People who battle addiction often battle sleep as well. Spending days awake due to the effects of drugs such as cocaine and meth can eradicate sleeping patterns altogether. Even though heroin and alcohol are known as depressive drugs that eventually make you sleepy, these substances can also wreak complete havoc on the body’s circadian rhythm and sleep-wake homeostasis. Both of these biological mechanisms are important to gain the sleep that the body needs to restore itself each night. Drugs and alcohol are harmful to the body in so many ways, and sleep is also an important factor that becomes impaired.
Once a person finally rids the body of drugs and alcohol with sobriety, the results of their sleep could turn awry. Instead of sleeping all of the time, they could become an insomniac without drugs to help them sleep. On the other side, some people who stop using and drinking could find themselves depressed and wanting to sleep instead of being active. Since the brain has been in overdrive to compensate for the brain’s hormones being out of whack due to drugs and alcohol, focusing on getting sleep back on track can result in healthy sleep patterns.
Soothe yourself
Use meditation or calming music to alleviate the stressors of the day. Getting into a tranquil state of mind can create a better opportunity for your brain to relax a bit before you put your head on the pillow. Other things to consider are reading a devotional book, taking a bubble bath, or aromatherapy to get you in the mood to sleep.
Watch yourself
Consider the factors that could be keeping you awake. Caffeine, sugar, exercise, loud music, or looking at a blue screen such as a phone or a computer could lead you to try counting sheep to go to sleep. You should figure out what is overstimulating you before bed and try to watch what is causing you to stay awake.
Recognize yourself
One of the best tools for sleep in a 12-Step Program is using a Nightly Inventory. Going over your day to see where you were resentful, selfish, dishonest, and fearful can aid with respectfully finding your part to build gratitude for today and give hope for a better tomorrow. Doing this before your bedtime can clear the conscious and begin the next morning with a clean slate.
Without sleep, the body continuously loses important functionality that can reduce your life span. Putting a realistic sleep routine into place is ideal and can help you over a period of time to get the sleep you have always dreamed of.
Offering a full range of recovery and mental health services, Valiant Living offers “Expanded Recovery” to enrich our clients’ lives in mind, body, and spirit. Through evidence-based therapy options and the endless adventure of Colorado, Valiant fosters connection, encouraging clients to get connected to themselves, their peers, their families, and their higher power. With the power of recovery, clients are restored to full health and experience life-changing healing. Call us today for more information: 303-536-5463
