Have you ever found yourself feeling anxious and unhappy? How about discontented? Do you dread the thought of everyday activities? If so, there’s a good chance you have some form of anxiety. Anxiety affects over 31% of Americans every day. Given that it’s such a crippling disorder and so prominent, you might wonder if something like cannabis can help anxiety. Fortunately, medical marijuana is suitable for treating these types of conditions in a few different ways. Here’s how.
Anxiety Symptoms
Anxiety can come about and show itself in different ways. It can be difficult to spot at first because of the way it behaves in the human mind. It’s also a comprehensive and somewhat strange ailment. Symptoms can start anytime. It doesn’t matter if you’re a child or an adult. Claustrophobia, agoraphobia, and other similar phobias are all types of anxiety. Most experts recommend seeing a doctor if you feel like you worry too much, if the anxiety interferes with your daily life, if you’re starting to feel depressed or using excessive alcohol/drugs, or if you think there’s a physical problem.
How Cannabis Affects Anxiety
CBD is a popular choice for treating certain conditions that cause inflammation, chronic pain, or anxiety. Because the cannabinoids in CBD and marijuana affect neurotransmitters, they can help allay some of the effects of anxiety. That’s only one way in which cannabis helps anxiety. It merely affects the brain chemistry in such a manner that it can relieve symptoms of various types of anxiety. That’s great news for people who suffer from it every day. Whether it’s panic, general, obsessive-compulsive, or other types of anxiety, studies are showing that medical marijuana can help considerably and are a worthwhile solution to explore for patients everywhere.
Seeking Treatment
Trying cannabis for anxiety treatment depends on the state in which you reside. For example, let’s assume you live in Florida. Florida has a very extensive and deliberate means of seeking medical marijuana for certain qualifying conditions. like that, you’d have to seek care from a licensed doctor, get a recommendation, apply for a medical card, and go to a licensed dispensary to obtain medical marijuana. Other states will have similar but varied methods and guidelines. First and foremost, you’ll want to speak with your doctor and see if they even recommend it as a possibility. They might try to find alternative routes such as meditation or therapy before recommended. Since it’s very subjective, it will ultimately be up to you and the doctor to determine the best course of action.
Getting a Prescription
Getting a prescription for medical marijuana involves first receiving a doctor’s recommendation. After that, you need to apply for your state’s medical card. A medical card is a way to register that you’re allowed to access/purchase medical marijuana in your state. Some states allow out-of-state users to purchase certain amounts of medical marijuana as well, but not all states do. Every state is different with what they require (this website can help), so you’ll need to check what’s applicable to yours. Once you’ve registered for your card and paid the fee, you will be able to purchase medical marijuana, in the appropriate amounts defined by state regulations (including volume, type of marijuana, and refills), at a licensed dispensary in your state.
Further Reading
Anxiety can have a deleterious and downright awful effect. To help you manage and mitigate your anxiety symptoms, there’s plenty of assistance available. Here are a few resources that can help with anxiety:
Talk to your position or therapist about anxiety treatments in the office or via telemedicine.
Consult with a licensed doctor in your state to determine if medical marijuana is appropriate for treating your anxiety.
Medical News Today has plenty of guides on how to tell the difference between stress and anxiety, as well as some recommendations for treating it.
There are a few organizations dedicated to helping with anxiety these are the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and The National Institute of Mental Health.
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America has information about support groups so they can help you find others dealing with similar situations.
This is only the tip of the iceberg for resources to help you with anxiety, but can hopefully get you started with seeking anxiety help today.