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Published on: 11/17/2025

Can alcohol help with sleep, or does it make sleep worse?

Alcohol might help you fall asleep faster, but it can make your sleep worse by waking you up during the night.

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Explanation

Alcohol can seem like it helps with sleep because it might make you feel sleepy at first. However, studies show that alcohol can actually make your sleep worse. It can disturb the natural sleep cycle, leading to poor quality sleep.

How Alcohol Affects Sleep:

  1. Initial Sleepiness: Alcohol can make you feel sleepy and help you fall asleep quickly.
  2. Disrupted Sleep: It can cause you to wake up in the middle of the night.
  3. Poor Sleep Quality: Alcohol affects the deep sleep stages, making your sleep less restful.

While it might seem like a good idea to use alcohol to help with sleep, it can actually make you feel more tired the next day. If you are having trouble sleeping, it's better to find other ways to improve your sleep.

For more information on sleep and mental health, visit: 988lifeline.org

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