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Anxiety is a part of life that nearly everyone deals with at some point, whether that means being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or having symptoms of anxiety present in your daily life, you are likely aware of just how much this condition can affect a person’s quality of life.
For some, anxiety is an occasional inconvenience that comes up whenever stressful circumstances arise. For others, it is a chronic condition that must be dealt with on a daily basis. The good news for Missourians is that marijuana can help ease anxiety and with the legalization of medicinal cannabis, state residents who have their medical card are experiencing natural, legal relief.
What Are the Symptoms of Anxiety?
Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress. It is defined as distress or uneasiness of mind, caused by fear of danger or misfortune. It’s what happens when we’re worried something is about to go wrong.
For those with anxiety disorders, this situation occurs commonly, which can deeply affect quality of life. The anxiety is often out of proportion with the reality of the dangers or misfortunes that might occur. These individuals frequently find themselves spiraling into worst-case scenarios. Their anxiety may be difficult to control, and can have a negative affect on their professional and personal relationships.
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of anxiety include:
Feeling nervous, restless or tense
A sense of impending danger, panic or doom
An increase in heart rate
Rapid breathing (hyperventilation)
Perspiration
Trembling
Feeling weak or tired
Difficulty concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
Having trouble sleeping
Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
Difficulty controlling worry
The urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety
How Can Cannabis Help?
When it comes to using cannabis to treat anxiety, it is important to understand the way the components of medical marijuana work in concert with your brain’s receptors. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the psychoactive compound in cannabis. When it enters your system and reacts with the brain’s endocannabinoid system, it can shut off the brain’s panic switch.
Patients who treat their anxiety with medical marijuana often experience an overall sense of well-being that allows anxious thoughts to dissipate, easing their anxiety and allowing them to relax.
Doesn’t Marijuana Make Some People Paranoid?
For most people, cannabis helps REDUCE anxiety and stress. But, for some, a sense of anxiety can occur, which may lead to paranoia. Part of that may have to do with how your brain responds to THC.
For many people, tolerance plays a major factor in their experience with cannabis. If you are new to medical marijuana, your tolerance may be lower than others. This means the amount that makes most people relax could trigger anxious feelings by overstimulating your brain’s cannabinoid receptors. Small amounts of THC typically trigger a therapeutic effect, but when you go over your tolerance threshold, the opposite effect can occur, which may lead to feelings of paranoia.
How Can You Avoid Feeling Paranoid?
There are several steps you can take when consuming cannabis to increase your chances of experiencing a therapeutic feeling instead of anxiety. Here are some steps to consider:
Start Low and Go Slow
The best advice for finding your ideal cannabis dose is to begin with a small amount of THC and slowly work your way up to a dosage that feels right.
Buy Products Higher in CBD
Combining CBD and THC in the right fashion could help you to achieve a great medical marijuana experience. If you’re feeling anxious from too much THC, consider purchasing a strain or vape that is higher in CBD. For more information on how CBD and THC work in tandem, we’ve put together this guide that explains The Entourage Effect.
Talk to Your Budtender
Sometimes, there are strains and delivery methods that are better suited for those who are prone to anxiety. Cannabis affects everyone differently, so it’s worth it to discuss options with a cannabis professional who can help you figure out what works best.
Consider Micro-dosing
Micro-dosing is the process of consuming cannabis in smaller doses on a more frequent basis to receive the benefits of medical marijuana without becoming impaired. For more info, CLICK HERE to view our handy Guide to Micro-dosing Medical Marijuana, which explains how this low-dose process works.
Many cannabis users have found that micro-dosing eliminates any anxiety-related symptoms and allows them to get the most out of their medical marijuana experience.
What If You Get Too High?
If you realize you’ve taken a dose that is higher than you wanted, just know that everything is going to be okay. It happens at some point to most cannabis patients. Take a deep breath and if you feel overstimulated, take a nap to relax.
It’s important to note that using too much cannabis has not killed anyone yet. Some sources say you’d need to smoke 1,500 pounds of marijuana in 15 minutes in order to have a fatal overdose.
CLICK HERE and go through our list of What To Do if You Get Too High, which includes some home remedies to counteract THC, and activities to focus your minds on things other than anxious thoughts.
You Deserve Relief From Anxiety
Remember - when used properly, cannabis can be a life-changing treatment for anxiety, allowing you to regain control over your anxious thoughts and focus on the task at-hand.
If you’re ready to see if cannabis can help reduce your level of anxiety, you’ll need a valid Missouri medical marijuana card. If you don’t have your card yet, we can help with that.
Our doctors are standing by to take you through a quick and easy evaluation to see if you qualify. During your evaluation, they will be happy to answer all your questions about how cannabis may be able to help with your anxiety or any other medical conditions. Schedule an appointment with a marijuana professional online by CLICKING HERE, or give us a call at (877) 303-3117 to talk to a patient support representative.
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Missouri Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (877) 303-3117, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
Check out Missouri Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the medical marijuana conversation in Missouri!