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Saturday 17 March 2018

Alcohol and Sleep



It's Saturday morning, and I've bounced out of bed, leaving the children still slumbering away happily.

One of the very best things about being sober, the one I never tire of (please excuse the pun!), is sleep.

For at least a decade, I was a terrible sleeper. I would look at the rest of my family, who'd be happily out for the count for hours, and think how do you DO that?

I would get to sleep easily enough, but then I'd wake up at around 3am tossing and turning and unable to drop off again until about ten minutes before my alarm went off. 

I didn't waste that 3am-7am time. Oh no. I used it to beat myself up about my latest misdemeanour, or the things I'd meant to, yet failed to achieve, or the fact that - yet again - I'd drunk way more than I should have the previous evening. 

I blamed my insomnia on the inevitable stresses and strains of modern life. 

I tried everything to cure my lack of sleep – relaxation and meditation, exercise, aromatherapy pillows and various over-the-counter remedies, but nothing worked.

Then, I quit drinking and, within a few weeks, I was sleeping like a baby and bouncing out of bed in the mornings like the Duracell bunny. Miraculous. 

There are several reasons why alcohol has a terrible effect on our sleep.

Firstly, whilst alcohol initially helps you fall into a deep sleep (which is why I missed the ends of movies for years), as the alcohol wears off you move out of deep sleep and into REM sleep, which is much lighter and easier to wake from.

Your body has to work hard overnight to process all those toxins, which interferes with the quality of your sleep, causing all that tossing, turning and restlessness.

Alcohol is also a diuretic, so after a few drinks you’re likely to wake up in the night sweating buckets, desperately thirsty and needing a wee.

The problem with all this lack of sleep isn’t just that it makes us feel a bit snoozy the next day, it affects everything – our relationships, our careers, our creativity and our health.

Lack of sleep is directly correlated to an increased incidence of breast and colon cancer, and of heart problems. In the days after the clocks spring forward an hour in March, there is a noticeable increase in reported heart attacks and road accidents.

Sleep deprivation was deemed to be 'a significant factor' in the Exxon Valdez wreck, the explosion of the Challenger Space Shuttle and the nuclear disasters at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.

Now, we may not be in charge of radio-active materials or a space programme, but you know how lack of sleep makes you unproductive, irritable and more likely to make mistakes.

Of all the benefits being sober brings, for me, getting lots of (great quality) sleep has been one of the best.

It's made me healthier, happier, more creative and has even made me look better (no more eye bags and dull, tired skin).

It turns out that I’m not alone in finding that great sleep can transform your life.

A recent survey by the National Centre for Social Research found that quality of sleep has by far the strongest association with wellbeing among those elements of our lifestyle that we can control. Regularly getting a good night’s sleep makes us happier than a fifty percent pay rise, spicing up our sex lives or socialising with friends and family. Whoop whoop!

BUT, be warned, when you first quit you may find getting to sleep tricky. Don't worry, that'll pass. If you’re still having problems dropping off after a few days, try taking a magnesium supplement at bedtime.


I also HUGELY recommend (again) Spacemasks.  They are groovy little eye-masks that heat up when you put them on, releasing lovely, sleep-inducing, lavender. Watch out though, they're addictive!

So, sleep well my friends, and enjoy that virtual fifty percent pay rise…

In other news, the lovely Ang75 has set up her own blog. Go girl! Here's a link.

If you've started blogging, or have a favourite blog you'd like to recommend, then please leave a link, or the address, in the comments below. All sharing welcome :-)

For more on the ups and downs of quitting booze, read The Sober Diaries - click here (UK), here (USA) or here (Australia). The Kindle price in the UK has just been reduced to £4.99!

Love to you all,

SM x



27 comments:

  1. Thanks Clare, I'm 2 months sober, and just getting to the 'bouncing out of bed', Its very new to me, who knew there were 2 x 7 o'clocks in one day?? Had awful trouble nodding off in the early days, but that's easing now. It puts me in mind of a W C Fields quote. "I don't go to sleep, I pass out; I don't wake up, I come to" that was me for years. I'm sort of capturing my journey here: http://whenthewinestopsflowing.blogspot.co.uk/ - with my mantra #whatwouldclarepooleydo? Keep up the good work xx

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  2. Hi, totally agree with this. Also, since not drinking I've felt ok if there's a day when I have to be up super-duper early. I know my body can handle it and I'll sleep better the following day. In the drinking days I'd feel groggy and just awful.

    My blog is at https://sexysobervegan.blogspot.co.uk/ and I love the mantra #whatwouldclarepooleydo ( #wwcpd ) haha!

    Happy sober Saturday! I'm off to a full-day yoga course. Namaste.

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  3. Morning!! Ah thanks for the shout out Clare! 16 months sober for me yesterday and I celebrated by starting my own blog, and so far I love it! I’ve always held back on my social media about how amazing I feel because I know others may find it annoying but with my “lifting weights not wine” blog and Instagram page I feel like I can shout it from the roof tops how amazing sobriety is, because everyone is on the same journey! Please everyone follow me for inspiration and motivation for living AF. Thanks again Clare, have a fab weekend everyone, we can do this! Xxxxx oooh and yes my sleep is amazing, apart from my 8year old refusing to go to the loo on her own every night around 2pm!!! 😂xxx

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    1. Hi Ang, I’m so glad you’ve started a blog. I’ve said before how much I enjoy reading your comments here. Great first post and AMAZING photos. I’m sure, like Clare, you’ll inspire many. I’ve signed up to follow you by email. x

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    2. Awww thanks DJ!!! Not sure I will be up to Clare’s standard but at least blogging will keep me on track!!! Thankyou xxxxxxx

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    3. Thank you Ang75! I have just subscribed to your blog! You journey and photos are amazing! Both you and Clare are such an inspiration! Jacqueline xc

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  4. Ah yes sleep one of the best things about being sober. I too jumped out of bed this morning and went for a run while my husband nursed his hangover. I get 8 hours every night now and feel so much better for it. I totally recommend Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep - a smug read if you have stopped drinking and it you’re struggling a bit some of what you read might give you some extra encouragement. Have a great Saturday everyone. x

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  5. Thanks SM, mornings are so much nicer without the booze. I love your description of yourself as 'punchably chirpy'.

    Love

    Rob

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  6. I was so excited to see a new post from you and yes, the sleeping *and* the waking up are so much better already.
    I am winding up Day 15 here in Australia and have a blog exactly one day older than that, and YOUR BOOK got me here.
    Bec x

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    1. And it's a really good blog Mrs Sobers. Check it out everybody.x

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  7. Hi Clare - I’m reading your book and loving it! I gave up wine on December 27th and have been blogging daily for support. Here’s the link: 100dayswithoutwine.wordpress.com
    Thanks, Jen

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    1. Just subscribed to you Jen :) I gave up on New Year's Day this year so I'm just a few days behind you.

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  8. First time posting... I woke up yesterday after a 6 day rolling hangover and eventually thought I just can’t do this anymore. So in bed trying to come too after a terrible sleep I googled books to help you stop drinking and I found you and yours. It was like looking in a mirror and today is day 2 of leaving the drink behind. I can’t drink in moderation and I’m gradually getting my head into the space that there is a life to be had that’s better. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Thank you so much for inspiring me that it can be done #alreadybeentotescoandboughtbecksblue

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  9. My husband asked me the other night how I was feeling without alcohol. He congratulated me on being nearly 3 months in. He said one of the biggest things he has noticed is that I am a lot calmer - chilled out. When I was drinking I was constantly shattered and aggitated. All of the time. I blamed it on diet, the time of year, lack of exercise, anxiety. Anything. When I stopped, the tiredness literally disappeared. I sleep like never before and agreed, am up and about in no time. When I'm tired it's because I am tired - naturally. Not because I'm fighting off the latest hangover and drinking more to get rid of it. I didn't sleep at all when I first ditched the booze but that wore off after a month or so. Now I sleep right through and go to sleep at a decent time. Good luck to everyone and keep going. Jacqueline xxx

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  10. Newbie here...21 days. Starting to feel the sleep pattern improve and thanks SM for the extra tips. I was a 3am lady too and spent 3 hours beating myself up before son wakes (6.20am on the dot every day....who does that???). Becks Blue has got me through my birthday...mothers day....Cheltenham races and St Patricks day with a bit of rugby and day at the pub thrown in!! March is always a big social month so feeling uber pleased with myself. I am just about to finish your book SM (feel like I could have wtitten it) and have already decided to go straight to the start again! Also listened to great interview on podcast with Catherine Gray another inspiring lady. Amazing stories here and lots more blogs to follow. Thanks everyone. Nell xx

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  11. Ps. On the subject of sleep, does anyone dream of drinking? I've had quite a few lately where I have been drinking all sorts. One dream I was drinking Guinness! I've never drank it in the past! Jacqueline xx

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    1. Haha �� Last night I dreamt that there was a discarded bottle of pink champagne in the gutter with about an inch of the fizzy stuff left in the bottom. I was having a 'should I or should I not' moment. Thankfully I woke up. Very weird particularly as it wasn't even cold.

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  12. Good Morning! I am new to this site and reading EVERYTHING has helped me SO MUCH! Today is 11 days AF👏🏽

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  13. Hi! I've started a blog on WordPress called anordinarymum.com would love people to read, share, comment (good or bad). I hope that I can help at least one person through the hell of ditching the booze and discover the joys of sobriety. Big hugs to you all x

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  14. I've been reading your book the last few days and I love it. I love following you on your journey and look forward to mine. It is also fun because your time frame for quitting drinking aligns with mine so I can easily picture my 3 months, 100 days, etc as you describe yours.
    I've been keeping a one note journal but just decided to put it out there publicly - maybe it will help someone, maybe it won't but it will help keep me accountable.
    https://adventuresinsoberliving.blogspot.com/

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  15. Celebrated one year alcohol free yesterday (yippee!!) and one of the biggest benefits I've felt was better sleep as well. I've written a post on my sober year over on my blog www.hellowellness.co.uk/blogs/news/one-sparkly-year-alcohol-free

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  16. I’ve always been a boozer, life and soul. Wine for fun, wine for sad times, when it came to wine for breakfast I knew I was out of control, not fun anymore. Life knocks me over often and I pick my self up and dust myself off. This time I fell and couldn’t pick myself up. So here I am in rehab, 7 days sober, 7 more days to go to be discharged.
    I am not scared I will relapse, I am scared I won’t be me anymore.

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    1. What an amazing thing you are doing! I was afraid my creative juices would dry up w/o benefit of alcohol; that I wouldn't have those 'insights' that can come with such a POW. Reality: I'm still me, still creative....just not someone I feel ashamed of most of the time. It's wonderfully liberating. Good luck to you as you move forward in this journey. YOU are amazing. - northwoman96

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  17. Hi Clare,
    Long time reader of your posts, first time poster. I don't want to sound too ingratiating but you have truly been an inspiration to me. I'm reading your book at the moment and am loving it to the point where I'm reluctant to finish it. Gosh that sounded so sycophantic but it is what it is. I'm at Day 51 (yeah baby) and feeling pretty damn good about myself. If anyone's interested I too have just started to write a blog. So if anyone wants to come along to pennydropped94.blogspot you will be most welcome.

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  18. Sleep masks have arrived - report to follow. No blog from me, I’m too lazy, but grateful for other people’s

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  19. Thank you for sharing , This is really nice and informative. Next time also write about Natural sleep aids

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  20. Thanks for sharing this blog, this blog is very helpful information for every one.
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