Is Insomnia a Normal Part of Detoxing?

Is Insomnia a Normal Part of Detoxing

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When you’re ready to get clean after months or years of addiction, you should expect to experience a number of withdrawal symptoms during the detoxification process, even when you’ve checked into a professional detox facility. While some centers (like ours) can administer medication to make your symptoms less painful or jarring, no one can skip past withdrawals.

If you’re experiencing fatigue after sleepless nights during these early stages of recovery, you’re not alone – according to the Journal of Addiction Medicine, the presence of insomnia is five times higher for people in recovery than in the general population.

How is Insomnia Linked to Withdrawal?

Sleep problems are associated with all types of addictions and is a common withdrawal symptom for people recovering from substance abuse. This is because prolonged substance abuse alters the chemicals in your brain and changes the way your body functions, so when you stop using drugs all of a sudden, your body is thrown off.

In the early stages of recovery, you can expect your body to change again as it adjusts to your new situation. Sleep problems may be most extreme during the detox process, but they can also persist long after for months and sometimes years. If you’re experiencing insomnia during detox, you may also be experiencing anxiety, fatigue, irritability, and poor concentration as a result.

How Can You Cope With Insomnia During Drug and Alcohol Detox?

While insomnia tends to diminish over time after people complete the detox process, there are still some tips you can follow to help you get quality sleep during detox and begin practicing healthy habits to avoid sleep-related issues in the future. You might even find that the more disciplined you are about establishing good sleeping habits, the easier it can be to live a substance-free life.

1. Set a Regular Sleep Schedule

Start committing to a set bedtime and wake-up time now so you can reset your body’s internal clock. If you’re going through detox and staying at a facility, chances are your schedule has been set and you already have required bedtimes and wakeup times.

It may also be helpful to set a bedtime ritual so you can remind yourself when it’s time to start winding down. Whether it’s taking a warm bath before bed or turning off your phone 30 minutes before sleeping, these intentional acts can drastically improve your sleep.

2. Establish a Healthy Diet

Make sure you’re avoiding ingesting or drinking stimulants at least four to six hours before going to sleep so you don’t experience additional challenges when trying to combat your insomnia. Avoiding drinking another cup of coffee after lunch, for example, is a good habit to practice. Research also shows that healthy diets and regular mealtimes can contribute to a better night’s sleep. Don’t go to sleep on an empty stomach!

3. Exercise Regularly

There’s a lot of research that shows exercising regularly can help you fall asleep quicker and wake up feeling better rested. Physical exercise also works to decrease stress and anxiety, which you may be experiencing if you’re going through detox or as a side effect of lack of sleep. Yoga is a great alternative therapy used in rehab because it combines physical exercise with meditation.

4. Don’t Nap for Long Periods of Time

If you’re exhausted after another sleepless night, it might be tempting to take a nap later in the day. Make sure that your naps don’t last longer than 30 minutes, as long naps may disrupt your body’s internal clock and make it hard to fall asleep when bedtime rolls around.

Don’t Lose Any More Sleep Over Your Addiction

The are many obstacles people may have to overcome to get the professional help they deserve for their addiction – according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, of the 22.5 million people who need help for a drug or alcohol abuse issue, only 4.2 million get treatment in the same year. One major obstacle is the withdrawal symptoms you may have to experience when you stop using drugs. Drug abuse affects the mind body and soul, so it’s not surprising that you may be struggling with insomnia.

The Nestled Recovery Center understands how painful and uncomfortable withdrawals can be, but we’re also here to remind you that you don’t have to go through this on your own. When you call our Las Vegas team for help, we can check you into our medical detox program so you can begin recovering safely. Our team consists of medical professionals who can monitor your symptoms and prescribe medication to ease the detoxification process, if necessary.

The Nestled Recovery Center offers a wide range of services to treat drug and alcohol addiction in Las Vegas, including a medical detox program. Get clean with us today by calling (702) 299-6406, or by filling out our online form.

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