February 12, 2023February 17, 2023 Do alcoholics sleep walk? Do alcoholics sleep walk? Arnedt et al. (2011) report that high doses of alcohol increase slow wave sleep in both the first part of sleep and total night-time sleep, hence increasing the propensity for alcohol-related sleepwalking in susceptible individuals; and an epidemiological study by Ohayon et al. BE Why do people wake up in the middle of the night from alcohol? In reality, drinking alcohol before bedtime is the cause of many a restless night— studies show that an average of 55 percent of alcoholics suffer from insomnia. Why? As we sleep, our body is working hard to process the alcohol in our system, and once it’s out, something signals us to wake up. How does alcohol affect the quality of sleep? As Michael K. Breus, Ph.D., explained in Phycology Today: “Alcohol consumption, in excess or too close to bedtime, diminishes the quality of sleep, often leads to more waking throughout the night, and lessens time spent in REM sleep and slow wave sleep in later parts of the night.” When is the best time to drink alcohol to go to sleep? Alcohol is highly effective at suppressing melatonin, a key facilitator of sleep and regulator of sleep-wake cycles. Research indicates that a moderate dose of alcohol up to an hour before bedtime can reduce melatonin production by nearly 20 percent. Is it normal for an alcoholic to drink all day? As most alcoholics drink consistently throughout the day and have a high tolerance for alcohol, they often remain in a state that’s not sober, but also not significantly intoxicated; this alcoholic behavior is called maintenance drinking. When addicts are in this maintenance drinking state, they can seem almost normal. Questions