Drinking to help sleep
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi guys I have been having problems sleeping for about 5 months, I think it seemed to be triggered by prolonged stress and finally it started to effect my sleep. I have nights where I can get to sleep quick but wake up frequently after vivid dreams (before I had sleep problems I rarely remembered my dreams) and other nights I can toss and turn until sunrise and only get an hour or two sleep. I have tried over the counter antihistamines to make me drowsy but they seem to linger in my body even after stopping taking them for a few days. They make me sleep and I don't have the weird dreams either but the groggyness and dry mouth they give me is terrible. They also seem to give me depression which I believe is a common side effect. But the last 3 nights I have been drinking alcohol - about 4 cans of a beer a night seems to be enough to sedate me, I can be asleep in 10 mins after I finish them and sleep between 5 and 7 hours without waking until I need to pee. I feel fine in the morning and not groggy like when I take antihistamines. Is drinking 4 cans a night ok? Some people say yes and others no so I thought I would ask you guys. Like I say I feel fine & have decent energy during the day like I had a good enough sleep at the night.
0 likes, 19 replies
alex01280 Gareth51625
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pistal666 Gareth51625
Posted
You tolerance will go up, followed by Increased intake, rinse and repeat. If you don't like the Dry Mouth that tablets give you? Wait and see what the drink does, it will make that side effect look like a Dance with the Daisies.
pistal666
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harriet67221 Gareth51625
Posted
Havr you had any liver function tests done? Sorry to be a wet blanket.
Gareth51625 harriet67221
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vickylou Gareth51625
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Been there, done that and got the t.shirt!!
With me the wine to help me sleep late evening turned into the wine before dinner, straight after work, eventually over a long period, the wine in the morning.
Please don’t get to that stage, address the problem and btw alcohol induced sleep affects R.E.M. which is the ‘good’ sleep the body needs
harriet67221 vickylou
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harriet67221 Gareth51625
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Gareth I know that some beers are weaker than spirits but that does not mean they are safe.
?I have seen too many people turn into heavy drinkers during my life.
. Four pints or cans a night is over the weekly safe level of units. Personally I do not think there is a safe level. Alcohol is a poison. I would advise getting your liver function checked. You can cut down. The fact that you are drinking four cans a night is very telling of a dependency. Do you drink alcohol at any other time during the day?
Gareth51625 harriet67221
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vickylou Gareth51625
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I think the point people are trying to get across to you, certainly from my experience, is that you need to address the problem now, rather than it get you later.
Okay you only drink at night now and have no cravings, but like it or not, carry on as you are and you will eventually become alcohol dependant.
Alcohol is clever, it creeps up silently on you. The four cans now will almost certainly become five, then six and so on to get the relief you want. Put bluntly you’ll need more alcohol as you become more tolerant.
I am no medic, but you’re becoming mentally dependant on alcohol and eventually will become physically dependant.
Sorry if you feel I’m being all doom and gloom, but the good thing with you is you know you need to address this otherwise you wouldn’t be on this forum.
I only wish I’d done something sooner, rather than later. It would have saved me and my family from years of heartbreak.
Insomnia is horrible, but I’ve learned to live with it. On a good night I’ll have about four hours sleep. However it’s a million times better than 6/7 hours of alcohol induced sleep.
Good luck
Robin2015 vickylou
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harriet67221 Gareth51625
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pistal666 Gareth51625
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If you did a poll on who started their addiction through "Medicinal Use" you will find it to be a huge majority. Whether it be for Depression, Pain, Mental Anguish and indeed insomnia. Be it Meds/Street Drugs or Alcohol, they all take you to the same place. If 4cans (now) is going to be part of your routine, you day will soon revolve around that time for it's Daily injection of dopamine, which it will get when you Drink. As Alex says, Deal with the cause rather that effect.
pistal666
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bikerjools55 Gareth51625
Posted
Hi Gareth as others have said using alcohol as a sleep aid is how this can in most cases lead to addiction, believe me I'm there and it's s**t. There are many other reasons for me, please try and address the underlying problem. Maybe ask doctor for some sleeping tablets as they will usually only give a few days to try and get a sleep pattern back good luck