Due to personal circumstances, my nervous system is on constant alert and years of training did get it down a bit but one bad experience makes it spike 10x.

Same. Just started a new job too and my shit has been going nuts. I'm not even struggling with anything my body is just freaking out for no reason. I try not to rely on alcohol to deal with it but when it's really bad sometimes that's the only thing that works and let's me level out. I will probably quit for a while after I get through the new job nerves though because I'm definitely drinking too much the last couple weeks.

[–] haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I‘d suggest a „pause“. Just see how long you can make it. It takes the „I can never do x again“ pressure away and makes it a lot easier to keep off something. Did the same with smoking.

Have you tried yoga/meditation? I make breathing exercises if stuff gets rough. Either awake or when I want to fall asleep. I count breaths in and out. When I come to 100 I start over. My brain calms down at repetitive stuff and i get tired.

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I do breathing exercises and they do help a little but not usually enough to get to sleep or stay asleep.

[–] haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

So no exercise at all? Thats a pretty important part imo.

Have you considered or tried medication?

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

You didn't mention exercise before but I do weight lifting and various forms of cardio. I'm in very good shape physically but those do not help at all with my sleep. Medication requires going to a doctor and that's too expensive.

[–] haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Whoops. I did include it mentally but as I see now I didnt actually say it. Sorry.

Very tough situation you‘re in. What country do you live in?

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

U.S.

[–] haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Why is that no surprise to me? The american dream these days to me feels like „I hope I can make it before I become seriously sick or injured.“

I suppose you have no way of getting insurance or some program to help you? Because self medicating with alcohol is pretty brutal for your health over time.

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I have insurance but every time I go to a doctor they always still manage to make it cost 100+$ and thanks to their incomprehensible medical billing codes I don't even have a way to budget for it if they decide to do some test that costs a lot and insurance comes back saying it's not covered after the fact.

I'm mitigating the alcohol thing by only using it in majorly stressful times. Normally I don't drink as much.

[–] haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com 2 points 9 months ago

Thats quite horrifying. Sorry you have to go through that.