I’ll Try Anything for a Better Night’s Sleep, So Why Not CBD?

Let’s get this question out of the way: is CBD the same thing as weed? Not exactly. CBD comes from the same cannabis plant as pot, but it won’t get you high, as it doesn’t contain the psychoactive substance known as THC. It’s totally legal, safe for almost everyone (though you should always consult your doctor before trying any new substance), and has been clinically proven to have major benefits when it comes to chronic pain, stress relief, and sleep.

Another thing that makes CBD different from pot is that you don’t smoke it. Equilibria offers their CBD products in capsules, drops, and creams, all in beautifully designed packaging that blends in with your luxury bathroom products.

When I decided to give CBD a whirl, the experts at Equilibria sent me a Brilliant Box, which is essentially their CBD starter kit. The Brilliance Box includes 30 10mg softgels, 1oz of 500mg relief cream, and 30mL of 30mg drops with these instructions:

My hope was that, at the very least, I could cut back on my 9pm handful of melatonin, but I didn’t anticipate the other benefits of CBD. One thing I noticed within the first couple days was that the morning softgel helped me focus a bit more, but not in a zany, stress-replying to emails sort of way. I felt my shoulders relax as I sank into the couch with my laptop. Words flowed a little easier. It almost had the same effect as putting on a jazzy, instrumental playlist. 

I gave my body half of the week to adjust to the new routine, and then I started having one fewer melatonin gummy each night. However, by the end of the week, I wasn’t convinced it was helping. I was still laying in bed for an hour or so wide awake, contemplating whether or not I should paint an accent wall in the dining room. Thankfully, the next day, I had my consultation with Maia, one of the dosage experts at Equilibria.

While CBD isn’t meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness, it is still a substance other than food that you’re putting into your body to achieve a certain goal, which means different people are going to need different doses, depending on their health and lifestyle. In that way, it’s sort of like caffeine. Some people can down four lattes in 8 hours without any issues, while others have one cup of coffee in the morning and they’re jittery for the rest of the day. Finding out what works best for you when it comes to CBD is going to take some patience and experimentation.

When I spoke with Maia, she asked me basic intake questions, like my age, height, and weight, as well as what I wanted the CBD to do for me. I explained my lifelong sleep issues and that I had tried everything. We talked through my current routine, my experience during the last week of using CBD, and what I would be open to exploring moving forward. Then, we developed a new plan.

As Maia pointed out during my dosage consultation, CBD isn’t supposed to make you feel a certain way, like the way melatonin makes you drowsy. Rather, it’s supposed to assist your body in doing what it’s naturally programmed to do. That’s why there’s no difference between the CBD you take in the morning to gain focus and the CBD you take before bed. 

With that in mind, I think the CBD helped my body do what I wanted it to do—especially after Maia and I reworked my dosage. One thing I’ve learned in all my years of experimenting with different sleep-inducing products is that nothing beats consistency. Our brains crave it, and our bodies respond to it. Using this new routine that Maia designed for me gave me another step in my going-to-bed process that told my brain that sleep was the priority. Not only that, sleep was inevitable. The 4pm dropper was a signal that daytime was coming to a close, and the addition of the relief cream was relaxing and spa-like. Overall, the CBD routine helped me feel more relaxed throughout the day, which definitely helped me fall asleep faster at night. 

Want to learn more? Head to Instagram at 2pm EST on Monday, April 5th—I’ll be chatting live with an expert from Equilibria about all things CBD, and they’ll be talking about their experience with an M.M. virtual styling appointment. Make sure you’re following us on Instagram to watch.

Interested in trying Equilibria CBD? They’re offering 25% your first order with the code EQMM25 (Offer expires 4/30/21. Offer valid for new customers on first purchase only).