June 1, 2022According to the National Institute of Mental Health, around 31% of American adults suffer from anxiety at some point. Moreover, mental illnesses like anxiety and depression often pave the way to other diseases like headaches and chronic stress.
Although the number of people suffering from anxiety is pretty high, it still does not account for a lot of people who never visit a professional for mental health-related reasons. You would think that people would seek medical attention for something so common, but that isn’t the case.
For some, the medical bills are too much, for others, the prescription medication may not have good effects. After all, side effects from anxiety medication are pretty common, such as:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Blurry vision
- Dry mouth
- Sleeping issues
So, if you too are looking for a better alternative due to past experiences or because the frequent visits to a mental health specialist were costing too much – we’ve got the perfect solution for you!
Many people have started exploring cannabis as a natural remedy for mental health issues like anxiety and depression. In this article, we will talk about medical marijuana for anxiety, how you can save money on taxes, and what are the potential side effects.
So without any further ado, let’s dive into the article.
Also Read: Medical Marijuana for Anxiety Disorder : Understanding the Relationship
Using Cannabis to Deal With Anxiety
Before we begin, you should know how marijuana will help you deal with anxiety. The cannabis plant contains two important chemical compounds; CBD and THC. So, let’s take a look at these components in brief:
1. THC
Tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, is responsible for the euphoria caused by smoking/ ingesting marijuana. It is similar to the cannabinoid chemicals naturally occurring in the human body.
So, when you consume cannabis products with THC content, it interacts with receptors in the brain to increase dopamine levels, causing euphoric effects.
2. CBD
Cannabidiol, popularly known as CBD or hemp, is often used for relieving anxiety, muscle disorders, pain, inflammation, etc. It is often used in products like oils, edibles, topicals, etc., to help users feel calm and relaxed and alleviate certain ailments.
The best thing about CBD is that it is nonpsychoactive, meaning that you will not feel high after consuming it. This is also the reason why so many medical marijuana patients rely on it to impart medical benefits without intoxication.
How Does Cannabis Help With Anxiety?
A survey in 2018 documented a 58% drop in stress and anxiety in medical users of marijuana. They also felt that it helped them lower the effects of depression symptoms. It also concluded that consuming cannabis with high levels of THC and CBD is most effective for reducing stress.
Let’s see the different types of anxiety cannabis can help with:
1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
The major symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) include both physical and psychological effects, such as:
- Overthinking
- Restlessness
- Getting tired easily
- Inability to concentrate
- Tensed muscles
- Insomnia
Certain strains of marijuana help promote creativity and activeness, while also alleviating the other symptoms.
2. Social Anxiety
Social anxiety makes it much harder for people to socialize without the feeling of being judged. As a result, sufferers often suppress their true personalities and try to blend in with their peers. Common symptoms include:
- Constantly worried about embarrassing oneself
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Shaking
- Avoiding going out
- Analyzing how they acted in social situations for hours afterward
- Expecting the worst out of every situation
Consuming marijuana before stepping out into social settings can help the sufferer feel less shy and interact more with others. CBD gummies are a great choice for such situations, as we have explained later on.
3. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Unbeknownst to most people, OCD is a form of anxiety, affecting about 1% of the American population. Common symptoms of this mental health disorder include:
- Being scared of dirt and germs
- Inability to deal with uncertain outcomes
- Self-harm thoughts
- Aggressive and unwanted thoughts; maybe sexual or religious in nature.
Medical marijuana may not be able to “cure” all these, but it can help in suppressing the urge to perform such behavioral patterns.
4. Panic Disorder
Panic disorder causes the sufferer to be in a constant state of worry, causing a significant impact on the quality of their life. Some common symptoms of it are:
- Living in fear of death and an uncertain tomorrow
- Feeling short of breath regularly
- Chills
- Hot flashes
- Increased heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling
Marijuana is known to have calming effects, which significantly help those with panic disorder.
However, not all those who rely on it to relieve anxiety have to smoke cannabis in order to consume it. So, let’s look at some marijuana products you can ingest instead of smoking.
Different Ways to Consume Cannabis for Relieving Anxiety
1. Oils /Tinctures
Cannabis oils and tinctures are particularly popular amongst medical users because they are very easy to use. For using tinctures, simply use the dropper in its original packaging to place 1-2 drops under your tongue. However, they taste quite bitter so you can opt for a flavored variant.
Oils, on the other hand, do not have to be swallowed and you can apply them directly to your skin. For instance, applying a sleep-inducing cannabis oil will help you feel relaxed and fall asleep easily.
2. Edibles
These are also pretty easy to consume; for instance, CBD gummies, are a popular product. Edibles can also include homemade recipes such as cannabis butter, brownies, cookies, etc. Remember, they are much more potent than other methods of consumption but will take longer to impart the desirable effects.
3. Topicals
Topicals are products you apply directly to the skin instead of ingesting them. They are available in various forms, such as:
- Bath bombs
- Balms
- Oils
- Roll-ons
- Creams
- Patches
What Are the Potential Risks of Consuming Marijuana for Anxiety?
Some people may experience an opposite side effect of what they were hoping to achieve. So, why does cannabis cause some people to feel anxious? It all has to do with the THC content. If you consume a strain or products with too much THC, you may experience intense euphoria, and anxiety, as a result.
So, we suggest that you should definitely give marijuana a try for relieving symptoms of anxiety. But it would be best if you consult a healthcare professional first.
If you are looking for a reliable 420 doctor in Nevada to discuss marijuana for anxiety, look no further. Nevada MMJ Card Doctor has skilled and experienced doctors to provide you with all the necessary information.
It is also the perfect place to get a quick and easy MMJ card, which offers benefits like discounts on taxes, exclusive deals, and much more! The process is also very smooth sailing, so you can get the card quickly and begin availing the benefits at the earliest possible!
