Can CBD cause nightmares?
What are nightmares and what are terrors?
Children are the main sufferers of wild dreams, but they can also occur in adults with excessive stress, mental discomfort or when taking strong medications. Nightmares and scares are both parasitic on quality sleep, but they are not the same thing.
Nightmares:
- Scary or very (all too) real dreams
- Usually in the REM phase of sleep
- The person is oriented and can describe what is happening (dreaming)
- Nightmares are accompanied by screaming, crying, increased blood pressure, obvious fear
Night terrors:
- One is "out" of reality, seemingly awake, in reality still in a dream
- Disorientation - has no idea where he is, does not recognize his surroundings or the people in them
- Mostly in the non-REM phase of sleep (2 hours after falling asleep)
- After waking up, person knows nothing about the scares
Deep breathing, focusing on one place, the calm voice of the other person and a long, strong hug are the key to calming down and getting rid of the nightmare or fright as quickly as possible. A seizure may last only a few seconds, as well as half an hour, and keep coming back. The next day one is sleepless, exhausted and with a head full of crumbs about the events of the previous night.
Dreams as a sorter of thoughts
Dreams (good and bad) are an integral part of the brain's functioning. It is a specific way of sorting thoughts and memories. They help process the day's insights and increase resilience to stress or emotional strain. Many people assume that dreams are made-up and random stories. But researchers 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 mixture of reactions, fears, emotions and pleasures that one experiences in real life.
Dreams are not only influenced by stress or the emotions experienced. Sensitive people may perceive changes (or have more intense dreaming) after consuming dairy products or spicy foods or selected dietary supplements, for example. Regular exercise also has an effect on dreaming.
The five stages of sleep
It doesn't matter if you sleep for six or ten hours, have a nine o'clock curfew, or went to bed in the morning after a sleepless night on the night shift. Each time, the body goes through all the stages of sleep.
Phase 1
A few minutes during falling asleep, when reflexes slow down and the whole body sets to rest mode. At the same time, you may be "troubled" by sudden twitches caused by rapid muscle relaxation.
Phase 2
The second phase lasts a maximum of 25 minutes and is a fair preparation for deep sleep. The eyes are closed, the heart rate slows, the body temperature drops slightly and the brain waves fade.
Phase 3
The brain is in a state of decay and only transmits very weak waves. This is the transition from light sleep to deep sleep. It occurs about three-quarters of an hour after falling asleep and it is very unpleasant when one wakes up suddenly in this preparatory phase.
Phase 4
Deep sleep, when a person usually does not wake up by himself. It lasts about 30 minutes, but it is the best part, when the body regenerates honestly.
Phase 5
REM sleep, when brain activity returns, dreams take over and muscles are maximally relaxed. During the eight hours of sleep (the recommended range for an adult is seven to nine hours a day), the cycle of five stages is repeated four or five times, and the REM sleep portion gradually lengthens and can last up to an hour before waking.
How CBD affects sleep and dreams
Studies looking at the link between cannabidiol use, dreams and nightmares are lacking. Most focus on sleep promotion. This improvement is mainly due to the reduction of chronic pain and anxiety and better recovery after sports performance. This makes rest during the night smoother and uninterrupted by burning pain or mental restlessness and strained muscles.
The fact that users consume CBD before sleep does not affect dreams or the occurrence of night terrors. However, it is better to take cannabidiol during or shortly after a meal so that it is part of the digestion process, gets into the body faster and in the maximum amount, and begins to work.
On the other hand, there are smaller studies and user reviews that point out that cannabidiol (a non-psychoactive cannabinoid) may affect REM sleep and non-REM sleep differently, leading to longer periods of time spent just dreaming. This can make it more vivid and lucid dreams appear, which the person creates and controls to some extent. However, the evidence is scarce and cannot be relied upon.
CBD affects each user differently. The effects can also change depending on what the person is experiencing, what medication they are temporarily taking, how much stress they are under. More sensitive individuals may perceive a better ability to remember dreams or, conversely, experience nightmares. However, there is no direct link to cannabidiol (or has not yet been proven) and it is always a confluence of several factors that have a negative impact on sleep and restlessness during sleep.
In the REM sleep phase, there are minimal muscle movements and, on the contrary, rapid eye movements and twitching. If dreaming takes place only in this plane, it is fine. But sometimes sounds, screams, unintelligible narration or even frantic gestures with all limbs can be added. Such sleep disturbances (strikingly reminiscent of nightmares) significantly reduce the quality of sleep and can lead to injury and, in the long term, neurodegenerative disease. CBD alone should not affect nightmares, but if a person feels negative changes, they should adjust their daily dose or consult their doctor.
Summary
So far, no research has shown that taking CBD can cause nightmares or scares. If it does, it is always a confluence of several factors that affect sleep, such as stress or illness and excessive fatigue.
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