Mental Health: Cannabis and PTSD

Treating PTSD has long been difficult for medical professionals. After all, this is a mental condition and not necessarily a problem with one’s body. As you’ll learn in this article, there have been medical developments in recent years which have helped make the case for using cannabis as a potential treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Typically, doctors start PTSD treatment with antidepressants. Cannabis has been used for as long as we can remember to treat many of the symptoms PTSD produces. Because of this, doctors are starting to prescribe cannabis for PTSD.

What is PTSD and Why is it Associated with Cannabis?

PTSD is a mental condition that can occur when people experience a highly-traumatic event. One of the most common groups of people who can get PTSD are combat veterans.

However, anybody who has any sort of experience which causes reactions such as guilt, fear, shock, and other strong emotions can also get diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Because cannabis produces effects known to counteract the symptoms of PTSD, it is seen as a potential treatment

Symptoms of PTSD

PTSD can develop within a few months of a heavily-traumatic event. However, there is no set time frame. In some cases, PTSD can develop years after a traumatic event unexpectedly.

Many people are able to recover from post-traumatic stress disorder, whereas others do not. This is part of the reason medical professionals are still puzzled by the condition.

Here are some of the most common symptoms people report:

Flashbacks to the traumatic event.
Nightmares relating to the event.
Changes in personal behavior.
Becoming easily startled.
Overall negative mindset and mood.

Known Benefits Of Cannabis For Treating PTSD

Cannabis is often seen as a great potential treatment for PTSD because it can counteract some of the main symptoms.

Here are some of benefits of using cannabis for PTSD:

Euphoria
Relaxation
Antidepressant
Increased creativity

Despite evidence that cannabis can mitigate the symptoms of PTSD, the drug is not “one size fits all”. It can still be difficult to predict how cannabis affects each individual. There are plenty of examples of cannabis sparking feelings of paranoia and anxiety, so starting with small doses and working with a doctor is imperative.

Should People With PTSD Use Cannabis?

Cannabis and PTSD are starting to go hand in hand. There are plenty of cases where post-traumatic stress disorder has been effectively treated by the use of cannabis. However, there is no general “yes” or “no” answer as to whether each person with post-traumatic stress disorder should consider cannabis for their treatment.

This is why it is important to have a trusted doctor which you can depend on for the best possible solution.

What Does the Science Say?

The scientific community is still a bit divided on whether or not cannabis should be used for treating post-traumatic stress disorder. Although there are some studies that demonstrate that this condition can be effectively treated by cannabis, we’re still lacking definitive reserach.

Veterans from both Israel and the United States have been examined while using cannabis to treat PTSD. Results show that cannabis does, in fact, help people completely reverse their symptoms of post-traumatic stress.

Out of the five major studies compiled by Mental Health Clinician, only two of them discouraged cannabis as a treatment for post-traumatic stress. Three of them supported cannabis as a viable treatment.

Since science is still so divided on cannabis and PTSD, those with post-traumatic stress disorder seeking the best solution for their treatment need to find an open-minded doctor which they trust. In reality, cannabis might not be the best possible treatment for each individual.

Thinking About Trying Cannabis to Treat your Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Here at Elyon Cannabis, we only grow the finest cannabis which is carefully grown and inspected for each possible standard of quality. If you are considering cannabis to treat PTSD, it is important that you purchase your cannabis from somebody who knows what they are doing.

After all, the effects of cannabis can differ depending on many different factors. This may also be why we find mixed results in the scientific community.

We can help you find the best possible cannabis product that can help you treat your PTSD. Talk to a doctor to come up with a treatment plan that involves cannabis, and locate our products in a retailer near you.