Maybe this is a slightly crazy notion, but I suffer from lifelong insomnia and it's made acutely worse by drinking alcohol, and I wonder if that's a clue about chemical imbalances in my brain and/or body?
A bit more background: I'm late 50s, male, caucasian. Slim, fit and healthy in most respects. I had quite severe depression for many years but I seem to have overcome that. I have slight anhedonia but it's a whole lot better than the crushing depressions I used to get.
I've read a lot of threads here and I'm hopelessly confused as to whether I'm an over/under-methylator, have too high or low acetylchoine, too low or high in serotonin/dopamine/norephinephrine etc etc.
Nowadays my sleep problem is mainly with staying asleep. I sleep ok for the first five hours, then wake up and can't get back to sleep for an hour or more, then the sleep is fragmented and full of dreams. I almost never wake up feeling well rested.
I've tried all the usual sleep hygiene tips over the last three decades. Not much helps. Supplement-wise, nothing much has a beneficial effect. Melatonin can help me get to sleep but it doesn't keep me asleep, even the time-release versions. Zopiclone worked nicely, but I suffered a rebound the next night after taking it before.
Naturally I avoid caffeine in any form.
As the title says, alcohol impairs or even stops my sleeping. If I get really drunk (which I do rarely) I have to sober up before I can get to sleep, otherwise my mind is racing. Any clues as to why?