Some 50 to 70 million Americans experience insomnia at some point in their lives according to the National Sleep Foundation.
Make no mistake, sleep is crucial to our physical and mental functioning. The most recent research indicates that sleep is essential to all of the body’s repair and restore functions. When we are at rest the body learns what’s wrong and physically “relearns” how to contend with the complexities and stressors of everyday life. Restful sleep has been proven to improve memory recall, regulate metabolism, and reduce mental fatigue. During sleep the brain reorganizes and recharges itself and the body removes waste byproducts which have accumulated throughout the day. It’s almost as if our dream life represents our struggle to get back to balance.
When people are sleep deprived, they suffer. Their cognitive abilities decline, their behavior and their judgment becomes erratic. Fatigue makes us more emotional, anxious, more strung out, more on edge. It’s no fun and yes, it gets worse as we age in large part due to hormones, prescription medications, and chronic diseases.
As you’ve probably noticed, not all sleep aids work for everyone. There is no perfect drug that produces a normal sleep and dream pattern like a truly restful night sleep does. Many medications produce a tolerance that requires higher and higher doses. When some people stop taking them, they suffer nasty withdrawal symptoms, including severe insomnia.
Sleeping pills like Ambien don’t deliver a restorative sleep. They actually replace our normal sleep cycles and dreams, but they do not induce a natural state of sleep.
“Counterfeit sleep” only increases sleep by 8 minutes. But you have this amnesia , so you forget you had a terrible night's sleep.
Benzos are only supposed to be used short term, 2-4 weeks. If taken longer, they can be as addictive as opioids.
Weaning from Klonopin and Ambien can take up to a year because of withdrawal symptoms and emotional dependence.
Why and how does CBD work for sleep disruption ?
CBD Lowers Stress, Which Eases Insomnia
The biochemical process of sleep doesn’t happen only at night.
This is why CBD therapy during the day is a useful adjunct.
- CBD reduces anxiety by mediating the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
- GABA, a naturally occurring brain chemical,
- It calms the nervous system, induces sleep, relaxes muscles and reduces anxiety, in essence, directing the body to power down.
Correct CBD supplementation can help free patients from the racing thoughts that cause them to lay awake in bed at night.
Anxiety, stress and chronic sleep deprivation all inhibit GABA, a naturally occurring brain chemical that directs neurons to slow down or stop firing. This neurotransmitter also helps to induce sleep, relax muscles, and calm down. In essence, GABA directs the body to chill out.
CBD modulates GABA, helping return the body to its more normal functions. CBD may help stem the racing thoughts that cause disrupted sleep and panicked awakenings during the night. It can also be used to treat what are called “parasomnias,” sleep disorders characterized by abnormal movements, behaviors, or perceptions during sleep, like jaw grinding, sleepwalking, or nightmares.
The “cannabis molecules produced by your own body (endogenous cannabinoids) make you resistant to stress, similar to the way endorphins provide natural relief from pain. Integrating optimally dosed cannabinoids products can help bring the body back into a state of balance.
Not only does CBD reduce the amount of time it takes to fall asleep, but it decreases overall body inflammation and calms the nervous system. If integrated carefully throughout the day in a micro dosed regime, it can balance your circadian rhythm and help you with effortless sleep.
