Darren’s story: The unexpected solution that transformed my sleep

Can you tell us a little about yourself and why you decided to seek medical cannabis treatment?

I'm Darren, and I live in Stockfield, Hertfordshire. For the last 18 years or so, I have run my own manufacturing business. I've always been active and enjoyed sports - football in my younger days, but now I focus on going to the gym and running. Between work and family life, things are always busy, especially with my two boys keeping me on my toes.

The reason I contacted Releaf was mainly a result of my busy, hectic, and often stressful lifestyle. As the years have gone by, as I have taken on more responsibilities and more stress, my sleep has noticeably worsened. 

My stress levels were coming up, and my sleep levels were going down. I was finding it very hard to get a decent night's sleep, and I knew I had to do something about it.

Had you tried other treatments before turning to medical cannabis?

I have tried a few things, and some do help, but only to a degree. I have tried a bit of meditation, and that helps for sure. I have tried some natural supplements, but I did not feel like they had any effect. I also tried some of the over-the-counter options, which did offer a certain level of relief - but nothing was ever consistent.

I just could not get any reliable sleep. It had got to a point where I was thinking  "Oh my God, I do not even want to try to sleep tonight, because I will be tossing and turning all night".

How did you first hear about medical cannabis as a potential treatment option for your sleep issues?

Bizarrely, one of my colleagues works with a client who actually formulates and packages Releaf’s products.

We were chatting one morning, and I mentioned that I had been struggling with my sleep - he said to me, "Oh, this company Releaf might be worth your while contacting because one of the things they can help with is insomnia."

So he gave me the details of Releaf, I made a consultation, and the rest is history, so to speak.

How did you find the process of signing up with Releaf?

It was great, very straightforward.

I completed the three-question eligibility checker, created my Releaf account, uploaded my medical history, and then booked in for my initial consultation.  That first appointment lasted half hour or so, and the specialist was really thorough. There were lots of questions just to make sure I was eligible for medical cannabis.

At the end of the appointment, the specialist felt that, yes, it would definitely be worth trying to see if it would benefit me.

How did you feel discussing medical cannabis with a doctor for the first time?

It felt a bit strange because I did not even know medical cannabis was legal until a few days before that first appointment. It was all totally new to me.

If I'm being totally honest, I was a little apprehensive. But once I started speaking to the Releaf specialist, that feeling of apprehension drifted away. I could tell straight away she was a professional, highly qualified doctor. She asked more questions than I was expecting, but I'm not saying that was a bad thing, not at all. 

She really did put me at ease, and did a great job of assessing my symptoms and explaining how medical cannabis treatment may help with my sleep issues.

What kind of medical cannabis have you been prescribed?

I take the oil because I do not smoke. I was also offered a medical cannabis flower option, but I am not particularly comfortable with the idea of vaping.

The doctor recommended what I thought was a surprisingly low dose, it honestly looked like such a minuscule amount. So I took double because I thought, that is such a small amount.

Yeah, big mistake.

I quickly realised why they say to 'start low and go slow'. The double dose hit me, and I was like, wow - this is too heavy! All it took was that one misstep for me to realise why the doctor prescribed such a small dose to begin with and suggested that I then increase the dose slowly over a month or so. 

At first, I was prescribed the lower-strength oil, and that was working well for me (after that first hiccup). I was gradually increasing the dose to get to a level where it just felt comfortable for me.

In my third month of treatment, the medical cannabis oil option that I had been taking was unfortunately out of stock. During that follow-up appointment, I was offered another oil option as a replacement, but I found it to be a little too strong for my needs. I tried adjusting the dose, but I was waking up slightly groggy, so I spoke with the doctor again, and we switched it back to a lower THC oil option - it works great for me.

Have you seen a noticeable improvement in your sleep since beginning treatment?

Definitely. I have a much better relationship with sleep now.

This may sound a little weird to someone who has never experienced sleep issues, but as I mentioned before, I used to stress about whether I was going to sleep or not.

The anxiety would build, and I would end up going through a mental battle before my head had even hit the pillows, thinking things like "Am I going to sleep tonight? Is it going to be a good night’s sleep or a bad night’s sleep?"

Now, all of that stress and anxiety has melted away. I take my dose of medical cannabis oil about an hour and a half before bed, which seems to work best for me.

There are still times when I wake up once, maybe to go to the loo, but I go straight back to sleep. Some nights, I sleep all the way through. Sometimes I even fall asleep on the sofa before I have gone up to bed. 

On weekdays, when I am in my work routine, by the time I turn in for bed, I feel like I am in a good place to settle - that's pretty different from before. If, just a year ago, someone told me that I would get to the point where I was able to drift off on the sofa, I wouldn't have believed them.

How has your body adjusted to medical cannabis?

I did experience a few side effects in the first few weeks, but thankfully they were short-lived.

There was a little bit of queasiness in the hour after taking the oil, and some drowsiness the next day, but I think that was just my system getting used to it.

Now, I seem to have my dose right. I have experimented and found a level where I know that if I take a certain amount, it will be enough to set me off to sleep but not too much to make me feel groggy or lethargic the next day.

Has your improved sleep affected your daily life, especially with your busy schedule?

It definitely has.

I was always careful not to burden my family with my sleep issues, and tried to rarely bring it up. Maybe I would sometimes briefly mention that I was finding it hard to sleep, but not much more than that.

But I am noticing that I am less irritable, less snappy. I have more 'space' to be able to see what is going on around me and react to things differently, more positively. That goes for work as much as it does for my family life.

When things get stressful, I think I am now able to deal with things a little better because I have had a proper night’s sleep. So yes, I would say my relationships both at home and at work have improved.

People who have never struggled with sleep can sometimes take it for granted. They do not realise how much of a difference those extra couple of hours of uninterrupted sleep can make. It changes everything. It is not just about feeling better the next day - it affects the next week, the next year.

And sure, I still sometimes have a bit of a broken night of sleep from time to time, but only if I am watching football late at night and stressing about the game. That is really the only time it does not work as well. Last night, Liverpool lost to PSG, so my stress levels were up - but that is rare, thankfully!

Now that your sleep is more stable, do you have anything exciting planned?

100% - we have got summer holidays and weekends away coming up, which the entire family is looking forward to.

And, like I said, with the help of Releaf and how things have improved, I am in a much better position moving forward. I am trying to exercise, stay fit, be a dad, and run my own business. Sleep is essential for anyone, of course, but especially when you are trying to keep up a pretty heavy routine of training and exercising.

My medical cannabis treatment with Releaf has given me the ability to get the amount of sleep I need to really make the most of every single day.

What would you say to someone who is struggling with sleep like you were a year ago?

If someone was struggling with sleep the way I was a year ago, I would absolutely recommend Releaf and giving medical cannabis a try. It might not be the right solution for everyone, but it has worked wonders for me.

I have friends and family who struggle with sleep, and I have shared my experience with them. It has made such a difference in my life, so why wouldn’t I pass that on to others?

If it can help them too, even better. It has helped me feel calmer, lowered my stress levels, and put me in a more relaxed state before bed. The impact on my overall health and well-being has been huge.

For more information about medical cannabis for this condition, please see medical cannabis for insomnia.