Many medical marijuana Florida anxiety sufferers find long-awaited relief through carefully managed medical marijuana treatment. These are patients who have tried various solutions to manage their symptoms but found limited or no relief. So how does medical cannabis work on anxiety symptoms that have failed to respond to more traditional approaches?
Medical Marijuana Florida: Anxiety Reduction and Relief
Before we talk about how medical cannabis works to relieve anxiety symptoms, it’s important to understand that while many patients find relief from their symptoms, medical marijuana is not a “cure” for anxiety. What it can do, however, is help you to live a more functional life and support your efforts in cognitive-behavioral therapy so that you can work on reducing your anxiety. In this case, medical marijuana serves you like Tylenol might, it relieves symptoms but it doesn’t identify or treat the cause.
What About Marijuana Helps Ease Anxiety Symptoms?
As we mentioned above, cannabis can be a very powerful tool for people suffering from crippling anxiety.
When people talk about the possibility of marijuana worsening anxiety, they are almost always talking about recreational cannabis. Recreational cannabis can, in fact, worsen anxiety because of the levels of THC. THC is the compound that causes the “high” that recreational users experience when they use marijuana. Medically prescribed marijuana, however, has very minute levels of THC and higher levels of CBD. It is the high levels of CBD in medical marijuana that help patients to find relief from anxiety symptoms.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety comes in many forms and most people experience a “normal” level of anxiety in their everyday life. For others, anxiety is a crippling sense of fear that interferes with everyday life and the ability to perform everyday tasks and functions. For example, being unable to leave home because of a fear of open spaces or crowds.
How Does CBD Work to Ease Anxiety Symptoms?
The CBD in medical cannabis binds to the cannabinoid receptors in the brain and influences other receptors and ion channels. This binding and influencing change the chemistry of the brain which changes the physical responses of the body. This is what helps to ease anxiety symptoms for medical cannabis users.
In particular, CBD has a great influence over the 5-HT1A (hydroxytryptamine) serotonin receptor in the brain. Serotonin, as you may know, is a neurotransmitter that plays a considerable role in our feelings of wellbeing and happiness. When CBD influences these receptors it “activates” them the same way that anti-anxiety drugs like buspirone do. This results in reduced feelings of anxiety.
Does Medical Marijuana Work the Same Way For Everyone?
No. The effectiveness of medical marijuana varies depending on a broad range of factors. Firstly, your personal health and any existing health conditions. Secondly, the strain of medical cannabis prescribed to you. This is why it’s so important for a qualified medical marijuana doctor like Dr. Tirmal to oversee your treatment at all times. This ensures that your treatment is effective and that any changes that need to be made can be made when necessary so that you get the best relief with your treatment plan.
Why Doesn’t Recreational Marijuana Help Anxiety?
We mentioned above, just briefly, that many people mistakenly believe that medical marijuana can worsen anxiety. This is untrue. Recreational marijuana, however, can worsen anxiety. What about recreational marijuana influences anxiety? It’s all about THC. When THC enters the body it attaches to cannabinoid receptors in the brain. When THC influences the cannabinoid receptors in the amygdala, it creates feelings of panic and paranoia. When it influences the receptors in the neocortex, it causes altered thinking, judgment, and sensation. When cannabinoid receptors in other areas of the body are affected, they can create unusual feelings and sensations which only serve to increase panic.
Medical marijuana does not have these same effects because it is deliberately cultivated to have low levels of THC and high levels of CBD.
Are You Interested in Finding Out More About Medical Marijuana Florida Anxiety Reduction and Relief?
Are you interested in finding out more about medical marijuana treatment for anxiety or whether you are a good candidate for treatment? Benevolent Care and Dr. Tirmal can help. Use our easy online appointment tool to set up an appointment for medical marijuana evaluation today!