Does Marijuana Stop You From Dreaming?

Regular smokers of marijuana often report that they remember no dreams while sleeping, and those coming off the drug admit to a virtual flood of dreams in their nightly sleep, but is there any scientific data to back up these claims?

Actually, there may be. Marijuana affects not only your nightly habit of dreaming, but also your ability to recall any thoughts during the night that you are experiencing. This pattern differs greatly when marijuana use is discontinued.

Sleep is one of the most important and fascinating components of our daily lives, necessary for refueling our “batteries” and preparing us for each new day. From a casual perspective, the practice of sleep looks like an entirely passive activity, but research suggests that the brain is hard at work whether we are asleep or awake, and when sleeping this activity often takes the form of dreams.

Sleep researchers tell us that human beings go through several stages of sleep, patterns that are regularly repeated over and over throughout the night. The final stage of sleep, more commonly referred to as rapid eye movement or REM sleep, is the stage where most dreaming takes place and this is the stage that seems to be affected most by marijuana use.

In several different studies involving people currently using marijuana there appeared to be a general reduction in the amount of REM sleep. Conversely, people who had recently stopped using the drug appeared to have much more activity and longer periods of REM sleep. Since dreams usually occur during the REM stage, this seems to indicate that there may indeed be a physiological link between marijuana and dreaming.

If you have recently quit smoking marijuana, you probably didn’t need a scientific study to tell you that the drug affected your dreaming, but you may have wondered why this occurs. The active ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is a depressant, and like all depressants has a numbing effect on the brain. If you regularly use this substance, and make a habit of going to bed “stoned,” the activity in the brain becomes limited, and therefore the amount of dreaming is significantly reduced.

When coming off marijuana, at least for the first few days while your body adjusts, your brain is “waking up” from a long fog and its activity is increased. Consequently, although you may be dreaming no more than a normal sleeper, your dreams seem more frequent and very vivid as you can recall the events more easily.

This change in sleeping patterns is not isolated to marijuana use. Alcoholics and other drug users also report vast changes in their sleeping patterns between when they are drinking or using and when they are detoxifying from their drug of choice.

Fortunately, the changes most people see in both the frequency and vividness of their dreams will typically only last for a few days and possibly up to a few weeks, but if these dreams are interfering with your ability to get a full night of sleep, and you’re waking feeling tired, there are a few things you can try that may help. Among these methods are:

Exercise. Regular strenuous exercise will ensure you go to bed tired and help you get a more restful night of sleep.

Avoid taking naps. If your schedule allows for it, try to avoid taking any midday nap. This will help you sleep better at night.

Go to bed and wake at the same time. Regularization of your sleeping patterns may require you to help it along a bit. Try going to bed at the same time every night and wake at the same time very morning, even if you have to set an alarm.

The changes in your dreams is just one of the many side effects associated with quitting marijuana, but in time, and with a little effort on your part, you’ll be getting back into a healthy pattern before you know it.

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Author: Seb Grant
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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5 Instant Health Benefits of Quitting Marijuana

If you are a regular, heavy pot smoker, perhaps it is time to admit that certain things in your life are miserable because of weed, things that could almost instantly change if you just stop smoking.

If you have lied to yourself for long enough about your smoking habit and how it affects you, and you’re finally ready to try quitting, here is what you can expect.

The Negative First…

You may have heard you will experience some side effects after quitting-things like depression, irritability, sleep difficulties, etc-and you probably will, but these symptoms are temporary and manageable. There are even a few tricks to avoid most of them. Believe me, with time you will get over it. Whatever you do, don’t let a few side effects get in the way of your health and well-being.

The 5 Instant Health Benefits of Quitting Marijuana

Breathe. In just a few short weeks after quitting marijuana entirely, your lung function will begin to improve and you’ll have more energy and stamina. Not quitting could mean a number of bronchial and respiratory illnesses, including bronchitis, emphysema and even cancer.

Sleep. Proper sleep is extremely vital to your overall health, and studies have shown that marijuana use has a negative impact on your sleep cycles and the quality of your sleep. Most marijuana users report the absence of dreams and restless sleep when using, largely because the drug interrupts the REM cycle which is necessary for both dreams and complete rest. However, in just a few short days after quitting marijuana, your body will return to its normal patterns and you’ll finally get the sleep you need.

Mood. Smoking weed affects your mood whether you’re high or not. When using, your mood may be lethargic and apathetic, and you may feel like you’ve not a care in the world. But when you’re not high, you become irritable and anxious. This kind of stress and anxiety can play havoc on a number of different organ systems in the body, including your heart. Once you quit smoking marijuana, however, your mood will eventually stabilize and you will not experience so many highs and lows.

Memory and Learning. Researchers have proven that regular marijuana use affects both your memory and your ability to learn, and long-term use may impact these two areas permanently. The sooner you rid yourself of your pot habit, the sooner your memory and ability to learn will return to normal.

Sex. Thinking about having kids? Not only does smoking marijuana decrease your sex drive and performance, it may also cause infertility. In a number of independent studies, people smoking marijuana were far less interested in sex than peers from the same age group. Moreover, THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, has been proven to cause infertility in men and women alike, mostly due to the way the chemical affects the sperm. Don’t worry, though, shortly after quitting marijuana your sex drive will return to normal, and with marijuana completely expelled from your body your fertility will improve dramatically.

Despite what pro-legalization advocates want you to believe, marijuana is a drug, and as with any drug there are certain dangers involved. Fortunately, it’s not too late. If you quit marijuana today, most of these symptoms will disappear and you will be on the road to health and happiness.

Do you need to quit weed but find it difficult to do it on your own? If you would like a modern technique that uses natural marijuana detox and many other proven methods designed to help you quit weed easily, check out the Quit Weed Guide

Author: Seb Grant
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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How to Manage 3 Common Side Effects of Marijuana Withdrawal

Are you thinking about quitting marijuana, but are a little timid and hesitant due to the side effects you may experience? Did you know there are things you could do to help manage these symptoms?

It’s true! Here we will look at three of the most common marijuana withdrawal symptoms along with strategies which can help lesson their general effect on you.

The frequency and severity of the side effects you will experience after quitting marijuana are largely dependent on how frequently you smoked the drug, in what quantity the marijuana was smoked and how long your addiction has been going on. Naturally, those who are heavy, long-term users of marijuana will experience side effects which are more severe than those experienced by a casual user. However, even those who admit to smoking marijuana only once a month have reported a wide range of side effects which seem to mirror those seen with long-time users.

Anxiety and Depression

The active ingredient in marijuana, or THC, has a mind altering effect and can alter your perception, judgment and cause serious problems with memory and learning. It also produces a euphoric and relaxed feeling not found in other drugs-a characteristic that makes the drug extremely popular with users of all ages. When marijuana is abruptly stopped, so too is the calming affect it had on your brain, opening the door to a number of emotional and mental difficulties. Among the most common of these are depression and its “ugly cousin” anxiety.

Depression will take a lot out of you; it will make you feel sad, anxious, apathetic and irritable, and will even cause problems with your sleep. To combat these symptoms you may have to force yourself to get up and get moving, to take on a project or begin an exercise routine. Anything which will help distract you from your symptoms can be an effective weapon against depression and anxiety, just as idleness and negative thinking will increase the severity of your symptoms. If you feel your depression has not ebbed after a few weeks, you may want to see your doctor and ask what treatments are available. He may prescribe medication which will help manage your more troubling symptoms.

Nightmares

When you were using marijuana you probably noticed that your sleep seemed absent of dreams. That’s because marijuana shortens the amount of REM sleep-the stage when most dreaming takes place. After quitting, you are going to notice just the opposite effect. Not only will you dream, but because of the marijuana withdrawal, your dreams will seem more vivid and real, even frightening.

While there is no way to avoid this altogether, your best strategy is to make sure you go to bed tired every night and normalize your sleep pattern so you are going to bed at the same time and waking at the same time each morning. You may still have vivid dreams for a while, but this strategy will help lessen the effects of the dreams until your normal sleep returns.

Loss of Appetite

No doubt when you were using marijuana there were periods when you felt especially hungry, often referred to as “the munchies.” After quitting marijuana, however, you will probably notice the opposite. People coping with marijuana withdrawal often report that they are not hungry and that nothing sounds appetizing, and while this may seem like a harmless enough side effect it can be especially problematic. During marijuana detoxification it’s particularly important that you are well nourished to help you cope with the other withdrawal effects.

Even if you’re not hungry, it’s important that you provide your body with the nutrients it needs to help you wage this battle against marijuana withdrawal. Try drinking a protein shake a few times a day, adding your favorite fruit and ice cream. Avoid junk foods like chips and candy and replace them with healthier alternatives. Most importantly, try taking a multivitamin each day to make sure you’re getting the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals.

Recovering from a marijuana addiction is no easy task, but most, if not all of the symptoms you’ll experience will be temporary and treatable. Don’t expect immediate results. Be patient and follow the tips mentioned above and soon these side effects will seem like a distant memory.

Do you need to quit weed without all the cravings? If you would like a modern technique that incorporates natural marijuana detox and many other proven methods designed to help you quit weed easily, check out Quit Weed Guide

Author: Seb Grant
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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