Best Strains for PTSD and Anxiety | Medical Marijuana Doctor Texas

Best Strains for PTSD and Anxiety 

Best Strains for PTSD and Anxiety | Medical Marijuana Doctor Texas: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety affect 3.5% of adults in the United States every year.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, PTSD affects nearly eight million Americans.

Although anyone can develop PTSD, the condition affects women more than men. According to the National Center for PTSD, about 10% of women will develop PTSD at some point in their lives. Only about 4% of men develop PTSD. This is despite the fact that 60% of men experience trauma at some point in their lifetime, compared to 50% of women who experience trauma at some point in their lifetime.

People suffering from PTSD and anxiety often suffer from uncomfortable and disturbing thoughts which are commonly related to a specific episode of trauma that happened in their life. PTSD behaviors are often accompanied by acute anxiety.

There are certain factors that can make a person more likely to suffer from PTSD.

A person with a family history of PTSD or anxiety has an increased risk of developing the condition.

A person’s natural temperament or the way a person’s brain regulates certain chemicals can influence whether or not the person is more likely to develop PTSD.

The number of traumatic events a person has experienced in their lifetime can also influence or increase their risk for developing PTSD.

Trauma such as emotional or mental abuse during childhood, witnessing extreme violence, witnessing combat, being a victim of sexual abuse or assault, or other traumatic events can increase the risk of developing PTSD.

How Does Marijuana Help PTSD And Anxiety

Medication can be used to treat PTSD symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disturbances, and depression, but these medications are not always successful and they also pose the risk for unpleasant side effects.

PTSD can be alleviated with cognitive behavioral therapy, but it is not always successful. Behavioral therapy is not always effective for many PTSD patients.

While medical research continues to develop a lasting cure for PTSD, some patients are finding relief from it through the use of medical cannabis.

According to scientists, people with PTSD often have an endocannabinoid deficiency.

Research indicates that cannabis may help patients with PTSD by replenishing or balancing out the endocannabinoid system which may help lessen PTSD symptoms and improve mental balance.

Consuming cannabis can help with PTSD symptoms. Cannabis may replenish or balance out missing endocannabinoids, and this may provide relief to PTSD patients.

How Is Medical Marijuana an Effective Treatment?

Studies have sought to figure out why some people are more susceptible to PTSD than others and these studies have come to interesting conclusions. A 2013 study at New York University’s Langone Medical Center looked closely at the endocannabinoid system in the brain.

The researchers found out that people with PTSD had considerably lower levels of anandamide (a neurotransmitter) than people without PTSD. Additionally, people with PTSD had higher numbers of cannabinoid receptors. These cannabinoid receptors are activated by anandamide and other neurotransmitters.

When cannabinoid receptors are activated, they work to suppress or impair memory and also lower anxiety. In other words, the cannabinoid receptors help you forget the bad and scary memories or things that have happened in your life. When these cannabinoid receptors aren’t functioning correctly, you remember the bad and scary things that happened in your life, and you end up with higher levels of anxiety.

Some of the compounds in cannabis can help activate the cannabinoid receptors just as the neurotransmitter, anandamide does. The compounds in cannabis act as a sort of replacement for anandamide.

Also, some studies have examined how effective tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are at activating the cannabinoid receptors in the brain.

On its own, THC can contribute to increased feelings of anxiety in people. But strains of cannabis that contain both THC and CBD seem to be helpful in suppressing memories and reducing anxiety.

Medical Cannabis for PTSD and Anxiety

Most evidence suggests that the therapeutic use of cannabis can significantly improve the quality of life for people with PTSD and anxiety.

Compounds in cannabis help to activate the body’s cannabinoid receptors which provide incredible relief for some of the most debilitating symptoms associated with PTSD.

Chronic anxiety is one of the most common symptoms associated with PTSD. Cannabis with large amounts of CBD has been shown to reduce stress and reduce anxious feelings.

Studies have shown both negative and positive results for the use of cannabis for symptoms of PTSD like anxiety and depression. Some individuals with PTSD will feel a significant reduction of these symptoms while others may feel an increase in them.

Best Strains of Marijuana for PTSD and Anxiety

There are numerous marijuana strain options available that may help reduce or alleviate symptoms of PTSD. Before choosing any strain, you need to understand the difference between strains that are high in THC and stains which are CBD dominant.

High-CBD strains provide mood-stabilizing effects. High-CBD is particularly useful if a patient feels mentally or emotionally unstable. Strains with large amounts of THC are most effective in the evening or at night to aid sleep. They help patients with PTSD sleep better.

There are five Strains for PTSD and Anxiety of cannabis that offer incredible benefits for patients with PTSD:

1. OG Kush (Hybrid)

OG Kush has a pleasant, euphoric effect, and it’s considered an ideal strain for PTSD patients. It helps calm your entire body and makes you relax better. It has a high THC content, usually between 20% – 24%, and a low CBD content, which is generally about 0.2%.

2. Blue Dream (Hybrid)

It has the ability to provide mental invigoration and full-body relaxation. Blue Dream is a Sativa-dominant strain and it’s one of the most popular strains among PTSD patients. It eases social anxiety and provides great mood-lifting abilities. It has a high percentage of THC, usually between 17% – 24%, and is considered a well-balanced hybrid. It has low CBD content of about 0.1 to 0.2%.

3. Pineapple Express (Hybrid)

It has smooth and well-balanced effects that leave users feeling clear-headed. It eases anxiety and leaves you highly functional. It has a high THC content of about 20%. It has low CBD content of about 0.1%

4. Cannatonic (Hybrid)

It has a high CBD content, ranging from 6-17%. Cannatonic stain provides daytime relief and can also produce a mild high. The THC content is around 6%. It produces a relaxed and calm feeling.

5. Master Kush (Indica)

Master Kush is an Indica strain and it is not recommended for beginners. It is recommended for PTSD patients who struggle with insomnia. It helps them drift off to sleep without struggles. It has high THC content is of about 20% with a low CBD of 1%.

Marijuana, PTSD and Reduced Risk

When prescribed medications do not help, patients with PTSD tend to take drugs like marijuana and alcohol to alleviate their symptoms.

Although the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hasn’t conducted studies examining the role that marijuana can play in helping people with PTSD, it has found a connection between veterans seeking health care from the VA and veterans taking cannabis.

According to the VA, 40,000 veterans with PTSD seen by the VA in 2014 were all diagnosed with cannabis use disorder. The reason for that may be that people with PTSD are likely to self-medicate when standard treatments aren’t effective. Some others turn to alcohol to help improve their sleep and calm anxieties, while others choose to smoke marijuana.

Marijuana is not accepted as a treatment for PTSD in most areas. For this reason, marijuana is often taken without the knowledge of the patient’s therapists or physicians. When patients with PTSD take marijuana, they often don’t know how potent the strain of marijuana that they’re taking is or even what compounds it might contain.

It could mean that they might be using a form of marijuana that will be less helpful for their PTSD than a strain recommended by a marijuana doctor and purchased from an approved marijuana store.

Additionally, people with PTSD who smoke marijuana are more likely to struggle to stop using marijuana than people who smoke marijuana but don’t have PTSD. It is very important that access to medical guidance be available to people with PTSD who wish to use marijuana to manage their symptoms. If people with PTSD were allowed to use prescription cannabis, the risk for side effects, overuse, legal complications, and stigma associated with cannabis use can be reduced or eliminated.