Why Alcohol And Insomnia Are A Terrible Mix
By Benjamin Ingram
Insomnia is a terrible condition that robs a person of necessary rest. Insomnia is the inability to fall asleepon a regular basis. Many people associate insomnia and alcohol, but there is more than meets the eye. It has been said that alcohol is a good treatment for insomnia, when the truth is that it is more of a hinderance than a solution.

How Alcohol Affects Sleep

Consuming alcohol affects a person’s body in many ways. Because it is a depressant, it can make a person feel tired, but typically at a time that is outside their regular sleep cycle. Plus, after its effects wear off, it can actually stimulate the body. This depends on the amount of alcohol consumed, and varies by person, but either way alcohol actually disrupts the circadian rhythm or sleep pattern.

Multiple studies have proven that alcohol does indeed induce sleep at first, but more importantly it interrupts the second cycle, known as REM sleep. REM stands for "rapid eye movement", and it is the most restful period of sleep, so by disrupting it the sufferer's quality of rest is greatly reduced. For people who consume alcohol regularly, the withdrawal affects they experience during sleep cause disruption of their sleep cycle. So, the combination of insomnia and alcohol can lead to prolonged problems getting a good night’s sleep.

Other Insomnia Problems Caused By Alcohol

Another issue with using alcohol as an insomnia "treatment" is the limiting of long-term remedy options. This can be a vicious

cycle, because the sufferer will latch onto alcohol as their choice for getting to sleep due to the short-term results, causing many long-term problems with their liver, excess body fat, heart and kidneys.

It is much easier to stop pretending alcohol is a solution for insomnia when provided with a better, healthy alternative. There are dozens of prescriptions on the market to treat the effects of insomnia, and plenty of effective alternative treatments as well. One natural hormone, known as melatonin, helps to trigger the body's sleep patterns. Some have reported findings of alcohol being directly related to a shortage of melatonin in the system, which could be a direct result of the link between alcohol and insomnia.

By utilizing healthy treatment options such as behavioral treatments such as meditation, feng shui or soothing music, herbal remedies or even prescriptions, the insomnia sufferer will enjoy better sleep without the long-term side effects of alcohol.

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