What is wrong w/ me? Alcohol or anxiety? Help!!?

Question

I don't know what is wrong with me. I am 36 years old and I went away with my girlfriend's for a weekend away. We went out for dinner and had a couple drinks. I came back to the hotel room, and I could not sleep all night? I feel like anything that is a change to my schedule causes me anxiety maybe? Or was it the alcohol? This is not the first time either. Every time I go away somewhere, I can not sleep the entire night either. But I am usually having a couple of drinks also. Which is it? I want to be able to travel once in a while..... Help

Yes, but I did not just wake up. I layed there from 11 pm till 5 a.m. and could not sleep one bit. Not even an hour..... Would alcohol do that?

Answer 1

Try drinking and sleeping on your couch at home not using your usual pillow or blankets. Do you have the same problem drinking and abstaining? Make sure it's not unfamiliar surroundings and rule out alcohol as the cause. It at least gives you a starting point to isolate the cause.

Answer 2

I kind of understand your problem. I have this same problem but at home. I just have a problem sleeping all night unless I have some type of sleeping agent to help me relax and sleep all night. I believe that you are experiencing some anxieties when your away from home and really cannot see that as the problem. I do the exact same thing and I think there is no problem but for some reason my mind will not shut off and allow me to sleep. I was prescribed a anxiety medication (Xanex) and I took it for a few days and I was fine but it returns sometimes and I just resort back to those Xanex to calm my thoughts down a bit and I will sleep okay. You probably have so much on your mind at all times and more so when your away from home maybe thinking of work, etc..... You may just need a little help like I did with your thought process when it comes to bedtime and relaxing. I hope this helps you out or at least gives you some idea what might be going on. Good Luck because I know that when you don't sleep well its so much harder to get started each day.

Answer 3

Unfamiliarity and/or caffeinated beer.

First, I can't sleep in a new place at first either. I was up until 4 am the first night I slept in a dorm room! When I go on vacation, I have the same problem with hotels or cruise ships. Any unfamiliar bed makes me feel slightly uncomfortable until I get used to it. Also, when I spend the day in a new environment my brain is so busy processing everything that I can't sleep well (and have cool nightmares when I do). There is no way around it besides going to bed early, although I have heard that some people use sleeping pills (Stupid Advice: Don't use sleeping pills with alcohol!)

I have found that street noise and lights does not help. I grew up in rural New Hampshire, so New Orleans was a big change. Some people who go from the city to the country feel that it is too quiet and dark and can't sleep, so they use night-lights and radios tuned between the stations to get to sleep.

Also, caffeinated beer. Some bars put caffeine in beer to counteract the sedative effect, and some put so much that sleep is difficult afterwords. I don't know about your location, but this is really common in cheap bars in New Orleans.

Answer 4

You know, I get the same way when I drink. I'm 39 and while I used to be able to hold my own 20 years ago when drinking, I just can't do it anymore. I'm talking one beer or glass of wine and not only do I have a hard time sleeping, I also get monster headaches.
I still cook with wine, but NEVER drink even one swallow on an empty stomach. I'll only have a HALF beer or glass of wine after I've eaten.
I guess its just part of getting older. Bummer.

Answer 5

I usually sleep very well after a glass or two of wine. You may respond to alcohol differently.
This sounds like what happens to me when I travel. I am guilty of what I call "my bed syndrome." I want to sleep at home, in my bed, with my pillow and my blankets. I was never comfortable with sleepovers even as a teenager. When I travel overnight, I make sure that 1) I bring my own pillow, 2) I bring a book since reading is very relaxing for me, and 3) I take a warm shower. It works for me 9 out of 10 times.

Answer 6

Sounds like anxiety, and alcohol is known to intensify. Ask your doctor for some ambient (sleeping medicine) and take it only when you sleep or travel in a new place (avoid alcohol - 2 drinks max when taking pill).

Answer 7

Yes, alcohol can do that but so can a foreign environment. I have the same problem. I don't like being away from home and it takes me some time to adjust if I'm visiting someone.

Answer 8

I know when I drink even 1 glass of wine I wake up in the middle of the night

Answer 9

I have that problem also. Sometimes i'll wake up with my heatbeating fast. Im not sure what it is but I've found that breathing very deeply helps to calm my mind when trying to sleep.

Answer 10

i have that same affect when i drink to much.wine or beer.