Depending on where you are in your detox research, you may have found that there are a few lifestyle changes to consider. These include diet and exercise. What you may not realize is the importance of sleep during your detox. Rest for detox is crucial not only for the success of the process but also for your wellbeing while you go through it.
Detox or no detox rest is necessary for you to feel your best. But, detoxing puts strain on your body; rest becomes exceptionally important.
The Importance of Sleep
Sleep plays a significant role in physical and mental health. Our bodies and minds need several hours a day to recharge to function optimally. When you don’t get enough sleep, you may notice that you feel irritable, emotional, and foggy because lack of sleep impairs brain activity. In severe cases of sleep deprivation, one may become reckless, depressed, and suicidal. Without the rest it needs, your brain ends up crashing.
A less noticeable complication of sleep deprivation is lowered immune function, leaving you susceptible to contagious diseases. Further physical concerns include long-term medical conditions like diabetes because lack of sleep is believed to increase blood sugar and heart disease because sleep is necessary for rejuvenating your heart and blood vessels.
Even without illnesses, consistent sleep deprivation is believed to lower general life expectancy.
Why do I feel tired during a detox?
To put it simply, detoxing is a lot of work for your body; it has to eradicate toxins and recover itself from any damage done by them. Further, there are changes that your body must adjust to while detoxing.
Depending on how long you’ve been consuming whatever substance(s) you’re quitting, your body has become accustomed to working without them. If you’re following all recommendations for a successful detox, you will stop consuming caffeine and sugar too. Plus, detox diets typically mean fewer calories than your body is accustomed to. All this leads to lots of sudden adjustments for your system.
Detox Symptoms
Common detox withdrawal symptoms include headache, brain fog, increased hunger, and irritability. While going through a detox, many people find themselves snapping at those around them; in extreme cases, people even experience paranoia and hallucinations.
But, other than a detox, what do these symptoms have in common? You guessed it, sleep deprivation! Yes, even increased hunger is a symptom of sleep deprivation, and it’s not something you want to experience during a detox because intense hunger makes us crave foods that should be avoided, like meat, cheese, and junk.
Fatigue is the most common detox symptom. You’ll feel the need to rest more often than usual… because you do. Your body has a way of telling you what it needs, so make sure you listen to it. Don’t fight fatigue while detoxing; instead, rest when you feel tired.
We understand that people are busy, and you might think you don’t have the time to rest through your detox, but accommodating your system is beneficial in the long run to keep those other nasty symptoms at bay and increase success.