Sleep therapy is a treatment with therapeutic purposes that became popular in the 1920s to cure schizophrenia and substance addictions. It consists of administering a hypnotic for 1 to 3 consecutive weeks to induce sleep for approximately 20 hours a day.
Although the technique already seems questionable when reading what it entails, many people still believe it can work. For this reason, we provide more information below about this type of cure, the reasons to discard it as a solution, and the correct way to treat addictions effectively.
What does sleep therapy consist of?
The theory is that by making the patient sleep, their mental stability can be recovered or an addiction can be cured, but as we will see below, this is an idea that must be dismissed.
The hypothesis argues that by keeping the brain in a prolonged state of rest, it can experience a kind of detoxification from the substance causing the dependency. In theory, the relatively artificial relaxation that the brain would experience under these conditions would reduce the adverse and stimulating effects of psychotropic consumption. Furthermore, this induced sleep would mean that, upon waking, the body would be more relaxed and predisposed to psychotherapy.
There is a belief that the curative impact is due to the cathartic effect of rest, but some also believe that this “disconnection” of the brain produces a diencephalic effect and a rupture of subcortical connections, promoting recovery from addiction. The fact is that there are no conclusive results endorsed by professionals, and therefore its practice is discouraged.
The most significant disadvantages
Firstly, we find the fact that exposing oneself to the risks of a procedure without guarantees can be dangerous to health. The drugs administered to induce sleep can have side effects, and there have been cases of death.
Furthermore, sleep therapy is more expensive than some might think, as it requires active supervision, which usually involves hospital admission or hiring a professional to perform very frequent home visits, which should be properly equipped to carry out the treatment.
On the other hand, it is important to consider the individual variables of the patient and their state of health. Complications can range from hyperthermia and urinary retention to swallowing problems or even coma, in addition to the aforementioned death, usually derived from high doses of sleep-inducing medications or the interaction between those same drugs.
The problem with trying alternative therapies like sleep therapy
In the search for alternative methods to restore the mental stability of those suffering from psychological disorders, much has been written and researched regarding pseudo-natural therapies and cures. For those with fewer financial resources or those who do not dare to seek essential professional help for multiple reasons, any proposal seems to have potential. Even so, it is important to discern between effective methods and those that are not, for the sake of the patient.
The former are a well-defined group that is always accompanied by expert supervision, which will attempt to limit the use of drugs for treatment whenever possible. On the other hand, there are experimental proposals, which come with inaccuracies and usually many warnings about potential risks. The latter are the ones that must be avoided to avoid aggravating a problem that is already dangerous enough for the sufferer.
The advantages of following a modern and proven treatment
Attempting a home treatment based on ideas and proposals found on the Internet is never a good idea. The effectiveness of any health-related process is based on the pillars of professional supervision and guidance, as well as the prescription of solutions that actually work, usually scheduled individually and personalized according to the specific conditions of the patient.
Attempting alternative therapies motivated by feelings derived from addiction—which are often very destructive, such as shame, helplessness, loneliness, or lack of will, among others—is counterproductive and can make the situation worse. These are dangerous and ineffective treatments that, by failing to achieve results, can reinforce the feeling that there is no way out and further sink the person suffering from addiction.
On the contrary, going to a center specialized in addictions is currently the best option to overcome dependency on any substance.
Ask for help and start fighting for yourself
Using a proprietary and proven model, the specialists at CC Adicciones have achieved a recovery rate of 86% of patients thanks to the highest professional-to-patient ratio in Spain. The treatments we use have proven to be highly effective, and our extensive team of psychologists, therapists, and monitors has succeeded in offering the best care and a personalized experience in all cases.
The CC Adicciones model has proven to be very effective as it works with both the patient’s illness and the family. In this way, the chances of success increase, allowing us to state with total certainty that there is always a way out.
Contact us without obligation with any questions or queries, and we will get in touch with you as soon as possible. You have at your disposal our 24h telephone line and a convenient form where you can communicate with us for whatever you need.
