[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]PTSD is a serious condition that affects millions of people around the world. Because of its varied nature, it can be difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to treat. Often, treatments involve pharmaceuticals that can be expensive and have unwanted side effects. Research continues to show that CBD can be beneficial in the treatment of many conditions – so is CBD good for PTSD?
Understanding PTSD
As defined by the American Psychiatric Association, “Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape, or other violent personal assault.”
While a diagnosis of PTSD requires the person in question to “experience or witness” a traumatic event, that exposure can be indirect rather than first hand. “For example, PTSD could occur in an individual learning about the violent death of close family. It can also occur as a result of repeated exposure to horrible details of trauma such as police officers exposed to details of child abuse cases.”
Some common symptoms of PTSD include:
- Intrusive thoughts like vivid flashbacks, involuntary memories, or dreams
- Avoiding people, places, activities, or situations that may bring back memories of the traumatic event
- Negativity toward oneself and others
- Ongoing fear, horror, guilt, or shame
- Feeling uninterested in previously-enjoyed activities
- Feeling detached
- Angry, reckless, or self-destructive outbursts
- Trouble concentrating and/or sleeping
Causes of PTSD are extremely wide and varied. Regardless of the nature of the original incident, PTSD is a serious disorder that can be managed with proper treatment.
Why Use CBD for PTSD?
According to a survey of 300 PTSD patients conducted by Care by Design, their PTSD-related symptoms responded well to the use of cannabis – particularly cannabis that is high in CBD.
Luckily, the THC found in cannabis isn’t the solution to managing PTSD symptoms. Because of the way it interacts with the body, CBD may be a much more effective treatment.
A study looking into CBD oil as a treatment of anxiety and insomnia as a result of PTSD concluded that “CBD oil can be an effective compound to reduce anxiety and insomnia secondary to PTSD.” Another study focused on the anti-anxiety uses of CBD found that “CBD has beneficial potential for PTSD treatment and that 5HT1A receptors could be a therapeutic target in this disorder.” Yet another study evaluating the effects of CBD on fear and memory supported the idea that CBD can be useful “in conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder and specific phobias.”
In short, there is evidence to suggest that CBD can be an extremely effective treatment for the symptoms of PTSD. As with all supplements, talk to your doctor about the best plan for you. Everyone’s brains and experiences are different – find out if CBD could be good for you![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]