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Anxiety manifests itself in many ways for me, for example I tend towards foot in mouth syndrome. I frequently feel like crawling under a rock for some dumb thing I blurted out! However I’m also an open book. Because I’m so open it gives permission for others to be open with me as well. It’s how I know that all moms struggle with anxiety and bouts of depression.
We feel vulnerable because these small people are so very dependent on us for their well-being and our own well-being is dependent on theirs as well. That alone is anxiety inducing enough, now add in chronic exhaustion and all the other life stresses that pop up, like death of a loved one, illness or financial hardships and you’re now in the red for your mental health
Stress + exhaustion = the fuel anxiety and depression needs to thrive
Chronic exhaustion makes you feel weak, feeling weak leads to feeling powerless which then leads to bad anxiety and bouts of depression. This is can be very traumatizing for your body as stress and anxiety can raise blood pressure and put you at high risk for illness and disease.
It doesn’t help that we send our kids to a factory of germs every day, we end up getting numerous colds and flu viruses our taxed immune systems have a difficult time fending off, which then compounds the problem further. It’s not easy being a parent!
Recent studies have shown cannabis is effective for depression, anxiety and stress. What matters is that you use cannabis mindfully. Taken daily in lower doses, it can improve your mental wellbeing over time. However once you start taking higher doses daily, cannabis can have the opposite effect and exasperate depression and anxiety symptoms. Tolerance breaks, where you go off of cannabis for a few days or weeks can help you stay at a consistent lower dose.
Related article: FAQ: Will cannabis trigger my anxiety
3 ways cannabis can help anxiety stress and depression
I’ve been managing my mental health with cannabis. It helps me relax which drastically reduces my stress, possibly saving me from having more serious health issues. Here’s how it helps:
1. Relaxation
Cannabis relaxes you and elevates your mood, helping you cope with deeply stressful situations. You can find space to laugh and that will help release bottled up tension and calm your whole system down.
Cannabis also helps you sleep, often parents can battle insomnia when stress is running too high, cannabis helps relax your body and certain products can help you fall asleep.
Related article: 3 ahhhmazing ways to relieve stress and anxiety with cannabis
2. Arousal
Cannabis heightens your senses, putting you in the mood for bedroom play. This leads to more sex and/or masturbation which releases even more tension. Plus more sex with your partner strengthens your bond, giving you more stability. Cannabis and sex is a magnificent combination and was a life saver for me as I’ve suffered from painful sex for many years post children. Cannabis made sex fun and pleasurable for me again.
Related article: Edibles and sex is where it’s at, ladies!
3. Creativity
Creativity and appreciation for art are also heightened with cannabis. It doesn’t have to be literally drawing, it can be journaling your thoughts or coming up with an interesting new recipe, redecorating a room. It also helps you appreciate and dive into art like a good book, an art exhibit or the theatre. Basically it helps you get your mind off of your worries and onto something enriching for your soul.
There’s right way and a wrong way to manage your mental health with cannabis
The same way a glass of wine can help you unwind but a whole bottle will make things much worse, too much THC can increase anxiety so it’s important to start low and go slow.
Research has shown that lower doses of THC can help with anxiety and depression however at higher doses, it can make it worse.
Visit the learn section of Weed Mama to find out what starting doses are best, depending on the method.
Keep a cannabis journal
A cannabis journal will help you figure out what products and dose work for you. Beyond that, certain times of the month when estrogen is higher can also effect that way cannabis feels.
A cannabis journal will help you track your consumption and figure out how cannabis works in your body. You’ll learn which days are best to take a higher dose and which days a lower dose, or none at all.
I recommend the Goldleaf patient journal to help you keep track, these beautiful journals has everything you need to figure out the right dose and products for you.
What if you don’t want to get high?
CBD is non intoxicating and provides some relaxation, it’s especially useful for anxiety. However it’s not as good as THC for uplifting you, for getting creative juices flowing or other juices. CBD is best used as a supplement you take daily to help manage anxiety, pain and other chronic issues.
If you’re looking for enhanced sex, better sleep, something to lift you up and reduce stress, a little THC can do wonders. Small doses of THC won’t get you high, it will simply relax you a bit, similar to a glass of wine.
Many women I know who’ve had issues with THC and anxiety (myself included), now use THC successfully to manage anxiety. It’s all in the dose and what kind of product you use.
Related article: Your ultimate guide to CBD
To learn more about how to begin with cannabis, visit the learn section of Weed Mama