Sleep is something humans love to do so much that we’ve dedicated a third of our lives to it! Or at least, ideally, we could dedicate a third of our lives to it.
Truth be told, many of us are plagued by too little sleep, especially when insomnia takes over. One in three Americans experiences a bout of short-term insomnia at some point in their lives, and this frustrating condition may affect as many as 70 million people in the US every year. Making all of this more complex is the fact that insomnia is often comorbid with other conditions.
The great news is that medical marijuana can be prescribed to help with many of these conditions while also doing a bang-up job of getting your insomnia squared away! If you have or want to get your medical marijuana card in Virginia, you are well on your way to relief and a lot more z's.
Medical marijuana can help if you have insomnia and want to...
Tackle That Depression
Insomnia and depression often go hand in hand; in fact, insomnia is one of the key signs with clinical depression. In some cases, depression can cause someone to oversleep, but oftentimes an inability to fall or stay asleep is the problem. What makes things worse is that the lack of sleep can actually exacerbate the depression itself, creating a vicious cycle.
Studies have shown that medical marijuana can treat depression, and it is on the list of approved conditions for cannabis in Virginia. Research indicates that patients who use cannabis to treat their depression report less depression, better quality of life, and better sleep.
Get Through the Night With PTSD
Those with PTSD are often kept up at night because of physical symptoms, such as chronic pain. The psychological aspects of the disorder can cause people with PTSD to miss out on sleep, too. As many as a whopping 90 percent of patients with PTSD can experience insomnia at some point when dealing with the condition, making disordered sleep a high-stakes issue with this disorder.
Many find relief for PTSD with medical marijuana. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study run just this year on 150 participants showed that those with PTSD who consistently used cannabis for a year saw a much greater reduction in their PTSD symptoms than the placebo group and were 2.5 times as likely to no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for the disorder.
Get a Solid 8, Even With Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are present in about one-third of the people who experience regular insomnia. Having anything on your mind can keep you up at night; when you have a mental health condition that is defined by worry, it's no surprise that sleep gets that much more difficult.
Cannabis has long been a go-to for those with anxiety. A survey conducted in 2008 showed that 58 percent of cannabis users reported a reduction in anxiety.
Conquer Chronic Pain
It is estimated that anywhere from 50 to 80 percent of people with chronic pain experience some type of sleep disturbance. This makes sense—in fact, it's hard to imagine how sleep can ever happen when the body is in pain. Missing out on sleep can affect the body's immune response, meaning that it can take longer for the body to heal and recover.
Cannabis can treat pain of all kinds, and just may be the secret ingredient to dealing with this chronic condition and your lack of sleep!
Handle the Mental and Physical Stressors in Cancer
The physical symptoms of cancer can lead to insomnia, including chronic pain. There are also, of course, mental conditions that can present with cancer, such as depression and anxiety, which as discussed can come with bouts of insomnia.
Many cancer patients turn to medical marijuana to get into a relaxed state so that they can sleep and recuperate, in addition to using it to treat other issues such as pain.
Find Peace and Clarity With Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's is a complex disorder that brings with it a number of difficulties, both for the patient and their loved ones alike. One common symptom of this disorder is something often referred to as 'sundowning.' This involves increased agitation and activity that begins late in the afternoon and can extend into the night, disturbing sleep. As with some of the other conditions on this list, the disordered sleep that can happen with Alzheimer's can make the core symptoms of the disease that much worse, further confusing thoughts and increasing disorientation.
How Marijuana Helps With Insomnia
If you are experiencing any of these conditions in tandem with insomnia, it can be extremely frustrating and of course downright exhausting! Medical marijuana may just be the solution you need, addressing your disordered sleep as well as many of the symptoms associated with your primary condition.
How does medical marijuana help with insomnia? It is believed by many experts that cannabis impacts what is commonly referred to as the ECS, or the endocannabinoid system. The cannabinoids in cannabis, including THC and CBD, energize the receptors in the ECS, making them better able to perform the tasks they need to perform to keep the ECS up and running efficiently.
What Kind of Medical Marijuana Can Help?
Patient anecdotes and, yes, science suggest that indica products are some of the best options when it comes to treating insomnia. CBD comes with a range of benefits; when taken sublingually, it has also been shown to help sleep issues in patients with chronic insomnia.
If you are looking for help with your insomnia that stems from one of these comorbid disorders, your certified medical marijuana doctor can help point you in the right direction. There is also the medical marijuana community to consider— feedback and reviews from other patients on dispensary websites can give you a clear indication of which products work best for sleep.
Get Your VA Marijuana Card for Insomnia Relief Now!
Those experiencing insomnia and any of these conditions can benefit greatly from the healing effects of medical marijuana. Whether you are dealing with PTSD or depression, cannabis may well be the answer to your needs! Our compassionate and informed experts can help you make the right choices for your health.
Schedule an appointment with an online medical marijuana doctor in Virginia today, to start gaining access to safe, legal cannabis products, including tinctures, flower, concentrates and more.
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Virginia Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness
safely and conveniently through increased access to MMJ. Our focus on
education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by
providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (888) 633-5808, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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Check out Virginia Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information.