How Do I Sleep Without Alcohol? Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Moderate drinking is loosely defined as up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. Heavy drinking means more than 15 drinks per week for men and more than eight drinks per week for women. The relationship between sleep apnea and alcohol has been researched somewhat extensively. The general consensus based on various studies is that consuming alcohol increases the risk of sleep apnea by 25%. I can’t guarantee that what worked for me will work for you. But I find a tremendous amount of fulfillment in the idea that something I’ve learned can help others break free from the same horrible state of body and mind that once tortured me. When I began taking DLPA in the mornings, I began feeling better almost instantly.

• Months after I quit drinking, I still had many symptoms of thyroid imbalance – a malady that often results in poor sleep.
• Your brain spends more time in this stage of sleep than in other stages.
• Listen to your breathing and calm yourself as much as you can.
• If you or a loved one are suffering from Insomnia that you believe is tied to an alcohol use disorder, then your problem is likely more severe than you realize.
• “At the beginning it was scary – and dealing with the identity crisis was really hard.

I have tried all of the above with good results, and I still use 5-HTP and L-theanine on a regular basis. In my opinion, NAC in particular is an underrated solution for anxiety and insomnia during post-acute withdrawal. Since insomnia is merely a symptom of biochemical imbalance caused by prolonged drinking and/or withdrawal, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Once we grasp the importance ofbiochemical balance, we can see why band-aid approaches to falling asleep RIGHT NOW (e.g., popping an Ambien) aren’t always best. If your friend or loved one is struggling with an addiction and you’re able to be included within their support system, there are a few things you should know about the detox process.

Drinking Water Before Bed

These internal links are intended to improve ease of navigation across the site, and are never used as original sources for scientific data or information. On average, women exhibit signs of intoxication earlier and with lower doses of alcohol than men. First, women tend to weigh less than men and those with lower body weights often become intoxicated more quickly. Most women also have a lower amount of water in their bodies than men. Alcohol circulates through water in the body, so women are more likely to have higher blood alcohol concentrations than men after consuming the same amount of alcohol. Our team of writers, editors, and medical experts rigorously evaluates each article to ensure the information is accurate and exclusively cites reputable sources.

• Heavy drinking means more than 15 drinks per week for men and more than eight drinks per week for women.
• If you find you still can’t sleep without alcohol, or that you need to increase your alcohol intake in order to fall asleep, there is help.
• You may have a sleep disorder that needs its own attention.
• Reading for only a few minutes before bed also reduces stress and help maintain a relaxing routine.

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that balances adrenal and thyroid hormones, easing anxiety and helping with sleep. Some of these solutions were serendipitous discoveries that I found through a process of trial and error. Others were gathered from a variety of reputable books and studies on the subject of nutritional repair for alcoholism and insomnia. There are plenty of distractions to be had in the home including music, TV, or a good book.

Why Does Alcohol Withdrawal Cause Insomnia?

Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. If you sleep better when you don’t drink, you might consider stopping alcohol use entirely.

In her role as VP of Communications, she oversees branding, public relations, social media, marketing, events, and content creation. The relationship between alcohol and insomnia is complicated and multifaceted. Anywhere between 25 to 72% can’t sleep without alcohol of people in alcohol treatment programs experience some kind of sleep problem.1 In some cases, people may have insomnia and use alcohol as a sleep aid. Other times, insomnia may be brought on or made worse from frequent alcohol use.