Alcohol Insomnia - How do they interrelated? |
|
There’s nothing worse than getting in bed after a long, exhausting day and simply not being able to sleep. And even though we’re thoroughly tired, we are somehow kept from sleep by an internal process we neither understand nor can control. Insomnia strikes us all at some point in our lives; it leaves us feeling mentally and physically drained, and unprepared for another long day ahead. Those who suffer from insomnia periodically will try all manner of solutions to induce sleep. From warm milk at bedtime to sleep masks and earplugs, there’s nothing we won’t try once to put insomnia at bay. For some, a glass of wine or bottle of beer seems like an appropriate way to combat insomnia. And while alcohol before bed will often induce a speedy sleep, in the end alcohol and insomnia just don’t mix. The combination of alcohol and insomnia works something like this: the introduction of alcohol induces sleep quickly. However, it also begins to instantly dehydrate your body. The result is a fitful sleep that stops short of REM required for a deep, rejuvenating rest. Instead, you will most likely wake just several hours after falling asleep. The reason? Your body needs water. So, despite what you may think, alcohol and insomnia is one of the worst combinations. Short bouts of insomnia may be inevitable in every person’s life. Sometimes, just a change in routine can help you get back to resting peacefully. Darken your bedroom, play soothing music, or limit food and beverages before bed. If, however, insomnia continues to plague you, you may consider seeing your doctor. For ongoing problems with insomnia, there is effective medication – both prescription and over-the-counter – that will safely help you fall asleep. Getting adequate sleep is absolutely crucial to a healthy lifestyle. No one can be expected to function successfully in life without ample rest. But combining alcohol and insomnia is simply not the way to go in order to ensure a restful sleep. Look instead to more natural ways to combat insomnia or seek professional guidance from your doctor. Will Drinking Alcohol Cause Insomnia? Insomnia is a disorder that prevents a normal nights sleep, the person suffering from insomnia will either not be able to fall asleep or they will wake after only a few restless hours of sleep. Many people have tried drinking alcohol prior to bedtime thinking that this would make them sleepy when in fact it can have the opposite affect on a person who suffers from insomnia. It can in some cases add to a list of problems the patient already has and as a stimulant it can make the insomnia more severe. One of the most problems with a person suffering from insomnia that uses alcohol to battle the disorder is that they usually will put off seeking treatment. This alone can allow the insomnia to progress rather than dissipate, along with the fact that depending on alcohol as a sleep remedy can start a dependency on alcohol. This can limit the amount of treatment options an insomniac will have available to them if dependent on alcohol. For many people suffering from insomnia they feel that having a few drinks helps them to unwind and rids them of stress. The truth is that while it can make a person feel relaxed at the time the alcohol takes affect later when sleeping the body dehydrates and after a few hours of sleep the person suffering from insomnia will wake without having enough rest. This will also affect the persons waking hours, they can often have a short temper, be irritable and have slower alert responses. It has also been researched that alcohol affects the sleeping pattern and can affect the deeper sleep cycles not allowing the body to have quality REM sleep. |