Most people have experienced trauma in some way. Trauma can come from various places – war, abuse, disasters, accidents or traumatic loss.
It can affect and overwhelm one’s abilities to cope. Response to trauma may have devastating consequences.
If someone is feeling disconnected, distressed or isolated after witnessing or experiencing a life-threatening event, they might have PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder).
The present treatment methods are often unsuccessful and some may even have unwanted side effects. In recent years, studies have confirmed the ability of CBD or cannabidiol to be beneficial in improving the symptoms of PTSD.
Here, we discuss cannabidiol and PTSD, and how high-quality CBD oil can help support your trauma recovery.
We have also explored the benefits of using CBD oil for PTSD and why it is thought to be an excellent non-addictive alternative to conventional PTSD treatments.
What is PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder)?
PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder that affects those who have been threatened by a traumatic event or experienced it.
Feeling nervous, scared or helpless is quite normal after an upsetting occurrence like, a car accident, a violent attack or the death of a near and dear one.
This response to stress helps you survive. Remembers the danger enables you to go into fight-or-flight mode when faced with a similar situation next time.
However, PTSD is not the same as for traumatic stress. Chronic stress usually goes away in a matter of weeks or days.
You might remember the event, but you will stop responding to its memory with very strong emotions. On the other hand, PTSD persists and also produced recurring symptoms that may interfere with your daily functioning.
Signs of PTSD
- Flashbacks and nightmares.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Negative, intrusive thoughts.
- Intense fear.
- Guilt.
- Detachment.
- Irritability and anger.
- Startle response.
- Emotional numbness.
- Hypervigilance.
- Trouble with concentration or memory.
It is possible for you to feel out of control because you may feel that you cannot handle your emotions. This is because traumatic stress alters the brain.
Stress hormones lead to changing the communication circuits in the nervous system. This is why traumatic experiences can also prevent the generation of new neurons and destroy brain cells. Some people have triggers that make them react harshly or intensely.
How Does CBD Help?
Are you wondering how does CBD help PTSD?
CBD, along with THC is the primary active compound in marijuana. Both of these compounds exert effects on the body’s endocannabinoid system, which is a network of neurotransmitters and receptors.
This system plays a key role in ensuring that the body stays healthy. While THC is responsible for producing psychoactive effects, CBD does not alter the mind.
As we have mentioned before, several PTSD symptoms are a result of the alterations in the way that emotional memories are processed.
Productive treatment is meant to block the retrieval and intensified association of traumatic memories, diminish anxiety and enhance the extermination of those memories.
Since the endocannabinoid system regulates emotions and contributes to the recovery, consolidation and elimination of memories, it may serve as a potential target for the treatment of PTSD.
The broad range of symptoms related to PTSD points to the involvement of several neurotransmitter systems. By acting on some of these systems, CBD aims to help the effective and cognitive issues that characterize PTSD.
The endocannabinoid system consists of the following:
- CB1 & CB2 receptors.
- Enzymes that destroy and produce endocannabinoids.
- Endocannabinoids.
Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the central nervous system. They are found in the same areas of the brain that show changes in patients suffering from PTSD.
Endocannabinoids are responsible for regulating mental functions and emotional behavior. While CB1 receptors are related to processes that control neural communication, the CB2 receptors are usually linked with immune responses.
You can emotionally stay balanced if the endocannabinoid system continues to operate properly. Administering exogenous cannabinoids like, CBD, might restore some of the processes that become adaptive in people with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Benefits of CBD Oil for PTSD
A 2019 review of the literature on medical cannabis, synthetic cannabinoids, and PTSD found that CBD can help relieve symptoms. However, the conclusion that scientists still need to conduct more research on its therapeutic uses, effectiveness and safety.
Some research suggests that taking CBD immediately after a traumatic event could make it harder for the brain to form memories that can later develop and cause PTSD symptoms.
A 2016 study found evidence that drugs that act on the endocannabinoid system can reduce the symptoms a person with PTSD experiences after an amnesia procedure. This is because the endocannabinoid system, which includes CBD receptors, can affect anxiety and memory, two factors that play a significant role in PTSD.
Aversive memory extinction is a therapy process in which a person, under the guidance of a therapist, experiences situations similar to those that led to PTSD symptoms, without any of the traumatic stimuli.
Researchers are still unclear why CBD works as a treatment for PTSD. However, according to the trusted source Frontiers in Neuroscience, it is possible that CBD affects the amygdala and hippocampus in the brain. The article notes that people with PTSD have an overactive amygdala, which can make symptoms worse. CBD can cause the hippocampus to grow and reduce amygdala hyperactivity.
Promising benefits of CBD have been discovered that can alleviate the symptoms associated with PTSD, especially in people who haven’t responded to traditional therapies. By working on different areas of the endocannabinoid system in your body, CBD can help to improve various PTSD symptoms.
The myriad benefits of CBD treatment for PTSD are:
CBD oil prevents nightmares – CBD oil for PTSD helps in ceasing or reducing significant nightmares, flashbacks and persistent memories in patients.
CBD prevents the formation of fear memories – By disrupting the feelings of long-term fear or traumatic memory processing, CBD reduces anxiety and stress. It can also stop the formation of fear memories.
CBD oil reduces depression and anxiety – CBD for PTSD has a wide range of calming effects that reduce panic attacks, anxiety, compulsiveness and also the long-term effects of stress.
CBD helps with insomnia – Lack of sleep is one of the symptoms of PTSD and CBD can help with it. Since CBD has amazing relaxing and de-stressing qualities, it can improve your quality of life and even reduce night sweats.
CBD might put a stop to abuse of harmful substances – Patients with PTSD are usually eager to alleviate their symptoms and most of them end up self-medicating with recreational drugs. CBD is a better option as it only offers therapeutic effects without the psychoactive effects of THC or marijuana.
Also, CBD doesn’t have the high potential for addiction that alcohol and marijuana has. Consuming the best CBD oil for PTSD can impede your addiction to other drugs.
How to Use Cannabidiol for PTSD?
Before starting your CBD journey, you should talk to your healthcare practitioner, especially if you have underlying conditions. You need to get a go-ahead from your primary caregiver that your present medications and existing routines are not going to trigger adverse side effects when they’re mixed with CBD.
With that said, CBD is a natural and non-addictive natural alternative to popping pills for PTSD. There are various ways to take CBD for PTSD and it comes down to your preference. Also, how fast you wish to experience the results.
The various CBD delivery methods include: CBD oils and tinctures; CBD drink concentrates and edibles like, gummies and lollipops; CBD food additives; CBD capsules; CBD vape oil; CBD oil patches.
The best way to use CBD oil for PTSD is vaping as CBD vaping is considered to be the fastest way to get cannabidiol into your bloodstream.
However, a lot of people don’t like vaping and for them, CBD oil is recommended. CBD oral tincture also provides ongoing and regular relief quickly. CBD capsules and gummies take longer as the active ingredients take some time to pass through the digestive system before they hit the bloodstream.
If you have opted for CBD tincture or CBD oil for PTSD, you just have to take a few drops and place it under your tongue where it will get easily absorbed into the bloodstream. Keep it there for about 30 seconds to one minute before swallowing.
As for capsules, you can consume it with water. You can eat gummies and consume CBD lollipops the same way as you would eat a regular lollipop. As for CBD drinks, you just have to drink it.
Dosage for PTSD
There is no recommended CBD oil dosage for PTSD. If this is your first time consuming CBD oil, we recommend that you start with a small dose. Gradually, you can increase the dosage after understanding how your body reacts to it.
You must remember here that everyone’s body is not the same, and therefore, the effects experienced are also not the same. Also, dosage recommendations can vary based on the product that you choose. Typically, a high dosage ranges from 12 milligrams to 25 milligrams of CBD and this can significantly reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The effects can be experienced within 1 to 2 hours after consuming CBD oil. For some, it may take only 10 to 15 minutes to kick in. The key is to always start low and gradually increase the dosage.
Final Thoughts
PTSD isn’t curable. But, that doesn’t mean that your life should be run by PTSD. Even though living with such stress and anxiety can be difficult, CBD gives hope.
You can use CBD in addition to traditional therapies or on its own. It can help relieve various symptoms of PTSD including insomnia, anxiety, depression, stress, flashbacks and nightmares.
Also, it will help you to become calmer and relaxed. So, leverage the effective and safe treatment offered by CBD oil for PTSD. With your symptoms reduced, you can increase your overall quality of life.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbdfunhousero/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbdfunhouse/
