For people suffering from anxiety,cannabis can offer relief by soothing the uneasy mind and relieving tension. Indica-dominant hybrid strains containing the cannabinoids THC or CBD (or both) have been found most beneficial, as sativa-dominant strains have a strong mental effect, and can leave the user “stuck in their head,” which is not ideal for an anxious mind.
CBD and THC can help stimulate the brain’s production of various neurotransmitters. Serotonin, which aids depression, is one example. Cannabinoids can also increase the brain’s assembly of anandamide, another neurotransmitter that has been found to regulate stress and anxiety levels. Individuals who suffer from anxiety often have low levels of anandamide in their bodies.
There are many cannabis products for treating anxiety, and the best one for you depends on the typical onset of your symptoms. If your anxiety attacks come on suddenly, without warning, a fast-acting medication inhaled or taken sublingually will serve you best. If you can foresee anxiety attacks because they come on at certain times of day or in certain circumstances, a slower-acting – but longer-lasting – capsule may be more suitable.
Medical marijuana is becoming more and more popular for people interested in a holistic option for relief. If you are tired of suffering from daily debilitating symptoms, medical marijuana might be right for you. Our team of Florida Medical Marijuana Physicians are strategically located all throughout the state so that they are easily accessible for everyone. Book an appointment or take this pre-eligibility survey to see if you might benefit from the relief marijuana offers.
Best Cannabis For Anxiety
For quick relief, FARM can provide you with a tincture, or our house brand Phoenix Tears. The FARM-brand 1:1 tincture provides equal amounts of THC and CBD, applied by dropper under the tongue. Placing the oil here allows it to be immediately absorbed into the bloodstream, and begin providing relief in minutes.
Each one-ml dose of this tincture contains 10 mg of each cannabinoid. This dosage is generally suitable to an intermediate user; a first time user should start with a lower dose of THC, while veteran users may need to intake more of the tincture in order to feel the same effects. The store also carries a Nu brand 1:1 tincture which delivers 15 mg of each cannabinoid per one-ml dose.
Note that the CBD in these tinctures will counteract some of the THC’s potency; as such, a single drop may not affect you as strongly as 10 or 15 mg of a pure-THC tincture.
FARM’s own, highly concentrated Phoenix Tears are another fast-acting treatment helpful for anxiety; a small portion can be placed beneath the tongue, or in a vaporizer. Staff suggest the CBD Rene concentrate to treat anxiety– derived from the high-CBD plant strain of the same name – contains a ratio of 5:3 CBD to THC. Each 0.05ml dose contains 5mg of CBD and 3mg of THC. A second option to treat anxiety is the 10:1 ratio Phoenix Tears. Each 0.05ml dose contains 10mg of CBD and 1mg of THC.
Capsules are another slow-acting choice great for taking your pain relief on the road. Discreet, with precise dosages, each capsule contains a moderate amount of THC (10 mg) or a small amount of CBD (10 or 12mg). FARM also carries Nu 1:1 THC:CBD Capsules, which contains just 5 mg of each cannabinoid – an excellent choice for the first-time.
Medical Marijuana for Treating Anxiety
There is increasing evidence indicating that medical marijuana can be an alternative to pharmaceutical medicine for anxiety treatment. While people think that cannabis has harmful effects, it’s never always the case. The medical components of cannabis play an integral role in managing anxiety. Cannabis has several strains that have varying impacts on the user. People with anxiety should use cannabis with calming effects.
Research indicates that terpenes cannabinoids combine to improve and modify the effect of each other. The molecules affect the signs of anxiety in varying ways. Some cannabis strains and extracts function well to produce high cannabinoid levels. Some of the positive effects of taking cannabis strains include increased creativity, relaxation, and euphoria. The effects significantly ease anxiety. Cannabis manages neurotransmitter levels that assist in balancing your anxiety levels.
Anxiety Signs Treated with Medical Cannabis
- Insomnia
- Concentration difficulties
- Fatigue
Difference Between Indica and Sativa
Cannabis is divided into two groups, which are the Sativa and Indica. Some cannabis strains are a hybrid of Sativa and Indica. Indica strains are famous for offering relaxing effects that users can feel in their bodies. The strain promotes sleepiness and muscle relaxation that are necessary at night. Sativa strain gives a euphoric and uplifting effect on your emotions and moods. Sativa strains are preferred for use during the day.
Indica Strains
Indicas are better cannabis strains for anxiety relief than Sativa. People struggling with anxiety panic a lot are fidgety. Indica strains have a relaxing effect and have a robust body high that enables users to be still and come down. Indica empowers an individual to stop thinking and enjoy the moment. Indica strain has more CBD, which explains the effects it has on anxiety. The relaxing effects of CBD on India strain make it an ideal option for insomnia treatment.
Indica is a perfect source of relaxation. Therefore, you might not leave your room, but you don’t have negative feelings of depression. However, feeling lazy and staying in your room is not what you want when battling with anxiety. That is where Sativa comes in to help in managing stress. Some of the qualities of Indica include:
- Muscle relaxation
- Increase appetite
- Increase mental relaxation
- Increase dopamine
- For nighttime use
- Decrease acute pain
- Decrease nausea
Sativa Strains
As opposed to the Indica strain, Sativa strains have a euphoric effect on your body and brain. The strain boosts your concentration and focus. Users feel happy after consuming Sativa. The euphoric effect of Sativa strain is enough reason to confirm that the strain is an ideal alternative for combating anxiety. A common cause of depression and anxiety is a lack of serotonin in your body, and Sativa strain offers you sufficient vitality to get out of your house and exercise. It, in turn, assists your body to release serotonin.
However, sativa has THC to CBD ratio that might not favor anxiety treatment. A common sign of anxiety is nervousness, increased heart rate, and fidgeting. Sativa makes users feel energized and euphoric, which is the opposite of what anxious people need to feel. Here are some primary qualities of sativa strains:
- Anti-anxiety
- For day time use
- Anti-depressant
- Increases serotonin
- Treats chronic pain
- Increases creativity and focus
How to Choose the Right Strain
You might not understand whether Sativa and Indica will work for your anxiety disorder immediately. The reaction to each strain can also be challenging to tell. You can use these few tips to help you choose the right Sativa or Indica strain for your anxiety disorder.
- The Right Chemotype
One of the critical considerations for cannabis strain is chemotype. It is the ratio of the CBD and THC for the strain. The balance has a significant impact on the experience after using cannabis. You can choose among THC-dominant, balanced, or CBD-dominant. - Terpene Profile
The terpene profile is the understated features, such as the smell or taste of a strain that you enjoy most. Terpenes have an impact on the therapeutic effect of a strain. A strain’s terpene profile has much more subtle effects. - Overall Potency
Put into consideration the overall potency of a strain before consuming. Strains containing more than 20% THC give users a different experience from a 5% THC strain. Generally, potency mostly applies when it comes to THC.
Choosing the Right Consumption Method
The perfect method to consume marijuana depends on your preference, reaction to cannabis, symptoms, and diagnosis. You have several ways to select from, and each of them impacts the effects of the medicine. Here are some of the methods you can consider:
- Vaping: You can try vaping if you must inhale indica or sativa. You can minimize the generation of toxins when using a high-quality vaporizer.
- Smoking: It’s a standard way of using sativa and indica for medical users. However, smoking cannabis can harm your body. It produces toxins you take in with the cannabis.
- Topicals: You can use topicals, such as balms and lotions. You can also use patches. They have a 100% CBD formula that allows you to avoid the paranoia from THC.
- Edibles: You can consume sativa and indica using the edibles method as long as you don’t have dietary restrictions or issues that deter you from eating edible cannabis products. However, this method gives a milder or extended effect. Edibles take the edge off side effects presented by cannabis.
Cannabis-Induced Paranoia
Certainly, many people use cannabis without adverse effects, and indeed with plenty of very pleasant ones. Moreover, there is evidence that cannabis can bring real medical benefits, for example in alleviating chronic pain. But there is also known to be a link between cannabis and paranoid thoughts.
Like most psychological experiences, there is a spectrum of paranoia within the population: many people have a few, relatively mild paranoid thoughts, while for a few people those thoughts are numerous, persistent, and profoundly unsettling.
Cannabis users are more likely to be at the problematic end of that spectrum. For instance, this study of the population of England
found that the belief that people are deliberately trying to harm you is three times as common among cannabis users as it is among non-users. The belief that people are trying to cause you serious injury or harm is five times as common among cannabis users.
Indica and Sativa strains, as indicated above, help with anxiety management. It would be best if you tried the strains with the supervision of a qualified cannabis doctor. Remember to consider your desired results and THC to CBD ratio when selecting the right strain for the best results.
Ever since a few months ago I have avoided marijuana. From my college days, all I could remember was worsened paranoia or anxiety. I hated being “stoned”. But, with my anxiety and chronic fatigue, a co-worker from Toronto convinced me to give it another shot. It wasn’t a strain or a weed flower, it was an oil in a cartridge that was attached to a battery and was vaped. It’s called Quanta, and I’ve been using it almost daily ever since. Back when I used to see the warning signs of an anxiety attack I would take a xanax. Now, I take a puff from my vape and I feel almost immediate relief. I really hope someone in a similar position as I was sees this and gives it a shot. I was a non believer too once upon a time!
Granddaddy was the first medical marijuana I ever tried and it still remains a favorite. All of my Generalized Anxiety Disorder quirks and things were eliminated and I was able to speak openly and honestly for the first time I could remember in a long long time. If you are depressed and need a pick-me-up, grab a friend and a couple grams of this strain. Thank Canadian soil for this Gift!