Mental Health: How Weed Can Help You Reduce Stress And Be More Relaxed

At times modern life can become too much and stress affects almost everyone at some point in their lives, whether it is caused by family life, financial worries, overworking, or relationship problems. 

Stress is a natural reaction to both real and perceived harmful situations. When someone feels threatened, a chemical reaction takes place to help avoid injury. This is otherwise known as the stress response which results in faster breathing, higher blood pressure, increased heart rate, and tighter muscles. 

Some stress is acceptable and manageable, however frequent and prolonged periods of stress can cause both physical and mental harm such as: 

• Anxiety, depression, and personality disorders 
• Heart disease
• Obesity
• Issues with menstruation 
• Skin problems like acne, eczema, and psoriasis
• Hair loss
• Sexual dysfunction
• Strokes 
• Gastrointestinal issues 

Stress can be managed in many different ways, however, one method that is growing in popularity is using weed. Read more about how it can reduce stress in the article below.

Improved Moods

Life often throws a curveball, making it difficult to maintain a positive attitude and outlook on life, which is why some people choose to smoke marijuana to reduce stress levels.

However, some people prefer to avoid inhaling fumes from tobacco or rolling paper and instead consider the various models of vape carts for sale to find a cleaner way of inhaling cannabis fumes.

Either way, the benefits of weed on a person’s mood are well known as it can help to reduce depressive feelings and encourage the release of serotonin resulting in happier and more stable moods. 

Regulation of Stress Levels 

During times of stress, the body releases the main hormone associated with stress, cortisol. When cortisol levels are high it increases the risk of mental health issues. Although naturally regulating stress levels is possible, your body can also get a boost from marijuana consumption. 

The cannabinoids present in marijuana can help to control and manage the levels of cortisol in the body, resulting in more balanced and calm moods. 

Better Sleep

Many people suffer from sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea. The consequences of such disorders can be debilitating and cause a lot of disruption to a person’s everyday life. 

There are many treatments around for sleep disorders and one popular natural remedy is a weed that can act as a sleep aid. For most people, it increases drowsiness and makes them more relaxed.

The sedative-like effects of marijuana can promote deeper sleep and help prevent sleep disturbances including those caused by nightmares due to its ability to reduce the REM phase of sleep.

Anti-Anxiety Properties 

Marijuana is well-known for its calming effect on many people suffering from anxiety. This is due to the way it can affect levels of the neurotransmitter, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) by reducing them to manageable levels.

Furthermore, cannabis also reduces cortisol levels to reduce stress which often comes hand in hand with anxiety. 

Although consuming too much marijuana may increase anxiety in some people, smaller amounts generally result in lower anxiety levels and a happier mood. 

Alleviation of PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects thousands of people every day as a result of experiencing trauma such as serious accidents, abuse, health issues, and injuries. However, in recent years it has been increasingly common for sufferers of psychiatric disorders like PTSD to alleviate their symptoms by using weed. 

Some symptoms of PTSD may include anxiety, episodes of depression, nightmares, and panic attacks. Marijuana helps people suffering from PTSD by providing a natural way to limit the activity of the brain’s amygdala.

This part of the brain is where emotions and feelings are processed, stored, and given meaning by associating them with memories. By helping to manage the activity of the amygdala, marijuana can provide relief from feelings of constant anguish, anxiety, and fear. 

Reduction of Inflammation 

Inflammation is the cause and result of many health problems and if left unchecked can make the situation worse. Fortunately, marijuana can help to reduce inflammation as it contains cannabinoids that influence the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the nervous system and soft tissues respectively.

The CB1 receptor is linked to the perception of pain whilst the CB2 receptor helps to limit inflammation. 

Since the effects of inflammation can affect the general mood of a person, marijuana can provide relief which often results in an improved mood. 

Improved Appetite

Either eating the wrong diet or not eating enough can lead to mental health issues. Typically, cannabis helps to increase a person’s appetite. The compound THC, found in weed and associated with the psychoactive effects of marijuana, is also known to trigger hunger and increase a person’s appetite.

Mental health issues including anxiety, depression, and excessive stress are commonplace in modern society.

There are many treatments and remedies for these maladies including the use of marijuana which many sufferers of such issues take to alleviate their symptoms and improve the quality of their daily lives.