Not as straightforward as just “insomnia”

Hey guys. I’m new to the insomnia thread but not new to waves if not sleeping.

 

Do most of you guys experience just tossing and turning insomnia? My body drifts off quite easily but is quickly jolted awake by a feeling of electricity. It feels almost like a deep energy that surges quickly and jolts me awake. In acute, this happened all night for almost a week and was horrific. I became very unstable because of the lack of sleep.  I’m trying not to overthink and make myself nervous that it’s hapoening again.

 

I guess I’m just hoping that some of you know the feeling and have made it through. Last time this happened, it was what caused me to reinstate.

 

Thanks guys

No one?

Yes, that happened to me a lot.  It happened early on after I jumped and even as far out as month 7-8 after I jumped.  Remember healing is NONLINEAR.  It is UP and DOWN for quite some time for most.  Symptoms that have gone away for awhile can return later on.  Don't let it freak you out.

 

I tossed and turned all the time, punched my pillow, swore, etc.  Until I learned to accept my insomnia and relax, I didn't get much sleep.  Then when I decided to not give a rat's a$$ if I slept, or not, sleep slowly started to return.

 

That being "jolted" awake that feels like an electric shock is a fairly common withdrawal symptom.  It happened to me a lot and really ticked me off.

 

Just avoid any additional Benzos or other Rx drugs...I can't tell by your signature if you are finished with your taper or not? 

 

But the good news is it all ends.  It all fades with time.  You WILL heal.  Your nightmare won't last forever.  Promise! 

Thank you for responding and for your positivity. I’m currently on about .03 of Valium so I’m close to the end. The last time this occurred, I had been off for 6 months. I’m petrified of this symptom bc the last time i didn’t end up making it through without more Valium. I refuse to let that happen again.

 

I am going to try to stay positive and distract myself even though it’s uncredibily difficult when you’re exhausted and your be body desperately needs sleep.

 

Are there any others that can relate to the constant energy surge that keeps you awake all night long? It’s nice to know that what I’m experiencing is common and I’m not alone.

I have been on this forum for over 2 years and I have heard the same thing from hundreds of others.

 

The constant energy surge you feel at night right now is because your Gaba receptors are shut down from the Benzo.  You have roughly 45,000,000 Gaba receptors in your body.  Their job is to make you calm and relaxed.  The Benzos you were taking have caused the Gaba receptors in your body to stop functioning on their own.  The Benzo did their previous job for them.  You also have about the same number of Glutamate receptors.  Glutamate is what makes you active and alert, fight or flight, etc.  Since Gaba isn't working and needs to heal over time, Glutamate rules the day and night.  That is why you feel wired or an "energy surge" all the time and cannot sleep and are jolted awake.  Unfortunately insomnia generally lasts 6-12 months or longer for most people. 

 

Most doctors are clueless when it comes to acknowledging Benzo withdrawal.  Most don't believe it exists or that it only lasts 2-3 weeks.  Stay away from those doctors unless you want to be put on more drugs.  My P-doc told me it was IMPOSSIBLE for withdrawal to last more than a month and all of my symptoms were from another mental illness so he sent me to a psychiatrist who wanted to put me on more drugs.  I didn't do it and found a psychiatrist that was very familiar with Benzo withdrawal.  I am completely healed now and when I ran into the P-Doc again and told him my story, he was still skeptical and still prescribes Benzos to his patients.  Needless to say, I won't ever go to him again. 

 

Acute withdrawal doesn't technically start until you are completely off of the Valium.  Healing is UP and DOWN...a real roller coaster ride for most for some time.  Don't expect to be healed by a certain time or get your sleep back by a certain time.  I would not take another Benzo no matter how bad your sleep gets. 

 

Lack of sleep will NOT kill you.  In fact, it won't do anything to you other than make you feel like crap.  I had almost 70 zero nights over 8-9 months of little or no sleep.  Others have gone a lot longer than that with poor sleep.

 

I can guarantee you that the constant "energy surge" you feel is VERY COMMON and almost everyone experiences that during withdrawal.  You are NOT alone.  You WILL heal.  Just be patient and let Time do its thing.

ThEwAy2 - Thank you for your explanation regarding energy surges, it's very helpful.  I think that my WD "insomnia" is beginning to improve.  I wrote a bit about it in my blog, this morning, but didn't mention that the surges have subsided quite a bit, and hopefully these improvements will continue.

I have been on this forum for over 2 years and I have heard the same thing from hundreds of others.

 

The constant energy surge you feel at night right now is because your Gaba receptors are shut down from the Benzo.  You have roughly 45,000,000 Gaba receptors in your body.  Their job is to make you calm and relaxed.  The Benzos you were taking have caused the Gaba receptors in your body to stop functioning on their own.  The Benzo did their previous job for them.  You also have about the same number of Glutamate receptors.  Glutamate is what makes you active and alert, fight or flight, etc.  Since Gaba isn't working and needs to heal over time, Glutamate rules the day and night.  That is why you feel wired or an "energy surge" all the time and cannot sleep and are jolted awake.  Unfortunately insomnia generally lasts 6-12 months or longer for most people. 

 

Most doctors are clueless when it comes to acknowledging Benzo withdrawal.  Most don't believe it exists or that it only lasts 2-3 weeks.  Stay away from those doctors unless you want to be put on more drugs.  My P-doc told me it was IMPOSSIBLE for withdrawal to last more than a month and all of my symptoms were from another mental illness so he sent me to a psychiatrist who wanted to put me on more drugs.  I didn't do it and found a psychiatrist that was very familiar with Benzo withdrawal.  I am completely healed now and when I ran into the P-Doc again and told him my story, he was still skeptical and still prescribes Benzos to his patients.  Needless to say, I won't ever go to him again. 

 

Acute withdrawal doesn't technically start until you are completely off of the Valium.  Healing is UP and DOWN...a real roller coaster ride for most for some time.  Don't expect to be healed by a certain time or get your sleep back by a certain time.  I would not take another Benzo no matter how bad your sleep gets. 

 

Lack of sleep will NOT kill you.  In fact, it won't do anything to you other than make you feel like crap.  I had almost 70 zero nights over 8-9 months of little or no sleep.  Others have gone a lot longer than that with poor sleep.

 

I can guarantee you that the constant "energy surge" you feel is VERY COMMON and almost everyone experiences that during withdrawal.  You are NOT alone.  You WILL heal.  Just be patient and let Time do its thing.

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. I really needed to read that. It makes absolute sense as to what’s happening. I guess my fear is that I won’t be psychiatrically stable to make it through all of that time with no sleep. I just spoke to an addiction specialist on the phone and he basically told me that he’s never seen someone this low on Valium have this severity if symptoms. He says that it’s likely due to an underlying psych issue. I don’t know why these doctors don’t believe in the severity of Benzo Withdrawal. He was pushing lyrica and gabatril. The terror is surreal and I’m scared out of my mind. I feel very alone so your message meant more to me than you know.

I have been on this forum for over 2 years and I have heard the same thing from hundreds of others.

 

The constant energy surge you feel at night right now is because your Gaba receptors are shut down from the Benzo.  You have roughly 45,000,000 Gaba receptors in your body.  Their job is to make you calm and relaxed.  The Benzos you were taking have caused the Gaba receptors in your body to stop functioning on their own.  The Benzo did their previous job for them.  You also have about the same number of Glutamate receptors.  Glutamate is what makes you active and alert, fight or flight, etc.  Since Gaba isn't working and needs to heal over time, Glutamate rules the day and night.  That is why you feel wired or an "energy surge" all the time and cannot sleep and are jolted awake.  Unfortunately insomnia generally lasts 6-12 months or longer for most people. 

 

Most doctors are clueless when it comes to acknowledging Benzo withdrawal.  Most don't believe it exists or that it only lasts 2-3 weeks.  Stay away from those doctors unless you want to be put on more drugs.  My P-doc told me it was IMPOSSIBLE for withdrawal to last more than a month and all of my symptoms were from another mental illness so he sent me to a psychiatrist who wanted to put me on more drugs.  I didn't do it and found a psychiatrist that was very familiar with Benzo withdrawal.  I am completely healed now and when I ran into the P-Doc again and told him my story, he was still skeptical and still prescribes Benzos to his patients.  Needless to say, I won't ever go to him again. 

 

Acute withdrawal doesn't technically start until you are completely off of the Valium.  Healing is UP and DOWN...a real roller coaster ride for most for some time.  Don't expect to be healed by a certain time or get your sleep back by a certain time.  I would not take another Benzo no matter how bad your sleep gets. 

 

Lack of sleep will NOT kill you.  In fact, it won't do anything to you other than make you feel like crap.  I had almost 70 zero nights over 8-9 months of little or no sleep.  Others have gone a lot longer than that with poor sleep.

 

I can guarantee you that the constant "energy surge" you feel is VERY COMMON and almost everyone experiences that during withdrawal.  You are NOT alone.  You WILL heal.  Just be patient and let Time do its thing.

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. I really needed to read that. It makes absolute sense as to what’s happening. I guess my fear is that I won’t be psychiatrically stable to make it through all of that time with no sleep. I just spoke to an addiction specialist on the phone and he basically told me that he’s never seen someone this low on Valium have this severity if symptoms. He says that it’s likely due to an underlying psych issue. I don’t know why these doctors don’t believe in the severity of Benzo Withdrawal. He was pushing lyrica and gabatril. The terror is surreal and I’m scared out of my mind. I feel very alone so your message meant more to me than you know.

I am also pretty low and made a big % cut recently and am experiencing the jolting and terrors on a daily basis. Even at .1 mg V, going to .03 is a big % cut, and your body will feel that. I am trying to hold now at 1.54: was at 1.64 and cut to 1.44 and that much - just a bit over 10% I think - plunged me into hell after months of thinking I was healed and had it nailed. Even at very low levels it can pay to go really slow

I have been on this forum for over 2 years and I have heard the same thing from hundreds of others.

 

The constant energy surge you feel at night right now is because your Gaba receptors are shut down from the Benzo.  You have roughly 45,000,000 Gaba receptors in your body.  Their job is to make you calm and relaxed.  The Benzos you were taking have caused the Gaba receptors in your body to stop functioning on their own.  The Benzo did their previous job for them.  You also have about the same number of Glutamate receptors.  Glutamate is what makes you active and alert, fight or flight, etc.  Since Gaba isn't working and needs to heal over time, Glutamate rules the day and night.  That is why you feel wired or an "energy surge" all the time and cannot sleep and are jolted awake.  Unfortunately insomnia generally lasts 6-12 months or longer for most people. 

 

Most doctors are clueless when it comes to acknowledging Benzo withdrawal.  Most don't believe it exists or that it only lasts 2-3 weeks.  Stay away from those doctors unless you want to be put on more drugs.  My P-doc told me it was IMPOSSIBLE for withdrawal to last more than a month and all of my symptoms were from another mental illness so he sent me to a psychiatrist who wanted to put me on more drugs.  I didn't do it and found a psychiatrist that was very familiar with Benzo withdrawal.  I am completely healed now and when I ran into the P-Doc again and told him my story, he was still skeptical and still prescribes Benzos to his patients.  Needless to say, I won't ever go to him again. 

 

Acute withdrawal doesn't technically start until you are completely off of the Valium.  Healing is UP and DOWN...a real roller coaster ride for most for some time.  Don't expect to be healed by a certain time or get your sleep back by a certain time.  I would not take another Benzo no matter how bad your sleep gets. 

 

Lack of sleep will NOT kill you.  In fact, it won't do anything to you other than make you feel like crap.  I had almost 70 zero nights over 8-9 months of little or no sleep.  Others have gone a lot longer than that with poor sleep.

 

I can guarantee you that the constant "energy surge" you feel is VERY COMMON and almost everyone experiences that during withdrawal.  You are NOT alone.  You WILL heal.  Just be patient and let Time do its thing.

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. I really needed to read that. It makes absolute sense as to what’s happening. I guess my fear is that I won’t be psychiatrically stable to make it through all of that time with no sleep. I just spoke to an addiction specialist on the phone and he basically told me that he’s never seen someone this low on Valium have this severity if symptoms. He says that it’s likely due to an underlying psych issue. I don’t know why these doctors don’t believe in the severity of Benzo Withdrawal. He was pushing lyrica and gabatril. The terror is surreal and I’m scared out of my mind. I feel very alone so your message meant more to me than you know.

I am also pretty low and made a big % cut recently and am experiencing the jolting and terrors on a daily basis. Even at .1 mg V, going to .03 is a big % cut, and your body will feel that. I am trying to hold now at 1.54: was at 1.64 and cut to 1.44 and that much - just a bit over 10% I think - plunged me into hell after months of thinking I was healed and had it nailed. Even at very low levels it can pay to go really slow

 

CallyDex

 

You're so right. The big cuts definitely make a difference. It took me a long time to accept that slow is important. It doesn't show in my signature (because I can't find enough room) but I have been tapering around .10 every two weeks or so and it seemed to be going well. I'm not sure if the .04 to .03 was the drop that caused this wave or if it was a wave that was bound to happen. Either way, I feel your pain with the jolting and terrors. How long do they last for you? This is definitely one of my worst symptoms. I find that when the adrenaline jolts, electricity surge and terror hits, it usually gets worse the more I don't sleep. Does yours go away after a few hours/days/weeks or does it vary wave to wave?

 

This crap should be illegal!

"CallyDex

 

You're so right. The big cuts definitely make a difference. It took me a long time to accept that slow is important. It doesn't show in my signature (because I can't find enough room) but I have been tapering around .10 every two weeks or so and it seemed to be going well. I'm not sure if the .04 to .03 was the drop that caused this wave or if it was a wave that was bound to happen. Either way, I feel your pain with the jolting and terrors. How long do they last for you? This is definitely one of my worst symptoms. I find that when the adrenaline jolts, electricity surge and terror hits, it usually gets worse the more I don't sleep. Does yours go away after a few hours/days/weeks or does it vary wave to wave?

 

This crap should be illegal!"

 

So mine is getting a bit better atm: last night I slept a little longer, and when I woke I was much more relaxed...I do expect it will even out as I heal from the cut. But when they happen they can be bad: I am in terror, think I can't possibly survive the night, can't deal with my life...sometimes I lie in bed until I can get to a cup of coffee which (paradoxically) helps for a little while: but after a while if I have too much coffee I get all crazy again. I could not cut .04 without feeling it bigtime. And looking at your post, it does vary from wave to wave. Good news is I've had some nice daytime windows over the past few days: in one now. Good luck!!! Hang on!!! Healing does happen!!!!

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. I really needed to read that. It makes absolute sense as to what’s happening. I guess my fear is that I won’t be psychiatrically stable to make it through all of that time with no sleep. I just spoke to an addiction specialist on the phone and he basically told me that he’s never seen someone this low on Valium have this severity if symptoms. He says that it’s likely due to an underlying psych issue. I don’t know why these doctors don’t believe in the severity of Benzo Withdrawal. He was pushing lyrica and gabatril. The terror is surreal and I’m scared out of my mind. I feel very alone so your message meant more to me than you know.

 

I woudn't trust an addiction specialist no way no how!  That person obviously doesn't understand Benzo withdrawal.  And your symptoms are most likely not due to an underlying Psych condition.  I would avoid any additional Rx drugs the same way you would avoid rat poison.  Current dose has nothing to do with your current symptoms or their severity. The damage to your Gaba receptors was most likely already done before you even started your taper?

 

Lyrica works on Gaba too so I would highly avoid that drug or any other drug.  Gabatril is a generic Gabapentin type drug and also could mess you up.  Again avoid these drugs like you would avoid the electric chair.  Make an effort to find a function doctor or one that understands Benzo withdrawal.  The symptoms will fade over time...Sleep will return on its own.  Your body will get all of the sleep it needs before anything bad can happen to you.  Promise! 

 

Symptoms are signs of healing.  It's true and it doesn't seem to make sense that you would have to suffer to know you are healing, but that's how it works.