There is definitely a link between drinking and sleeplessness.
Rehabs like Houghton House have long perceived a connection concerning chronic sleep problems, insomnia caused alcohol abuse and long-term alcoholism. A tolerance for alcohol can develop rather quickly, leading to drinking more before bed in order to enable sleep.
Unfortunately, many who are diagnosed with alcohol use disorders frequently also report occurrences of insomnia symptoms.
Can this Curse be Cured?
Though for many people, alcohol is the catalyst for tiredness, sleepiness, and, more alarmingly, passing out.
These reactions to excessive abuse can and do happen, alcohol also has a dark side. The OPPOSITE reaction to what has been stated can and does occur. The relatively unnoticed accumulation of tolerance, as well as the effects it has on the brain and its chemistry, can have a negative impact on sleep patterns swiftly!
Large amounts of alcohol abused on a regular basis might have a significant impact on your sleep habits. Many people drink alcohol at night to aid in the process of ‘unwinding’ and, as a natural result, sleep. While this may work at first, tolerance will almost certainly develop, and not long after the drinking begins. As a result, more alcohol is required to provide the same result.
If required the next step is alcohol detoxification or detox with Houghton House in the treatment of alcohol use disorder
What is the basic, healthy sleeping schedule that is deemed normal?
Sleep is a series of actions. Sleep cycles are a sequence of patterns that repeat throughout the night. A person can go through a number of cycles (4 to 6) in a single night, each cycle lasting an hour or longer. The lengths, on the other hand, differ.
A typical night can include four to six of these cycles, each lasting anywhere from sixty to ninety minutes. What are the different stages of sleep? Each sleep cycle usually has four stages, three of which are non-rapid eye movement and one of which is fast eye movement. Each step shows a distinct level of brain activity. Going from a drowsy condition to a more subdued state, deep sleep, and REM sleep. These four stages will be present in each sleep cycle. Lack of deep sleep and REM sleep can have negative effects on cognitive ability, as well as emotional and physical health.
What factors influence the stages of sleep?
A person’s age, recent sleep history, and usage of alcohol and other sedatives, as well as other disorders, can all alter sleep cycles.
What are the most prevalent and obvious causes of insomnia caused alcohol abuse?
Stress, life events, or a lifestyle that does not allow for normal rest intervals are all common causes of recurrent insomnia.
The effects alcohol has on the central nervous system and the brain
Alcohol slows down brain activity as it has a depressive effect on the central nervous system. When a considerable amount of alcohol is consumed before going to bed, it causes drowsiness, to begin with, followed by sleep pattern modifications early on in the process when blood alcohol levels are high. Heavy drinkers may fall asleep faster, but subsequent stages of sleep are frequently interrupted and become less important. Later sleep cycles have lesser delta wave sleep and more rapid-eye-movement sleep than the normal sleep cycle. Overall, the sleeper will be under-rested and under-refreshed as a result of this experience. Heavy drinkers who develop chronic weariness as a result of poor sleep patterns may learn to self-medicate by consuming more alcohol right before bedtime just to fall asleep.
Sleep, on the other hand, will not continue long and will almost certainly be followed by insomnia.
So …What effect does alcohol have on our sleeping patterns?
Alcohol has a direct impact on our circadian rhythms, which are the powerful responses of our internal biological clock that control and synchronize our metabolism, sex drive, and sleep patterns. These cycles are disrupted by alcohol (other factors such as air travel through time zones do the same). It also causes a twofold disturbance in how the body metabolizes drugs like alcohol. Heavy and excessive drinking will always interrupt sleep, but even a small amount of alcohol (two servings per day) will have insomnia caused alcohol abuse effect.
A 2018 research of sleep quality among adults who drank alcohol at various levels found that it had a detrimental effect at all levels:
- Low – less than two servings per day (M) or one (F) – impaired sleep quality by 9.3 percent.
- Moderate – two servings per day (M) or one (F) – sleep quality is reduced by 24%.
- High – more than two servings per day (M) or one (F) – impaired sleep quality by 39.2 percent.
Although large amounts of alcohol are more likely to interrupt sleep, even little amounts can induce restless nights and insomnia. Did you know that insomnia caused alcohol abuse raises your chances of developing sleep apnea by 25%?
What effect does alcohol have on persons who already suffer from insomnia?
Alcohol consumption is unlikely to help people who already experience insomnia. They would be better off focusing on removing stress from their lives, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and obtaining professional help in addressing pertinent concerns such as trauma or co-morbid medical illnesses to address the fundamental reasons for their insomnia. Any alcoholic who is having trouble sleeping should stop drinking at least four hours before going to bed.
As a co-occurring disorder, alcohol and sleeplessness can be addressed. Any treatment for alcoholism entails a lifestyle shift based on self-discovery to recognize maladaptive attitudes and behaviours.
Any co-occurring insomnia can be treated in the following methods at the same time:
- Sleep hygiene, including the bedroom and bedding, lighting and heating, and the usage of electronic devices.
- Diet – controlling the amount and quality of food and liquids consumed, as well as avoiding alcohol and caffeine.
- Routine — sticking to a set schedule of work, recreation, and rest.
- Meditation, exercise, and healthy behaviors promote well-being.
- Peace of mind by achieving sobriety while seeking expert help to address underlying issues such as trauma.
The majority of persons who seek treatment for addiction have some form of co-occurring sleep disturbance. The vast majority of people discover that their insomnia problems improve or disappear completely within a few weeks if they maintain a sober and regulated lifestyle.
Call Houghton House Group of Treatment Centres now to find out how you can change your life – and get better sleep!