When addicts are in full-blown addiction, they live a life full of chaos. Most addicts don’t take care of themselves during this time. They aren’t eating or sleeping properly, some are even homeless, many are unable to work or manage finances. Addicts have a different lifestyle; a chaotic lifestyle. Recovering from addiction is a long process. It requires so much more than just getting off of substances and participating in treatment and therapy. Recovering from addiction requires a lifestyle change as well. A lot of addicts have to re-learn how to live a normal life. Part of that means getting on a schedule and sticking to it. 
How Can I Get Better Sleep?
There are several medications out that can help with sleep, but are they safe? That is a tricky question. Many doctors will prescribe an antidepressant drug called trazodone (Desyrel) for recovering addicts who have trouble sleeping. Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs aren’t good options for someone in recovery as they carry a risk of dependence. There are several over-the-counter sleep aids out. Most of these are antihistamines, and there is no proof they work well. They can also cause drowsiness the next day.
Some Natural Alternatives May Help
Melatonin and magnesium are two natural substances that recovering addicts can try for insomnia. Melatonin helps you fall asleep, and magnesium helps you stay asleep. Treating insomnia in addiction recovery can be challenging. Any treating provider has to ensure that the treatment itself will put the addict’s recovery at risk. Some providers may even be reluctant to prescribe any sleep medication to a person in recovery.
More About Insomnia In Addiction Recovery
It’s no surprise that insomnia is one of the side-effects of active substance abuse and recovering from substance abuse. Withdrawal symptoms often interfere with a person’s sleep and can depend on the substances that were previously used. Some substances like marijuana, alcohol, and opioids make an individual sleepy, but when they stop using them they experience insomnia. Stimulants have the opposite effect. During the withdrawal phase, the stimulant abuser will fall into a coma-like sleep. Disruptions in sleep can occur for months after an addict stops using. The National Institute of Health The Psychiatric clinics of North America “Sleep Disturbance in Substance Use Disorders” says,
Drugs of abuse and alcohol have disruptive effects on sleep, in particular, interfering with the ease of falling asleep, increasing the difficulty in maintaining sleep, and altering the cycling of sleep stages from non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. These sleep effects then have a consequent impact on next-day function, including increasing daytime sleepiness and impairing alertness. The sleep and daytime sleepiness/alertness disturbances can be seen both during active substance use and during discontinuation of use. (NIH)
Getting an adequate amount of sleep each night is crucial in addiction recovery. This is part of the lifestyle changes that a recovering addict has to adjust to.
Tips For Managing Insomnia In Addiction Recovery
Having good sleep hygiene is an important part of managing insomnia. Some tips that may help can include:
- Staying on a schedule
- Avoid late naps
- Avoid caffeine and nicotine too late in the day
- Pleasant ambiance
- White noise
- Relaxation techniques
- Sacred space for sleep
- Evening snack
- Avoiding frustration
Staying healthy and getting 7 to 8 hours of regular sleep each night is recommended for continued good health. Not getting enough sleep can be a huge trigger for relapse, so sleep is vital in recovery from addiction.
Start Treatment for Addiction and Sleep Disorder at Evoke Wellness at Miramar
Evoke Wellness at Miramar offers cutting-edge addiction treatment programs. Our facilities in South Florida are committed to helping clients throughout the whole treatment experience. Our premier medical detox will help you comfortably get through the detox process and onto residential treatment under our professional care. So you don’t have to suffer any longer. Let Evoke Wellness at Miramar assist you on the road to long-lasting recovery. Call us today.
