Did you know that Lafayette considers anxiety as a qualifying condition for MMJ access? If you have an anxiety disorder or you are finding it hard to cope with various stressors in life, you may qualify for medical cannabis in Lafayette.
All you need to do is speak to a doctor with medical marijuana licensing in Louisiana for a check-up. Your doctor will give you a marijuana recommendation which you can take to a marijuana pharmacy or dispensary.
The dispensary staff will give you medication that fits your preferences and symptoms.
It’s a simple and easy process!
What is Anxiety?
Whenever you feel pressured, threatened or in danger, the natural response is to feel anxious. Some events that naturally cause anxiety include examinations, job interviews, first dates and so on.
You have nothing to worry about when you experience moderate anxiety in these situations. It’s just a normal coping mechanism that keeps you alert and motivated to rise up to the demands of the moment.
However, you may also experience intense anxiety for no apparent reason. There may be no stressful situation or danger, but you still feel very anxious. In such situations, your anxiety is out of order, so it’s called an anxiety disorder.
If you’re suffering from this condition, you’re not alone. According to The National Institute of Mental Health, more than 18% of adults aged 18-54 suffer from anxiety disorders.
What’s more, the report says that about 30% are yet to be diagnosed.
Patients With Anxiety in Lafayette Who Use Cannabis for Treatment
The laws guiding the medical use of cannabis vary in scope from state to state. While some states have only legalized medical marijuana for treating terminal conditions, other states like Louisiana have more liberal laws.
According to the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy, there are more than 43,000 medical marijuana users throughout the state. A good portion of these people are being treated for anxiety and are based in Lafayette.
Medical marijuana is effective and approved for treating chronic pain and several mental health problems in adults. It is approved for the treatment of conditions like anxiety, depression, Alzheimer’s, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, cancer, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, obstructive sleep apnea and glaucoma, among several others. Anyone suffering from any of the conditions approved for the medical use of cannabis can use it for treatment.
How Does Cannabis Work for Anxiety?
There are several treatment options for anxiety disorders. They include therapy, counseling and medication, among others. You can also opt for natural treatments, such as MMJ, to help lower your anxiety levels.
Research shows that medicinal marijuana significantly lowers both stress and anxiety. The results from medical trials and patient experiences have also been very encouraging over the years.
Doctors find that medical cannabis has a calming effect on patients who suffer from chronic stress, anxiety and depression. The calming effect of cannabis is responsible for its positive effect on these conditions.
Your body contains natural chemicals, called neurotransmitters, that keep you calm. Cannabis mimics these chemicals and increases their levels in times of intense anxiety.
This will, in turn, achieve the same natural calming effect on your neurotransmitters. It can also help regulate the levels of these chemicals when anxiety is caused due to their deficiency.
Using Medical Marijuana for Anxiety and Depression
In one of their 2017 reports, PubMed Central stated that 81% of people in America say MMJ has health benefits. What’s more, about half of the population believes that MMJ lowers the rates of stress, anxiety and depression.
Medical research and clinical experiences show that these people are right. When patients use marijuana for anxiety and depression, their symptoms improve and they can deal with trigger events and daily stressors better.
Some of the benefits of medicinal marijuana for anxiety and depression include:
● Better sleep
● More calmness
● A more peaceful state of mind
Managing Anxiety Naturally With Cannabis
Many people prefer to use natural solutions rather than pharmaceuticals to treat their illnesses. But not so many people are aware that this option is also available for treating anxiety.
If you have an anxiety disorder, you can use medical cannabis in place of anti-anxiety pills.
Medical cannabis has lower risks than anti-anxiety medications. So, if you are looking for a natural solution to anxiety with little to no side effects, then go for MMJ.
How To Choose the Best Cannabis for Anxiety in Lafayette
There are many strains of cannabis available for treating anxiety. How then can you choose the best strain for your anxiety disorder treatment? The simple trick is to read the testing labels.
Reading the test labels will let you see if the content you need for your symptoms to improve is actually in the strain you are about to consume. Look out for cannabis strains that test positive for anxiolytic terpenes, which have great calming effects. They are the better options for treating anxiety.
What’s more, some terpenes are also more effective than others for treating anxiety. The best terpenes for anxiety treatment include linalool, nerolidol, beta-caryophyllene, limonene and bisabolol.
Does Cannabis Work the Same for Depression and Anxiety?
About 50% of people who have anxiety disorders also suffer from depression. Thankfully, research shows that MMJ has both anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects. As such, you can expect medicinal cannabis to work the same for depression and anxiety.
