Mila Jansen
If you have a child with ADHD, you know that sleep is hard to come by. Sleep deprivation can lead to frustration, irritability, impatience, and difficulty focusing and paying attention, and these symptoms can take a toll on your child’s academic performance. But can cannabis help with sleep?
Does your child struggle with bedtime, night waking, and early morning? Do they have trouble getting sleepy? You may be dealing with sleep issues if this sounds like your child. These symptoms are often linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Luckily, CBD may be able to help your child get a good night’s rest.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a condition that affects how a child or adult manages and executes tasks, such as paying attention, focusing, and behaving. Those with ADHD may have difficulty sitting still, staying still, and tend to fidget a lot. Adults with this condition may have a hard time staying organized. It is a disorder that affects a person’s ability to control inappropriate and impulsive behaviors. ADHD can cause trouble sleeping, making it hard for sufferers to get a good night’s rest. They may suffer from daytime sleepiness, irritability, or even depression if they are not sleeping well at night. The good news is that medical researchers are beginning to explore a connection between ADHD and insomnia.
What causes ADHD?
The cause of ADHD remains unknown, but there are a number of diagnoses through adulthood that are commonly associated with ADHD. These conditions include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. All of these conditions can cause symptoms of ADHD, but the exact cause is still unknown. While the causes of ADHD remain unclear, we are beginning to understand more about the symptoms. The most common symptoms of ADHD include hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity.
Can CBD Help with ADHD and Sleep?
Children with ADHD often have trouble falling asleep because their minds are racing. Some children with ADHD may even experience night terrors, in which they wake up screaming while delusionally believing they are still awake. This goes to show how important sleep is for normal functioning and why this is an important issue for those living with ADHD.
Sleep issues often cause secondary symptoms like forgetfulness, agitation, irritability, and headaches. While ADHD and sleep problems typically affect children, adults with ADHD may also notice issues like trouble falling asleep, waking up too early, and restlessness. The causes for many of these sleep problems are the same for both children and adults: they’re a result of underlying difficulties like hyperactivity, impulsivity, and anxiety.
Cannabidiol (CBD), a naturally occurring cannabinoid ingredient found in marijuana and hemp, has been gaining momentum in the treatment of a number of chronic conditions, including sleep disorders and ADHD. Although CBD has been used to treat ADHD, further research on its effectiveness, specifically in sleep improvement, is needed.
As a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid, CBD has anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, antiemetic, antipsychotic, anxiolytic, and antipsychotic properties, making it a promising therapeutic agent in the treatment of ADHD.
The mechanisms of action of CBD on ADHD may include the modulation of the endogenous endocannabinoid system, thereby decreasing overactive dopaminergic transmission, increasing adenosinergic tone, and regulating the release of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can cause problems falling asleep at night and sleeping through the night. Without sleep, ADHD symptoms can worsen. But a recent study shows that combining CBD with your current ADHD treatment may help to ease symptoms.
If you’re a parent with a child with ADHD, you know all about this issue. Whether it’s getting your child to bed on time, keeping them quiet when they’re trying to sleep, or making sure they go to bed while you’re still awake, ADHD and sleep are inextricably linked. Fortunately, there’s hope on the horizon, thanks to CBD. This versatile compound has been found to help ease anxiety, improve sleep, and even reduce ADHD symptoms, making it an ideal treatment option.
Bedtime is often one of the more challenging times of day for kids with ADHD. They have a hard time calming down and falling asleep and often find themselves restless and hyper as soon as their head hits the pillow. Fortunately, there is help. You can take your child to the doctor to find out if they have ADHD and for advice on treatment options, but you can also get things started at home. For example, many children benefit from using a CBD oil product at bedtime.
