Dry January and insomnia???

nicola8989

I started Dry January on New Year's Day and since then I have barely been sleeping on a night! I've been going to bed at 10pm as normal but not getting to sleep til at least 1am, then waking up at about 4am or 5am.

I only drink at a weekend, normally just one night and I'll have a bottle of wine so I wouldn't say I've been relying on it to get to sleep - so why am I being affected so much?? Has anyone else experienced this?

vespiquenn

Honestly, I'm thinking this is a coincidence. It would be one thing if you were drinking daily and quit, giving withdrawal symptoms, but I don't think one day a week is going to cause that.

What are you doing before you attempt to sleep? A lot of people have trouble sleeping if they're letting their minds be busy right before bed, which includes being on the computer or your phone.

At this point, it may be annoying but just inconsistency that you are experiencing. I would try some meditation before sleep or tea with chamomile.

kristen6350

No booze would keep me up at night. Wow, that's a scary thought. LOL

Ok, in all seriousness, I think it's all in your head. It's a pattern your brain sees as the cause. Try Lavender Essential Oils, works miracles for me when I can't sleep.

swiftiesbuddies

I'm doing Dry January , but over the last 14 days ive drank beer / wine every day, and i'm struggling with sleep, Today ive cut out 90% of the caffiene in my diet too, and will see what effect this has tonight / tomorrow.

amyr271

Only being 4 days in, I agree with @vespiquenn it is most likely coincedence and perhaps you overthinking?

suziecue20

I always get the reverse - when I don't drink alcohol I sleep much better. I didn't get much good sleep over Christmas lol

amyr271

suziecue20 wrote: »

I always get the reverse - when I don't drink alcohol I sleep much better. I didn't get much good sleep over Christmas lol

Same! If I have been drinking I am awake every couple of hours!

nicola8989

Thanks guys I tried getting up to some yoga which often helps but it hasn't! I guess it probably is a coincidence, I am getting married in August and maybe that's stressing me out as it suddenly seems very close! (Although I'm mega excited about getting married of course - there's lots to do!)

SisterSueGetsFit

I'm also doing Dry January. I have problems falling asleep too, but sleep well once I'm out. I'm also VERY tired when I wake up but I know I've had a good night of sleep. I drank heavily so I imagine part of my issue could be with withdrawal symptoms. Or the massive amounts of tea I'm drinking. Good luck!

kshama2001

When I quit drinking I had to move into another bedroom because I was no longer able to sleep through my (now ex) husband's snoring. I was a much heavier sleeper when I was a heavy drinker.

But since you were only a weekend drinker and are now having insomnia all the time, it's probably not Dry January. How's your sleep hygiene? http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/getting/overcoming/tips

bubble_wrap0428

I don't think it has anything to do with the alcohol unless you used it in the past to fall asleep or were addicted to it. I'm doing a dry January as well and have slept the same if not better.

DrifterBear

Can't be related to the alcohol (or lack of). Probably stress from wedding planning or something else. I'm getting married in May and sometimes don't even realize I'm stressed between work, wedding planning, and everything else. Stick to the schedule, I get to bed around 9 and get up at 440 for a workout. No naps, etc. You'll adjust.

maxit

It's really common to experience insomnia when you cut alcohol out. Drinking a bottle of wine in an evening is actually "binge drinking," hard as that might be to believe, and there can be withdrawal symptoms when a person decides to be abstinent even if the drinking happens only on the weekend. On the up side, this will pass. Paying attention to having good sleep habits, properly hydrating, and eating nutritious food will help, whether or not your sleeplessness is due to your new abstinence, upcoming life events, or a combination.

toe1226

have you also reduced your calories? I find I have trouble sleeping during PMS, and also, when I reduce my calories significantly.

nicola8989

Thanks guys - I have also reduced my calories so this could be having an effect? I don't know really!

lpekny

I have cut out almost all of my drinking this month too. The first few nights, I slept horribly, but now I am sleeping great. I drink a Sleepy Time tea every night before bed and it helps me to relax.

kshama2001

Sublingual melatonin helps me get to sleep fast. Other forms don't work as quickly. http://www.iherb.com/Source-Naturals-Melatonin-Orange-Flavored-Sublingual-1-mg-100-Tablets/24650

lemurcat12

Yeah, like others have said if you were drinking every night that's not uncommon, but if just once a week it's almost certainly just a coincidence and unrelated.