Many people experience sleep difficulties. This is also one of the biggest struggles for people recovering from substance use, regardless of whether it’s including benzos, opioids, alcohol, or meth. If you are recovering, you will likely struggle to fall asleep or have poor sleep quality. It’s not unusual for people to try to self-medicate to overcome these struggles, and marijuana is a frequent choice for that. However, how marijuana affects sleep is a complex topic, and rather than relying on cannabis, you should seek professional help. Our rehabs in WV employ evidence-based, sustainable sleep solutions that can serve you for a lifetime. Keep reading to learn about the latest discoveries on how marijuana affects sleep, its cycles, and its quality. Read about the latest scientific findings, as well as how cannabis impacts specific substance use disorders. Finally, get reliable information on alternatives for marijuana. We will share healthier and more sustainable solutions to never struggle with sleep difficulties again.
Why Sleep Issues Are Common in Addiction Recovery
Sleep issues became quite common complaints among people with substance use disorders (SUDs). A cohort study showed that the prevalence of sleep problems for people in recovery is 79%. This issue was identified in those who are abstinent after one year, showing that sleep difficulties can be a persistent problem.
Scientists are connecting sleep disturbances in addiction recovery with psychological distress related to this major challenge of remaining sober. They are also warning that addiction can interfere with levels of GABA within the body, a neurotransmitter that helps the brain rest and is directly impacting our circadian rhythm. Finally, using drugs leads to sleep patterns being affected. When you stop using, your body starts returning to normal, and the adjustment process disrupts your sleeping patterns.
How Substance Use Alters Sleep Patterns
Sleep issues for people in recovery typically happen during the withdrawal stage but they can also last for months or years into recovery. Sometimes, they’re even associated with relapse, as sleep deprivation is a risk factor for it.
Experts are warning that substance use can cause sleep difficulties. Stimulants cause individuals to stay awake, and depressants can force sleep. Both are creating a cycle of drug use, impacting the natural ceiling schedule and making you further engage in addiction. Sleep problems during recovery can depend on the substance used, but they affect many people in different ways:
- People struggling with alcohol dependence often struggle with insomnia before entering treatment. This issue can continue during recovery as well. Furthermore, people in recovery from AUD may have sleep-disordered breathing (sleep apnea) as well, which can continue for months or even years.
- Those stopping marijuana use can experience sleep problems in the first days of withdrawal but also for weeks to come.
- When detoxifying from opioids, you might struggle with insomnia, and current medication therapies for opioids do not reverse sleep dysfunctions.
- Sleep quality in those who chronically used cocaine can deteriorate during the period of abstinence
- The prevalence of improper quality of sleep during meth recovery is high, especially during the first week of withdrawal, even when done at the meth rehab center West Virginia residents trust. One study, however, shows that as time passes, the quality improves.
- Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms are frequently anxiety and insomnia, especially in the first days of withdrawal.
Common Sleep Disorders in People Recovering from Substance Use
Some typical sleep issues for someone in recovery are insomnia, sleep latency (taking a long time to fall asleep), sleep cycles and continuity disturbances, and hypersomnia (excessive sleep during daytime). Sleep problems depend on several factors, including the substance used. Here are some of the most common sleep problems associated with substance use:
- Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make falling or staying asleep hard. It is one of the most common sleep issues following the cessation of substances.
- REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder in which you physically and vocally act out vivid, often unpleasant dreams during REM sleep. Some research suggests that marijuana can contribute to abnormal dream activity.
- Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder in which repetitive pauses in breathing, periods of shallow breathing, or collapse of the upper airway during sleep result in poor ventilation and sleep disruption.
- Rebound nightmares are the occurrence of frequent, vivid, often disturbing dreams during sleep rebound, which refers to an increased amount of sleep a person receives due to being sleep-deprived or stressed during waking hours.
How Marijuana Affects Sleep Cycles in Recovery
In general, THC helps users fall asleep faster, making it an attractive solution for people in recovery, as they typically struggle with insomnia. THC also reduces time spent in REM sleep, which means fewer dreams. This can also be a desirable outcome for those haunted by vivid nightmares. All this combined can make marijuana seem like a great solution for several sleep-related problems people in recovery often encounter. However, the reality is more complex.
Does Marijuana Affect Dreams and REM Sleep?
Does marijuana affect dreams? This is a common concern among those who struggle with nightmares. The relationship between marijuana and dreams seems to be both beneficial and problematic.
On one hand, as already mentioned, marijuana can reduce the REM phase of sleep and, with that, reduce the occurrence of dreams. On the other hand, when someone quits marijuana, REM rebound can cause intense and vivid dreams or nightmares.
This is especially important for those recovering from opioids, benzos, or meth, as they already struggle with sleep disturbances. Adding marijuana withdrawal to their existing recovery process can make their symptoms worse and, with that, slow down the recovery.
Can Marijuana Cause REM Sleep Behavior Disorder?
Some studies suggest long-term marijuana use can contribute to RBD, causing vivid, intense dreams and even physical movements during sleep. This can be especially distressing for people in addiction recovery, as REM disturbances are already common.
There are, however, studies implying that cannabis can be useful for treating sleep behavior disorder, but such studies highlight certain components of cannabis and a controlled setting. More research is necessary to understand the complexity of the relationship between marijuana and sleep disorders.
Marijuana and Sleep Apnea: Does It Help or Hurt?
We can’t deny there are some potential benefits to using marijuana for sleep-related issues, sleep apnea being one of them. Researchers found the topic of marijuana and sleep apnea intriguing and performed observations to make scientific conclusions. The results are mixed, making them advise against marijuana use.
Some research indicates that cannabis can be useful as it helps the brain exert better control over the airway muscles during sleep. Keeping this in mind, we should expect marijuana to decrease sleep apnea. However, other studies have discovered no correlation between cannabis use and the severity of sleep apnea. Furthermore, detrimental effects on sleep architecture were identified. For instance, marijuana use decreases REM sleep and causes somnolence.
Marijuana use not only has the potential to miss positive results on sleep apnea, but it can also lead to additional problems. Furthermore, choosing to treat sleep apnea with marijuana instead of medical solutions like CPAP therapy can delay proper treatment.
Risks of Mixing Marijuana with Alcohol, Benzos, and Other Substances
Poly-substance use became popular at some point, and you might feel tempted to mix marijuana with other substances, like alcohol, benzos, or meth. However, there is significant danger in doing so, as these substances can interact and lead to a health hazard. This is also true in situations when you’re stopping the use of certain substances and going through with your period, as your body still has traces of substances that you used, and it might interact with marijuana if you’re trying to use it to fight sleep-related issues.
Marijuana and Alcohol: A Dangerous Sleep Combination
Many people in alcohol recovery turn to marijuana to relax, but the combination can worsen sleep apnea and breathing issues. Using marijuana with alcohol delays REM sleep even further, increasing fatigue. Furthermore, mixing these two substances can result in an array of physical and psychological symptoms, including distress and anxiety. Taking marijuana as an edible is especially dangerous and can result in experiencing hallucinations, delusions, and other psychotic reactions.
Marijuana and Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
It’s not unusual for people to struggle with insomnia and other sleep disturbances while going through a benzo detox. Some try to manage it by relying on marijuana, thinking it could help them manage anxiety. However, knowing how marijuana affects sleep and keeping in mind that combining benzos and cannabis can seriously depress the respiratory system, there is an increased danger of sleep apnea. Experts are also warning about the increased risk of hallucinations, anxiety spikes, and emotional instability.
Marijuana, Opioids, and Sleep Disruptions
People withdrawing from opioids already suffer from severe insomnia and REM disturbances. Some find their salvation in marijuana before bedtime, as it can provide short-term sedation and help them fall asleep. However, it does not resolve sleep disturbances in the long term. Additionally, over time, it can worsen overall sleep quality. The safest way to address both opioid dependence and sleep issues related to it is by opting for a professional opiate rehab West Virginia healthcare providers recommend.
Why Marijuana Is Not a Reliable Sleep Aid for Recovery
Not only might you experience an undesirable reaction to using marijuana as a sleep aid, but you are also not helping yourself in the long run. Self-medicating with marijuana does not address the root causes of sleep issues, and therefore, sleep disturbances can come back the moment you’re not using. Furthermore, for people in recovery who already have experience with substance dependency, there is always a risk of developing a new dependency on marijuana to fall asleep, requiring professional assistance from a marijuana rehab center.
Healthier Alternatives to Marijuana for Sleep in Recovery
While marijuana can seem like an appropriate solution to sleep problems (many justify it by the fact that it comes from a plant), there are several healthier alternatives, some of which offer long-lasting results. In addition to identifying the prevalence of sleep problems among people in recovery, the previously mentioned study concluded that establishing daily routines related to work, school, or care for children were coping strategies for people with persistent problems.
Natural Sleep Solutions That Work
Try relying on one of the following natural solutions and approaches to dealing with sleep disturbances:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for insomnia: CBT is a golden standard, evidence-based therapy, an irreplaceable part of any rehab. Work on your sleep-related problems can easily be implemented into your CBT treatment plan for substance abuse and ensure you have healthy mechanisms that last for a lifetime.
- Meditation and deep breathing exercises are proven to reduce anxiety and improve sleep. They also help you manage daily stress, including the one induced by the recovery process.
- Melatonin and magnesium are safe, natural supplements that can help you restore a healthy sleep cycle. Regardless of the reason for your sleep disturbances, they can help you establish a healthy sleeping pattern. Not only do they resolve sleep issues, but they also eliminate the need to worry about how marijuana affects sleep.
Seeking Professional Help for Sleep Issues in Recovery
If you tried implementing natural sleep solutions alone and they didn’t work or were giving inconsistent results, you can always turn to Harmony Ridge Recovery Center for additional help. Our rehab center Huntington WV relies on can provide you with structured support and assist you in finding the best solution for both your substance use and sleep-related issues. We rely on a client-centric, personalized approach and implement science-backed solutions.
We work on establishing long-term sleep hygiene strategies rather than offering quick fixes that might be unsustainable and potentially dangerous. By combining professional-led CBT and structured support, we are dealing with the underlying causes of your struggles and helping you develop and maintain healthy sleeping routines and patterns. Furthermore, we assist you in mastering techniques and strategies for managing stress, triggers, and anything else lying on your recovery path. As one of the rehabs in WV that accept Medicaid, we provide accessible and affordable programs, ensuring everyone has a chance to live a fulfilling life.
Breaking the Cycle: Finding Restful Sleep Without Marijuana
It’s understandable you feel tempted to seek quick fixes for your sleep problems. Marijuana can sometimes offer relief, making it an attractive option. However, keep in mind how marijuana affects sleep long-term and that it can create additional problems. Rather than looking for a solution right now, look for the right solution. Turn to professionals at Harmony Ridge Recovery Center who can help you uncover the underlying causes of sleep disturbances and develop healthy strategies to manage them.
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