Insomnia is a serious sleep disorder that affects millions of people. In fact, one in three people are affected by some form of it. Unfortunately, insomnia is a sleep disorder that can also negatively impact mental stability, can cause depression, and may have devastating effects on the body and a person’s quality of life. It also affects more adults over the age of 65 than it does people under the age of 65.
Medical marijuana is used by more and more adults suffering from insomnia. There is a revolution underway regarding traditional medical thinking for treatment, especially for grown-ups. A look at the benefits and reading actual stories about people helped by medical marijuana shows just how effective it can be when used properly. The good news is that many people chronically afflicted by insomnia have found relief through the aid of cannabis consumption.
Effects of Insomnia
People may suffer from insomnia for years and it can drastically affect a person’s quality of life. The results can be devastating. Marriages have been ruined, jobs have been lost, people have even died because of accidents caused by lack of sleep. Scientific sleep studies have demonstrated time and again that the human body needs a full sleep cycle (6-8 hours) to properly function. If you aren’t sleeping well, there are a number of negative effects that impact the body, mind, and the behavior of anyone who suffers from the sleep disorder. If insomnia is a problem for you or a loved one, do any of these conditions seem familiar?
- Loss of Concentration: It is extremely hard to focus when you continually lose sleep. Many people describe insomnia as living in a fog and have a hard time concentrating.
- Diminished Cognitive Skills: People who can’t focus simply can’t think clearly. It can affect the decision making process, problem solving skills and even the ability to communicate properly. This also affects your performance at work.
- Emotional Issues: People who endure insomnia can be stressed, agitated and angry. Think about how you feel when you don’t get a good night’s sleep. Long terms effects can also negatively impact relationships.
- Memory loss: You may have already lost your ability to focus, and as the sleeplessness mounts, memories may become elusive.
- Chronic insomnia may lead to other health issues like stroke, heart attack, or obesity. A lack of sleep produces cortisol in the body. Cortisol is the body’s stress hormone that impairs the ability to lose weight.
- Insomnia may even shorten a person’s life expectancy due to its combined negative effects on the body.
Medical Marijuana for Treating Insomnia
Cannabis for adults is a healthy, natural sleep agent that can fight the effects of insomnia. Now that many states have legalized medical marijuana (MMJ), more and more adults are finding relief. But as you dig into the growing movement of insomnia sufferers using cannabis as a therapeutic alternative to pharmaceuticals, you see how it also helps them to find relief from depression, pain, and many other ailments.
- One sufferer’s pharmacist warned him about continual use of prescription sleeping medications. He took the advice and began experimenting with MMJ. He personally found that a combination of 20% sativa and 80% CBD oil is perfect for him. He now uses a tincture before bedtime and enjoys plenty of much needed rest. Remember, each person is different and some careful experimenting is needed to discover what products and methods may work best for your body.
- Another insomnia sufferer was also plagued by related migraines. While nothing really worked, she was using a well-known sleep medication known to have numerous side effects like memory loss, sleep walking, even falling asleep while driving. When MMJ was legalized in her state she finally found relief for her insomnia and the migraines. An Indica strain works best for her and keeping THC in her system keeps her sleep cycle. The CBD part of the strain helps her migraines because CBD is a cannabinoid that helps alleviate pain.
- One adult man tried a MMJ-infused biscuit and had the best sleep he had experienced in years. This changed his battle with insomnia for good and those biscuits became his regular after dinner dessert.
Getting a Good Night’s Sleep with Medical Marijuana
Unfortunately, many people treat insomnia any way they can, and this means they may use alcohol, sleeping pills, or narcotics to find relief. But there is a better way. Research shows that marijuana naturally restores people to their normal sleep cycles, meaning that they get the quality sleep they need to break the insomnia pattern. It also helps fight the disorder’s many other unhealthy side effects. Simply put, cannabis helps people relax so that they can fall asleep in a more natural way — it doesn’t dose them into a state of unconsciousness.
The science is becoming more and more clear. The cannabinoids found in cannabis can help people get the type of sleep that they need, even if they suffer from insomnia. In states where medical marijuana is now legal, patients have more natural options to help them get a better night’s sleep and fight ongoing insomnia. Find and talk to a doctor or medical expert about options that may be best for you.
Join the Conversation About Insomnia
Do you suffer from insomnia? Has cannabis helped you treat the negative effects of insomnia? Please join the conversation. If your quality of life has been helped by medical marijuana for combating insomnia, we’d love to hear from you, and you might just help a fellow sufferer.
Don Eminizer is a freelance writer with twenty years of writing, editing and proofreading experience.
