Cannabis’ ability to help with anxiety and stress is something that we all know by now. The success of cannabis products in alleviating symptoms of these debilitating disorders is something that just cannot be overlooked.
Anxiety disorders affect millions of people worldwide, and for some, cannabis has emerged as a potential ally in managing and easing their symptoms.
But, the path to using cannabis effectively for anxiety is filled with nuances, considerations, and potential side effects.
Our guide is going to help you with all the information you need to start using cannabis edibles for anxiety. Stay tuned to find out all the juicy and not-so-juicy things you should know!
The Science Behind Cannabis and Anxiety
The relationship between cannabis and anxiety is complex and multifaceted, driven mostly by the interaction of cannabinoids, especially THC, and the individual’s endocannabinoid system.
Some users experience temporary relief from anxiety symptoms, particularly with different strains and doses of CBD. However, excessive THC can exacerbate anxiety or trigger panic attacks in sensitive users.
The endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in regulating stress and anxiety responses, with CB1 receptors in the brain influencing neurotransmitter release.
The CB1 receptor works with neurotransmission and other physiological processes, like memory, pain, and feeding behavior. THC binding to these receptors is more likely to heighten anxiety, depending on the dosage, tolerance, and other relevant factors associated with the user.
CBD will do a better job of alleviating the symptoms of anxiety. It doesn’t induce the “high” of the marijuana, which can make your anxiety worse.
Instead, CBD is non-intoxicating and has mild anxiolytic characteristics that are excellent for helping reduce your anxiety attacks.
7 Considerations When Using Cannabis to Help With Anxiety
Well, we’ve come to know quite a bit about cannabis’ involvement in helping ease those nasty anxiety spikes. It’s time to find how we can use it to help with anxiety symptoms.
We’re going to explore everything so you can get a headstart on your adventure of using cannabis to take the edge off of your anxiety pangs.
We’ll help you make the right choices, from strains to even letting you in on the side effects, so sit back, relax, and keep your eyes peeled for some great tips to use cannabis to help with anxiety.
1. Personal Preferences and Experiences
First of all, the effects of cannabis on anxiety vary from person to person. What works for one person may not work for another. That’s why you must start with a low dose and monitor how you react and respond.
2. Consider The Strains
Choose strains known for their calming effects, usually high in CBD or something that has balanced CBD-to-THC ratios. Indica-dominant strains are better at alleviating anxiety symptoms and are more relaxing than Sativa-dominant strains.
Hybrid strains that are balanced with the goodness of both Indica and Sativa, like a 100mg delta 8 per gummy, are also a great option for reducing your anxiety symptoms.
3. Consider The Cannabinoids
THC and CBD are the two major cannabinoids in cannabis, as you might already know. CBD is generally considered more anxiety-friendly and has slight anxiolytic properties, while high THC can make your anxiety symptoms worse, as we’ve discussed above.
So, go for a balanced distribution of CBD or THC, which will give you the goodness of both CBD and THC and leave you feeling cool as a cucumber!
4. How You Take It
The way you consume and use cannabis matters way more than you would expect. No surprise there! Inhalation methods, such as vaping and smoking, can offer instant relief, to be more specific, faster-than-usual relief.
But cannabis edibles, gummies, and oils can provide longer-lasting effects, which many prefer over smoking or vaping. So, how you consume cannabis plays greatly into how it will help your anxiety symptoms.
5. Dosing Does The Job
This shouldn’t come as a shock, but the specific doses matter a lot when it comes to using cannabis for anxiety. You might want to start with microdoses by taking small, controlled amounts of cannabis.
It can prevent the risk of overwhelming anxiety or paranoia, which you definitely don’t want when it comes to using cannabis. It can cause much bigger problems than anxiety.
6. When You Take It
Many don’t know this, but when you consume or use cannabis, it matters. You want to take it towards the end of the day when things and life wind down, and you want that full night’s rest because anxiety affects your sleep schedule, and insufficient sleep can exacerbate anxiety.
But you might be asking, what if I get anxiety attacks in the middle of the day?
Well, in that case, you can pop in an edible, then. But if your attacks come on a schedule, which they do, try to time it before you eat.
This will help you to increase your appetite. Taking the cannabis edible before meals means you’re going to eat and not starve yourself, making you feel worse and your anxiety more frequent.
You could also take it as your morning supplement routine and breakfast. But remember, do your research as to what time of the day the specific ratios in your edible or any other form of cannabis are recommended.
7. Everything in Moderation
As discussed several times in this guide, high doses of THC can trigger and even worsen anxiety. You need to be able to consume and use in moderation and their recommended doses.
Do your research, speak to fellow users, and check out reviews, testimonials, and tutorials online to learn about different personal experiences and responses and gauge your own.
It’s a basic rule of thumb to start anything and everything in small doses. Whether it’s retinol in your skincare routine or cannabis to help with anxiety, start small and slow.
Potential Side-Effects of Using Cannabis For Anxiety
Here are the possible downsides of using cannabis for anxiety. Stay informed and make informed choices.
- Paranoia and Anxiety Exacerbating: While cannabis can help reduce anxiety for some, it can make anxiety worse and induce paranoia in others, especially when the strain is high in THC or too much is used or consumed.
- Cognitive Dysfunction: Cannabis can impair cognitive function, affecting memory, concentration, and decision-making. This can be problematic if you need to perform tasks that require focus and mental clarity, which can be quite a problem at work or at school. Over time, cognitive problems can worsen, and without prompt and immediate attention, these issues can seriously impact a person’s life.
- Fatigue: Some cannabis strains, especially Indica-dominant strains, can bring on drowsiness, tiredness, and fatigue. This can disrupt day-to-day life and productivity. Sometimes, this fatigue can become persistent and chronic over time. This can have a detrimental effect on your life, making it difficult to navigate through even simple tasks.
- Addiction: Regular, heavy cannabis use can lead to addiction and dependence, which is never a good idea. They may experience irritability, insomnia, and changes in appetite when they try to quit.
- Tolerance: Frequent cannabis use can lead to tolerance, meaning you might need to consume more to achieve the same anxiety-relieving effects. This will, expectedly, increase the risk of side effects and dependence. High tolerance to cannabis is never a good thing and can have long-lasting effects on health eventually, which can be tricky to recover from.
- Interfering With Medications: Cannabis can interact with any medicines you might be taking, potentially weakening their efficiency and causing unexpected side effects. It can also leave you feeling worse than you felt before taking cannabis. You have to consult a medical professional if you’re on prescription medicines alongside cannabis; do this before you even start taking cannabis.
- Legal Liabilities: Depending on where you live, using cannabis for anxiety can have legal consequences. Make sure to do your research on any laws pertaining to cannabis in your locality or city, and choose reputable sources to get your stuff from that won’t get you in trouble if investigated for legal formalities.
- Mental Health Risks: For those with a history of mental health conditions, especially schizophrenia or bipolar disorders, using cannabis might make existing symptoms worse and trigger episodes frequently.
Conclusion
We hope our guide can help you use cannabis effectively to combat anxiety issues.
Remember always to consult a medical professional before you start your cannabis courses, and doing your own research to relate your experiences and manage expectations is fundamental.
Cannabis is a wonderful drug to help an array of problems, but its controversial nature and often complex properties can make it quite a problematic solution to the problem.
So, you must always do your own studying and research to make sure you’re the right fit for using cannabis for anxiety or any other concerns you want to address.