At our support group this week we discussed our struggles and triumphs with sleep. Sleep struggles can be a major factor in stress and mood, which can affect our desire to use substances to cope.
In my drinking days, I was perpetually exhausted, and tried to manage my energy levels with caffeine. It never worked, and the caffeine compounded the anxiety I experienced the day after drinking. I thought my low energy levels were just part of getting older (in my 20s) and went on about my life. As I began to learn about the effects of alcohol on the body, I learned that although alcohol seemed to help me fall asleep, it was actually preventing me from going into REM cycles. This is where the exhaustion came from – I wasn’t resting; I was passing out. Often times I would wake up around 3am super thirsty, sometimes craving sweets, and always with intense sweaty anxiety. It turns out this was my blood sugar crashing in the middle of the night, again from alcohol, and my body would wake me up with strong messages as it tried to get its needs met. I’m so sorry, dear body, but often times I would grab another drink in order to fall asleep again and deaden my anxiety. To learn more about alcohol’s negative affect on our sleep cycles, click here.
Smoking weed affects sleep cycles in similar ways. It can help a person fall asleep, but blood sugar and REM cycles are negatively affected. To learn more, click here.
Getting restful sleep is one of the most important things we can do for our overall health. A regular sleep schedule improves memory, focus, and emotional regulation while strengthening the immune system. Consistent sleep patterns also help reduce the risk of serious health issues like heart disease and diabetes. Our cells use this time to repair themselves. Sleep, essentially, affects every part of our body and every element of our health. Focusing on getting restful sleep is the simplest thing we can do to improve our overall well being. For more information on the benefits of sleep, click here.
Capitalism, party culture and “grind culture” have given us the wrong idea about the value of our bodies and our health. People often state as a point of pride how they can “function” off of just a few hours of sleep per night. Functioning under stress is what our bodies are capable of doing, however, functioning with proper rest is going to lead to much better capability for our bodies and minds. I invite everyone to assess their commitment to their own restful sleep, and how stress, substances, and capitalism have affected our view of the value of restful sleep.
Looking for a few tips on how to set yourself up for success, or how to fall asleep if you can’t seem to get there? Click here for tips and tricks!
You deserve the gift of sleep.
May you be happy and free, dear reader.
Announcements and such:
This week on the podcast we hear part two of Hana’s harrowing story. She is an amazing story teller and survived some insurmountable odds. Don’t miss this one! Click here to listen.
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Support groups are still every Monday at 6pm at The Library Vintage in Fayetteville.
Look forward to another Dry January Series at FPL in 2026!
