Clinical pictures

The treatment of a sleep disorder depends on its cause. If it is a symptom of another disease, this disease must be treated first. If sleep itself is the problem, behavioural therapy or sleep therapy are usually used. In addition, sleep hygiene must be improved. This means behaviour that promotes good sleep. You can contribute significantly to this:

• Eliminating the midday nap
• Using a cool, dark, well-ventilated sleeping room only for sleep
• Getting up at the same time every day
• Set up a sleep ritual (e.g., a yoga session, a cup of tea, reading several pages)
• Avoid heavy meals in the evening, avoiding alcohol, avoiding nicotine
• Go to bed only when very tired
• Eliminate caffeine after lunch
• Eliminate electronic devices or TV from the bedroom
• Practice regular physical activity
• Use relaxation techniques (e.g., self-training, meditation)

Internal restlessness often prevents affected individuals from sleeping. Ongoing conflicts, persistent stress, worry, and physical or mental overload can also impair sleep. It is important to look for the concrete causes of these types of stress and to find better coping mechanisms. Psychotherapy can help.

The best way to help affected individuals is by being informed. What consequences does an addiction disease have and what do you have to prepare for? Use professional advice and exchange information with people in the same situation. You can also find more about self-help on curamenta.

Being informed also means setting boundaries. Even though you want to help the suffering person unconditionally, don`t take responsibility for their addiction. Be careful to avoid entering a situation of co-dependence, which is adopting an addiction-promoting type of behaviour, frequently without being aware of it. Such behaviour includes procuring the addictive drug, or justification of the addiction to yourself or others, for example.

Co-dependence is defined as addiction-promoting behaviour of people surrounding an affected person. Animated by the intention to help and support the affected person, they end up in a type of dependence directed at the life of the addicted person.

Co-dependence can be recognised in three phases. Initially, the co-dependent person protects and finds excuses for the addicted person, typically in interaction with an employer. The addictive drug is procured, and the gravity of the situation is generally downplayed. In the second phase, the co-dependent person tries to control the addicted person, for instance by hiding the addictive drug and by more intense scrutiny. The third phase start with the insight that these behaviours do not solve the problem. The co-dependent person develops feelings of accusation, exclusion, and avoidance towards the addicted person.

Other features are:

• Co-dependent persons have difficulty in setting boundaries; they often lack self-esteem.
• Their life is completely put on the back burner.
• They feel responsible for the affected person and for keeping up the façade to the surrounding world.
• They are often severely exhausted and feel under a lot of pressure.
• They suffer from psychosomatic symptoms like headache, tension, and depression.

There are several approaches to prevent a relapse. One aspect of addiction treatment is to explore life circumstances that favoured dependence. Strategies to deal with these very individual factors are then worked out.

In addition, there are some general principles to avoid relapses:

• Regular participation in a self-help group enables the exchange of information with other affected individuals, developing motivation, and mutual support.
• The brain has become accustomed to the feeling of reward through the addictive drug. When the drug is no longer used, an empty space is created. New habits, hobbies or interests can fill this empty space.
• Stress and overload in the family or at work increase the risk of relapse. Professionals can teach you strategies to deal with mental overload.
• In certain cases, the social milieu favoured the dependence. It is important to critically evaluate who and what places are not conducive to an addiction-free life.
• The need for the addictive drug will be overwhelming at times. An emergency plan to guide the behaviour in moments of high risk of relapse is helpful and should be drawn up in advance.

Successful treatment starts with the insight that you have an addiction disease. Even if this confession is painful and possibly shameful, it puts you in a position to act and face your disease.

Withdrawal, which broadly means the elimination of the toxic substance from the body, is followed by recovery. During mental recovery, the issue is to rebuild your life without the addictive drug. Several protective factors can support you: a positive way to deal with stress and problems, a supportive social milieu, the opportunity to shape your own life, a positive self-image, and high resilience.

Participation in self-help groups can also be beneficial. You can meet people with similar experience and feel that they understand you. You can find more on the topic self-help here.