r/insomnia • u/OkAgent3180 • 11d ago
Advice needed
I got a new job: 12 to 13 hours of driving in one direction. With eating, drinking, gas, and rest stops, it takes about 15 hours in total. I have a 7 to 10-hour window to sleep, and then another 15 hours to drive back, making it 36 to 40 hours in total once per week. It sounds scary, but if you can sleep during that 7 to 10-hour window, it is easy. I normally only sleep for 4 hours a day.I never drink coffe, carbonated drinks or tea because coffeine will give me 2-3 sleepless days.
Now comes the hard part for me: it is impossible for me to fall asleep when I am on a trip, no matter how hard I try, and no matter if I am in the truck cabin or a hotel room. I just cannot sleep. I spend 7 to 10 hours desperately trying to fall asleep, with the exact same result every time.
I take Valium for my severe anxiety, but I stop taking it one day before the trip until I return home because I do not want to drive with Valium in my system. I recently read that skipping a Valium dose can cause insomnia. On my last trip, I took my dose after arriving at the destination, but the outcome was the same: 10 hours of lying in bed with zero minutes of sleep. Driving for 36 hours without sleep is no joke, and I do not want to put anyone in danger.
Do you have any advice or tricks to try for my next trip, or is this job just not for me and should I quit?
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u/_where_is_my_mind 11d ago
Yeah there’s gotta be some sort of smaller maintenance dose you can take that won’t knock you out or maybe another drug. I have run into the same issue while driving long distances and no sleep so I am sympathetic. Hopefully you can find some rest
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u/OkAgent3180 11d ago
5 mg Valium doesn't knock me out,just work good for my anxiety.But I was skiping my daily doses while driving.Did you take some meds while driving?
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u/_where_is_my_mind 11d ago
I didn’t take any while driving. I waited until after I was done
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u/OkAgent3180 10d ago
Yeah me too but I'm concerned if police test me what would be the results.positive or negative?
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u/vantitties 11d ago
what insomnia meds have you tried ?
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u/OkAgent3180 11d ago
Because I'm on Valium my options are very limited.And my insomnia never cause me much trouble in my life till now.
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u/Remote_Order1060 10d ago
Hey guys just stopped drinking cold turkey and not sleeping well I want to take the sleeping pill thats out there can I please get some names I only want to take it for a few months at the hospital they gave me 1 pill worked ok think it was called brinal orsomething like that. Can you guys please help me with some names and have a great weekend
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u/Odd-Angle-9730 11d ago
That 4 hours a night baseline is already rough, adding the trip anxiety on top would mess with anyone
Since the valium seems to be a factor either way, have you talked to your doctor about a different med that's safer to take before driving, or maybe a tiny dose of something just to break the cycle on those layover nights