Good Girl?
I’ve always been the “good girl.” Never tried cigarettes, joints, beer or hard liquor. And if offered a glass of wine, I prefer something sweet and maybe half a glass. I never ever cut school (not counting Hebrew school), nor stayed out past a curfew. How boring!
However, today I did something out of my comfort zone. I visited a local, friendly neighborhood legal marijuana dispensary clinic! No, it’s not about getting high or having a giggle; it’s about trying to get a good night’s sleep.
CBT
Like many older adults, falling asleep and staying asleep is problematic. It’s been this way for years. Is it stress or a brain that won’t shut off? Is it part of aging? Will I get dementia since I can’t get the recommended eight hours of sleep? That thought will keep you up at night!
Whenever I’ve researched insomnia, the first suggestion is to undertake cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
According to www.sleepfoundation.org, the key takeaways for CBT are:
- Restructuring the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are contributing to insomnia.
- Learning therapy techniques that involve stimulus control, sleep restriction and relaxation training.
These suggestions sound great “on paper,” but are not easily achieved. Read the additional information on this website and you’ll see what I mean.
CBT dropout
About 11 years ago, after reading an article in the Baltimore Sun about a CBT program at a local hospital, I decided to try it. Nothing to lose sleep over! Right? LOL. The first session was a meet-and-greet type, which involved filling out forms, recording my blood pressure and weight and meeting with the program psychologist.
I had high hopes, but the program didn’t work out for me. Training your brain to sleep isn’t as easy as it sounds. Having an unsupportive spouse doesn’t help either.
But the first recommendation, which I undertook, was to undergo a sleep study. The experience wasn’t pleasant, and the results were mixed. Yes, I had some sleep apnea but nothing very significant.
After the study, I learned my health insurance wouldn’t pay for it and was stuck with an almost $3,000 bill! Referral to a specialized dentist to make a mouth guard to help with apnea cost another $400! This wasn’t going very well.
I used the mouth guard for a couple of weeks—looking like a monster out of a horror movie—and then stashed it away. Eventually, I threw it away.
The psychologist wasn’t living up to my expectations either. I was under the impression I would learn some methods to help fall asleep and stay asleep. Maybe he’d teach meditation or breathing techniques—stuff like that. Instead, at every appointment, he talked about losing weight. What a turn off. Yes, losing 10 to 15 pounds would be nice, but he made it sound as if I were overly obese! He was so annoying that I became a CBT dropout.
Sleep aids
There are many over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aides on the market. Most come with a disclaimer that if needed for more than two weeks, a physician should be consulted. Who does that?
The National Council of Aging has suggestions for seniors with sleep problems. According to the website, “Natural sleep remedies for older adults include sticking to a strict sleep schedule, avoiding screens an hour before bed and keeping your bedroom cool and dark. Beverages like chamomile tea, warm milk and tart cherry juice have been found to help patients who experience trouble sleeping. Your doctor may also suggest trying an over-the-counter melatonin supplement.” Melatonin doesn’t do much for me. Drinking before bedtime means another nighttime trip to the bathroom.
On the advice of an acquaintance, it was time for a different “natural” remedy—a cannabis product! She gave me one of her gummies to try. Interestingly, her doctor is fine with them, actually preferring their use to sleeping pills.
Her sample gummy did nothing for me. Then again, according to my doctor, I might not have given it enough time to work. But she didn’t say not to use them; she just laughed. What do you expect? She’s young, maybe in her early 30s. She probably wasn’t a good girl in her younger years!
Hence, today’s trip to the dispensary, conveniently located two miles away, to find a gummy that might work.
When I first walked into the lobby, a young, scruffy looking but pleasant fellow at the reception desk asked for my ID. When he determined I was over 18, he buzzed me into the dispensary. I was so nervous.
Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long before another young clerk, pierced and tattooed, asked if she could help. She spent a lot of time researching what might work best. After a lengthy discussion, I decided to “legally” purchase a sample pack of fast-acting blueberry gummies containing 10 mg THC, 15 mg CBD and 5 mg CBN. I even got a 5% discount! She was so helpful that I put a dollar bill in her tip jar.
I’m waiting for the weekend to try this new sleep aid. Fingers crossed that it works! If it does and I buy more, does that mean I’m not a good girl anymore?
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