Alcohol to help you sleep?

[Cheyenne]

I have a friend who claims drinking at night helps him relax and go to sleep. Not drinking to the point of passing out, just having a few drinks while sitting at his computer.

I, on the other hand, can count on one hand the times in my life I've been alone and had anything alchoholic to drink. I'm not a big drinker even socially (you'll usually find me with a diet soda in my hands), but definitely not alone.

My question is: how many of you find drinking at night before bed relaxes you? Or does it make being an insomniac worse?

 

[lobito]

can't be very helpful Chey, but for em, ti really depends on the situation. Sometimes I can fall asleep here in my office after I've been drinking. And sometimes it just keeps me company while I'm online late. So really it doesn't appear to mean anything either way for me.

 

[patient1]

It's relaxing, but it interferes with normal sleep.

A glass of wine with dinner is better, but there have been times when a cognac before bed was perfect.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

It has been so long since I have had anything to drink, that I think that If I drank enough to make me sleepy I would get the "whirlies" like I did when I drank a lot.

Here is a URL with info from NIH about alcohol and sleep:

http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa41.htm

I would be cautious about people claiming they sleep better after drinking, but if you are a total insomniac alcohol may help you get some sleep you otherwise would get to.

I personally don't have a problem getting enough sleep, I get too much. I do sometimes have trouble sleeping at night, and then if it is early enough I take some Melatonin, but I think that would only help mild and intermittent sleep problems.

 

[decadentp]

does this include champagne enemas?

or a warm hot chocolate douche?

 

[April]

It does relax me and help me to sleep, but I also wake up a little slow and groggy the next morning. So I stay away from alcohol when I have to open the store.

 

[batter]

i know a glass of wine relaxes me.
i dont drink too often, but, if i have a problem falling asleep, i usually just take 2 extra strenght aspirins and that usually does it for me. i sleep good and no after effects the next morning.

 

[Weird Harold]

I think the effect of one drink is probably more psychological than physical. Taking the time to slow down and savor a drink will put you in a better frame of mind to sleep. I get much the same effect from a glass of milk or cup of hot chocolate as I used to get from "one last drink before bedtime."

 

[decadentp]

I think I will drink myself to sleep to night. Why not? I could use a good drunk!

 

[Starfire]

a drink to help sleep?

I have to confess here and now that I rarely go to sleep without having had a drink. The mind is a devilish place at times and drink helps to clear the demons.

I admit that it creates demons of its own, but I find them easier to deal with.

 

[Demian]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

huh?

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[Wiggles]

I have to wait for the room to stop spinning before I pass out, so no it doesn't help.

I just don't know when to say stop.

 

[Svedish_Chef]

A drink before bedtime so to speak does work for me... I only use it when I need it...

I use it to take the edge off pain so I can fall asleep

 

[Cheyenne]

Thanks for your help everyone, especially STG with that web site. Very insightful.

 

[Silverlily]

I find that alcohol makes me sleepy while it makes it difficult to stay asleep. So, no, I don't use it as a sleep aid.

What I am hoping it does is kill pain. I pulled a rib muscle and it's not responding to Advil. So, crossing my fingers that Stoli's is part Demerol.

 

[Cheyenne]

I find that alcohol makes me sleepy while it makes it difficult to stay asleep. So, no, I don't use it as a sleep aid.

That's the effect I would have guessed.

Hope your rib muscle is better. Next time you play naked twister, remember that our older bodies don't twist like they used to!

 

[Silverlily]

Next time you play naked twister, remember that our older bodies don't twist like they used to!

OUR older bodies?? You got a mouse in your pocket?

Nope, alcohol sucks as a pain killer. I'm starting to believe it's only good for getting smashed.

 

[Cheyenne]

OUR older bodies?? You got a mouse in your pocket?

Gotcha!

 

[decadentp]

Thanks to this post I got drunk off my ass last night.

I feel like I have water in my ears.