These days, I spend more time focusing on my daughter’s riding than my own. But I previous rode and groomed hunters, and I have spent more than my fair share of late nights and early mornings traveling to A rated shows. Everybody knows that when you’re a groom, you don’t sleep. If you’re lucky to squeeze a nap in between all your responsibilities, you get about four hours at most.

Years of this pattern has flipped my internal clock. The result is that now I struggle to get enough sleep, which is made only worse with my chaotic schedule and job stress (I’m a social worker) and my frequently sore joints (also, horse related!).

About a year ago, I recognized that I needed to practice better self-care, so I talked to my doctor about my sleeping habits. I was a little nervous. I didn’t want to be on any sort of benzo for anxiety (due to their addictive nature), but I was also hesitant to try CBD because I didn’t want to feel “high.” My doctor educated me on the differences between THC and CBD, and helped me find a product that would help me get the sleep I was after without the side effects I was trying to avoid.

I started with medically prescribed CBD drops, but over time I’ve found that my perfect product is actually a gummy with what’s called a “one to one ratio.” It contains 10 mg of THC to 10 mg of CBD. For me, it’s the perfect combination to help me get to sleep and wake up feeling refreshed in the morning.

How It Helps

I’ve found CBD helps in a number of ways. It helps quiet my brain down at night, which lets me fall asleep more easily. It also helps prevent any sort of stiffness in my joints while I sleep, so I often take it if I know there’s a big change in weather coming or if I felt sore during the day. CBD has helped significantly reduce my chronic migraines as well, which is a big plus. I don’t take it every night, only
when I feel I need it. But it’s peace of mind knowing the option is always there. The ability to take one gummy and head straight to bed for some solid rest has made a big difference in my quality of life.