Substance abuse disorders and addiction are complicated diseases that involve the overwhelming desire or craving for drugs, alcohol, and other medications of abuse. Addiction and substance abuse disorders can cause turmoil for the individual, families, and can even result in permanent debilitation and death. 

Connections between substance abuse and mental health disorders have been well established, as well as mental health disorders and sleep disturbances. However, now researchers are starting to draw connections between sleep disturbances and substance use disorders. The causes of addiction are multifactorial and include both environmental and biochemical alterations, but sleep may play a key role in the development of addiction. Continue reading to find out more about this relationship. 

We have all had those moments where it's the night before Christmas, a birthday, a big interview, test, etc., and it's nearly impossible to sleep. We are wired, excited, nervous, and have too much stimulation to go to sleep. 

Although we feel nervous, it's important for us to still get adequate sleep. If we have a test or interview, the last thing we want to do is look or feel tired. If it's a celebratory day, eventually the lack of sleep will catch up to you and cause an early retirement. 

There are some tips and tricks to try when you need to get good sleep even though you are nervous. 

If you struggle with insomnia, then you may have issues staying asleep throughout the night. When you are sleep deprived, you can have issues with mood regulation, focus, attention, learning, and memory. Sleep quantity is important - the number of hours you are in bed. However, sleep quality is also important - the type of sleep you are getting. 

Many individuals wake up in the middle of the night. Up to 35.5% of individuals wake up in the middle of the night at least three times per week. Wake-ups normally happen in the earlier stages of sleep, or the light stages. Stress can cause these awakenings, fluctuations in blood sugar or hormones, as well as physical discomfort. Here are 10 things you can do to reduce these nighttime awakenings.  

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an obstructive disease of the lungs. The lung tissue has been so destroyed that it's difficult for it to exchange gas, leading to decreased oxygen levels and difficulty breathing. It can be extremely difficult to breathe at night, partly due to the fact that the lungs are lying flat on the back of the chest wall, making it more difficult to breathe. This can lead to nighttime wheezing and sleep disturbances. Here are some tips for improving sleep with COPD. 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by discomfort and bowel irregularity. Along with a lot of abdominal pain, IBS can also cause issues with sleep. A lack of sleep also influences the severity of IBS giving them a reciprocal relationship. Continue reading to find out how to get better sleep with IBS. 

Going to bed can be very difficult due to the swirling thoughts going on in your head. However, if you can journal every night before you go to bed, you may see significant improvement in your ability to fall asleep faster. Continue reading to find out how sleep journaling can help you sleep. 

One of the major movements that came out of the pandemic is the boom of people opening their own businesses. The great resignation has seen a mass movement of people quitting their jobs to start their own hustle.

They feel like they have more control over their schedules, are better appreciated, and are better compensated than when they worked a standard 9-5.

Entrepreneurship has its benefits until it's 11 pm, and the anxiety of a long to-do list is threatening your beauty sleep. Continue reading to find out more about entrepreneurial insomnia and how to shut down your brain for a good night of sleep. 

Sleep disorders have one thing in common, they interrupt sleep. Therefore, it's important that if you have a sleep disorder, you find the problem before the accumulation of interrupted sleep leads to chronic sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation is more than just being tired. It can negatively impact several organ systems, including your heart. Heart disease is the number one cause of death worldwide, so it's important to do everything possible to maintain its health - including getting enough sleep. Continue reading to find out how common sleeping disorders can lead to cardiovascular disease!

Rumination, the incessant loop of thoughts that refuse to let go, can be a major hindrance throughout the day and especially when it's time to sleep. When your mind is caught up in this cycle, it becomes nearly impossible to shut off and find the restful sleep you deserve. This can lead to or exacerbate anxiety, depression, and insomnia, resulting in a vicious cycle of sleep deprivation. To learn more about the impacts of rumination and how to break free from its grip, continue reading.

Eating before bed has been a controversial topic for a long time. There is so much speculation and misinformation about eating late at night and the effect it can have on your diet. However, eating late at night can have various effects on your sleep. Keep reading to find out how late-night snacking can impact your sleep.