When you struggle with alcohol and insomnia, you may start to wonder if the two are related. In other words, does alcohol affect sleep? This may sound obvious at first since many people feel a bit sluggish after they’ve had a bit to drink.
Some people have even used alcohol to help them get to sleep because it is a natural depressant. But new research indicates people may have misunderstood how alcohol affects sleep. In fact, alcohol and insomnia are more interrelated than we knew.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with an alcohol use problem, reach out to Summit Detox today using our convenient online form or by calling (888) 995-5265.
Are Alcohol and Insomnia Connected?
As you may be aware, some people used alcohol in hopes that it will help them with their sleeping habits. Maybe it has gotten them to sleep because of its powerful effects on the brain and body. However, this isn’t the whole story, as alcohol affects the quality of sleep in negative ways.
Our bodies have built-in sleep regulators that help us fall asleep when it’s time to get our rest. The “circadian rhythm,” for example, is the name we give the cycle that tells the body when to feel tired. The thought was that alcohol could trick our circadian rhythm by engaging it at an earlier time.
In other words, people thought they could change the rhythm by using alcohol. However, what researchers discovered is that while it may shift the circadian rhythm, it ends up disrupting your sleep by forcing an earlier sleep cycle. This throws off your system, causing you to awaken throughout the night — whether you remember or not — and not feel rested.
The bad news is once your system is thrown off-kilter, you then suffer from insomnia. That’s why alcohol and insomnia go hand-in-hand.
Correcting the Problems of Alcohol and Insomnia
It’s easy to see how this issue can quickly escalate to a problem with alcohol abuse. The more that sleep evades you, the more you may turn to alcohol to get to sleep. However, in the end, you are only creating a cycle of dependency. When alcohol abuse is a factor, you can expect insomnia also to be an issue. Through alcohol detox, you can begin to sleep well again. This will not happen right away.
It will take time to progress through the steps of an alcohol detox program. But once you have completed detox and the alcohol is out of your system, your body’s natural circadian rhythm will return. You will notice that you are getting sleepy at night when you should. As your health improves, so will your sleep quality and quantity.
Solve Alcohol and Insomnia Problems at Summit Detox
At Summit Detox in South Florida, we can help you overcome the problem of alcohol abuse. We understand that you may be struggling with your sleep patterns right now, and we are here to help you get back on track.
Your health is a priority to our medical detox team. We use evidence-based detox programs to ensure you can safely detox from alcohol. Then you will be able to move forward with a new healthy lifestyle that includes plenty of rest.
At Summit, we have many other treatment programs for a broad range of substances. Some of these treatment programs are:
- Heroin detox program
- Alcohol detox program
- Opiate detox program
- Benzo detox program
- Codeine detox program
- Oxycodone detox program
Don’t let alcohol abuse interfere with your quality of life. Now that you understand the connection between alcohol and insomnia connect with a quality rehab center in South Florida today. Contact Summit Detox at (888) 995-5265, and we’ll help you find a brighter tomorrow.
