How CBD Can Help you Sleep

Today’s miracles of technology and innovation have changed the way we live. Due to a busy lifestyle, some people still struggle even with something as simple as sleeping despite our modern advances (or possibly because of our modern advances). Balancing social life, work, and personal life on one plate can be daunting. It becomes even more challenging as responsibilities start to add up, sacrificing sleep to have more time for other priorities instead. 

How Can CBD Help You Sleep?

Even if you have the time to lie down and relax, closing your eyes and falling asleep is no easy feat. There are so many factors related to sleep, but the main focus is rest. There may be a solution from a very old plant; recent studies show that CBD (from hemp) can help ease symptoms of many health issues, including anxiety, depression, acne, heart disease, and difficulty sleeping.

CBD or ‘Cannabidiol’ is a chemical located in cannabis (marijuana and hemp) plants. Even if it comes from these plants, it does not make a person “high.” According to Healthline.com, although CBD and THC have similar chemical structures, they don’t have the same psychoactive effects.

THC binds with the cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors in the brain and produces a high euphoria sense. CBD, on the other hand, is psychoactive and doesn’t make a person “high.” Insomnia, anxiety, stress, pain, and depression are often the causes of poor sleep. CBD helps in addressing these issues as it focuses on the root causes of sleep problems.

It is imperative to know how CBD can address these problems and achieve good sleep.

#1 Insomnia

One of the many factors that can cause insomnia is a high level of cortisol at night or on hours in which a person is supposed to sleep. Cortisol serves as an alert system in your body, providing you with an extra boost of energy to help you overcome possible threats. An average person’s cortisol level is at a peak only in the morning and drops at night. However, people with insomnia have high cortisol levels in the evening, making it difficult to fall asleep with this extra energy boost.

CBD can help by controlling the cortisol levels in a person’s body. The cannabinoids interact with the body’s system receptors, including cortisol, and help balance them within the body, regulating cortisol levels to a natural state. In a study on the effects of CBD, the researchers found out that cortisol levels decreased more significantly when participants took 300mg or 600mg of CBD oil. These findings suggest that CBD affects the release of cortisol, possibly acting as a sedative.

#2 Anxiety and Stress

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), anxiety disorders are ranked the sixth-largest contributor to disability worldwide and a common factor as to why a person can have poor sleep. According to Healthline.com, stress can be triggered by an event that can make you feel nervous or frustrated. Anxiety refers to a feeling of worry, fear, or being uneasy. It can be a stress reaction, or in some cases, it can occur in people who cannot identify significant stressors in their life. Overthinking causes stress levels to rise, giving a person a difficult time falling asleep. Sleep deprivation can worsen anxiety, spurring a negative cycle involving insomnia and anxiety disorders. Anxiety causes one to think of many things simultaneously that can lead to stress, making it difficult to fall asleep. 

Alleviating anxiety can help a person sleep better. This is where CBD comes in. Dr. Yasmin Hurd, the Director of the Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, mentioned that CBD:

“Can activate some serotonin receptors, and the serotonin system is associated with alleviating anxiety. Both under normal conditions and in people who have anxiety disorders, enough research has started to show that it (CBD) does have an anti-anxiety effect.”. 

By relaxing both the mind and body, sleeping will be more comfortable than before.

In addition to this, a study conducted in 2011 showed the effects of CBD  on people with anxiety disorders. These participants were given 400 milligrams (mg) dosage of CBD or a placebo. Participants who took CBD experienced an overall reduced level of anxiety.

To further support the claim of CBD being an aid to anxiety and sleep problems, a retrospective study evaluated the effects of CBS in 72 adults who had sleep problems or anxiety. After two months of the first CBD treatment, 78.1% – 79.2% of its participants report improvements in their anxiety symptoms and sleep.

#3 Depression

Ranking as one of the main contributors to disability worldwide (WHO), it is no surprise that depression makes a person lack sleep. Sadness is a normal reaction to problems, loss, problems, or other difficult situations. Feeling sad from time to time is another part of being human. In these cases, sadness goes away quickly, and you can go about your everyday life. 

Depression, on the other hand, is different. These feelings may last for more than two weeks and can negatively affect the work and personal aspects of a person’s life. SleepFoundation.org describes depression and sleep as having a “bidirectional relationship.” This relationship would indicate that not having a proper sleep can contribute to causing depression and that having depression causes a person to develop sleep issues more likely.

In treating depression, CBD appears to have benefits over antidepressant medications. According to Healthline.com, most antidepressants take weeks to start working, but a 2019 animal study found that CBD has an immediate and sustainable antidepressant effect. Also, CBD can result in fewer side effects than antidepressants. Side effects such as insomnia, agitation, sexual dysfunction, and mood swings are seen on most antidepressants, while CBD has not.

#4 Pain

It is pretty evident why pain is one of the reasons why a person can’t sleep. As pain takes away your energy, being hurt hinders you from falling asleep, causing stress, panic, and discomfort.

CBD has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects that help with pain management. It works with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that allows your body, which can relieve pain. A natural sleeping aid, CBD helps you fall asleep as the pain subsides.

#5 PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD, refers to a condition triggered when a person remembers a traumatic event that they have witnessed or experienced. According to MayoClinic.org, symptoms of PTSD may include flashbacks, severe anxiety, uncontrollable thoughts about the event, and nightmares. Those who have PTSD may likely experience nightmares that remind them of the terrifying event. These nightmares may keep them up all night.

CBD and CBD oil can help with some of the symptoms of PTSD by reducing anxiety, disrupt fear memories and help REM sleep.  

CBD is Better than Sleeping Pills

Most people would turn to sleeping pills to help them sleep faster. But unlike CBD, these pills have side-effects that take a toll on people’s health. A person may still feel dazed, as if in half-dreaming. It’s already a struggle early on when you wake up. CBD does not only aid you to sleep, but it also makes you start the day feeling refreshed and well-rested.

CBD helps not only in relieving sleep problems. It can also ease anxiety and treat other health problems. CBD also contains anti-inflammatory properties, making it an excellent option for relieving pain.

Conclusion

Innovation has changed the lives of people. With technology in its advancement, CBD is only one of many more natural remedies with many uses in our bodies. Continuous studies are done, so there is still so much more to learn about CBD. Still, researchers have confirmed how CBD helps people function correctly and supports our bodies’ systems to work at their best.

CBD becomes popular due to its beneficial effects on a person’s body. Using CBD, combined with taking care of your body by exercising and eating proper food, can help you feel better and stay healthier.