Anxiety Dreams, Make it Stop
Plus, Zombie nightmares with a side of misogyny
Missing a flight. Late for a train. Chased by rage-filled zombified men trying to kill me at every turn. These are just a few of the gnarly anxiety dreams that I remember vividly after waking up in a panicked, stressed-out state. The uneasy nervous feeling lingers with me throughout the rest of the day and I can’t seem to shake it.
If you’ve had these and the classic being chased, being naked, teeth falling out, etc. type dreams then you know how these vivid dreams can affect our mental and physical well-being. What is this all about and how do we make them stop?
Anyone having these lately? What do you dream about?
Vol. 17 // In This Issue:
What causes anxiety dreams?
How cannabis affects dreams
THC and CBD for sleep
Analysis of my Zombie dream
What causes anxiety dreams?
Anxiety dreams can be caused by unresolved distress and emotionally charged experiences. They are a red flag and a sign that there’s something else going on that needs to be addressed. More cannabis is not going to solve it, but I can use it to manage my symptoms long enough to work through it. Taking time to identify and work through the root of my distress is what will make my anxiety dreams eventually fade away.
I wish I could say that cannabis is a magic pill that will solve everything. But that’s just not the case. In fact, cannabis is the reason why my dreams are so vivid lately.
How cannabis affects dreams
I usually like to enjoy a j before going to sleep to let the day’s stress melt away and lull me into a restful slumber. This month, I took a break from my usual nighttime routine to give my lungs a break and recuperate from Covid. As a result, I noticed that my anxiety dreams were more intense and vivid. I’d wake up intermittently throughout the night dipping in and out of a panicked dream state.
The reason why we dream so vividly when we stop consuming cannabis is because weed suppresses REM sleep. When you take a break or stop, those dreams come back more intense for a few weeks as our bodies adjust with temporary REM rebound.
REM sleep and dreams are important and essential for our cognitive function to process information and memories. It’s important to take a break from cannabis once in a while to allow your body and mind to process these emotions. But how can we cope when dreams cause more distress than healing?
THC and CBD. What’s working and what’s not
In an effort to quell the nightmares and find more peaceful sleep until I’m able to resolve the source of my distress, I’ve been trying cannabis beverages and edibles at night to replace my evening joint. What I learned is that the THC-only drinks and edibles helped me fall asleep but the anxiety dreams still persisted. Edibles and drinks that contain both CBD, THC, and the full spectrum of cannabinoids were more effective in helping me fall asleep, stay asleep throughout the night, and quell uncomfortable dreams.
Last night I hazily recall a mildly stressful dream, but I can’t remember the details and did not wake up feeling anxious or panicked.
I’m not a sleep expert and more research is needed to better understand the relationship between cannabis, sleep, and dreams. From CBD to CBN, functional mushrooms and melatonin, there is no shortage of products marketed for sleep. 70% of Americans aren’t getting enough sleep and we’re looking for solutions.
Try this Cannabis tea recipe for a no-sugar, no-fat before-bedtime beverage to enjoy with your favorite blend of sleepytime tea.
Zombie dream analysis, wtf?
In my dream, I was running and hiding from men who transformed into violent, rage-filled zombies and attacked people, mostly women. Not all men. Some were running and hiding alongside me, others were protectors. It was difficult to discern who would turn and when.
Why? Where is this coming from and what does it mean?
When I think about it, this dream is a reflection of how challenging it is for women/womxn to navigate sexism and misogyny. Never knowing who will turn, who’s dangerous, and when we might be the victim of a zombie attack. No wonder I’m on edge, panicked, and nervous. Navigating a world full of hate-filled misogynistic men who don’t believe in women’s rights is downright terrifying.
The sheer number of men who think it’s acceptable to tell a woman to “go make me a sandwich” as a response to feminism is appalling. Check out @itsthemayoforme, a new IG/TikTok account by journalist Mary Jane Gibson, that addresses the topic of misogyny and sexism while making a sandwich. Her insights are hilarious and insightful. The comments from big mad bros are horrifying and concerning.
I love Mary Jane’s new project. Give her a follow. More respect and support, less hate and vitriol.
Do Zombies eat brains because they want to take away our intelligence and independent thinking?
Protect your brains!
Christina W.
Thanks for your perspective on cannabis + sleep. I've noticed that a cbd/thc blend works better for me overall. And breaks are a good reset.