To start with the obvious, quitting isn’t easy. Whether it’s as first-world as rejecting the endless scrolling through reels before bed, to something more serious like smoking; and in the case of alcohol addiction, let’s just say that it can be a literal.. nightmare.
“I passed out”, “Crashed as soon as my head hit the pillow” and even Katy Perry’s “It’s a blackout blur” from Last Friday Night are all expressions of a common experience after a bout of drinking. The experience being that of a deep sleep devoid of any memories or dreams also known as Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) Sleep.
Allow me to go into a little bit of science here-
Now, throughout the night, sleep typically cycles between NREM and REM sleep, with the first occupying the majority of time and REM/dream sleep becoming more prominent later. Each stage serves different functions and contributes to one’s overall sleep quality and well-being. Basically, even though you’re at your rested best after that 9-5, I’m talking tucked into that blanket, one leg sticking out, drool and everything; your brain is actually still working pretty hard. Alcohol reduces your brain’s activity. So when one drinks, especially before you go to sleep at night, your brain switches to that deep, conked out NREM state. Why is that a bad thing, right? It gets you some good and quickly achieved zzz minus any awkward, sometimes downright existential question raising dreams. True, and quite a common reason for why a lot of people indulge in that 1 glass of wine, beer etc. every night to get “better” sleep but is this great
long-term? No; because while you might be getting some deep sleep, it’s not the kind that is genuinely restorative and refreshing.
Let’s understand why.
Skin care enthusiasts, imagine cleansing, using toner, then serum but being forced to not complete with moisturizer. SCARY right? Similarly think about the brain, all ready to perform its night-time routine but compelled to stop before advancing to that final REM sleep stage. Then, once the effects of the alcohol start reducing over the night, the brain has to try catching up during the day causing it to go into overdrive and work even harder than before to achieve adequate functioning.
Eventually over time, once drinking starts increasing and becoming consistent, the brain also adjusts to this incomplete sleep cycle.
Okay so now that we know what happens during drinking, let’s go back to why quitting it can be nightmarish. When someone attempts to quit drinking/go into withdrawal, the brain that has adjusted to this new routine over time is given a sudden signal to go back to its usual 4-step sleep cycle. While it tries to do this, the switch between the NREM and REM stages becomes quite irregular and unstable. This sudden increase in brain activity is why people find themselves struggling to fall and/or stay asleep for the first few weeks after they have stopped drinking. Now the official term given to this compensation done by the brain to make up for lost dream sleep is known as REM rebound. During this time, not only does the specific REM phase of sleep increase but may also lead to more vivid and/or violent dreams as well as more dream recall post waking up.
If this isn’t difficult to deal with as is, at this point, the alcohol has been obstructing the dream stage of sleep for so long that these blocked dreams may push through and even spill into consciousness so one is basically day-dreaming.. in a less staring into space fantasizing and more intrusive dreams making it unable to distinguish from reality kind of way. This feeling can lead to a popular symptom of withdrawal known as delirium tremens; characterized by a state of profound confusion, agitation, tremors of body parts and possibly even hallucinations.
Taking a break from the science here, basically imagine you’re driving a car on the highway. Alcohol addiction is like constantly pressing the accelerator pedal. When someone that is addicted suddenly stops, it’s like slamming the brakes of the car causing it to come to a screeching halt but momentum is still there, the engine (brain) is still revved up. Just like it takes the engine time to calm down, the brain needs time to go back to normal.
Luckily, this phase is temporary; and while it can be a stressful experience, it usually resolves 1-3 weeks post alcohol cessation. Still, those 1-3 weeks can feel like a lifetime and sometimes
the dreams can even be about drinking, essentially reminding one of the craving and experience which can commonly lead to relapse. Thus, at this time it is not only important for one to remember that it will be over soon, but also be regular with medication if prescribed, and maintain good sleep-time hygiene like reducing electronic device use, avoiding stimulating activities like exercise or caffeine/nicotine consumption before bed as well as simply dimming the lights.
Ultimately, the process is one that will take time and commitment. So while this phase can be challenging, going back to another analogy here, before I conclude –
Think of it as a rollercoaster. Sure, the initial drop may leave you feeling queasy, but as you continue on, the exhilaration builds, and you reach new heights of clarity and freedom.
Picture yourself stepping off that roller coaster now, a little shaky but with a newfound strength and resilience. Similarly withdrawal may be tough, but it’s a necessary step towards a brighter, sober future.
For professional support and resources to deal with addiction and withdrawal, reach out to us at vedawellnessworld.com.
