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Medical Marijuana for Social Anxiety Disorder: Is it Good or Bad?
Medical marijuana, a trending herbal drug, that actually works, has garnered a dedicated following in the healthcare industry. Thanks to marijuana’s therapeutic properties, it has proven to help manage an assortment of medical conditions ranging from chronic pain, inflammation, cancer to social anxiety. Though cannabis and its relationship with anxiety is a bit controversial, there are people who actually see results after taking cannabis treatment for a period of time.
With the growing legalization of cannabis across different US states, one can easily get cannabis treatment for social anxiety with just an MMJ card. For instance, if you’re a resident of New Jersey, you require a medical marijuana card NJ to take medical cannabis without fearing the legal ramifications. Before commenting on whether marijuana is good or bad for social anxiety, let us understand what a social anxiety disorder is.
What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Getting nervous or feeling anxious before an important event is normal and we all go through that. But what if someone feels nervous and embarrassed during their daily social interactions? To a point that it hampers their mental health which in turn, affects their overall quality of life. Well, all these are symptoms of social anxiety. Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), also known as Social Phobia, is a type of anxiety disorder affecting millions of people across the globe. Regardless of whether you have been struggling from SAD for years or have recently been diagnosed with it, social anxiety can be a debilitating and frustrating condition.
Symptoms
Below are some of the common symptoms of social anxiety disorder:
- Feeling anxious
- Nervousness
- Feeling of always getting negatively judged by others
- Avoiding conversations by the fear of being judged
- Muscle tension
- Avoiding talking with strangers out of embarrassment
- Physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, shaky voice, etc
- Intense fear of anxiety during different social events
Medical Marijuana and its Scope
Medical marijuana enjoys quite a demand for the treatment of anxiety. There are a lot of people claiming that the substance has helped them manage their anxiety symptoms such as sweating, muscle tension, poor sleep, etc. Now, what is it that actually works in the name of marijuana? Well, marijuana is a broader term including hundreds of cannabinoids that produce different effects on the human body.
Two of the main cannabinoids are CBD (Cannabidiol) and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). CBD is an emerging chemical compound found in cannabis plants and is known for its therapeutic properties such as pain-relief, anti-inflammatory, etc. THC, on other hand, is the psychoactive component that produces the feeling of euphoria or ‘high’ that is associated with cannabis use. Both of these compounds work in synergy to produce the desired effects which calm down a person’s stress levels, hence helping in anxiety management.
Medical Marijuana for Social Anxiety Disorder
A major chunk of the American population is anxious and uses cannabis as the treatment. With the growing popularity of CBD as a therapeutic agent, significant numbers of Americans have turned towards CBD for its anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties.
Although detailed research and studies still need to be conducted on marijuana’s use for anxiety, some existing studies suggest that CBD does help people suffering from social anxiety. In a study, patients with SAD were given CBD treatment for a period of time and it turned out that the cannabidiol increased the blood flow in the cingulate cortex.
CBD is also known to restrain the flow of anandamide in parahippocampal gyrus.
(PAG). Substances that restrain anandamide’s flow prevents anxiety.
Studies also suggest that marijuana consumption for a shorter period of time might help with social anxiety symptoms but the effects are still unknown about the long-term consumption of the herbal drug.
Are There Any Risks?
Well, as with any other substance, marijuana also has its own pros and cons. While many patients report positive results from cannabis consumption, some also claim that their anxiety has gotten worse with marijuana use. Now, what to believe? Is marijuana a solution or risk for anxiety disorder?
To understand this, a person needs to understand that the nature of cannabis can be a bit different with different bodies and different medical conditions. This could be further explained best by a medical expert in the field of cannabis. Until then, one should know that the way marijuana works for a person, might not work the same for another person. A beginner trying marijuana smoke for the first time may feel overwhelmed and wake up feeling exhausted the next day.
A regular user, on the other hand, might find it super easy to have fun with the substance, even in higher concentrations. Common risks associated with marijuana use are nausea, vomiting, headache, dry mouth, red eyes, weakness, anxiety in some cases, etc.
Best Cannabis Strains for Anxiety
As mentioned earlier, different cannabis strains produce different effects on the human body. Keep in mind that some strains can even bring anxiety as their side-effects. The key is to pick a strain with a high CBD-to-THC ratio. Below we have mentioned some of the popular CBD strains that can help with anxiety reduction-
- Cherry Wine
- Ringo’s Gift
- Harle-Tsu
- Sour Tsunami
- Remedy
- ACDC
- Lifter
- Charlotte’s Web
- Critical Mass
Medical Marijuana for Social Anxiety Disorder: Is it Good or Bad?
Well, commenting on marijuana’s scope in the treatment of social anxiety disorder is quite controversial. It can be said that smart usage of the substance has helped people manage their anxiety symptoms. On the contrary, some people report cannabis consumption has given them anxiety symptoms!
It is advised to consume cannabis cautiously and in smaller doses. If you’re a beginner taking cannabis for SAD, make sure to stick to small doses until you feel your condition requires a higher dose to get the desired results. And speaking to a medical marijuana doctor about cannabis and your anxiety disorder can never hurt!
