A lot of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder patients are moving away from addictive prescription medications and instead taking medical cannabis to ease their symptoms.
How common is PTSD in the United States?
It’s estimated that approximately 12 million adults in the United States have PTSD during a given year. Furthermore, 6% of the population will have post traumatic stress disorder at some point in their life.
Can You Use Medical Marijuana for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Two recent studies have shown that cannabinoids can help treat PTSD in different ways.
One study reveals that the cannabis plant can lower activity in the amygdala, which is the part of your brain associated with fear responses to threats.
At the same time, another study has shown that the cannabinoids found within the cannabis plant can help to extinguish traumatic memories.
Both can have therapeutic effects on those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.
Aside from this, older studies have already established that cannabis has the ability to reduce anxiety disorders or potentially stop heightened anxiety in threatening situations.
What PTSD Symptoms Can Medical Marijuana Help With?
PTSD symptoms can have a significant impact on your daily life. Some people start to experience symptoms immediately after a traumatic event. However, in some cases, it can take months or even years for symptoms to surface. There’s certainly no set timeline.
Some people have severe symptoms of PTSD on a continual basis. Others have periods where symptoms are less noticeable and then periods whereby symptoms are worse.
So, let’s take a look at some of the symptoms in further detail:
- Hyper-arousal – This is also known as feeling “on edge.” When someone has PTSD, they often struggle to relax and they feel anxious. They may be startled easily, and constantly aware of threats. Hyper-arousal can result in difficulty concentrating, sleeping problems, angry outbursts, and irritability.
- Emotional numbing and avoidance – Trying to avoid reminders of a traumatic incident is a common PTSD symptom. This typically means avoiding certain places or people that remind you of the trauma.
- Re-experiencing – This is one of the most common PTSD symptoms. Re-experiencing is when a person vividly and involuntarily relieves a traumatic event with physical sensations, such as trembling, feeling sick, sweating, or pain. This can also happen in the form of distressing and repetitive images or sensations, nightmares, or flashbacks.
PTSD can cause a number of other medical problems
A lot of people with post traumatic stress disorder have a number of other issues, including:
- Physical symptoms of PTSD – Stomach aches, chest pains, dizziness, and headaches
- Destructive or self-harming behavior – Such as alcohol or drug misuse
- Mental health problems – Such as phobias, anxiety, or depression.
Get an MMJ Card for Anxiety Disorders at Miracle Leaf Clematis
If you’re interested in treating PTSD with medical cannabis, your first port of call should be Miracle Leaf to get your medical marijuana card. Simply visit an approved and experienced marijuana doctor at Miracle Leaf West Palm Beach, and we’ll determine whether medical marijuana is suitable for your mental health disorder. Qualified PTSD patients will receive a medical card within 10 days.
