep? ive had friends that have told me they get 4-5 hours max of sleep each night and they build muscle fine, in fact most of my friends get up early for work and really do only get about 4 hrs each night and are all really built guys. but, when i read around, all these bodybuilding "gurus" say i need 8 -10 hrs of sleep each night or else ill turn into a piece of skin. please somebody respond with their opinions because i really could use some advice on this issue because i dont wanna turn into a drug addict because im worrying myself to death of getting 500 hrs of sleep each night when i dont really need it.

 

[AlphamaleStS]

Rest is deff 1 of the many important ingredients to sucsessful BB, although i think that At least 4 hrs of deep sleep is key in the growth process & sufficient. Try Melatonin (sp), its all natural and helps me sleep. I also take xanax from time to time, when im real wound up at night....

 

[donsj]

Long term use of benzos like more than 2 to 3 weeks will have a paradoxical effect and acutally supress normal sleep. Wean yourself off slowly, best to get MD advise but you will be better off for it.

 

[concretor]

lately ive been taking xanax to calm my nerves and help me sleep. i have been getting used to them, though, and one doesnt help me much anymore, and i find it difficult to sleep without it. im worried about getting enough sleep each night to build muscle and will go to any lengths to get it, but im afraid of getting addicted to sedatives. i cant shut off my mind at night unless i take something, and i really wanna build muscle. how important is it for you guys to build muscle to sleep? ive had friends that have told me they get 4-5 hours max of sleep each night and they build muscle fine, in fact most of my friends get up early for work and really do only get about 4 hrs each night and are all really built guys. but, when i read around, all these bodybuilding "gurus" say i need 8 -10 hrs of sleep each night or else ill turn into a piece of skin. please somebody respond with their opinions because i really could use some advice on this issue because i dont wanna turn into a drug addict because im worrying myself to death of getting 500 hrs of sleep each night when i dont really need it.

I also was hooked on xanax after suffering neurological damage from viral menningitis. I slowly weaned my self off of them but it was tough. I was down to taking 1/4 pill each night with a glass of wine. I still couldn't sleep the first night without the 1/4.
I had some leftover diphenhydromine capsules from my menningitis and I remembered how drowsy they made me. I tried taking three 25mg capsules about 1 hour before bed and they worked great. After about a week of this I started sleeping without them. I also take spray melatonin but I don't really know if it works. I think it did before the menningitis. You can buy diphenhydromine at any drug store over the counter or at drugstore.com. I still keep some around for bad nights which I still frequently have. At least their not addictive.
Whatever you do, the sooner you get off the xanaxt the better. The longer you take them the harder it is to get off of them.
As far as sleep, I think it depends on your age. If you are under 40 you probably should be getting at least 6 hours per night. Of course more is better. Increase your cardio also that might help.

 

[markshark]

i really need some help now guys. even just opinions. im taking 1.5 mg of xanax each nite to sleep and calm my nerves. im not very drowsy during the day and feel good getting 7-9 hrs of sleep on this stuff than 3-5 hrs without it, but im worried about what will happen in the long run. ive been taking xanax for about a month now and have had to increase the dosage by .5 mgs. id ween off of them, but i cant see a psychologist to help me with my sleep and anxiety problems for another 3 weeks! im totally lost. my muscular strength has steadily been increasing from getting extra sleep with the drug than with less sleep without it, and i have more drive for the day by getting my sleep with it, but am frightened to death about getting off of it or withdrawal. i dont know whether to stay on it or ween off it, or take it until i see a doctor or what. any opinions or comments would be greatly appreciated because until i can see my doctor these forums are all the therapy i have. please respond, somebody!

 

[MikeMartial]

lately ive been taking xanax to calm my nerves and help me sleep. i have been getting used to them, though, and one doesnt help me much anymore, and i find it difficult to sleep without it. im worried about getting enough sleep each night to build muscle and will go to any lengths to get it, but im afraid of getting addicted to sedatives. i cant shut off my mind at night unless i take something, and i really wanna build muscle. how important is it for you guys to build muscle to sleep? ive had friends that have told me they get 4-5 hours max of sleep each night and they build muscle fine, in fact most of my friends get up early for work and really do only get about 4 hrs each night and are all really built guys. but, when i read around, all these bodybuilding "gurus" say i need 8 -10 hrs of sleep each night or else ill turn into a piece of skin. please somebody respond with their opinions because i really could use some advice on this issue because i dont wanna turn into a drug addict because im worrying myself to death of getting 500 hrs of sleep each night when i dont really need it.

Check this thread here.

 

[markshark]

Check this thread here.

ive looked at this and ive tried it all. ive done cardio, ive taken melatonin, and ambien. ive tried everything and am on xanax. the road ahead looks worse and worse each day as i become more addicted. iver heard xanax is worse than heroin. dont know if thats fact, but i feel worse each day, and trying to get off of it will only mean weeks without sleep. i cant deal with that, so, right now, its either drug up with xanax and try to get through the day, or put a gun to my temple. i cant see a psychologist until march 30th, so i may end it all before then. i cant take this anymore. thats all i can think about right now.

 

[concretor]

ive looked at this and ive tried it all. ive done cardio, ive taken melatonin, and ambien. ive tried everything and am on xanax. the road ahead looks worse and worse each day as i become more addicted. iver heard xanax is worse than heroin. dont know if thats fact, but i feel worse each day, and trying to get off of it will only mean weeks without sleep. i cant deal with that, so, right now, its either drug up with xanax and try to get through the day, or put a gun to my temple. i cant see a psychologist until march 30th, so i may end it all before then. i cant take this anymore. thats all i can think about right now.

Dude, you really need to settle down and think about this problem. Its not as bad as you may think. Go to a doctor or a sleep disorder clinic. There are other meds such as amitryptilene and trazodone that are non addictive but WILL make you sleep. Also, don't worry about the muscle losing thing. I sometimes go evry other or every three nights before I get a good nights sleep. I have 20" arms and can bench 385 LBS. I have been getting acupuncture and I think it is really starting to help. Last night I slept for 7 hours with no drugs. The two nights before I took amitryptiline and slept 8 and 7 hours with 75 mg each night. It might also help you to change your workout. I do 1 body part each day 6 days a week. But I kill it!! I never work out more than 1/2 hour. Its all in the intensity of your workout. And this workout is much easier if you didn
t sleep good the night before. Also it saves time for me to walk 3 miles which in turn helps me to sleep. I don't have all the answers as I still fight the problem.
The thing that has helped me the most is getting right with God and learning by reading the Bible and watching certain preachers and going to church. This is the most important thing anyone can do. Go to kcm.org and they will send you some free books. Also, watch their TV broadcasts and learn the truth. When Jesus died He died for all of us and our sins. We don't have to believe in sickness. When I went to prison on a pot charge and was facing 25 years I was the most depressed I had ever been and I thiught about ending it all. I just thank God every day that I was led to Himm by some people in the prison. I can tell you, kcm is the real deal. I saw how many free books were sent to inmates and this is only 1 prison. Go there and find out when they broadcast in your area. You have nothing to lose.

 

[markshark]

thanks for the advice. ive been goin through personal shit lately and working out is my only outlet, and the only thing that i can see gains in each day to keep my spirits up, i guess thats why i wanna preserve working out so much, because i love it and it is a savior sometimes for me.