Living with anxiety can be extremely hard and taxing. The most common mental disorder is anxiety, with over 40 million adults suffering from it in just the United States. A minority of this group receives treatment for the same. Cannabis could be for you if you are one among the adults suffering from any form of anxiety and find that neither therapy nor antidepressants are helping you get better. You can consider using cannabis to help you on your way towards a sound recovery.
This article serves as a guide to those looking at alternative options to combat anxiety. The following points are the things you should know before deciding if cannabis is right for you.
#1 The properties of cannabis.
Cannabis consists of two main compounds – cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). While they have the same molecular structure, their effects vary greatly. THC is responsible for the psychoactive properties of cannabis, while CBD helps provide similar relief without the high. CBD helps with seizures, pain relief, inflammation, insomnia, and anxiety. As a testament to its capabilities, the first CBD based drug, Epidiolex, was approved by the FDA in 2018. More FDA-approved drugs are on their way, with multiple already in their development stages.
CBD reacts with the serotonin receptors in your brain. Serotonin is the chemical responsible for maintaining mental health. The National Institute of Drug Abuse found that CBD was responsible for reducing stress levels in their animal subjects. Another study also noted the lowered levels of anxiety in its test subjects on using CBD. While human tests are still not beyond doubt, there are a large number of studies and success stories supporting the use of cannabis.
#2 The side effects of using cannabis
Most people do not face any side effects of using cannabis. However, if you take a higher dosage, you may experience nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, and sleepiness. If you do experience any of these symptoms after starting your medication, lower the dose immediately. Consult your doctor to make sure the dosage is acceptable and that cannabis does not interact with any other drugs you may already be taking. Keep track of your medication patterns to identify and eliminate any ill effects you may face immediately.
#3 Dosage and form
The starting dose for most adults is 10 milligrams of CBD. Based on the effectiveness of this dose, one can increase it on a week to week basis. Always consult your doctor for more specific dosage and recommendations as your overall health, and other medications play a vital role. There are multiple ways to take in cannabis. These include inhaling it through smoking or vaping or ingesting them as supplements (tinctures and oils). Vaping is the most effective way of taking CBD in, but you can choose any method you are most comfortable with. There are also various strains of cannabis to choose from, such as Sativa or Indica. With trial and error, you can find the strain most effective at dispelling the symptoms of anxiety in your body.
#4 Legality of cannabis
Based on your hometown, cannabis may or may not be legal. Make sure to check your local legislature regarding the use of medical marijuana before proceeding. While a growing number of countries are moving towards legalizing the use of medical marijuana, it is better to make sure your country is on the list. Another way of obtaining the benefits of cannabis without crossing the law banning its use is by using CBD products. Pure CBD products are also manufactured using hemp. Even for people looking for anxiety relief without the high, hemp-based CBD is a safe way to go.
#5 Finding cannabis
While purchasing cannabis, make sure you pick a reputed company. Depending on the manufacturer, cannabis products can vary greatly. When looking for a product, prioritize natural, organic products sold by a company with positive reviews. Even if you are purchasing online, look for these factors and mail order marijuana from world-class sellers quickly.
Use cost as a factor to determine whether the product is trustworthy. Make sure you note the ratio of CBD to THC in your product as this determines whether the product is legal in your state.
With this article, you are now well informed about the current status of cannabis concerning anxiety. More studies with human subjects are on their way, but there is quite a lot of conclusive evidence on the benefits of cannabis. Science has simply not caught up with all the uses of this drug. However, it is likely that soon, there will be numerous studies proving what people already know.