Insomnia is a terrible condition that robs a person of necessary rest. is the inability to fall asleep on a regular basis. Many people associate and alcohol, but there is more than meets the eye. It has been said that alcohol is a good treatment for insomnia, when in reality it is more of a hinderance than a solution.

Why Alcohol Affects Sleep

Consuming alcohol affects the 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 shown 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 person's quality of rest is greatly reduced. For people who consume alcohol often, the withdrawal affects they experience during sleep reduce the effects of sleep. Therefore, the combination of and alcohol can lead to prolonged problems getting a good night’s sleep.

More Issues With Alcohol

Another issue with using alcohol as an "treatment" is the limiting of long-term treatment choices. This can be a vicious cycle, because the sufferer tends to latch onto alcohol as their choice for getting to sleep due to the short-term results, causing serious long-term problems with their liver, excess body fat, heart and kidneys.

It is much easier to stop pretending alcohol is a solution for when provided with a better, healthy alternative. There are dozens of prescriptions on the market to treat the effects of insomnia, and plenty of excellent 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 lack of melatonin in the body, which can lead to an increase in insomnia's negative side effects

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