Sleep? How many people can testify that they have a good night’s sleep?
Falling asleep is not my main problem, although it takes me quite a while. Staying asleep is my main concern. I don’t consciously think stressful thoughts before going to sleep but I do believe that stress is what wakes me up. I sleep for maybe an hour or two and then I am wide awake. I doubt very highly that I even get past the REM part of sleep since I can be awakened by the slightest noise. (REM stands for rapid eye movement which is a unique sleeping phase in mammals and birds). Sleeping pills do help but of course in the morning I am not as alert as would like to be. And who wants to count on pills for long term relief? What could be the answer?
I have been researching several options and came up with these solutions.
Melatonin: Melatonin must be taken in exactly the right dosage and at the right time of day. The over the counter supplements may raise the amount of melatonin in the body to up to twenty times the normal amount. Some medical practitioners are concerned that it may reduce the natural production of melatonin in the body, but short-term studies suggest no such effects.
Acupuncture: Research has shown that acupuncture, a procedure that involves the insertion of very fine needles into the skin with sometimes the addition of electrical stimulus or heating up specific herbs can improve sleep quality in people with insomnia. However, additional research is still going on to prove conclusively that it is effective for the relief of insomnia.
Adjusting Eating Habits: Certain foods can have a calming effect on both the brain and the body. Combining foods that are high in tryptophan (an amino acid which increases serotonin levels) with healthy, complex carbohydrates can help improve insomnia. An hour before bed, try having a snack of whole-wheat crackers and cheese. Tryptophan is found in turkey, fish and low-fat cheese. Herbs such as basil and sage contain chemicals that can make you sleepy. Nuts also boost serotonin levels.
CBD Oil for Sleep: CBD oil decreases the duration of the REM phase of sleep which causes you to dream and sleep lightly. It allows you to rest while sleeping which leads to improved memory and alertness. Science has proven that healthy sleep-wake cycles are crucial for humans. Drowsiness and inability to focus are the effects of sleeplessness. And you can never make up for lost sleep. Once it’s lost it can’t be found. When you have trouble falling asleep at night, you cannot enter or retain the non- REM phase of sleep. There are two forms of sleep: REM and NREM. Sleep disorders interrupt your normal cycle of NREM which should take about 75% of your sleeping time.
The wonderful thing about CBD, is that it helps with sleep because of its anti-anxiety properties and the ability to facilitate relaxation. Instead of taking extra melatonin, it raises the naturally occurring levels of melatonin already in the body.
According to a study published in Neurotherapeutics, you can take up to 1,500 mg's of CBD safely. There is much to gain and not much risk in taking CBD before bedtime.
After researching the different options of sleep aids including exercise and meditation, I concluded that I would like to try CBD oil first. The first question I had is how CBD reduces stress, since in all probability it’s stress that is causing my insomnia. There is something called the stress response. There are many reasons why a person responds in a certain way to a certain situation. This response is a psychological process that occurs in the brain. How we respond to stressful situations is crucial to brain health. If the brain gets overloaded with worries, this response function is affected and will not work properly. Even a minor danger will be viewed as hazardous. For example, walking up the stairs can be viewed in such a negative way that a person will be afraid to climb the stairs. When people fall into a stress pattern, they try to deal with it as best they can. Sometimes temporary fixes such as anxiety medication, drinking and partying will give only short-term relief.
Studies show that CBD positively combats the negative stress receptors of the brain. So, the brain is then able to respond to stressful situations and CBD also helps it respond to future stress levels. If someone insults you, take some CBD, relax and get some sleep.
Society has become very sensitive and its primarily due to a poor self-image. Our social feeds are full of attractive celebrities which sets our bar for social success above and beyond. I was recently listening to The Denis Prager Show and he was talking about his experience of walking into a local car dealer in California. There was a young man who did not look happy at all with his current job. Denis went on to say, “Years ago we were content at these types of jobs just for the sake of earning a living. We gave it all we got, and we served society with a smile”. Today, social media has created a misconception that only celebrity status can provide us with truly being content. What's odd is that once these people of stature reach the pinnacle it does not come along with happiness. Many like Marilyn Monroe who had it all were simply the most depressed people of society.
It is for this reason that our human bodies are out of control and stress levels are at all-time highs. When the body reacts with stress, it is supposed to be used as a motivator in order to prepare for your next challenge. Take someone who is walking at night and they get a sense that someone is about to jump them and attack them. Miraculously the heart begins pumping more blood anticipating a possible injury and loss of blood. Muscles stiffen up, allowing them to give the optimal blow if the use of force is necessary. However, the every day life stresses are not supposed to stimulate these elements as often as they do. It has come to a point where it’s impacting our bodies in such a negative way. Luckily there are natural products like CBD oil which can help regulate are bodies and bring back our normal stress levels.
Sleep deprivation plays a big role in one daily stress. I always tell my kids that you begin the next day when you go to sleep the night before. Our bodies need the sleep more than ever since we made smart phones part of daily life. People have claimed to feel false vibrations in their hips, thinking it was their phone. The brain and body are over alert looking out for any mobile interaction at any second of the day. I would recommend that when the evening comes turn off your devices (including TV’s). Read a book, play a game, or listen to the radio. You might just be surprised at how well you will sleep and more importantly the next day will be a great one.