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Sleep drunkenness is when a person wakes up confused and disoriented, so much so that they are unaware of their behavior. Sleep drunkenness is a casual term for confusional arousal, which is a type of parasomnia. A parasomnia is an unusual behavior that happens while you’re asleep or just waking up. This article explores how alcohol affects your quality of sleep.
People suffering from depression may already have disrupted circadian rhythms, and the presence of even moderate amounts of alcohol may push those rhythms further out of sync. A sleep study can also determine what’s going on and help your doctor develop a treatment plan for a good night’s rest — and awakening. If you’re feeling confused, aggressive, or panicked upon waking, then you might have had an episode. But don’t take this condition lightly if it happens frequently. In rare cases, people have harmed themselves or others while sleep drunk.
But the truth is, drinking regularly—even moderate drinking—is group activities for recovering addicts much more likely to interfere with your sleep than to assist it. According to the American Academy of Neurology, psychotropic medications, especially antidepressants, are closely linked to confusional arousal. The connection is likely due to the effect that these drugs have on hormones and chemicals in the brain that could affect sleeping cycles. Research has found that 31 percent of those experiencing disoriented arousals also take psychotropic medications[8], and often they were antidepressants.
Potential damage to vital organs is another serious long-term consequence of regularly sleeping while intoxicated. The liver, which is responsible for metabolizing alcohol, can suffer significant damage from chronic alcohol use. Additionally, the heart, pancreas, and brain are all vulnerable to the toxic effects of alcohol, particularly when exposure is frequent and prolonged.
In fact, a preexisting mental health condition, such as anxiety, is one of the main risk factors for sleep drunkenness. Sleep drunkenness is when your brain has a particularly challenging time waking up, leading to feelings of confusion and grogginess. The symptoms can be so disorienting that it feels as if you are drunk even if you didn’t drink any alcohol what drugs was eminem addicted to the night before. Instead, you may act on automatic behaviors instead of rational thoughts.
Alcohol and Sleep: What You Need to Know
Snoring is the body’s response to gasping for air, which your body is trying to grab when sleeping drunk, says Greuner. Because the alcohol has passed through your system at this point, the depressive effect no longer applies, making it difficult to relax back into sleep, he explains. So you might wake up off and on for the remainder of the night. As your wakefulness and rapid heart rate get in the way of deep sleep during the second half, you missed out on those valuable zzz’s which could’ve eliminate a nasty hangover in the a.m., he says. Of course, some people get worse hangovers than others, he says, but generally the more sleep you can get, the better you’ll feel the next morning. If alcohol continues to disrupt your overall sleep quality, you may consider cutting it out entirely, or limiting your intake before bedtime.
Instead, it relates to feelings of confusion and disorientation when an individual is woken from a deep sleep. While the immediate risks of sleeping while intoxicated are alarming, the long-term health consequences of regularly engaging in this behavior are equally concerning. Chronic alcohol use, particularly when it involves frequent episodes of sleeping while drunk, can have profound effects on cognitive function and memory. “Many people actually state that they have more vivid dreams after drinking. When your blood alcohol level drops, your sleep is shallower, and the fact that you’re waking up more frequently means it may be easier for you to recall your dreams,” Dr. Greuner explains.
And when your partner mentions your behavior later, you have no memory of it. And you’re not alone — this condition affects at least 1 in 7 people. On average, some people might be sweatier sleepers than others, and when drinking, those effects are only exacerbated, he explains. What’s more, your sheets might get a little damp, as your body is primed to sweat. Because alcohol causes your blood vessels to dilate and heart rate to increase, your body gets hotter, he explains. While they might’ve tasted great going down, you might suffer the consequences after hitting the sheets.
Alcohol acts as a respiratory depressant, slowing down breathing rates and potentially leading to sleep apnea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This risk is particularly pronounced in individuals who already suffer from sleep apnea or other respiratory issues. The combination of alcohol-induced muscle relaxation and depressed respiratory function can create a dangerous scenario where the body struggles to maintain adequate oxygen levels throughout the night. The more alcohol your drink and the closer you drink it to bedtime, the stronger its effects will be. The effects on overall sleep patterns and circadian rhythm can be long-lasting and detrimental to overall health. Alcohol disrupts the natural sleep-wake cycle, interfering with the body’s ability to regulate important processes such as hormone production, metabolism, and symptoms of roofied immune function.
How Does Alcohol Affect the Sleep Cycle?
- You may need to share your medical history to seek potential triggers.
- Confusional arousals also most commonly occur in the first part of the night during your deep sleep cycle.
- For many people who drink moderately, falling asleep more quickly may seem like an advantage of a nightly glass of wine.
- We’ve all been there—you turn your keys into the doorknob, stumble into your bedroom, forget to brush your teeth, and crash onto the bed, fully dressed, after a long, drunken night out.
The more you drink, and the closer your drinking is to bedtime, the more it will negatively impact your sleep. Even moderate amounts of alcohol in your system at bedtime alters sleep architecture—the natural flow of sleep through different stages. It also leads to lighter, more restless sleep as the night wears on, diminished sleep quality, and next-day fatigue. Responsible drinking and proper planning are key to avoiding the hazards of intoxicated sleep. This includes knowing your limits, arranging safe transportation, and ensuring you have a responsible person to monitor your condition if needed. For those who do consume alcohol, implementing strategies to improve sleep quality and reduce the negative impacts of drinking can help mitigate some of the risks.
The Dangers of Vomiting While Asleep
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it promotes increased urine production and fluid loss. This dehydration can lead to disrupted sleep patterns, increased thirst, and even more severe symptoms like headaches and dizziness. The body’s attempt to regulate fluid balance can cause frequent awakenings throughout the night, further compromising sleep quality and overall rest. Those who consume alcohol are more likely to display this behavior, even though it doesn’t have anything to do with being drunk.
Other Sleep Disorders
Hydration plays a crucial role in mitigating the effects of alcohol. Alternating alcoholic drinks with water throughout the night can help prevent dehydration. If you’re already intoxicated, drinking water or electrolyte-rich beverages before bed can help replenish fluids and potentially reduce the severity of hangover symptoms. During the second half of the night, sleep becomes more actively disrupted. The rebound effect may include more time in REM—a lighter sleep stage from which it is easy to be awakened. It’s true, sleep may happen more quickly after consuming a drink or two.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alcohol
Think of this as a “curfew for adults,” one you’ll be thankful for a few hours later. It is recommended that alcohol not be consumed in the last four hours before bedtime. Even though alcohol may help you fall asleep, it interferes with the quality of your sleep. During confusional arousal, a person’s behavior may seem a lot like that of someone who’s intoxicated. In fact, a nickname for confusional arousal is “sleep drunkenness.”
