Anxiety can come in many forms depending on the person but no matter who you talk to, it is not something you want to have to deal with every day, although many people do. The constant fear, worry or restlessness paired with the physical effects of nausea, dizziness, and a racing heart rate are all examples of what someone with anxiety can experience.
Many people will choose to go to therapy or take medication to help with these symptoms, which are all great options but they are not the solution for everyone. Some people are turning cannabidiol (CBD) and weed strains to help relieve some of the anxiety they are experiencing.
In this article, we will explore the different types of strains that may be the relief you need.
Why Have We Seen a Rise in Anxiety and Mental Health?
It is hard to say whether there has been a rise in anxiety or that there is just more awareness of the disorder. It is also hard to say because anxiety is so different from person to person. But there are things in our environment in the United States that have shifted overtime that might be a contributing factor into why we see more anxiety in adults and young adults.
Many psychologists recommend for their patients with anxiety disorders to not watch TV news as our stories in the news today can bring on or increase anxiety. There has been a correlation between social media use and anxiety as well. It has been found that people who use more social media platforms reported having higher levels of anxiety. And then there is also the argument that we have more chemicals in our food today and many of those chemicals have been linked to increasing anxiety. All of these things could be reasons as to why we see an increase in anxiety today but it truly is difficult to pinpoint.
Can THC Help With Anxiety?
Many people use strains of marijuana to relax, relieve some stress and tension and sometimes even use it to help them get to sleep. In 2017, a study reported that 81% of roughly 9,000 Americans found that marijuana had at least one benefit. And 47% said that “relief from anxiety, stress, and depression” was the benefit of consuming the herb.
And although this may be a benefit, it does not completely fix having anxiety as a whole, it just reduces the current symptoms. Research done by Washington State University showed that in the short term the use of weed can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress but they have not been able to find the link for the long term. They did find that overtime, it can actually make things worse for depression.
Do People Use CBD For Anxiety?
Though there is a lot more research to be done, there have been more scientists looking into how to treat anxiety with CBD. With CBD having little to no THC in it, it takes away the psychoactive feature of the substance that you would normally get with marijuana.
A study published in 2015, found that CBD links to certain brain receptors that can help with easing anxiety. A lot of the research done on CBD and anxiety has focused on the CBD in the form of CBD oil. Not only has it helped reduce anxiety and its effects but it has also been found to improve specific anxiety disorders like social anxiety. A case study done in 2019 looked at a group of 72 people with anxiety and sleep problems and found that when using CBD 79% of participants saw a decrease in anxiety.
Best Weed Strains to Help Anxiety
Below you will find a few of our recommended weed strains for anxiety:
Northern Lights:
The Northern Lights strain consisted of 90% indica and 10% sativa. This strain is a favorite among medical marijauna users because it helps them manage their pain and anxiety. Its name comes from, you guessed it, the psychoactive experience it offers its consumers due to the high THC levels it contains. Not only that, it also offers the effects of slowing down your brain, while also relaxing your muscles.
Granddaddy Purple:
This strain is sought after for its ability to ease your tensions and put you in relaxation mode. It is created by using two indica strains called Big Bud and Purple Urkle. The Purple Urkle in it gives off a sweet aroma like grapes. Another thing to note is that Granddaddy Purple’s main terpenes are caryophyllene, pinene and myrcene. Some people will get a slightly dry mouth from this strain but the effects it has to reduce anxiety outweigh it.
Jack Herer:
When in the need of a pick-me-up Jack Herer is the strain to choose. This vibrant and happy strain has primary terpenes of pinene, terpinolene and caryophyllene. Many people choose to use this strain at the beginning of the day for it’s mood changing, energizing, and clear-headed capabilities, which may be due to its sativa dominance. What makes this strain so reliable is that it has been around since the mid-1990’s and is known for its quality and potency.
Chocolate Chunk:
Arguably the most chosen strain for anxiety, this strain is made mainly from indica strains. Like its name, it is a flavorful strain with tastes of cocoa. Many people will use this strain at bedtime due to its ability to calm your mind and let you relax enough to get a good sleep. Therefore, it would probably not be the best idea to try this in the middle of the day due to being a sedative. Since it is THC-dominant, you can expect for this strain to give you euphoric effects.
CBD strains are more uncommon but understanding the different types of CBD will help you find the best product that will help you offset your anxiety. Here are some of the things that you should look for:
When creating CBD oil, there are three different types of CBD. These are full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate. Full-spectrum CBD is when there is up to 0.3% of THC and all cannabis compounds. Broad-spectrum CBD is when there are all cannabis compounds but no THC. And isolate CBD is when there are no other cannabis plant compounds and is considered the pure form of CBD.
Being able to know the potency of the product can also help you with choosing the correct amount for you – it gives you more control over how much you are using. When the potency is higher, the more effective it will be.
Another important thing to look for is where your hemp is coming from. The United States and the EU both have higher standards for how their hemp is grown and handled. It is key to have a non-contaminated, potent and GMO free product. Both areas also are known to have less THC in their hemp plants, which is important to know if you know you do not react well to THC.
A couple of CBD strains to inhale that we do recommend are:
Remedy:
With its main terpenes being pinene, caryophyllene and myrcene, this CBD-dominant strain allows you to calm your anxiety to a more peaceful place. Since it is dominant in CDB, there are little to no psychoactive effects, which is great if you would prefer to stay away from THC. The sweet lemon-pine scent brings consumers to a place of serenity after inhaling.
ACDC:
Another popular CBD-dominant strain is called ACDC. Without the high levels of THC, this strain allows you to stay in a calming headspace without the euphoric effects. Similar to remedy, this strain also has primary terpenes of pinene, caryophyllene and myrcene. Many medical marijuana patients choose this CBD based strain to help offset their anxiety and negative responses to chemotherapy.
For a more alternative approach to anti-anxiety medication, stop by our friends at this Southeast Aurora Recreational Marijuana Dispensary.
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