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Medical Marijuana For Anxiety Patients In Missouri
Does Anxiety Qualify For Medical Marijuana In Missouri?
While anxiety disorders are not explicitly listed as a qualifying condition for Missouri's medical marijuana program, the final decision for approval for medical marijuana treatment for any condition not listed explicitly as a qualifying condition is ultimately by a certified doctor; if the doctor believes that medical cannabis can improve a patient's life, the doctor can approve the condition for medical marijuana treatment.
Anxiety-related disorders are one of the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting roughly 18% of adults in the United States. With the surging focus on mental health in the United States, medical professionals are beginning to better understand how medical marijuana treatment can be utilized to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from anxiety disorders.
How Does Medical Marijuana Help Anxiety?
While there are some individuals out there who may have had adverse reactions to medical marijuana treatment in the past, the ability to more accurately choose marijuana products based on cannabinoids levels and specific terpene inclusion offers newfound control over the possible effects that a strain will cause a patient.
Most consequential for patients suffering from anxiety is medical marijuana that has higher levels of cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is a non-psychoactive component of marijuana meaning that it will not cause the "high" most commonly associated with marijuana. Rather, CBD is actually responsible for counteracting many of the adverse effects THC can cause anxiety patients. Furthermore, CBD has been found to have powerful anti-anxiety properties and is considered a safe and well-tolerated treatment for a number of anxiety-related disorders. CBD is similar to SSRIs in that CBD may boost signaling via serotonin receptors.
Researchers in Brazil conducted a study on individuals afflicted with generalized social anxiety and found that the participants reported a significant decrease in anxiety which was backed up by brain scans revealing patterns consistent with an anti-anxiety effect. Furthermore, in another study, researchers found that patients suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder reported significantly less anxiety, and the findings were supported by objective anxiety indicators such as heart rate and blood pressure.
While more studies are always necessary to further solidify cannabis as an effective treatment for anxiety disorders, both the scientific and anecdotal evidence starting to pile up points to medical marijuana being a significant benefit for patients suffering from anxiety symptoms. To learn more about effectively using medical marijuana to combat feelings of anxiety, make sure to check out our guide on what to do if you get "too high."
Get Medical Marijuana In Missouri With Missouri Marijuana Card
Missouri Marijuana Card has doctor offices throughout the State of Missouri that specialize in helping qualifying patients access medical marijuana. If you’re interested in discussing whether medical marijuana is right for you, we're here to help you every step of the way. Give us a call, or schedule an appointment online for more information. You can also check out our frequently asked questions page.
Get Approved For Missouri Medical Marijuana Through Telemedicine
Patients can get approved for their Missouri medical marijuana card through telemedicine! Telemed allows patients to meet virtually with our physicians in the safety and comfort of their own home. If you would like to schedule a telemedicine appointment, please call us at 877-303-3117 or schedule online today.
3 Easy Steps
Medical Marijuana
Get approved to legally obtain, consume, transport and possess medical marijuana from a licensed Missouri marijuana dispensary.
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What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is an unavoidable part of life for nearly all individuals, however some patients can have higher rates and more intense feelings of anxiety that can make even the most basic aspects of life - especially social life - difficult. For those that suffer from anxiety disorders, these feeling of anxiety is much more regular, and can even get worse over time.
There are several different types of anxiety disorders that can affect patients:
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder: also known as GAD, patients suffering from this form of anxiety display excessive anxiety or worry on most days for at least 6 months.
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Panic Disorder: individuals that suffer from panic disorders have recurring panic attacks caused unexpectedly or initiated by a trigger that can be crippling. The fear of these constant, recurring panic attacks can be further debilitating as suffering individuals become constantly pre-occupied and concerned over when the next attack may happen and how to prevent it.
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Phobia-related disorders including social anxiety disorder: a phobia is defined as an intense fear of, or aversion to, specific objects or situations. There are various types of phobias, including specific phobias, social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, separation anxiety disorder, and selective mutism.
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions) such as hand washing, counting, or cleaning; for patients with OCD, not performing these "rituals" causes a significant increase in feelings of anxiety.
While many patients rely on prescription medications to help combat anxiety symptoms, many of these drugs come with adverse side-effects that make patients weary to consistently use them for treatment. As a result, many patients have been turning to cannabidiol (CBD) to either use in conjunction with these medications or as a replacement. As a result, there is a growing number of studies currently underway to further understand medical marijuana as a treatment option for anxiety disorders.