Could cannabis be the best cure for PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been considered the best-researched mental illness for generations. Psychiatrists studied trauma victims from a psychological perspective in the late 19th century to learn more about PTSD. Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, we saw military combat soldiers returning from the war experiencing symptoms of PTSD. But what exactly is PTSD?

In general, post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness caused by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. People diagnosed with PTSD often describe it as going through the trauma over and over in your head without knowing how to stop it. The main symptoms include panic attacks, insomnia, mood swings, overwhelming emotions, and self-destructive behavior. However, despite years of research, there has not been a definitive solution to treating PTSD.

Cannabis and trauma

Depending on the severity of the trauma, symptoms of PTSD can last anywhere from months to years. We see this often with soldiers returning from service trying to adjust to civilian life after living in a war zone. While the Veterans Association (VA) provides medicines and other resources to help veterans adapt to civilian life, medical cannabis is not on the list of approved prescriptions. But it wasn’t until 2013 that veterans began using cannabis to treat PTSD symptoms. In 2014, the US Department of Veteran Affairs reported that a total of 9 percent of US veterans reported using cannabis. Cut to 2020, and the number shot up to 20 percent.

“Cannabis works pretty well in treating PTSD, probably better than some people even think,” said Alex Gould, co-founder of Mr. Hemp Flower. Mr. Help Flower is a cannabis company that sells organic, GMO-free, and pesticide-free hemp from licensed US farms. “It can help reduce anxiety, which is one of the most important things that people with PTSD struggle with. Cannabis can also help PTSD patients sleep better. Many PTSD patients are plagued by nightmares and insomnia. “

Canadian soldier talks about cannabis and PTSD

How could cannabis help us cope with trauma or even PTSD?

When the issue of PTSD comes up, the majority of people assume that the only group affected by the effects of PTSD are veterans. However, research shows that there are several variations in post-traumatic stress. These can occur at any time, regardless of whether they served in the combat zone. However, with the recent global pandemic, many have declared that it has brought collective trauma to all of us. Research shows how the coronavirus pandemic was stressful and caused symptoms of PTSD in people. Some of these include fear of future infection, death, economic hardship, and other stressors related to total isolation.

If PTSD spreads, cannabis can be an effective way to deal with the overwhelming symptoms. “I’m not going to say it cures, but it helps treat it,” says Gould. “It makes PTSD more manageable and easier to manage. … so the PTSD sufferer can function and feel normal at relatively lower levels of stress. ”While cannabis has shone a bright light as the next holistic mental health option, it is not FDA approved. It also remains a List 1 drug in many places. Depending on which state you live in, cannabis use remains illegal.

Still, the majority of people who use cannabis for PTSD have sung praises and continue to do so. If cannabis can help people’s needs and calm the mind to focus on the present, then the medicinal cannabis option should be a must. And while local governments are slowly bringing this new world of cannabis to market, cannabis users continue to use this natural herb to help this infamous disease.