CBD AND SLEEP: CAN CBD CAUSE NIGHTMARES?

Due to the popularity of CBD products, people are increasingly using them to improve their overall health. One of the most common reasons that lead people to this medicinal cannabis substance is to improve sleep. However, many cannabis users have found that CBD, on the other hand, gives them nightmares. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the effect CBD can have on sleep and dreaming, and how you can use CBD for restful sleep.

Why do we dream?

There is no clear answer to why we dream, but the most common theory is that our brains use dreaming to process and consolidate information and memories. Other theories state that dreams act as internal therapists located in our subconscious mind, helping us to overcome the emotional dramas in our lives.

Many people believe that dreams are just made up and random stories. However, scientists have found that only about 10% of them fall into this category and the rest have a direct connection to reality. Dreams are thus often a combination of different reactions, fears, emotions and pleasures that people experience in real life.

The 5 stages of sleep

In order to understand how CBD and other cannabinoids can affect sleep, it is necessary to at least briefly discuss the different stages of sleep. The human sleep cycle is naturally divided into the following phases:

Phase One: light sleep

The first stage of sleep occurs when you are just beginning to fall asleep. It is the weakest stage, lasting only a few minutes. CBD can help with relaxation and anxiety reduction, which can make it easier to fall asleep and transition into the next phase. CBD can also contribute to improving the first stage of sleep by reducing the likelihood of interrupted sleep or waking during the night.

During this phase, you may experience what are called hypnic twitches, or sudden muscle twitches that cause your legs to twitch as you fall asleep or wake up. CBD during this phase has been shown to help people sleep soundly.

The second phase

The second stage is a deeper sleep, although it is still referred to as the light sleep stage. In the second phase, you are much less likely to wake up than in the first phase and it lasts for about 25 minutes. The eyes are closed, the heart rate slows, the body temperature drops slightly, and the brain frequency fades. During this phase, the person does not dream, but CBD can make them feel as if they are floating in the clouds. The second stage of sleep is an important part of the sleep cycle and has an effect on memory enhancement, brain plasticity and body regeneration. CBD can improve the quality of the second stage of sleep by reducing the number of awakenings during the night.

Third and fourth stages

The third and fourth stages represent progressively deepening phases of sleep, known as slow brain wave sleep or delta sleep. Brain frequencies slow down and a person may feel groggy and tired upon waking.

These are important stages of the sleep cycle that allow the body to rest, recover and consolidate memories. Disruption of this phase, such as through lack of sleep or sleep disturbances, can negatively affect physical and cognitive function. CBD can increase the percentage of sleep disturbances by reducing the time spent in the lighter stages of sleep.

Stage 5: REM sleep

The last stage is characterized by rapid eye movements, rapid breathing, and increased brain activity and heart rate. During the eight hours of sleep (the recommended range for an adult is seven to nine hours a day), the five-phase cycle repeats four or five times, and the REM sleep phase gradually lengthens and can last up to an hour before waking.

CBD' s ability to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation may indirectly improve the quality of REM sleep. Anxiety and stress can interfere with the ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, including the ability to transition into REM sleep. By reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation, CBD can help individuals achieve more restful and restorative sleep, even during the REM sleep cycle.

Taking CBD helps people regulate blood pressure and brain sensations, lowers heart rate and breathing rate, and has a calming effect, allowing for dream control. However,according to Gatta et al. (2007), CBD does not inhibit rapid eye movement (REM).

How does CBD affect sleep?

So far, there is a lack of studies looking at the link between cannabidiol use, dreams and nightmares. The assumption that CBD may cause you to dream more or have nightmares is not scientifically supported. People generally take CBD to promote sleep. There is evidence that CBD can have a beneficial effect on sleep, particularly in improving its quality and alleviating symptoms of insomnia. CBD can act on the body and mind in a calming and relaxing way, which can help individuals fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

In a study examining the effects of CBD on sleep patterns in healthy people, researchers found that CBD should have no adverse effect on sleep, and in another study, CBD was found to effectively minimize REM sleep caused by anxiety.

CBD affects each user differently. The effects can also vary depending on what the person is feeling, what medications they are taking, how stressed they are. More sensitive individuals may remember dreams better or, conversely, experience nightmares. However, there is no direct link to cannabidiol (or has not yet been proven) and it is always a combination of several factors that negatively affect sleep.

The link between CBD and nightmares is based on anecdotal information only and is therefore not supported by any research. When CBD causes nightmares, it is always a combination of several factors that negatively affect sleep, such as stress, illness or over-exhaustion.

If you've started having bad dreams or nightmares and think they might be caused by CBD, here are 3 ways to prevent them:

1. Change the time of day you take CBD. If you are experiencing adverse side effects on your sleep, try taking your last dose earlier.
2. Reduce the amount you take. Taking too large a dose can lead to unwanted side effects.
3. Change the product type or brand. If you have bad dreams after taking a full-spectrum product, try a broad-spectrum or isolated product.

CBD and dreams

Unfortunately, as with most other areas of cannabis research, we don't yet know much about the effects of cannabis or CBD on sleep and dreams. Since CBD can affect each person differently, it cannot be said with certainty that CBD products will not affect dreaming. In addition to CBD's ability to induce the deep relaxation and calmness needed for perfect sleep in the brain, it also affects how the human subconscious mind deals with various events. It blocks negative thoughts in the brain, preventing nightmares or vivid dreams. If you are considering taking CBD to improve your sleep, it is important to consult a doctor. He or she can help you determine if CBD is safe for you and what dosage may be best for you.

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