A Guide to Cannabis for Anxiety and Depression

Struggling with a mental illness can be debilitating and life-altering. People living in regions where medical marijuana is prescribed often report that specific strains of cannabis have been more helpful for their mental health than previous treatment with pharmaceutical medications, which can often have dangerous side effects. This post will describe how anxiety and depression, two of the most commonly diagnosed mental illnesses, are treated with cannabis and the strains of marijuana that have proven to be helpful for them.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a disorder that affects people both emotionally and physically. Those who struggle with anxiety frequently describe symptoms such as increased heart rate, persistent feelings of fear, nervousness, and frequent worrying. Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the most common conditions treated with medical marijuana.

CBD and THC are two alkaloids found in cannabis and are both helpful in treating anxiety; however, extremely high levels of THC can be overly stimulating and sometimes make symptoms worse. Therefore, it’s important to find strains with a good balance of low THC and high CBD; higher doses of CBD are usually more relaxing. Those who wish to experience the full effects of these alkaloids without inhaling smoke can use a dry herb vaporizer from suppliers such as SmokeCartel. It is also worth noting that while there are exceptions, people who are prone to anxiety should generally avoid sativa strains.

Cannatonic is a great strain for people who are highly sensitive to THC because of its excellent THC to CBD ratio; it contains less than 6% THC and between 6% and 18% CBD. It also contains a potent terpene called myrcene, which promotes extreme relaxation in the body and muscles. Another strain that is excellent for anxiety is Cinex because it has a meager chance of causing paranoia or other substantial psychoactive effects.

Depression

Depressive disorders, such as major depressive disorder and dysthymia, are very serious disorders requiring treatment from a mental health or medical professional. Luckily, many providers are willing to treat depression with certain strains of marijuana. Some strains are helpful for depression because they treat symptoms such as low appetite, insomnia, and mental fatigue. Because depression can present in many ways, it’s important to find a strain that treats a person’s symptoms individually. Although it isn’t always the case, people struggling with depression frequently find success with sativa strains because they cause stimulation and energy.

Terpenes are a chemical in cannabis that can have very potent antidepressant properties, depending on which ones are present the strain. For example, limonene, which gives strains a strong citrus scent, causes an uplifting of the mood. Lemon Haze is a strain high in limonene; it is a sativa-dominant hybrid with 1% CBD and 15% THC. Another sativa-dominant hybrid that is used for depression is AK-47 because it is highly energizing and gives good alertness.

Those seeking cannabis as a treatment for anxiety or depression should always be aware of the complicated relationship between mental illness and marijuana; what works wonders for might make another’s symptoms worse, and it may take some time to find the best fit.