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How can you sleep well when trying to quit cannabis?
Poor sleep quality is one of the most common symptoms associated with cannabis withdrawal. Here are some tips to help you better understand the impact of THC on your sleep cycles, as well as our advice on how to get back to sleep.
Key takeaways:
- Cannabis withdrawal can lead to a deterioration in sleep quality.
- THC affects sleep cycles, notably by reducing REM sleep and prolonging deep sleep.
- To improve sleep during withdrawal, avoid stimulants and engage in relaxing activities before bed.
- CBD can help combat insomnia without psychoactive effects, offering a natural alternative for restful sleep.
The effects of cannabis on sleep
Cannabis, and in particular the THC molecule it contains, has a significant effect on sleep cycles. As a reminder, these are divided into three main phases: light slow-wave sleep, deep slow-wave sleep and REM sleep.
According to a scientific study from 2016, conducted by researchers Gustavo A. Angarita, Nazli Emadi, Sarah Hodges and Peter T. Morgan, occasional cannabis use appears to shorten the first phase of sleep (light slow-wave) and the REM sleep phase, whilst lengthening the deep slow-wave sleep phase. In other words, this has the effect of speeding up the time it takes to fall asleep, whilst significantly impacting the other sleep phases, which are nevertheless essential for ensuring your mental and physical health.
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Note: this study suggests that THC is largely responsible for this deterioration, but further studies need to be carried out to confirm this hypothesis. |
These same researchers have also demonstrated that regular cannabis users (more than three times a week) appear to completely lose their deep slow-wave sleep phase, which has a significant impact on their overall health. Indeed, it is during deep slow-wave sleep that the body’s cells can regenerate. Its absence therefore indicates a lack of deep recovery for all the muscles of the body.
Sleep deprivation: a symptom of cannabis withdrawal
Cannabis withdrawal can cause various physiological symptoms that are important to understand, so that you can better manage them.
These include, in particular:
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an increase in the time taken to fall asleep ;
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an increase in night-time awakenings ;
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an overall reduction in sleep duration ;
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chronic insomnia;
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a reduction in the deep sleep phase.
How can you regain quality sleep when you stop using THC?
Here are some tips to restore quality sleep after stopping THC use.
According to the website Drogues Info Service, the transition phase to regain a natural sleep pattern can take time. The body must gradually return to a normal rhythm, which is why this symptomatic phase seems, in principle, inevitable.
To make the most of this transition period, it is therefore recommended that you lead an active lifestyle and take part in sport (before 8 pm) to tire your body and help it return to a normal rhythm. In the evening, if you are unable to fall asleep, it is suggested that you avoid consuming stimulants such as coffee, cigarettes or alcohol. It is also best to stop looking at screens about an hour before going to bed. If you suffer from anxiety or stress, do not hesitate to practise meditation before falling asleep.
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Warning: taking medication (sleeping pills) to help you sleep must be entirely based on a doctor’s advice! |
We would like to remind you that the advice and information provided in this article do not constitute medical advice and that you should always consult your doctor for help in stopping THC.
Sleep well with CBD
CBD (cannabidiol) is a molecule found in hemp, but differs from THC in many ways. It has no psychoactive effects and does not contribute to the development ofany dependency.
On the contrary, CBD appears to be an anti-addictive substance, as the scientific study conducted by researchers Mélissa Prud’homme, Romulus Cata and Didier Jutras-Aswad.
To combat chronic sleep disorders, you can certainly make yourself a CBD infusion just before going to bed. Combined with plants such as chamomile or verbena, for example, this type of herbal tea can help you enjoy a more restful sleep.
>>Discover our "sleep" CBD oil<<
Have you made the decision or are you currently going through cannabis withdrawal? Please don’t hesitate to seek help to manage the symptoms of addiction, by contacting Ecoute Cannabis on 0 980 980 940 (available 7 days a week from 8 am to 2 am).
Find out more about cannabis withdrawal:
