MMJ and PTSD/General Trauma

a high CBD strain will definitely handle traumatic experience lag with ease. thc can too but depends on individual and how they handle thc. a mix of cbd and thc in balance is best. 

 

I don't know where you're located and what your laws are, but I'm in Canada and I just got my card today. I have Bipolar Disorder, PTSD and I'm a recovering alcoholic (sober for over 3 years). I did tell the MMJ clinic docs about the alcohol issue, even though a lot of them won't touch an addict.
 
I've been using high THC strains because that's mainly what you can get from non-medical sources. They helped me a lot. I started out with severe insomnia and nightmares, suicidal depression that didn't respond to the mainstream meds, huge weight gain (the meds again) and perpetual tiredness and sluggishness. After I started taking one bong hit at bedtime, my mood went up (though I was manic for a while), so did my energy, and I dropped almost 100 lb. in a year. I've been able to stop some of the psych meds and reduce the dose on others. The MJ clinic is prescribing low-THC/High CBD strains. I'm concerned that I won't get stoned, because the stoned sensation is what winds me down so that I can sleep. The "Cannabis Counsellor" at my clinic told me the medical-grade stuff is stronger. We'll see... they said they can prescribe higher THC strains if needed. 
 
One warning: high THC weed can make you paranoid or anxious. It happens to me every so often. I've learned how to cope with it (I just tell myself "don't worry, it's just the weed and it'll go away") but there is the potential for it to get out of control.
 
Canadian government guidelines state that addicts and people with certain mental illnesses should be excluded from medical MMJ, but most clinics and doctors interpret those guidelines on a patient by patient basis. Some clinics do automatically exclude certain conditions. If you're already taking weed on your own and it's helping you, tell the doctors exactly how it's improved your condition and symptoms - that's what I did. If they won't listen, find another clinic or doctor if you can. 

 

Depends on the state you are located in! Some states accept PTSD, others don't!  http://norml.org/laws/
 
As for the studies, I have them for you. To get your copy of "Granny Storm Crow's List" (2,000+ pages of links to medical studies and articles), just PM me your email address, or check out the bottom of my sig for my email address! Here's a small sample from the PTSD section, just to give you an idea of what I'm offering you-
 
The role of cannabinoids in modulating emotional and non-emotional memory processes in the hippocampus.        (full – 2011)     http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3124830/?tool=pubmed
 
Cannabinoids prevent the development of behavioral and endocrine alterations in a rat model of intense stress.    (full – 2011)      http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3242307/
 
Anti-Aversive Effects of Cannabidiol on Innate Fear-Induced Behaviors Evoked by an Ethological Model of Panic Attacks Based on a Prey vs the Wild Snake Epicrates cenchria crassus Confrontation Paradigm.       (full - 2011)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3242302/
 
Posttraumatic stress disorder and Cannabis use in a nationally representative sample.   (abst – 2011)           http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21480682
 
Cannabinoid receptor expression and phosphorylation are differentially regulated between male and female cerebellum and brain stem after repeated stress: Implication for PTSD and drug abuse.       (abst – 2011)         http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21600961
 
Effect of cannabidiol on sleep disruption induced by the repeated combination tests consisting of open field and elevated plus-maze in rats.         (abst – 2011)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21867717
 
Medical cannabis use in post-traumatic stress disorder: a naturalistic observational study. (abst – 2011)         http://www.cannabis-med.org/studies/ww_en_db_study_show.php?s_id=481
 
Cannabis use among military veterans after residential treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder.       (abst – 2011)         http://marijuana.researchtoday.net/archive/8/9/5260.htm
 
Marijuana Administration After a Traumatic Experience May Prevent Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms, Rat Study Suggests          (news – 2011)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110921120037.htm
 
Medical marijuana turns former soldier's life around         (news – 2011)
http://www.examiner.com/cannabis-culture-in-phoenix/medical-marijuana-turns-former-soldier-s-life-around   
 
Marijuana blocks PTSD symptoms in rats: study        (news - 2011)
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-09-marijuana-blocks-ptsd-symptoms-rats.html
 
Marijuana Could Prevent Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms           (news - 2011) http://www.wellsphere.com/general-medicine-article/marijuana-could-prevent-post-traumatic-stress-symptoms/1509636
 
 
 
Hope to hear from you soon!
 
 
Granny

 

some clinics include cannabis as a way to cope with withdrawals from being a doctor prescribed pharmaceutical drug addict. get withdrawals from pharmaceuticals your doc hooked you on use some weed. when you get off the addicting legal drugs with the help of cannabis stop the non addicting cannabis use anytime no problems.

 

 
In my case I took it upon myself to start using MMJ to help with sleep, then found it did so much for my symptoms that I was able to reduce or stop most of my psych meds. I had tried to stop the meds before, but ended up in the ER with withdrawal symptoms. I don't plan to stop the cannabis any time soon because of the improvement it has caused. I'm concerned that my worst symptoms will come back if I stop. 

 

Thank you for your post bro!  More and more people coming to that realization that correct dosage with the correct strain of cannabis can be a god send. even hitting at it and missing the mark by not knowing anything about correct dosage (and smoking brick weed) will still work unbeknownst to the user until all of a sudden this and that is not a problem anymore and your doc is pissed as hell at you for getting well and off of their prescribed drugs.  unfortunately the docs are like the cops where they benefit from the bad in others, bad= sickness for the doc and utter stupid/craziness of people for the cop. when we heal the doc loses his job and when we relax and are peaceful the cop his. docs are not going to be sitting around thinking we healed everyone what are we going to do now, instead they are going to see some of the hell they brought on people when the people needed healing instead of addictive drug pushing. the same for the cops, they will see that peaceful encouragement ( do as I do) was needed in place of obedience ( do as I say).  huge rant, damn!
 
anyway, bro stay away from the real high thc strains if you can and try and find a balance with cbd in cannabis you use. your anxiety/uncertainty could worsen ( if you can get a hold of yourself adversity is good and good to overcome) with a high thc strain. cannabis has low psychosomatic properties as well in that what you think can be more real to you when influenced by cannabis so think good ( good to you) thoughts for the best experience possible. profound self healing is a side effect of using cannabis correctly

 

I've seen some bad panic attacks too, go slow and small when trying a new strain.

 

If a person is tomented by reliving events in their dreams, then cannabis' dream suppression effect should be a benefit.