The Cannxiety
Chronicles
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Last time I discussed how cannabis and anxiety interact. It’s something I feel so strongly about, I named an Expo after it, “Cannxiety 2022”. A pandemic of sorts is exploding as new cases of anxiety and depression arise. Both of which are woefully misunderstood and growing in numbers with every new mandate. Some people actually think depression and anxiety are the same thing. While they do both have certain symptoms in common, they ARE NOT the same thing. One thing they do have in common though, and that is cannabis can be successfully used to help certain people battle the symptoms of both mental conditions. Depression is almost the opposite of Anxiety in one way. While one of the major symptoms of Anxiety is increased breathing and heart rate, depression sometimes brings on fatigue and loss of interest in activities. Cannabis can help with both. Depression, like Anxiety, is not something you “cure”. What works for some doesn’t always work for others. The symptoms of depression affect everyone differently and at different levels of intensity. It’s so dynamic that even what worked for you once may not work the same again.The best approach is layering your medication when dealing with your mental health solutions. A variety of therapies help you stay focused while also providing activities and habits that can help lower the intensity of future symptoms. Those layers of depression therapy should include some form of the following: Establish a line of communication with a mental health professional. This could be a counselor or therapist available through your school, workplace or church. Find natural foods that promote natural energy like bananas, oatmeal, dark chocolate and water to fight fatigue. Track your symptoms and how you experienced and dealt with them in a journal. Include remedies that reflect both mental and physical solutions. This will help battle “loss of interest”, a common symptom of depression. Take a yoga class to help fight low self-esteem. Volunteer. Helping others is an amazingly powerful therapy in itself. Whether it is helping the local food pantry or public charity event, the time spent focusing on others can help increase your own sense of hope and worth. Consider including cannabis in your therapy regiment. CBD, THC and many other cannabinoids found in cannabis have shown to be a powerful weapon when fighting symptoms of depression. Symptoms like fatigue, irritability, low appetite, sleeping disorders and excessive worrying can be successfully battled with proper cannabis therapy. The reason cannabis is successful in battling depression is based on the same model most pharmaceutical companies use. The manipulation of dopamine and serotonin in the body. This is done at a cellular level and takes place in the central nervous system. The normal neuron to neuron communication that’s responsible for releasing and limiting how much dopamine and serotonin we get to use. Prescription drugs do this with SSRI or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. They literally stop the body from reabsorbing some of the serotonin released in an effort to increase its usage and thereby reverse your depression. Cannabis uses chemicals, namely THC, to do basically the same thing. But cannabis does it naturally. This model of cannabis compounds known as cannabinoids and their relationship with the central nervous system is the basis of the endocannabinoid system (The ECS). Teaching others about cannabis works and specifically how it interacts with symptoms of Anxiety and Depression is the sole focus of Uncle Chuck’s Cannabis Camp (The UCCC). Come visit us at theuccc.com. Next month I will cover the importance of understanding the symptoms of Anxiety and Depression and your ability to tell your story. We each have our own story and they are as important as they are unique. Fear and embarrassment often hold us back from receiving the help we need and living our best lives. I will be using this to tell my personal story in hopes that it inspires others to do so as well. www.unclechuck420.com
Charles “Uncle Chuck” Duncan
Educating & Elevating Hearts & Minds
ncle Chucks Cannabis Camp offers U Cannabis Education in an easy to understand format and focused on helping groups and individuals with Anxiety or Depression that are looking to include cannabis into their treatment regiment. Classes are available Online or In-Person. Individual classes Group classes Cannacian Certification Classes (Levels 1 to 3)* Cannabis Primers Addressing Anxiety/Depression with Cannabis Don’t let Anxiety or Depression stop you from living life. Cannabis can help you enjoy it once again. myecstherapy.orG
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