Here is more on how withdrawal influences sleeping patterns and what you can do to help.
How Withdrawal Influences Sleeping Patterns
Ridding yourself of drug use is a wise step towards a healthy lifestyle, but it is never easy. After long term use, your body becomes physically dependent on drugs and withdrawal is a physical response to the absence of the drug. The withdrawal process often causes physical and emotional discomfort; a lack of or increase in sleep can change sleep patterns from normal to erratic. Overall, quitting the use of drugs can change the body’s natural rhythm, as using drugs or drinking can affect sleep patterns and the body works toward a more normal sleep pattern during recovery.
When under the influence of substances, the brain creates less dopamine, and during withdrawal, the body is still working to get back to normal dopamine production levels. It can take a month or a month and a half to get back to producing an adequate level of dopamine. Without enough dopamine production, stress can be a problem. It’s possible for people recovering from drug addiction to experience disturbed sleep patterns for months during and after recovery, but generally, the first few days are the worst for sleep and other symptoms.
Withdrawal insomnia is typically temporary, and sleep patterns should return to normal as part of the recovery process. However, trouble sleeping can make recovery more difficult than it has to be. Practicing healthy sleep habits, even during drug withdrawal, can make it easier to sleep well and establish a more healthy lifestyle. Good sleep during withdrawal can be a particular challenge, but focusing on getting much-needed rest can help support recovery. It’s important to know how withdrawal influences sleeping patterns.
Quality of Sleep During Withdrawal
- Seek treatment for withdrawal – Some people dealing with addiction recovery benefit from medications that treat drug withdrawal. These medications can make symptoms less severe and speed the recovery process. It’s a good idea to consider sleep medication if continually struggling with sleep during withdrawal.
- Maintain regular sleep times – Another way to reinforce a healthy circadian rhythm is to simply follow a regular schedule. Going to sleep and waking up around the same time each night and day can be helpful for resetting the body’s natural clock to a more healthy schedule. Consistency is key, even on weekends and vacations.
At Asana Recovery, we understand how difficult recovering from these addictions through our daily work to help those struggling most from this disease. While some may believe they can make it alone, rehabilitation programs are essential in the fight to break dependency. The road ahead is not a smooth or easy one, but you can traverse it if done so with the support of the right team. Counseling and aftercare processes can assist you by addressing the psychological facets that led you to addition and help you build a structure from which to better cope with life without succumbing to addiction.
The supervised detoxification and residential treatment programs at Asana Recovery are offered in a supportive, relaxing, and inspiring environment. We’re deeply committed to ensuring your long-term recovery, and guiding you on your path to a healthier and happier future. There is no better time than now, and we’re always available to speak with you. Call us at (949) 438-4504 to learn more about our comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment program today.
