CBD for PTSD

Current evidence for cannabis’ effectiveness at treating PTSD is largely anecdotal. But relaxing attitudes about the drug and the emergence of non-prescription hemp CBD caught  researchers’ attention. 

While CBD (or THC) is certainly no substitute for psychological therapy, it definitely reduces a lot of the superficial symptoms of PTSD, helping many people lead better lives. If you happen to suffer from this disorder, it helps to know what CBD oil can do to make your life better.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that cripples a person’s mental health. The public typically associates with veterans, especially those who served in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. However, the condition can arise from any number of horrible events, such as kidnapping, assault, or abuse. 

PTSD’s links with anxiety, depression, drug abuse, and a damaged social life take their toll on millions of Americans every year. While many conventional treatments are available, patients now view CBD oil as a viable option.

What is PTSD?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that arises following a severely traumatic experience. This can be a single incident, like kidnapping or assault. Other cases develop after prolonged exposure to extreme stress, such as warfare or abuse. 

PTSD’s links with anxiety, depression, drug abuse, and a damaged social life take their toll on millions of Americans every year. While many conventional treatments are available, patients now view CBD oil as a viable option.

Symptoms of PTSD

According to Mayo Clinic, PTSD symptoms take time to appear. Usually, people notice changes within one month, but these could take years to materialize in other cases. But once the signs start, things will worsen without treatment. 

There are several clues a past event may be back to mentally haunt you. 

Intrusive Thoughts

On occasion, individuals with PTSD experience sudden intrusive thoughts or memories of their experience. In some cases, the mental images are strong enough to psychologically re-enact the traumatic event(s) – also called a “flashback.”

Intrusive memories can also be jarring, causing chronic anxiety and stress. Consequently, nightmares or night terrors about the event are also associated with PTSD. 

Sudden Behavioral Changes

People with PTSD experience behavioral changes in ways that would otherwise seem out of character. Some examples are:

• Anger, aggression, or irritability
• Violent or other antisocial outbursts
• Feelings of guilt
• Insomnia
• Hypervigilance 
• Paranoia
• Isolation
• Poor memory
• Negative self-talk

If you notice any of these symptoms or changes, speak to a doctor or mental health professional.

Avoidance Coping

Many of us use “out of sight, out of mind” to temporarily push things to the back of our minds. But when people with PTSD do this, it only serves to compound the problem.

Avoidance coping – or just “avoidance” for short – is when an individual goes to enormous lengths staying away from people, places, or things that remind them of their trauma. 

Refusing to discuss the event is also a sign of avoidance coping and potentially PTSD.

Worsening Symptoms

Despite the wishes of every patient, PTSD doesn’t go away on its own. It’s best to acknowledge the warning signs and seek help before things get worse.

How CBD May Help With PTSD

Marijuana has reportedly helped a lot of patients with PTSD deal with some of the symptoms. A 2011 study in Nature Chemical Biology examined anandamide – an endocannabinoid known as the “bliss molecule.” 

When researchers stopped anandamide production in rodent subjects, they noticed higher, more prolonged levels of distress. Ultimately, it’s this state of mind that forms the core of most PTSD symptoms. 

Treating “Flashbacks”

Many people with PTSD have to deal with the memories of their trauma, often to the point where it becomes disruptive. These sudden, jarring reminders are incredibly unpleasant. Fortunately, those who used CBD and THC to deal with such recollections found the compounds quite effective.

Generally, patients report that cannabis helps set these memories aside. They can experience them without the ill effects associated with triggering traumatic mental images.

These claims are consistent with the above study’s findings. Mice who lacked anandamide experience more robust, more prolonged fear and stress.

Reducing Anxiety

Chronic stress often leads to anxiety, so it’s no surprise that those with PTSD suffer accordingly. Conventional medications can be effective, but the unpleasant side effects are well known. 

Marijuana rich in cannabidiol (CBD) helps alleviate anxiety by generating a feeling of relaxation without mental impairment. One 2015 analysis of existing literature in Neurotherapeutics examined the finds of multiple sources. 

In their conclusion, the authors wrote: “Preclinical evidence conclusively demonstrates CBD’s efficacy in reducing anxiety behaviors relevant to multiple disorders, including PTSD, GAD, PD, OCD, and SAD….”

It’s important to note that cannabis with a high concentration of the psychoactive chemical THC (legally termed “marijuana”) can make anxiety worse.

Consequently, PTSD patients should limit THC content as much as possible.

Fighting Insomnia

Because the effects of PTSD are so powerful, stress is an inevitable consequence. With this comes a release of hormones meant to stimulate us into the classic “fight or flight” state; unfortunately, this makes sleep virtually impossible.

Many people use CBD to increase relaxation and fight insomnia. It’s useful for those who would otherwise have difficulty falling asleep. A 2017 publication in Current Psychiatry Reports supports CBD and THC as effective sleep aids.

But while both cannabinoids helped people get to sleep, CBD was better at improving duration and quality. THC, on the other hand, negatively affected both. 

Proper rest is also critical for a healthy brain, let alone one dealing with PTSD. CBD’s sedative and anti-anxiety properties offer a two-pronged approach to better sleep.

Substance Abuse

It’s an unfortunate reality that many people turn to narcotics or alcohol to numb the pain. While this might be superficially effective to an addict, it gradually erodes their health and quality of life. 

But a 2018 review published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research demonstrates some promising findings. The opioid epidemic is no secret, which kills 115 Americans every day, according to the paper.

The authors also explain a harsh reality. Despite representing a fraction of the world’s population, the U.S. consumes 80% of the world’s prescription pain medications. This overprescribing by doctors helped fuel the epidemic. 

Cannabinoids like CBD and THC may help act as a complementary or interim treatment when conventional ones like methadone aren’t available due to a chronic shortage. Drug withdrawal symptoms, like pain, nausea, insomnia, anxiety, and irritability are all potentially treatable with doses of CBD.

However, we need clinical studies to see how helpful CBD can be for drug and alcohol withdrawal.

PTSD is a debilitating condition that nobody deserves to experience. Considering the destructive feelings and behaviors that patients often deal with, the benefits of medical marijuana shouldn’t be overlooked. 

Key Takeaways

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a multi-symptom disorder arising from short or long-term exposure to extreme mental stress.
• CBD’s reported therapeutic properties may cover most – if not all – PTSD symptoms.
• Any form of cannabis can help, but CBD offers better results without intoxication.
• PTSD patients should minimize THC consumption