Living With PTSD - Can Marijuana Help?

Many people around the world live with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), some are due to serving in a war, and some may experience this due to childhood trauma, while others may experience PTSD due to a traumatic event that happened in their lives. While not all will be open to certain types of treatment, some PTSD sufferers will debate you to no end about how marijuana has helped minimize their symptoms, including extreme anxiety, depression, and paranoia.

A Short History - Aspirin Vs Marijuana For Pain

In the ancient days, Egyptians were known to use willow bark to cure aches and pains, unknown to them that it was the salicylic acid (aspirin) in the willow bark that eased their pain due to its anti-inflammatory benefit. Reports show that cannabis treatment (THC) is shown to have about twenty times more anti-inflammatory potency than aspirin does and has double that amount compared to hydrocortisone.

Cannabis is thought to be effective in mitigating many conditions, including effects on physical conditions like:

• AIDS

• Cancer

• Asthma

• Nausea

• Glaucoma

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Menstrual Cramps

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Cannabis has also been said to help with psychiatric and neurocognitive conditions like:

• Bipolar Disorder

• Anxiety Disorders

• Alzheimer's disease

Scientists and doctors have been focusing more on the effects of cannabis as a therapy for PTSD. PTSD, like anxiety and depression, shares many endophenotypes which makes it somewhat difficult for mental health specialists to distinguish between others and tame it.

The processes that control the tenacity and development of PTSD in the brain have not been completely identified, and nearly all of what specialists do know comes from preclinical studies on animals, regardless of the underlying issues associated with it.

The number of neurobiological changes due to stressor-provocation has made it more challenging to distinguish which ones lend to the onset of PTSD, as this disorder is more likely than not, metabolically mixed. In general, the fundamental advancement of many of the most debilitating facets of PTSD is hyperarousal anxiety, which can interrupt:

• Sleep

• Anxiety

• Suicide

• Memory

• Depression

• Pain Sensitivity

• Emotional numbing

Can Marijuana Help With PTSD Symptoms?

Marijuana is said to relieve the symptoms for many people experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially paranoia and extreme anxiety. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about two out of 10 PTSD sufferers engage in regular marijuana use to help with pain management.

Quite a few people currently living with anxiety disorders, like PTSD, partake in marijuana use for varying individual reasons. For instance, war veterans most likely consume marijuana to relieve irritation or anxiety brought on by their service, while, people who live with chronic pain may smoke cannabis to ease some of their pain.

How Medical Marijuana Can Help PTSD

Marijuana contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is one of the components inside cannabis plants and is the specific cause of euphoric moods. CBD, on the other hand, is nonpsychoactive and acts to block the impact of THC.

According to a 2014 study in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs on patients suffering from PTSD showed that medical marijuana decreased their symptoms by 75 percent. Furthermore, researchers have determined that further evidence is needed to ascertain the efficacy of medical marijuana as a treatment therapy for PTSD.

Marijuana and PTSD - Veterans Affairs Viewpoint

The federal governing administration that deals with veterans' health care services is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which is required to follow federal regulations and guidelines concerning marijuana. For veterans who do engage in marijuana use for relief, the VA will not deny benefits to those eligible.

Congressional Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota, along with Rep. Phil Roe of Tennessee, put forth House Resolution 5520 in 2018. The bill would obligate the VA Administration to support and carry out research on the efficacy of specific variants of marijuana that may be suitable for military veterans who participate in VA services.

Conclusion

Marijuana can relieve anxiety and tension for many, especially those living with PTSD. Some who suffer from anxiety have stated that consuming cannabis helps them control chronic stress and anger due to its mellowing effect.

If you're living with PTSD and are curious about alternative wellness methods to help manage your PTSD symptoms, including medical marijuana. Feel better and live your best life in the most natural way possible. In the meantime, take a look at our blog over here.