After enduring hardship, one of the most core components of trauma or recovery is rest. To allow yourself the time to heal from everyday mishaps to tragedy, sleeping makes all the difference in the world. During sleep, your brain processes your experiences, and sleep is vital to your ability to process as you recover. You learn how to deal with the past, live in the present, and confront the future; sleep puts it all together.
Process the Traumas From Your Past
Whether you are dealing with the death of a loved one or a past period in your life that embarrasses or saddens you, processing this experience will grant you the tranquility to accept the things you cannot change. That tranquility can enhance your rest and aid in recovery and healing past traumas.
Live in the Present Moment
Embrace the current moment you are living through. By mindfully approaching the present, you can ease the tension of whatever hardship is taking hold of your life. Take longer to enjoy each bite of your food. Carefully process the nature that surrounds you. Allow music to envelop your soul. Throw yourself into crafts and artwork. Each of these restful activities can reinvigorate your soul.
Confront the Future Prepared
Take charge of the decisions you make and let them gracefully encroach on your future. Having rested, you can approach your decision-making and work with greater clarity. Productivity is not the ultimate goal — securing happiness for yourself and your loved ones is the ultimate goal. Be sure to take the time you need to make plans and set goals as you process. During moments of rest, you may have the greatest epiphany for your future.
How Rest Puts It All Together
Taking the necessary time to relax and sleep will revive you for this healing journey. We are all healing from something, whether we talk about it or not. By taking the time you need to rest, you can begin piecing together your puzzle pieces.
During rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, when your eye muscles are largely paralyzed, you often dream. A dream state is when your body walks you through a narrative that resembles living reality. However, when you awake, you can distinguish this as a dream and try to make sense of the message your dream leaves with you. Your internal clock, the circadian rhythm, regulates your body and allows you to recuperate during sleep after a long day of work.
During non-REM sleep, you hardly ever dream. Your eye muscles are not paralyzed. This version of sleep consists of three stages of progressive deepness in slumber. You become more difficult to arouse the further you progress through these stages. The third stage helps your immune system and physical body recuperate. It also builds bones and repairs tissues. Both REM and non-REM sleep constitute healthy processing. All of these components are crucial to your recovery.
Non-Sleeping Relaxation Techniques
Other than the different types of sleep you can experience, there are other ways to rest. You can take a warm bath, light a candle, or open a favorite book. Lying down on the couch is a good place to start. Grab something cuddly and snuggle into your emotions.
If you find yourself enduring excessive tiredness, you should take the time you need to listen to your body. Being attuned to yourself is crucial to being prepared to face whatever trauma, substance use disorders, or everyday problems.
Make the Time
If you are feeling that you do not have time to rest, you need to make the necessary changes in your life to get regularly scheduled sleep. See how you can redistribute everything that needs to get done. Set aside time — maybe a day of the week — to recharge.
Often, we need to shut ourselves off from other people to get the rest we need. That means saying “no” to certain engagements and not trying to get rest from short naps. Turn off the lights, shut the door, get under the covers. Allow yourself to drift away from the overwhelming tasks and thoughts to a place of tranquility. Do not feel guilty about giving yourself this time. You need it to process everything you are enduring at the moment.
Key steps you can take to get the rest you need to include 1) making the time, 2) allowing yourself to be alone, 3) engaging in non-sleeping relaxation so that you can eventually fall asleep. Sleep allows you to process the past, live in the present, and confront the future. At Valiant Living, we know how important rest is to your dependency recovery and everyday problems. At our residential facility in Denver, Colorado, we provide comfortable living arrangements that prioritize your ability to recuperate. Downtime is a core component of the care we provide. At our men’s-only treatment facility, we assist those trying to overcome alcohol dependency and other substance use disorders. Our team of professionals is trained in best practices for each step of the path to sobriety. We treat both substance dependency and co-occurring mental illnesses. At Valiant Living, we recognize the importance of rest to process the past, live in the present, and confront the future. We are here to stand by you through whatever stage you are at in the process. To learn more and get help, you can reach out to us today at (303) 952-5035.
