Trouble sleeping is a commonwithdrawal symptomfor people addicted to drugs and alcohol.
This can be troubling and lead to increasedanxietyandirritability.
How Addiction and Recovery Affect Sleep
Sleep problems can occur with anyaddiction.
Vladimir Godnik / Getty Images
Sleep problems during recovery happen because your body is out of its normalcircadian rhythm.
During recovery, your body is changing again and trying to get used to being free of the substance.
It is only natural that your sleep will be disrupted again.
How Long Will Sleep Problems Last?
People recovering from addictions may not return to normal sleep patterns for six months or longer.
However, the initial few days of withdrawal can be particularly troubling.
Sleep deprivation only makes the experience of withdrawal more uncomfortable.
It is one of the side effects of cleaning out your body and returning to a substance-free life.
The more disciplined you are in following guidelines forgood sleep hygiene, the quicker your withdrawal insomnia will disappear.
Quite often, the simplest things you could do are the best.
Establish Sleep Rituals
Much of recovery is about replacing bad habits with healthy ones.
Anything that calms and relaxes you before trying to sleep will help.
Stick with it and combine methods if needed.
You’ll likely find better sleep soon.
Sleep Medication Precautions
Addictions can lead to other addictive behaviors.
attempt to avoid self-medicating with other drugs while you are going through withdrawal.
This includes over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids, marijuana, and alcohol.
Some medicines may help ease other withdrawal symptoms.
These are very specific to the drug you are withdrawing from and the drug you are prescribed.
Under no circumstances should you take more than prescribed or longer than prescribed.
You may become ill or develop a substitute addiction.
As a result, people are more prone to impulsive behavior, which can contribute to drug relapse.
A 2017 study found that fluctuations in sleep quality were linked to changes in drug cravings.
Better health is, after all, one of the goals for overcoming addiction.
Whatever you’re able to do to improve your sleep can help your long-term recovery and overall health.
Final Thoughts
Sleep can play an essential role in the recovery process.
National Institutes of Health; 2014.
National Institute on Drug Abuse.Connections between sleep and substance use disorders.
