Relationship Between Sleep Disorders and Substance Use
Even more commonly abused substances, like cannabis and alcohol, can affect sleep–especially when used regularly. Unfortunately, this can contribute to a downward spiral in which sleep deprivation leads to increased usage and vice versa.
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is notoriously difficult to overcome. Addiction changes your brain chemistry, daily routines and triggers can be hard to change, and mental health disorders like PTSD, depression, or trauma can further complicate the process.
What’s more, poor sleep does more than contribute to a user’s desire to turn to harmful substances. It can also make it harder for the brain to perform important tasks, like clearing out those harmful substances. Sleep deprivation and substance use are both proven to negatively affect judgment and cognitive functioning, making this scenario a vicious cycle for anyone eager to get sober and avoid relapse.
At NPS, we believe that hope and healing are always possible–especially with the right information, tools, and support. With that in mind, it’s important to understand how co-existing conditions, like sleep disorders, can affect SUD and make it harder to heal.
Common Sleep Problems in Sufferers of Substance Use Disorder
SUD can actually do more than just contribute to poor sleep, it can lead to the development of sleep disorders. Over time, the persistent effects on falling asleep, staying asleep, and transitioning from non-rapid eye movement sleep to rapid eye movement sleep, can lead to ongoing challenges. What’s more, addiction may affect the brain’s chemistry and its ability to perform the processes necessary for quality sleep.
We’ve provided an overview of the types of sleeping disorders that may be caused by or made worse by SUD:
Insomnia
Insomnia is the most common type of sleep disorder, which means you likely know someone who suffers from it. Usually, it’s characterized by an inability to fall asleep or an inability to fall back asleep once awakened.
Insomnia can drain a person’s energy levels and affect their mood. For people who experience insomnia for longer than a few months, it can also contribute to poor physical and mental health. Insomnia is a common co-existing condition for sufferers of SUD. In fact, it’s one of the most common complaints for individuals overcoming addiction and/or trying to maintain sobriety.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is less common than insomnia but can be much more serious. With this disorder, sufferers will experience sudden stops and starts in their breathing while sleeping. Anyone who snores loudly, feels tired after a full night of sleep, wakes up gasping for air, or awakens with a dry mouth may have sleep apnea.
Drug and alcohol use may not only aggravate sleep apnea but make the condition more dangerous. Essentially, harmful substances may make sleep apnea episodes longer, more frequent, and harder to recover from.
Parasomnias
Parasomnias are disruptive events and behaviors that contribute to poor sleep. Examples include walking, talking, or moving during sleep. Parasomnias are not overly common in adults, but they can sometimes result from the use of harmful substances or get worse during withdrawal or recovery.
Circadian Rhythm Disorders
Your body has an internal clock that runs on a 24-hour cycle and controls important processes like when you feel tired/awake, your mood and alertness, and the release of hormones like melatonin. Circadian rhythm disorders are what happen when that internal clock is thrown out of sync.
Thankfully, most circadian rhythm disorders are temporary and easy to address. However, for sufferers of SUD, it can be harder to make the adjustments needed to resolve a circadian rhythm disorder. Furthermore, there is growing evidence to support the idea that substance use disturbs healthy circadian rhythms. Specifically, alcohol, cannabis, and opioid use are known to alter REM sleep and throw off your body’s internal clock.
Thankfully, there is always hope for recovery–even for those who are co-experiencing a sleep disorder and SUD. The body is incredibly adaptable and you can reset your body’s internal clock through mindful recovery.
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These are our therapists who are experienced in working with Sleep Disorders.
