TITLE

Why Does Alcohol Mess With My Sleep?

DESCRIPTION

Lots of folks have a “night cap” to help them fall asleep, however though they may drift off into sleep more easily, the alcohol has a deleterious effect on the sleep cycle.  “…there’s a good chance that too much alcohol will mean a fitful night of sleep. That’s because alcohol disrupts what’s known as your sleep architecture, [active link] the normal phases of deeper and lighter sleep we go through every night. A night of drinking can “fragment,” or interrupt, these patterns, experts say, and you may wake up several times as you ricochet through the usual stages of sleep.”  This fascinating article discusses a number of studies that highlight the neurophysiology of alcohol and various brain mechanisms and how sleep is disrupted.  There are many side effects of drinking too close to bedtime and even how alcohol the night before can affect the next waking day.   The article offers some excellent advice on making changes.

SOURCE

New York Times, January 25, 2022, by Anna Nierenberg

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/25/well/mind/alcohol-drinking-sleep.html

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/56f3z83e

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•First begin with understanding the normal process:  What are the normal stages of sleep and dreaming?

•How does alcohol affect sleep? Dreams? Bodily function?

•What brain mechanisms and neurotransmitters are involved with alcohol as a sedative?

•Why should a person never mix or combine alcohol with other sedatives (both prescription and over the counter supplements)?