One of the only things worse than managing pain and anxiety, is doing so alone without any help or someone to bounce ideas off of on how to get better. Medical marijuana has been gaining recognition for helping treat both pain and anxiety, and its use as an anxiolytic, or anxiety-reducing agent, is an area of significant interest in both clinical research and patient communities. Innovative companies like Releaf are stepping into the arena by making medical cannabis available to those who need it most and reducing the stigma that marijuana has associated with it. The medical cannabis industry is thereby also creating a space for like-minded people to connect and share their stories, helping many to feel less alone and make their way to a healthier and happier life. Let’s break down the chemical components of medical cannabis, as well as the types of anxiety and causes thereof.
Chemical Components of Medical Marijuana
It’s always a good idea to understand the components of anything that you put into your body so that you can ultimately know how and why you could get better and which parts of your brain are being stimulated. So here are the facts: medical marijuana contains over 100 different cannabinoids, but two of the most studied are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), both of which you’ve surely heard of before. THC is the psychoactive component that produces the ‘high’ associated with marijuana use, while CBD is non-psychoactive and has garnered attention for its potential therapeutic benefits.
When you feel anxious, the last thing you want to do is make it worse by panicking or taking a pharmaceutical calming agent that may have side effects. There are fantastic anxiety cannabis treatments available using CBD, that could potent reduce anxiety without the intoxicating effects of THC. Of course, in some cases pharmaceuticals are required and no one should ever be ashamed of leaning on them for support. Please just make sure that you discuss everything with your healthcare professional and try to look at the situation in a holistic manner, meaning that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to managing anxiety. It is, however, a huge relief in itself to have options at your disposal and know that there are medical marijuana strains for anxiety available that could help you in the long term.
What is Anxiety Exactly?
Anxiety, or the feeling of being anxious, is something that many of us can relate to. But what is it that makes you feel like that and how can you manage it? Anxiety is a multifaceted emotional state where people feel worried, fearful or uneasy – without there being a tangible reason. Of course, it’s absolutely normal to feel scared or overwhelmed in certain situations, but anxiety – how the term is used today anyway – refers more to a state that’s not ‘suitable’ to what’s currently happening right in front of you. While some people have always felt this way and may fall into the generalized anxiety disorder category, others only started feeling this way recently or will do so in specific ‘fight or flight’ situations.
Anxiety manifests through a range of physical, emotional and cognitive symptoms that are different for each and every person. However, there are some common physical symptoms that include increased heart rate, sweating, trembling and muscle tension. Emotional symptoms often involve feelings of dread, irritability or a sense of impending doom. Cognitively, individuals with anxiety may experience difficulty concentrating, excessive worry or intrusive thoughts. As you can see in this short paragraph, the symptoms of anxiety are vast, and not in a good way, with many researchers now trying to focus on what long-term effects these states have in the body, in other words what happens to you physically, mentally and emotionally when you feel these levels of anxiety for years.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
It does help to have a diagnosis from a physician because anxiety can make you feel ‘crazy’ at times. However, even if you do get a solid diagnosis, be it for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) characterized by persistent, excessive worry about various aspects of life, or social anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear of social situations where one might be judged or embarrassed, you still have to find a way to manage and treat it. A holistic approach works very well, meaning that you look at the situation from all aspects and work from different sides. Getting better requires all hands on deck and if you suffer from anxiety then it’s not only about the medication or natural medical cannabis you take, it’s also immensely important to be physically active, meditate, and do things that you enjoy like decorating and upgrading your home or spending time gardening.
Causes of Anxiety
Anxiety can result from a combination of genetic, biological, psychological and environmental factors, so please don’t ever be hard on yourself for feeling how you do. Stressful life events, trauma and chronic stress are significant contributors. You could start your healing process by writing down what you think could be causing your anxiety, and then work to remedy those areas. If you leave anxiety unmanaged, it can really impair your daily functioning, affect relationships and lead to other health issues.
Among the causes of anxiety are biological factors such as genetics and neurotransmitter imbalances, particularly in chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, as well as psychological factors like cognitive patterns and personality traits. Environmental factors also play a huge role as anyone who has faced stressful life events like losing your job or going through relationship problems can attest to. The last cause of anxiety is having a medical condition such as a thyroid disorder or heart disease, that can trigger anxiety.
Overall, anxiety results from a combination of these factors, and if you understand its multifaceted nature and approach it with a combination of therapy, lifestyle changes and coping strategies, you could really improve the quality of your life.
