Morphine is a form of opioid commonly used to help relieve pain. While this substance can have short-term medical benefits, the potential for addiction is high. Morphine has many long-term, negative effects that should be considered, including disruption of your sleep cycles.
Sleep Cycles and Morphine
Morphine creates a feeling of euphoria when it is present in the body. While this feeling may be pleasurable, some negative side effects accompany this sensation. While experiencing these euphoric feelings, morphine inhibits neurons that promote sleep at certain times of the day. This inhibition of neurons can either promote wakefulness during regular sleep hours or induce feelings of tiredness throughout the waking day.
While it is still possible to sleep when using morphine, your body’s ability to reach a state of deep sleep is greatly hindered. The ability to engage in light sleep is often increased, but deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep are drastically decreased. This lack of deep and REM sleep can cause people to feel that they have not slept as much as they needed, even if they slept through the night.
Importance of Consistent Sleep
Ensuring that you get quality sleep is extremely important throughout life, especially during recovery. During deep and REM sleep, your brain continues to store information, and your body rests so you can function properly the next day. Temporary loss of sleep may not lead to any long-term damage; however, neglecting your sleep habits can take a significant toll on your energy levels and body functioning as you age.
As you continue to experience poor sleep, you will likely experience low energy levels, increased cravings, irritability, and impaired judgment and thought processes. These symptoms can make addiction more challenging and create additional obstacles to overcome during recovery. Allow your sleep cycles to benefit you and your long-term recovery success rather than hindering it.
Addiction to Morphine
An addiction to morphine can have detrimental effects on your sleeping habits. If you find that you are developing an addiction to morphine, it is important to get help right away. The longer this addiction persists, the more drastic the long-term effects on your sleeping habits may be. While your body will adjust to subpar sleep, it is not ideal for proper functioning.
When addicted to morphine, many individuals experience feelings similar to insomnia. Some people may feel productive and awake during most hours of the day. For others, they attempt to fall asleep and lay restless for hours on end. Regardless of the effects, a lack of sleep is not good for us, considering how much your body relies on sleep.
Most individuals who fall into the cycle of addiction with morphine specifically find that their sleep cycle adjusts to some extent, allowing them to feel that they need much less sleep. While this may seem like a benefit at first, your body slowly begins to feel the effects of sleep deprivation. As these signs increase, your body can begin to shut down and not function properly. Most individuals find they reach this point during recovery when they attempt to restore their sleeping patterns.
Mitigating the Effects of Morphine
One way to ensure morphine does not greatly disrupt your sleep cycle is to avoid using it in the late afternoons or evenings. Because morphine increases energy levels when first taken, avoiding taking it during the second half of the day can help your body slowly reset back to a regular sleep schedule. As you work towards sobriety, paying attention to when you take morphine can be a helpful step when cutting back on your use.
As you stop using morphine completely, being mindful of your sleep schedule is still important. If you find you struggle to go to sleep at night and are up for hours on end, you likely will feel more tired during the day. Although you may want to take a nap, avoid doing this and instead push yourself to stay awake. This way, you will be tired and able to go to sleep when it is time for bed.
Resetting your sleep cycle can be challenging for anyone, especially when working against the acts of a substance. Similar to the act of creating new habits, this adjustment can take time to achieve. It is important to be patient during this process and celebrate nights when you get a good night’s sleep. As you work to establish a healthy sleeping routine, your cravings diminish, and the symptoms of addiction may lower as well, easing the recovery process as a whole.
Morphine, a form of opioid, is a painkiller that has a high potential for addiction. When taking morphine, your sleep cycle may be disrupted, and you may not be able to get into a deep sleep. If you have been prescribed morphine and are taking it temporarily, these symptoms can be manageable. If addiction develops, however, your sleep will be disrupted. Consistently lacking deep and REM sleep can lead to long-term health effects and make recovery more challenging. Sleep is essential in order for your body and brain to function properly. As your sleep patterns become habitual, it is important to reset them when they have been disrupted. Taking action to readjust your sleep cycle can not only benefit your overall functioning but your recovery as well. To learn more about morphine and how it affects your sleep cycles, reach out to Dream Recovery at (949) 732-1960.