As human beings, we all have a specific set of needs, and to continue functioning, these needs must be consistently met. Basic human needs include food, water, clothing, shelter, and intimacy. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (first recorded in 1943), humans require certain things that can be effectively broken down into five predominant categories: physiological, safety, belongingness and love, esteem, and self-actualization. The most fundamental human needs fall into the physiological category, including food, water, warmth, and sleep. If these needs are not consistently met, there is little chance of survival.
Next on the hierarchy are safety-related needs. A person requires some degree of safety to maintain survival. Safety could include an innate propensity towards self-preservation, adequate shelter, and living in a low-risk environment (like a safe neighborhood with low crime rates, for example). In addition to these needs, people require social interaction, love, acceptance, feelings of prestige and accomplishment, creative fulfillment, and the ability to live up to personal potential.
How Fundamental Healthy Sleeping Cycle Is?
Sleep is a fundamental need. People need sleep to survive. Unfortunately, when a person begins abusing a chemical substance, their ability to sleep becomes harshly compromised. They typically experience a serious shift in their standard sleep cycle, staying awake for long hours or sleeping more than is normal. When a person commits to addiction recovery, they are committing to an entirely new way of life, including a return to healthy sleep patterns. At Agape Treatment Center, we focus on providing our clients with a comprehensive approach to recovery, thoroughly treating all symptoms associated with substance abuse and dependence, and laying a solid foundation for lasting sobriety.
How Does Addiction Like Alcoholism Affect Sleep?
Active addiction affects sleep in a variety of ways. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that substance abuse and sleep problems like insomnia or insufficient sleep can either result from substance abuse or dependence or precede an addictive disorder. Some people naturally have a difficult time falling asleep. They might have experienced insomnia or other sleep-related issues long before they began abusing chemical substances. They might have started abusing drugs and alcohol as a way to fall asleep and stay asleep.
In other cases, certain chemical substances can lead to insomnia and other sleep-related issues. Substance abuse disrupts sleep regulatory systems within the brain, which makes falling asleep extremely difficult. Post-acute withdrawal syndrome also leads to sleep-related issues, which often need to be treated with a combination of medications and therapeutic intervention. At Agape Treatment Center, we focus on teaching our clients healthy and non-invasive methods to obtain a good night’s sleep without resorting to potentially addictive medications.
Why is it Important to Have Healthy Sleeping Cycles in Alcohol Addiction Recovery?
Healthy sleep cycles are an important part of addiction recovery. For a person to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day, it is important that they got enough sleep the night prior. If a person is running unlimited sleep while in addiction treatment, they are less likely to retain the information they learned. As a result, they are less likely to benefit from the intensive therapeutic care they offer as they undergo treatment. Therefore, we place a strong emphasis on healthy sleep cycles, and we work hard to instill in our clients a range of coping mechanisms that will help them fall asleep on a nightly basis. These coping mechanisms include guided meditations, breathing exercises, and more.
Begin Your Recovery Journey From Alcoholism
At Agape Treatment Center, we understand how comprehensively devastating addiction can be, which is why we have developed a program of recovery that focuses on the treatment of all existing symptoms. We take a whole-person approach, simultaneously treating the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual symptoms of active addiction. If you have been struggling with addiction and your sleep has been impacted directly, we are available to help.
We provide every one of our clients with a range of tools and coping mechanisms geared towards helping them fall asleep and stay asleep. To learn more about our substance abuse recovery program or get started with our admissions process.
