A lot of people associate Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with veterans who have returned home after fighting in a brutal conflict. In reality, a surprising number of people – including average civilians – suffer from this condition.
According to the National Center for PTSD, in fact, approximately 60 percent of men and 50 percent of women suffer from ‘trauma’ at some point in their lives.
Around 10 percent of women experience PTSD during their life, compared to around 4 percent of men. While the number is significantly higher for individuals that served in the military (up to 30 percent of Vietnam veterans suffered from it), PTSD is something that affects many people with seemingly ‘normal’ lives.
What is PTSD?
According to the American Psychiatric Association (ACA), PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can happen if you have either witnessed or experienced a ‘traumatic’ event. Such events include rape, terrorism, witnessing death or a violent assault, or even living through a natural disaster.
Of course, those who work as soldiers, police officers, firemen or ambulance operatives are more likely to witness or experience such an event.
PTSD was poorly understood for a very long time, and it in fact has gone by a number of different names over the years. During World War I, for instance, it was called ‘shell shock,’ and afflicted soldiers were simply told to ‘pull themselves together.’
If you suffer from PTSD, you’ll likely have disturbing feelings and thoughts for a long time after the event. As well as feeling angry, fearful and alone, you may even experience flashbacks or have nightmares.
It is important to realize that PTSD can happen to absolutely anyone, and it is by no means a sign of weakness. It is more common after specific types of trauma, including sexual assault or combat.
Signs of PTSD
Although it is possible for PTSD to begin immediately after the traumatic event, it is not diagnosed as a disorder unless the symptoms last for a minimum of a month. Also, the symptoms must interfere with your home life or work, and cause significant distress. In total, there are four distinct PTSD symptom types:
1 – Relieving the Event
Also known as ‘re-experiencing symptoms,’ these symptoms involve reliving the traumatic event. For instance, you could experience upsetting memories of the event which may affect you even when you’re not expecting them.
In other cases, the trauma could be set off by a reminder. Examples include war veterans hearing a car backfire, a rape victim seeing a report of a sexual assault, or an automobile accident victim driving past the scene of an accident.
In these cases, the instant you relive the moment can feel scarily realistic to the point where you believe it is happening all over again. As well as seeing the image in your mind, you could also experience the same physical sensations and emotions as you did when it actually happened; this includes familiar sounds, smells, and even the sensation of pain.
2 – Avoidance & Numbing
If you experience avoidance symptoms, it means you try to avoid any situation that reminds you of the traumatic event. For example, if you were sexually assaulted at a train station, you will do what you can to avoid visiting train stations again. You may even avoid sights, sounds, smells and people that remind you of the event.
As it is too upsetting to risk reliving the event over and over again, you distract yourself in any way possible. It is common for PTSD sufferers to immerse themselves in activities such as jigsaw and crossword puzzles as a means of blocking out any potential reminders of the trauma. In some cases, you may even try to block everything out by becoming emotionally numb; after all, it many believe it is better to feel nothing at all than feel angst and fear. As a result, however, you become withdrawn and communicate less with those around you – even your loved ones.
3 – An Increase in Negative Feelings Such as Guilt & Shame
The trauma could cause you to think differently about yourself and others. For example, you may have a sense of guilt because you believe it was your fault. This is common among victims of rape. You feel ashamed that you ‘allowed’ the traumatic event to happen, and take no pleasure in things you used to enjoy.
4 – Hyperarousal
Another symptom of PTSD is always feeling ‘on edge’ and jittery. You believe the world is a dangerous place, and you see potential threats everywhere. As well as always being on the lookout for danger, you become cranky, irritable and prone to bouts of sudden anger.
You may also find it extremely difficult to sleep, and in some cases, you might begin to act erratically and take up unhealthy habits such as smoking or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
Other Issues
Unfortunately, it is common for other conditions to accompany PTSD such as depression, substance abuse or anxiety. In fact, an estimated 50 percent of men with the condition develop alcohol problems.
The next most common problems among men with PTSD are depression, conduct disorder, and narcotics (almost 50 percent of women with the condition develop depression as well).
The next most common issues are specific fears, social anxiety, and alcohol abuse. Also, it is common for people with PTSD to have problems readjusting to society. Statistically, you are more likely to get a divorce, become unemployed, abuse your spouse or get fired if you have PTSD.
Detailed research involving Vietnam veterans with the disorder discovered that they had trouble forming interpersonal relationships, were prone to violence, and found it hard to get a job.
Conventional Medical Treatments
As there are physical and psychological reasons behind PTSD, there are two main types of treatment: Psychotherapy and Conventional Medication.
Psychotherapy
Also known as counseling, psychotherapy involves discussing your feelings with a therapist. The most effective forms of therapy focus on the traumatic event rather than the entirety of your life. As you can’t change what happened, your only chance of recovering is by thinking differently about the event, the world, and your life in general.
Psychotherapy is unquestionably a difficult experience because, in order for it to be effective, you have to remember what happened as best you can without being overwhelmed by fear or stress.
When you’re in therapy, you put your experiences into words. When you remember the event and analyze it and make sense of it, your mind can finally store the memories away and allow you to move on to other matters. It is only when you feel safer and in control of your feelings that you can take charge of your memories; oftentimes, this allows you to abandon the need to keep avoiding them.
From that point on, you’ll only think about the memories when you choose to, rather than having them spring out of nowhere to upset you.
There are several types of psychotherapy, including:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is often classified as the most effective form of psychotherapy. It involves speaking to a therapist to understand how to change the extreme forms of thinking that make PTSD worse. The most common forms of CBT are:
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): You learn skills to help you understand how the traumatic event has changed how you think, feel and act. You could change the way you feel about the event if you alter the way you think about it.
Prolonged Exposure (PE): This is a difficult form of therapy because it involves talking about the traumatic event until the memories no longer upset you. It helps you gain control of your thoughts and feelings related to the trauma so you can stop avoiding certain places or people that remind you of the event.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR involves focusing on hand movements or sounds when you discuss the event. It’s believed to help the brain process flashbacks and make sense of the trauma.
Group Therapy
As the name suggests, this form of therapy involves meeting with a group of people who have experienced a similar type of trauma. You may find it easier to talk about what happened when surrounded by a sympathetic group that knows what you are going through.
Medication Which is Not Cannabis
If therapy is not an effective option, there are several types of conventional medications prescribed for PTSD sufferers. These may include:
Antidepressants
The purpose of antidepressants is to reduce the strength of your PTSD symptoms and also deal with the effects of depression. As well as helping with symptoms of anxiety, antidepressants can help you sleep and improve your concentration. SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) medications are the most popular, some of which include sertraline and paroxetine (both of which are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved).
Anti-anxiety Medications
This form of medication can relieve severe anxiety, but as the most common forms of prescription drugs are regularly abused, patients are advised only to take it for a short period.
Prazosin
This drug is sometimes prescribed for PTSD patients that suffer from recurrent nightmares and insomnia. While Prazosin is not FDA approved, it is a widely used medication.
Medical Marijuana and PTSD
Using marijuana for medicinal purposes is unquestionably one of the most controversial aspects of the American healthcare system. While most states have a cannabis law of some kind on their books, a variety of legal issues has prevented researchers and doctors from fully examining the impact of marijuana on PTSD sufferers.
Despite certain relaxations in the law, there is still a strong group that protests against the use of marijuana for any medical purpose. On the Department of Veterans Affairs website, for example, it claims that marijuana is harmful to people with PTSD. However, the site offers no links to this alleged research, and fails to point out the reasons for the lack of research to date.
In simple terms, major pharmaceutical companies don’t want cannabis used for PTSD relief because it interferes with an industry worth a fortune. While lobbyists for pharmaceutical companies rail against marijuana, they fail to acknowledge the fact that opioid painkillers are responsible for approximately 20,000 overdose deaths a year in the United States. These painkillers are addictive, lead to a slew of unwanted side effects, and don’t address the underlying problem.
An increasing number of war veterans have spoken about how cannabis helps reduce their anxiety and enables them to sleep. According to veteran Leo Bridgewater, cannabis ensures you don’t have to decompress before you go to bed because marijuana does it for you. He said that veterans don’t use cannabis to ‘chase a high,’ they use it to control the symptoms of their PTSD.
Regardless, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I dangerous drug under the Controlled Substances Act of the DEA. This gives it the same classification as heroin, and it is considered more ‘dangerous’ than cocaine!
Medical Marijuana Research and Breakthroughs
Dr. Raphael Mechoulam was the first person to identify THC as marijuana’s psychoactive compound. Nowadays, the Israeli scientist believes the compound’s neuroprotective effects can eventually be used for a variety of psychiatric and neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Mechoulam has also discovered that the brain’s cannabinoid system is related to memory, with an emphasis on the ‘extinction’ of memories. The memory extinction process is a normal one and involves removing associations from stimuli.
This finding is extremely relevant in the field of PTSD study because sufferers often respond to stimuli that provide an unwanted – and unwelcome – memory of a traumatic event. Dr. Mechoulam hopes to begin his study on the effects of marijuana on PTSD patients (veterans in this case) very soon.
Anecdotal evidence to date suggests that the best way to use marijuana to treat the anxiety caused by PTSD is to use low to moderate dosages with a stable blood level. In other words, it is not as effective if you use large doses of cannabis, or if you use it when your blood pressure is too high or too low.
Another fascinating study, this one published by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), found that people with PTSD have lower levels of anandamide compared to people who don’t suffer from the condition.
Anandamide is an endogenous cannabinoid compound, and in humans, it triggers the same receptors activated by THC and other marijuana plant components.
One of the issues with PTSD is believed to be a lack of endocannabinoids, wherein the body doesn’t produce enough to fill receptor sites. When a PTSD sufferer uses cannabis, they replenish the all-important endocannabinoids, potentially bringing them relief from their memories without any unwanted side effects.
The combination of research and first-hand accounts from people living with PTSD suggests that marijuana can play a pivotal role in preventing unwanted memories from surfacing that are associated with the trauma.
It has taken a very long time, but in 2016, the DEA finally gave formal approval to a controlled clinical study to show the effect of marijuana on veterans with PTSD. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is funding the program by providing MAPS with a $2.156 million grant, and it is the first time in American history that any federal agency has approved a clinical trial on marijuana with a view to possibly making it a prescription drug.
While it depends on the results of the study, there’s a possibility that a cannabis-based treatment for PTSD – one that is even covered by health insurance – could be on the market by 2023. Of course, this is still a long time away – especially considering that fewer than half of American states allow PTSD as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the 5 best marijuana strains for treating PTSD.
5 Marijuana Strains That Treat PTSD
One of the ways that marijuana can help PTSD sufferers is by helping them cope with the nightmares and flashbacks they get that prevent them from sleeping. The research we mentioned above suggests that marijuana helps with memory extinction, and reduces the anxiety and stress which triggers panic attacks.
Before we begin with out top 5 strains, though, you need to understand the difference between cannabis strains that are high in THC, and those that are high in CBD.
Basically, high-CBD cannabis strains are ideal for daytime usage because of their mood-stabilizing effects, while high-THC marijuana strains are your weapon of choice at night because they help aid in restful sleep.
There are hundreds of available cannabis strains online, so to save you some research, we’ve identified five of the best. (And of course, always remember that the higher the CBD content, the less intense the high will be. In fact, some pure CBD strains with less than 1% THC will not provide any high at all).
1 – Blue Dream Cannabis Strain
This Sativa-dominant cannabis strain is grown in the state of California, and is one of the most popular marijuana strains around.
As well as providing you with an element of mental invigoration, it provides you with soothing full-body relaxation. Blue Dream is a balanced hybrid with a pleasant Blueberry and Haze aroma. It has an extremely high THC content between 17 and 24 percent, with a minimal CBD content between 0.1 and 0.2 percent.
Blue Dream helps you ease into social interactions, and promotes a significant uplifting in mood and general outlook.
2 – OG Kush Cannabis Strain
OG Kush marijuana strain has become immensely popular since its introduction in the 1990s. The exact origin of this cannabis strain is a mystery, although it is possibly a mix between Hindu Kush and Chemdawg. Although not everyone is in agreement, it is likely that ‘OG’ stands for Ocean Grown – a nod towards its Californian heritage.
This strain is ideal for people with PTSD because it provides a pleasant and euphoric effect, and does a remarkable job of calming your entire body which makes it perfect for a relaxing evening. Its THC content is between 20 and 24 percent, with a CBD content of 0.2 percent.
3 – Pineapple Express Cannabis Strain
If you’re reading this page, you’ve probably heard of the movie ‘Pineapple Express’ which depicts this strain of marijuana as a powerful super bud. In reality, it is smooth and very well-balanced. Users experience a feeling of clear-headedness, which makes it one of the strains of choice for creative individuals.
If you have PTSD and want to go out and about but are feeling anxious, the mollifying effects of Pineapple Express can potentially allay your fears. It will ease your anxiety but ensure you’re still a highly functioning individual. Its THC content is approximately 20 percent, and its CBD content is 0.1 percent.
4 – Master Kush Cannabis Strain
Just to be clear, the Master Kush cannabis strain is probably not ideal for beginners because it is rather potent. Put it this way; this strain is popular in Amsterdam coffee houses, which should give you some idea as to its strength.
However, if you have PTSD, have used cannabis before and have problems sleeping, Master Kush could be the answer to your prayers. Insomniacs will love this strain as it provides a blissful and euphoric sensation as it guides you to sleep. Its THC content is 20 percent, while its CBD content is 1 percent.
5 – Cannatonic Cannabis Strain
This strain is very much a daytime delight due to its exceptionally high CBD content. Cannatonic provides you with a relaxed and calming sensation, but you’ll also notice a major improvement in your mood along with a marked reduction in anxiety.
If your PTSD is causing you to get angry, take some Cannatonic to calm you down. Its THC content is 6 percent, while its CBD content ranges from 6 to 17 percent, producing a very mild high.
Final Thoughts About Marijuana and PTSD
Those without sufficient knowledge of marijuana believe it is a ‘coping’ drug for those who wish to self-medicate, but in actuality, there is a growing body of research which suggests it meets a real need among individuals with PTSD.
At present, there is no universally successful treatment for PTSD. While therapy can help, it has a high dropout rate, especially among veterans. Moreover, medications such as opioid painkillers are not particularly effective, and in many instances they cause more harm than good.
Thankfully, scientists are finally allowed to perform detailed research into the effects of marijuana on PTSD under clinical trial conditions. Obviously, if you have never used cannabis before, it is wise to consult with a medical professional. If you are not used to marijuana, strains with a high THC content could increase your level of anxiety. Hopefully, the new research into the drug examining the relationship between THC and CBD will lead to new strains of marijuana for people prone to anxiety.
Of course, the damage caused by PTSD cannot be completely erased or fixed by any form of medication. However, for an increasing number of people, marijuana causes respite when nothing else does. While the industry will doubtless be under scrutiny and face competition from pharmaceutical companies, we hope the results of the forthcoming research will once and for all show a positive outcome among the thousands of people living with PTSD that use marijuana.
I can recommend Blue dream or OG kush out of these, as these two I have personally tried. But still this is in no way a replacement to nay drug or medicine. Just a supportive kind of herb.
I am a 51 year old female that just found out I have Parkinson’s about a year and half, but I have been having signs of it for years, tremors, depression, body weakness. ECT. I honestly don’t think my doctor was reading the signs because of my gender and age. A few years ago I had my shoulder lock up on me and I was sent to a P.T since x-rays didn’t show any physical damage. My shaking was getting worse and I began falling. Only when my speech became so bad that it brought concern to my dentist was Parkinson’s even considered. He phoned my doctor with his concerns about my shaking and balance problems. By this time I was forgoing shots in the back of my neck for back and neck pain to which once again I was sent to a P.T (although x-rays showed no damage) I was told I had a few spurs which were most likely causing the pain. Here I was feeling like my whole body was falling apart and doctor could not find anything wrong, maybe in was all in my head? My doctor even seemed annoyed with me and things just kept progressing and I just kept it to myself, why bother going through testing and them finding nothing? Well, it was after my second P.T called my doctor about the weakness in my legs and arms, by this time I have developed a gait in my walk and I fell more frequently. Only then did my doctor send me to a specialist and it was found that I had Parkinson’s, and that I have had it for awhile. I think because I was a woman that my signs and symptoms weren’t taken seriously and therefor left untreated for so long,I was taking pramipexole dihydrochloride three times daily, I Was on carbidopa levodopa but only lasted 90 minutes then wore off.I found that none of the current medications worked effective for me.I got tired of using those medication so I decided to apply natural herbs formula that was prescribed to me by my second P.T, i purchase the herbal formula from totalcureherbsfoundation. com, There has been huge progression ever since I start the treatment plan which will last for 15 weeks usage.all the symptoms and sign has begin to disappear .
Cannatonic Is the best among these. I work in a medical cannabis dispensary and many patients who suffer from PTSD come to demand for this strain.
I would say go with OG Kush. Nothing has been officially published, and so it better to go with other peoples’ experience, who have used this for PTSD, and OG Kush seems to get the maximum number of votes as far as I have researched. Also, one thing, it would not treat, it would just help with the symptoms and all. So get a right mindset and go for this strain.
I’ve suffered from PTSD since the mid 90’s and have recently, through legal medical cannabis, been able to sample many strains that I’ve not had access to in the past. Two standouts that are absolutely “must try” for PTSD sufferers… First, the OG Kush phenotype known as “OG 18” aka “Private Reserve” and second, Is the strain known as “Bio-Jesus” (bio-diesel x gumbo). Both are hybrids with a very, relaxing effects (both have the distinct euphoria and uplift of a balanced hybrid that melts into a mellow body effect and a quieting of the mind that brings about a sense of peacefulness. Perfect for insomnia, anxiety, and depressive symptom relief.
I was diagnosed with PTSD from a doctor I no longer see since my insurance ran out. I am in the middle of renewing my state insurance and was diagnosed PTSD from my psychiatrist which works for the local government. After being diagnosed with PTSD I was prescribed a grocery bag full of meds which have multiple side effects that affect my work and social life. After reading this article I will do my part in making THC and CBD laws pushed through. I tested treating myself with the prescription meds and then stopped taking my meds after doing research on THC and CBD. The results were phenomenal, I have discontinued taking the meds my psychiatrist prescribed me. I now only vape and smoke thc. I also use cbd cream to rub on my temples.
I have been told to stay away from sativa and stick with indica and hybrids. Is it best to stay away from sativa with PTSD? I notice more energy with sativa, but my mind is quite busy. Can you tell me the difference between being full of energy and manic?
Ty for the info, PTSD sufferer
The distinction between the effects of sativa and indica strains is actually an overly broad and facile generalization. At this point. There are few, if any, genetically pure sativa and indica even among landrace strains. Considering that hybrids can have effects that are completely different from one or both (or more) parent strains, sativa vs indica isn’t a very helpful indicator of how a particular strain will affect one. Advice is good, as far as strains go, but it really comes down to trying them for yourself and finding out how you respond. Buy a gram of flower to sample the effects of strains that you are interested in.
Also, side effects like “mindrace”, anxiety, and even paranoia seem to be dose dependent. “Minimum effective dose” is a good rule of thumb.
Hope this helps.
I am 32 years old and was diagnosed with PTSD 5 years ago from childhood trauma. I am also diagnosed with PMDD as well. I am currently looking for help to relieve my symptoms due to triggers (anxiety, depression, paranoia). I have been through YEARS of therapy and have tried EMDR therapy as well. I feel like I have tried everything, with the exception of antidepressants. I can’t even believe I am considering marijuana, but I am just so tired from dealing with this for 23 years now. Any suggestions? I’ve also considered CBD oil, but it seems controversial as well. Any advice would be so appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Nicole!
I would try hemp-derived CBD oil with 0% THC. To learn more check out this article on why CBD might just be for you: https://www.marijuanabreak.com/cbd-for-ptsd-the-uprising-cure
Go for Blue Dream if it is PTSD. I can assure you you would start seeing results very soon. I am one of those who believe that God created weed for humans, and we must not hesitate utilizing it, if we need to do so.
While the article provides a quick glance synopsis of PTSD, treatments and approaches, it is clearly biased toward the use of marijuana and inadequately informed on the other treatments. The writer presents a misguided and narrow OPINION of psychotherapy which is unfortunate for readers who are suffering from PTSD. As a trauma and addictions specialist/psychotherapist of 30 years, I will tell you that if your therapy is just “discussing your feelings with a therapist. The most effective forms of therapy focus on the traumatic event rather than the entirety of your life” then the therapist is not well informed in the standard, evidenced based treatment for trauma and I suggest you try a different therapist. The article conveys that marijuana can eliminate symptoms and life can be better….except when you stop using it then you experience more anxiety than when you started, some people select a strain that disconnects them from the world which ends of impairing functioning acutely or over time, and many experience alterations in brain function (cognitive fog, loss of motivation, and diagnosed schizophrenia). However, I have had many patients that do experience positive benefits at the time of use but then rely on it to maintain this break from symptoms. Marijuana does not enable a person to process embodied trauma so deterioration and dysfunction is practically inevitable until they can process what happened either or both from a psychological and/or somatic perspective. It is sad to think that when there is potential for true healing that people would select the bandaid of marijuana to mask the suffering that longs to be purged. I get that someone doesn’t want to be tormented day in and day out but I hope readers here know that there are many options that don’t come with side effects (some we know and some we don’t with marijuana). Why take THAT risk?
It is often said that treatments without side effects also lack therapeutic effect. Certainly, everything you have said critiquing cannabis as a drug can be applied to pretty much any FDA approved psychotherapeutic drug. Obviously, non drug treatments like psychotherapy (in all its variety) carry much less risk but it is still greater than zero. My mind goes back to the 90’s when Prozac was king. Many people, myself included, were put on that drug well before many of the risks involved (not to mention the full mechanism of action which is still poorly understood) were well known. Indeed, many psychiatrists will not put patients on new drugs until they have been on the market for a few years (at least) and more public research is done.
You make good points, certainly, but to me it always boils down to a proper risk reward assessment (using the best AVAILABLE information) with one’s own health care professional. This is key before undertaking any course of treatment or utilization of any therapeutic tool or substance.
Incidentally, I have always found a combination of therapy and medication much more powerful than either alone.
I agree with this completely and I am also a mental health professional. What is not shared in this article is that flashbacks and nightmares are our body’s way of processing and overcoming the trauma. The more the trauma is processed, the more it is integrated and the sooner we can heal. When we suppress this process with a drug, we are not allowing the natural healing process to take its course.
I will say, that sometimes flashbacks can be unbearable and people still need to work and function in life. People need to work to make money and survive and flashbacks can make someone feel completely debilitated. I think marijuana can be useful for “coping” to survive life while healing but it should be known that it is a crutch not a solution.