Fatigue After Quitting Alcohol: Causes and Solutions

Quitting drinking is a courageous choice . It has positive effects on your (mental) health, your organs and your sleep. In fact, it is good for everything.

Unfortunately, this choice does not always go hand in hand with an energy boost . Those who expected to feel fresh and clear after day one are often disappointed. Many people who leave their glass alone are surprised by something they did not see coming: fatigue . And not a little bit either.

Why are you so tired when you stop drinking? Why can't you sleep anymore? What actually happens in your body and mind? And more importantly: what can you do to feel better quickly? In this blog we provide clear, scientific answers and practical tips. You will also read why many pharmacists recommend Deep Sleep Gummies as support in restoring your natural sleep.

This blog answers the following questions:

• Why and for how long am I tired after quitting alcohol?
  
• Why can't I sleep after alcohol withdrawal? And how long does this last?
• What Happens in Your Brain and Body When You Stop Drinking?
  
• What can you do to speed up your recovery?
• Why do pharmacists recommend Deep Sleep Gummies as support?

Why and for how long am I tired after quitting alcohol?

Alcohol affects almost every system in your body. It affects your brain, your nervous system, your organs and your hormones. When you stop drinking, all these systems have to recover and get to work again, without that external stimulus. That adjustment takes energy.

💡You're not tired because you're doing something wrong, but because your body has to do its job again.

How long does this fatigue last?

This varies from person to person, but on average recovery proceeds as follows:

Please note: these are averages. Did you drink alcohol daily for years? Then your body may need longer to recover. But for almost everyone, the following applies: the fatigue disappears as your brain, sleep and energy balance recover.

What Happens in Your Brain and Body When You Stop Drinking?

When you stop drinking alcohol, several recovery processes are initiated:

• In your brain, neurotransmitters such as GABA (calm), glutamate (stimulation) and dopamine (reward) need to be brought back into balance. Alcohol artificially increases GABA and dopamine. Without alcohol, your brain has to regulate this itself. This takes time and temporarily leads to brain fog, irritability and lack of energy .

• Your sleep pattern is temporarily disrupted. Alcohol suppresses your deep sleep and REM sleep. After you stop drinking, your body has difficulty restoring this. You sleep lighter, wake up more often or have difficulty falling asleep.

• Your organs , especially your liver and intestines , start to recover. The liver no longer processes alcohol and can focus on other functions. Your intestinal flora changes, which affects your immune system and mood. All of this requires a lot of energy.

Why can't I sleep after alcohol withdrawal? And how long does this last?

It sounds contradictory, because alcohol actually makes you sleepy — right?

True, but it is misleading. Alcohol makes you fall asleep faster , but it disrupts the quality of your sleep.

• You get less deep sleep (slow-wave sleep), while you actually need this to recover.
• You miss crucial REM sleep . REM sleep affects your memory, mood and emotional processing
• You wake up more often at night , often without noticing it

When you stop, your body has to restore this. This can lead to sleep disorders , even if you never had trouble sleeping before, you may experience:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Waking up often at night
• Vivid dreams
• Waking up early , without feeling rested

This phenomenon is also called withdrawal insomnia and is normal during the first weeks of alcohol-free living.

What can you do to speed up your recovery?

Fortunately, there are ways to give your body and brain a helping hand:

1. Restore your sleep rhythm

Your biological clock is out of whack. Help it by:

• Go to bed and get up at the same time every day (even on weekends)
• Limit screen use before bed
• Get plenty of daylight during the day
• Avoid light, caffeine and heavy meals in the evening

2. Support your body with nutrition and exercise

• Eat foods rich in vitamins B1, B6, magnesium and omega-3
• Exercise daily, preferably outside, as this helps balance your sleep and stress hormones
• Drink plenty of water and avoid sugars, which can cause your energy levels to fluctuate

3. Use natural support

Sometimes it's not enough to just live 'healthy'. Especially in the first few weeks, natural remedies can make all the difference in improving your sleep or giving you more energy .

Why do pharmacists recommend Deep Sleep Gummies or Energy Gummies?

Our Deep Sleep Gummies or Energy Gummies are regularly recommended by pharmacists to people who have just stopped drinking. Why? Because they are aimed at supporting your natural energy level , WITHOUT addictive or sedative effects.

Each gummy contains a smart combination of ingredients that naturally support sleep and relaxation :

• Valerian extract – a plant traditionally used to help you fall asleep and sleep more peacefully.

• L-theanine – an amino acid found in green tea that helps calm your mind.

• Vitamin B6 – supports the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which play a role in your mood and sleep regulation.

• Melatonin – helps restore your body’s natural sleep-wake rhythm, especially useful in times of disruption such as after quitting alcohol.

The Deep Sleep Gummies are often recommended together with the Energy Gummies by pharmacists as day-night support:

• Coenzyme Q10 – plays a role in cellular energy production

• Korean ginseng root – traditionally used for increased energy, focus and stress resistance

• Vitamin B12 – supports energy metabolism and reduces fatigue

• Vitamin D3 – contributes to a healthy immune system and general vitality