Nightmare Disorder

Medical cannabis for nightmare disorder

Nightmares are vivid and terrifying night-time episodes when you are abruptly awakened from sleep whilst dreaming.

Nightmares are only considered a disorder if you experience:

• Major distress or impairment during the day, such as anxiety or persistent fear, or bedtime anxiety about having another nightmare.
• Problems with concentration or memory, or you can’t stop thinking about images from your dreams.
• Problems functioning at work or in social situations.

Experiencing frightening dreams may be due to an underlying condition, it may be caused by:

• Sleep deprivation
• Severe stress or anxiety due to major life event eg. bereavement of loved one
• Reading scary books or watching scary movies before going to bed (especially in children)
• Certain medications (antidepressants, antihypertensives, antiparkinsonian drugs)
• Substance abuse – alcohol, drugs use/withdrawal