Marijuana And Night Terrors

[RuthieJujube]

Hi everyone! Over the past year, my night terrors have finally subsided. This is the first time in a decade that I've been able to have (mostly) restful nights. Some nights I still wake up with a nervous stomach, but I haven't been getting the visual, terrifying dreams that were once very common.

I am worried about reverting, however (guess I'm not totally used to feeling well!). I've wanted to work on some of my bad habits but don't want to accidentally do harm.

My question is about how marijuana influences night terrors. To explain ...

My anxiety at this time last year was also very high. At the time I was taking a benzo, but began to worry about dependence, so I tapered off and no longer take one. I didn't realize that in it's place, I started to smoke a lot of marijuana. I've formed a daily habit, which has been hard for me to admit to myself. There is a lot of addiction in my family, so I feel shame about needing a substance to calm my nerves.

Is it possible, however, that the lack of night terrors has to do with smoking marijuana? I've read that marijuana use dampens dreaming. So my fear is that quitting might bring the nightmares back.

Does anyone have experience with this? Is my fear founded?

 

[EveHarrington]

:hug:

I have no personal experience in this area----

You may have to taper down/off and see how it affects you.

Do you have a pdoc who prescribes meds for you? Have you ever tried prasosin? I'm thinking maybe it would help with night terrors? I had night terrors for years but they've subsided.

 

[Friday]

That was one of my favorite things about smoking MJ; the deep, black, dreamless sleep.

That said, my nightmares come in cycles. Sometimes for weeks or months, but then they also stay gone for weeks and months, even years, if we don't count a handful of one offs scattered across the year / no more than normal people have.

So while I'd sleep dreamlessly stoned? I'd have even better sleep, sober. As long as I wasn't in a nightmare cycle. Remembering back, I'd usually have a few bad nights first being sober, as if they'd saved themselves up, and then I was fine.

 

[CoffeeCat]

Hi, in my personal experience I have had luck with this.

I was diagnosed with PTSD, Depression & Anxiety. When I first got free of my situation and was in a safe place, I was taking a heroic dose of Mirtazapine to sleep. Without it I would be a awake until my body shut down. I was able to sleep well with the Mirtaz. but I still had major night terrors. Some nights bad enough that I would put a knee or elbow through the wall my bed rested against. I was leery about using marijuana for sleep purposes as my abuser was a chronic and it was a bit of a trigger.

After the first week of use I was night terror free most nights.
I'm now currently (2 years later) still smoking and night terror free and no longer on Mirtaz.
Honestly everyone seems to have a really skewed mindset again weed. It's a natural occurring plant.
I'm my area the cops have a task force dedicated to pulling and burning with Marijuana plants (No not hemp, actual crystally weed I've smoked it and its hands down the best) anyway.

I found that different strains of weed had different effects. Heavy indicas put me to sleep, while plants that are mainly sativa could keep me up.

It's a learning process and if it helps? it helps. I am lucky enough to be able to get a green card in my area so I can smoke and grow legally.

Good luck to you!

 

[Moonmomma]

I suffered from night terrors from the time I was a child. I would wake up my family and, in college, I would disturb my roommates. I terrified boyfriends, husbands and my children with my late night yelling and crying.
Eight years ago, in desperation, I started smoking medical marijuana for fibromyalgia and PTSD. I am a recovering person and choosing to use marijuana after being sober for nineteen years was not a decision I made lightly.
Not only has cannabis mitigated my painful symptoms, depression and anxiety, I no longer have terrifying nightmares. I take no prescription medication and I smoke a natural herb that was placed on our earth to cure our ills and calm our nerves. I feel that cannabis is a gift to be used in a sacred manner and with gratitude.
And never, ever has using marijuana made me think that taking a drink would be a good idea. I am now 27 years sober, happy, successful and very healthy.