Cannabis for Anxiety

[DesertHarp]

I'm dealing with some intense anxiety and sleep problems - hard to fall asleep, wake up a lot. For a year, I've been getting gummies online that are actually able to put me to sleep, which I ran out of. I felt very intimidated about walking into a weed shop because I'm so inexperienced in cannabis. I figured those places were for people who really would know what to buy. In my city, shops sprang up like mushrooms after rain, shortly after cannabis was legalized. Plus, those shops tended to be small, seedy-looking places, with druggy sounding names.

Well, I went into a big and busy weed shop, near a University, and was quite surprised. It was brightly lit and had a very welcoming staff, who were cordial and ready to offer advice. They didn't have what I've bought online. So the guy says he will look it up, study the strains listed for it, and attempt to find what they had that might be similar. He even consulted with another sales person. I was impressed that they were this helpful. I learned stuff. They said retail shops in my state can't sell gummies with as high a dose as I was getting online, which were 30 mg per gummie. (Their limit was 10 mg per gummy, without a prescription.) Also, they said the ones I got online had strains of THC that they knew to be especially sedating. They made a recommendation, which I bought.

I've been trying to find a book online, along the lines of a guide to all these different strains, and not finding anything that really explains all these forms of THC - with all these different letters. The list of ingredients on labels totally is Greek to me. What they sold me is working, if I eat about 4 gummies. They said they could sell me stronger ones, if I got a medical card. Then they told me how to easily get a card for medical cannabis, which would also save me 20% on the cost. It was really uplifting because running out of my usual supply had me in despair.

I'm facing dental surgery that has my anxiety through the roof, due to an experience of going through a very painful extraction years ago. I'm hoping to tamp down this anxiety with cannabis gummies. Normally, I'ld probably have a glass of wine to calm down. But some recent upper GI bleeding removes that option. I'm trying to heal a stomach ulcer. Alcohol seems to create excess stomach acid.

So can any one share any experience they've had with using cannabis for managing anxiety? I thought I read on this site something about not discussing brands of cannabis. Can we discuss strains? So far I've read that indica is more sedating than sativa. Any advice on choosing strains will be most appreciated.

Another thing: Can you get dependent? Is there worse rebound anxiety from suddenly stopping use? Thanks!

 

[Allylbenzene]

Can we discuss strains? So far I've read that indica is more sedating than sativa. Any advice on choosing strains will be most appreciated.

The main thing that identifies a strain is it's "terpene" profile. These terpenes give a strain its smell and contribute at least 50% of the overall theraputic effects. This makes the terpene profile pretty important when choosing a strain (it should be listed on the product, otherwise ask the budtender). Since you're looking for anxiety management you'll want terpenes that have anti-depressant and calming/relaxing effects. You will want to avoid strains with high levels of stimulating terpenes (eg terpinolene, ocimene and pinene).

The first 4 terpenes in this image are good anti-anxiety options:

If you're using essential oils that contain these terpenes then there are no issues of dependency or rebound anxiety. It's cannabinoids that contribute to these effects but only when using high THC products without other balancing cannabinoids (eg CBD) and relaxing terpenes.

As for cannabinoids: the most common one is THC but you might find CBD or CBG more suitable since they tend to be more calming/relaxing. You can buy CBD or CBG products but there's also products that include some THC + higher CBD, eg 10% THC, 20% CBD. The CBD helps to smooth out the THC effects. The key thing to remember is that higher THC is not necessarily better for anxiety. Also, go for strains with a high overall terpene content will offer better medicinal value.

 

[helpingout]

Just keep it simple

Only use India strains, track terpene profiles and experience with each strain you try, after some time,

Identify both the strains and the terpene profiles ehich best treat your anxiety, and look out to the west over the plains where the sun is setting,

That is sativa land, young @DesertHarp

you must never go there

 

[DesertHarp]

The main thing that identifies a strain is it's "terpene" profile. These terpenes give a strain its smell and contribute at least 50% of the overall theraputic effects. This makes the terpene profile pretty important when choosing a strain (it should be listed on the product, otherwise ask the budtender). Since you're looking for anxiety management you'll want terpenes that have anti-depressant and calming/relaxing effects. You will want to avoid strains with high levels of stimulating terpenes (eg terpinolene, ocimene and pinene).

The first 4 terpenes in this image are good anti-anxiety options:

If you're using essential oils that contain these terpenes then there are no issues of dependency or rebound anxiety. It's cannabinoids that contribute to these effects but only when using high THC products without other balancing cannabinoids (eg CBD) and relaxing terpenes.

As for cannabinoids: the most common one is THC but you might find CBD or CBG more suitable since they tend to be more calming/relaxing. You can buy CBD or CBG products but there's also products that include some THC + higher CBD, eg 10% THC, 20% CBD. The CBD helps to smooth out the THC effects. The key thing to remember is that higher THC is not necessarily better for anxiety. Also, go for strains with a high overall terpene content will offer better medicinal value.

That's exactly the kind of explaination I'm looking for. Thank you for your clear and informative post.

 

[DesertHarp]

Just keep it simple

Only use India strains, track terpene profiles and experience with each strain you try, after some time,

Identify both the strains and the terpene profiles ehich best treat your anxiety, and look out to the west over the plains where the sun is setting,

That is sativa land, young @DesertHarp

you must never go there

OK. I'll keep that in mind. Sounds like I should start a little log of what I buy and how it hits me. There sure is a lot to know about weed.

 

[DesertHarp]

I've been hearing that weed can actually *cause* anxiety and paranoia. I sure don't need that to happen. So, is sativa supposed to be less safe than indica, in that regard?

 

[Allylbenzene]

I've been hearing that weed can actually *cause* anxiety and paranoia. I sure don't need that to happen. So, is sativa supposed to be less safe than indica, in that regard?

Yes, the "sativa" type of strains tend to contain high levels of stimulating terpenes.

 

[DesertHarp]

Yes, the "sativa" type of strains tend to contain high levels of stimulating terpenes.

Good to know!

 

[BLUEbudz]

Everyone reacts differently to cannabis. Some people find that strains with higher CBD and lower THC can ease anxiety, while others might feel more anxious or paranoid. If you're using cannabis to manage anxiety, it might help to start with a low dose and keep track of how it makes you feel. Talking to a healthcare professional can also provide guidance tailored to your situation. Hope you find something that works well for you.

 

[helpingout]

No joke dude posting above has a great point about CBD. Personally 1:1 CBD is far less fun than just thc. Just thc can give you space thoughts and euphoria and make you dumb. But match that thc with an equivalent amount of CBD and it mellows the whole experience out. You become calmer and more relaxed overall just without the spaced out “I’m high who are you?” Vibes of just thc.

 

[helpingout]

Pursue hemp cannabis with equivalent percentages of thca and CBD. The thca will actually convert to delta 9 but it will also lose some of its milligram age. So the dosage will be smaller than the percentage on the package. Just make sure CBD is at least 1:1 with thc

 

[DesertHarp]

Great responses. Thanks. I got a lot to learn.

I never liked smoking weed. Gummies, though, are helping me a lot with getting to sleep. This is from a person who used to take Restoril - a benzo sleeping pill.

I found these real potent gummies online. I expect I'll take them most nights for the rest of my life. They do the job. Just not real quickly. So I chew the gummie 2 hours before bedtime.

Now that I know that cannabis has serious pharmacologic value, I want to learn a lot more about it. Maybe I can find formulations to address other issues, like bodily pain.

I have never experienced euphoria with any weed, smoked or edible. The buzz I get is in no way pleasurable. However, I love that it will prevent me staying up all night.

I'm going through bad anxiety. Going to sleep relieves it. I'm hoping there's a particular strain of cannabis in a gummie that might take the edge off.

 

[foodcrisis]

something you might want to note when buying the gummies, sometimes the sativa will have ginsing or caffeine added or the indica ones will have something like melatonin.

i don't really notice a huge difference between the sativa and indica gummies unless they have added stuff in them. they claim to add the terpenes to the gummies but that doesn't play a huge role in the high for me. the added terpenes probably change the high for some people. some of the gummies are just the thc though and they don't even have any terpenes or anything.

i would also look into RSO edibles as well. it's a different type of extraction for the edible so it kicks in faster and the high might be a bit different. from what i experience, it's a bit more like getting stoned smoking the flower, so that might not be ideal for the anxiety, but it's something to think about. personally i get the most relaxed from the just thc edibles. i like the ones with added ginsing too, but probably not for the OP if they are saying they've never had euphoria from smoked or edible.

 

[DesertHarp]

something you might want to note when buying the gummies, sometimes the sativa will have ginsing or caffeine added or the indica ones will have something like melatonin.

i don't really notice a huge difference between the sativa and indica gummies unless they have added stuff in them. they claim to add the terpenes to the gummies but that doesn't play a huge role in the high for me. the added terpenes probably change the high for some people. some of the gummies are just the thc though and they don't even have any terpenes or anything.

i would also look into RSO edibles as well. it's a different type of extraction for the edible so it kicks in faster and the high might be a bit different. from what i experience, it's a bit more like getting stoned smoking the flower, so that might not be ideal for the anxiety, but it's something to think about. personally i get the most relaxed from the just thc edibles. i like the ones with added ginsing too, but probably not for the OP if they are saying they've never had euphoria from smoked or edible.

More good feedback. Thanks. I'm going to take all this info to that dispensary soon, when I next shop there. The salespeople there are great, but I think I get more in depth info from BL members.

 

[DesertHarp]

No joke dude posting above has a great point about CBD. Personally 1:1 CBD is far less fun than just thc. Just thc can give you space thoughts and euphoria and make you dumb. But match that thc with an equivalent amount of CBD and it mellows the whole experience out. You become calmer and more relaxed overall just without the spaced out “I’m high who are you?” Vibes of just thc.

I'll keep that in mind. Thank you.

 

[DesertHarp]

S

something you might want to note when buying the gummies, sometimes the sativa will have ginsing or caffeine added or the indica ones will have something like melatonin.

i don't really notice a huge difference between the sativa and indica gummies unless they have added stuff in them. they claim to add the terpenes to the gummies but that doesn't play a huge role in the high for me. the added terpenes probably change the high for some people. some of the gummies are just the thc though and they don't even have any terpenes or anything.

i would also look into RSO edibles as well. it's a different type of extraction for the edible so it kicks in faster and the high might be a bit different. from what i experience, it's a bit more like getting stoned smoking the flower, so that might not be ideal for the anxiety, but it's something to think about. personally i get the most relaxed from the just thc edibles. i like the ones with added ginsing too, but probably not for the OP if they are saying they've never had euphoria from smoked or edible.

It sounds like the CBD has psychoactive properties. I've been told it helps pain. Thanks for the info.

 

[vision conquest]

I've been hearing that weed can actually *cause* anxiety and paranoia. I sure don't need that to happen. So, is sativa supposed to be less safe than indica, in that regard?

As has already been posted, generally you are more likely to get an anxiety response from a sativa but it can happen with indica as well, it's just much less common.

I have been a herbal consumer for about 37 years now and can confidently say I've tried a lot of different strains both sativa and indica and of coarse many blends of both.

As I got older I seemed to be getting an anxiety response from cannabis more than I used to and even some pure indicas could potentially cause me to get anxious and just not produce a response that I would consider enjoyable.

For this reason, it's complicated, but this is the main reason I have pretty much stopped consuming mary jane.

However I recently got the chance to try a strain that has been around for a long time but I was never lucky enough to sample.

Northern lights.....it is almost impossible to say, this is my favourite strain there are just so many options, however since trying this all time winner I am amazed.

It is a pure indica and it will certainly relax you but it will also leave you feeling with a warm glow of gentle euphoria and just allround an uplifted feeling while still feeling totally relaxed and without a trace of anxiety.

I still feel it is time for me and mary jane to part ways, but if I was going to advize a strain that will help sleep/relax and not cause anxiety then northern lights would be the strain for me.

Nearly 40 years of smoking I am happy to finish my cannabis journey with a few weeks of northern lights.

 

[DesertHarp]

As has already been posted, generally you are more likely to get an anxiety response from a sativa but it can happen with indica as well, it's just much less common.

I have been a herbal consumer for about 37 years now and can confidently say I've tried a lot of different strains both sativa and indica and of coarse many blends of both.

As I got older I seemed to be getting an anxiety response from cannabis more than I used to and even some pure indicas could potentially cause me to get anxious and just not produce a response that I would consider enjoyable.

For this reason, it's complicated, but this is the main reason I have pretty much stopped consuming mary jane.

However I recently got the chance to try a strain that has been around for a long time but I was never lucky enough to sample.

Northern lights.....it is almost impossible to say, this is my favourite strain there are just so many options, however since trying this all time winner I am amazed.

It is a pure indica and it will certainly relax you but it will also leave you feeling with a warm glow of gentle euphoria and just allround an uplifted feeling while still feeling totally relaxed and without a trace of anxiety.

I still feel it is time for me and mary jane to part ways, but if I was going to advize a strain that will help sleep/relax and not cause anxiety then northern lights would be the strain for me.

Nearly 40 years of smoking I am happy to finish my cannabis journey with a few weeks of northern lights.

I'll definitely try it. Thanks

 

[Hoovering Schneef]

I had to really cut back on my smoking, it was intensifying my anxiety

 

[foodcrisis]

also forgot to write, if you are looking for sleep, read about the cannabinoid CBN. it's in some edibles.... it's known as "the sleep cannabinoid".. some people really like it, but it's not in a lot of edibles in my state sadly. you may be able to find some though.