Cannabis is a chemically complex product and with CBD and THC being some of the most well-known molecules produced by the plant, there are also a wide range of other cannabinoids that can be found in the product as well. We know that cannabis can assist with a wide range of conditions and it’s important to understand the relationship between cannabis and how it can help some of the conditions that many people are suffering with worldwide. Here is the relationship between cannabis and depression:
Depression is a condition that affects nearly 16.2 million adults across the United States. Depression is a condition that often comes and goes in a person’s life but it can severely reduce someone’s quality of life as they are going through it. Most conventional treatments for depression include a full range of medications, therapy and more. Many people who experience bouts of depression will often turn to cannabis in an effort to cope with their condition. This self-medication can often be useful for assisting with the symptoms and there are many medical professionals that are now exploring the option of using cannabis to treat depression.
Depression Can Stem From A Number of Sources
Emotional events, anxiety and stress can often trigger depression and many people that have a history of it. Depression is far more than just sadness; it’s a condition that can be chronic and it can often linger for years or months on end. The sadness people experience as part of depression is something that they can’t simply snap out of and it often requires months of routine adjustment and treatment for them to return to a more natural lifestyle.
Some of the triggers for depression can include distressing life events, giving birth to a child, experiencing a severe illness, an accumulation of other minor events and more. The risk for depression is enhanced in populations of people that regularly turn to drugs and alcohol to self medicate.
It’s also been discovered that a series of genetic factors in personality type factors can play a role in the body producing an overall lack of serotonin. Some studies have also suggested that people that regularly struggle from depression may have a hippocampus area which is slightly smaller than the rest of the population making it difficult for them to manage stress and produce new neurons that can suppress stress.
The most common symptoms of depression include:
- Low enjoyment of life
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Crying often
- Feeling durable
- Insomnia
- Low self-esteem
- Difficulty with concentration
- Appetite loss
- Ongoing aches and pains
- Lack of apathy and motivation
- Continuous sadness
Some of the traditional treatments for depression include antidepressant medication. Most of these medications include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for which there are over 30 different varieties of pharmaceuticals. Cognitive behavioural therapy can also be extremely useful in treating depression as can increasing aerobic exercise.
Cannabis can be particularly helpful in treating depression because both THC and CBD can affect mood. Both CBD and THC can have antidepressant effects with less side effects than SSRIs. As a result, there are a variety of medical studies starting up for the use of cannabis and depression.
This post was written by Flo Sugyatno, operations manager of LOCAL’d and cannabis expert. LOCAL’d is a helping hand to the companies that strengthen your community in the Washington, DC area. Helping them to grow through financial and promotional support, LOCAL’d is a Washington DC weed delivery service!
