Alcohol disturbing sleep

Absolutely, wide awake for hours and then when I do get to sleep, I keep waking, often incredibly hot. I sometimes get reflux too. Bit of a shame and turns you into a pariah at dinner with others. My DH gets grumpy because he doesn't like to drink alone! The deprivations of old age!

luzdoh your beliefs make you sound judgemental & indoctrinated and stevej4491 your comment doesn’t really help the OP does it as you have absolutely no point of reference to the topic?

I've no idea what people see in alcohol,just a couple of mouthful of anything makes me feel woosie. Waste of money.

I used to love red wine but a few years ago I stopped liking the taste and switched to beer. Not the ghastly stuff they serve draught in pubs but craft ale. I have one bottle most days, usually mid afternoon and sometimes have a nap afterwards. (Alcohol always makes me sleepy).
For those who enjoy a drink for the feeling of relaxation it brings why not have it in the afternoon if you feel it is impacting on your sleep at night.
As we get older more and more pleasures become a memory. Why should we give up a little drink as well?

Love my wine with dinner in the evening but if I have a G & T first I have a bad night - hasn't stopped me though. A GP friend told me (and I'm not sure how this works) that alcohol gets you off to sleep then wakes you up. I still like it.

I've had to virtually give up wine (red or white) as it all seems to give me a headache next day - that's one small glass. Went out for a lovely meal last night, 175 ml glass of light white Italian wine and today have felt as though I'd been on the razzle. So its just not worth it. Water/low cal tonic water for me in future and the occasional G&T.

It’s nothing new luzdoh there’s a long history of wine in Christian literature; the wedding feast at Canaan and the Last Supper spring to mind.

Honestly I am quite surprised at how a glass of wine features as a normal thing for everyone in so many places including here on GN. As a Salvationist, I don't drink alcohol. Plus there are so many other groups of people who do not drink it. Yet everywhere it seems to be an assumption that it is a normal part of everyone's day.

For the OP I suggest giving up the alcohol for a while. It will benefit your health and your pocket! Good luck!

You don’t have to give up wine. Just stop drinking earlier eg 8.00pm and have a soft drink or water after that.

Hello Poppyred! The wink at the end tells me you already know the answer. I would suggest total abstention but in such a gradual way that you arrive there without any feeling of deprivation. Measure if you have to but a little less week by week until you 'arrive' and consequently return to the enjoyable deep sleep situation. I have found radical change is a killer but slowly is surely This method certainly worked for me with a different problem. Good luck.

Any nice non alcoholic drinks??

Daisynance123 - Drugs??? Tell me more!

We drink every night- a gin andT then a glass of red wine, did used to drink more but we’re trying.
Funny thing though, when my husband broke his back and was in hospital for quite a while I didn’t drink anything so I must be a social drinker. I think that’s a good thing??

I read somewhere that red wine interferes with the REM stage of your sleep. The wine can may make you sleepy at first, but then you wake up an hour or two later and have trouble going back to sleep. Too much wine also causes headaches and migraines in some people.

Some people start acting silly with their wine. So moderation is key......enjoy your wine but don't drink the whole bottle!

Perhaps find out why you need to make an effort to relax.
I imagine most people just plonk down in a chair, lean back, close their eyes and emit a big sigh.
Drinking to relax can be the start of a slippery slope and the 'I only do it to relax' mindset which can become an excuse or a reason to continue, like smoking.
I'm not in the least suggesting that you're at that point, just that the very reason you're asking for advice is a pointer that you're aware of your 'dependency' on alcohol, however mild, to relax you.
A brisk walk before a warm bath and bed with a perhaps book before lights out, might do the trick.

Sorry - only answer is to give it up! We all react differently to alcohol, and I gave it up decades ago - I could see that it was not for me!

I love alcohol. All types except for vodka (unless in a cocktail!). That said, when I have a few AF days my sleep is so deep and gloriously regenerative I’m (almost) loathe to have another glass.... or two! ?

Poppyred - my experience of giving up drinking was that it was not hard. I thought it would be, but it wasn't. I gave up a few months after my husband had to go into a home. We had split a bottle of wine at dinner every night for years, but I realised I was drinking his share too. I was sad and lonely, and I realised I might be on a slippery slope, so I just stopped. The only problem is people saying "Oh what are we going to give you?" - to which I reply, "Water would be very nice, thank you". Warning - some take it as implied criticism. It isn't. I still use alcohol in recipes, no problem there. Good luck, whether you cut down, or cut it out.

Too much red wine and I wake in the night with my brain racing. Frantic worrying about all sorts of random stuff. Puts me off drinking until the next time

I find Valerian helps with sleep. It's a natural product so no 'hangover' type affect in the morning. I buy them cheaply in B&M or Home Bargains.
I don't use them every night & I recommend holding your nose whilst swallowing them as they smell vile!

Typical pattern I'm afraid and I so love the nights sleep when I haven't had a drink. Def reduce amount or stop

Yes. red wine worse than white. Although if I stop drinking by about 8pm I’m usually fine (so glass with lunch or dinner fine).

Drugs do it for me. Goodnights sleep guaranteed!!!

Thanks everyone, think I will have to give it up if I want a good nights sleep, easier said than done though!

Sorry Poppyred, but you will have to give up the evening drinking. It does affect quality of sleep. If you cant give up then try just one small glass early in the evening. If you are retired and not driving perhaps you could have a glass with your lunch instead.