Can a Delray Beach Rehab Treat Insomnia During Withdrawal?

When you enroll in a Delray Beach rehab treatment center, the intake procedure will involve a comprehensive evaluation of your physical and mental health. This is partially done to identify any psychological or emotional issues that may be involved in your substance abuse problem. In addition to mental illnesses, such as depression and bipolar disorder, the evaluation will identify other problems, including sleep disorders. If you do suffer from insomnia, this problem will be addressed almost immediately upon your enrollment in rehab.

Delray Beach rehab facilities are like many other addiction treatment centers across the country in that they recognize the importance of treating co-occurring conditions simultaneously. A co-occurring condition is a psychological or emotional problem an individual experiences alongside their addiction. For example, failing to treat insomnia during the recovery process means the sleep disorder will likely act as a trigger for relapse once the individual leaves the rehab facility. By treating insomnia during recovery, that trigger is controlled.

Addiction Makes Insomnia Worse

In a recent study that examined sleep disorders, it was found that more than 35% of adults experience difficulty getting more than seven hours of sleep a night. This problem is worse for people who also struggle with substance abuse because of the way chemical substances alter brain activity. Prolonged drug and alcohol abuse can interfere with sleep patterns by making it more difficult to fall asleep, sleep deeply, and stay asleep throughout the night.

Sleep disorders, including insomnia, are very common with recovering addicts with as many as 72% of addicts experiencing some form of insomnia. Even in cases where an individual didn’t suffer from a sleep disorder before entering rehab, a withdrawal symptom that’s commonly experienced is insomnia or sleep apnea. Sleep disturbances can last throughout addiction treatment and for several months after completing a rehab program. Now that this is more widely known, Delray Beach rehab centers dedicate a part of the recovery process to addressing sleep problems.

How Does Insomnia Affect Addiction Recovery?

Difficulty sleeping plays an integral role in the addiction process and may even cause drug and alcohol use to worsen. When people can’t sleep, one of the solutions they’ll try is to have a drink, smoke some marijuana, or use another drug to help them feel groggy. In addition to starting the cycle of addiction, this can increase sleeplessness by teaching the brain to rely on the chemical influence to start the sleep cycle. After a short time, the individual will find it more difficult to get to sleep without using alcohol or drugs.

The problem persists throughout the rehab treatment process unless it’s addressed as a part of recovery. This is especially true for opioid addicts who rely on methadone treatments to taper off and control withdrawal symptoms more gradually. While methadone helps to make withdrawal symptoms more manageable, it doesn’t eliminate symptoms altogether. Treatment for insomnia may have to be addressed separately.

How is Insomnia Treated in a Delray Beach Rehab Center?

Whenever possible, treating insomnia naturally and without medication is preferred, so therapists will begin by trying to identify the reasons for the insomnia. While substance abuse can aggravate the condition, it’s rarely the sole cause. Primarily, stress is a major contributor to sleep disorders, so therapy will revolve around identifying stressors in the individual’s life and eliminating them. Additionally, a poor diet and lack of exercise can also cause sleeping difficulties, so a therapist will try to identify any habits that are contributing to insomnia.

There are many different natural treatments for insomnia, including meditation, which involves focusing on achieving a restful state of being. Another is muscle relaxation, which involves teaching the individual to contract and relax specific muscle groups, so they can recognize tension in the body. Biofeedback takes this process a step further by helping the individual recognize any signs that the mind or body is stressed. In recognizing the symptoms of stress, they can take steps to alleviate the condition. Another effective method is to increase the amount of physical activity the individual engages in on a daily basis. There are many practices that a recovering addict can try to alleviate insomnia before prescription medication becomes necessary.

If you are struggling with insomnia and addiction, you can get help from our counselors. Call us anytime of the day or night at 833-846-5669 to learn more about your treatment options. We’re available seven days a week to help you start living a healthier and cleaner way of life.