What are fear and anxiety?
Fear is the negative emotional sensation associated with the perception of a physical or psychological danger that may be real or imaginary , which is accompanied by other psychological sensations (anxiety, anguish, hypervigilance) and physical changes (cardio-circulatory and muscular hyperactivation) whose common objective is to react as soon as possible to said danger, normally through 3 main mechanisms: fight, flight or freeze . At a more biological and animal level, fear and anxiety represent a very useful defense mechanism for survival, since through association with memory they allow us to be prepared and avoid possible future dangerous situations of a similar type. But on a more social and human level, fear and anxiety caused by a dangerous or traumatic experience can facilitate the appearance of a more stable type of anxiety disorder that can incapacitate the person both on a personal level (avoiding some places, situations or people that are associated for some reason with the traumatic event) and on a professional level (problems at work or in studies).
What is stress?
Stress represents a state of tension that is perceived both physically and mentally, in response to a demanding or challenging situation such as being exposed to danger, to continued psychological or physical effort or to achieve personal and/or professional goals. As we have learned in our article on CBD and Stress , although it represents a positive tool that allows us to adapt and respond to different situations in everyday life, stress acquires a negative connotation when it is present in excess or chronically and when we have difficulty managing it. In these cases, among the most frequent symptoms that can be observed, cognitive and emotional problems stand out, such as feelings of anxiety, anguish and fear.
What is post-traumatic stress?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that can affect people who directly or indirectly experience a shocking and dangerous traumatic event such as an accident, assault or abuse, natural disaster, and death, particularly in war situations. At the moment in which such traumatic events occur, our body responds with the fight/flight/freeze mechanism to deal with the situation in the fastest and most effective way possible, which involves psycho-physical reactions of cardio-circulatory hyperactivation, hypervigilance, anxiety and fear. Although it is normal and functional for survival to experience these symptoms during and after having experienced traumatic situations, normally with the passage of time the emotional burden softens and the symptoms of stress disappear. In some people this gradual “forgetting” mechanism does not occur and they continue to experience the same symptoms of anxiety, fear, anguish and hyperactivation and with the same intensity as at the first moment, even if months or years have passed, and are often accompanied by memories, nightmares and reminiscences. This situation is recognized and diagnosed as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and people who suffer from it may experience a worsening of their quality of life both psychologically and socially and professionally.
Treatments
Psychological treatments have been found to provide limited or temporary benefits, while pharmacological treatments are not effective for many people and also have adverse side effects that often interfere with psychological therapy. For these reasons, there is an urgent need to find a different treatment that can provide more stable effectiveness and that can also be used with other tools without creating interferences, but rather synergies.ECS and Post-traumatic Stress
Thanks to the most recent scientific studies, it has been possible to observe that the Endocannabinoid System plays a crucial role in the physiological and psychological regulation of response to different situations of stress and danger, in addition to being involved in the mechanisms of consolidation, recall and extinction of memories. In particular, Anandamide , the THC-like endocannabinoid neurotransmitter in Cannabis, would play a fundamental role in the mechanism of extinction and “forgetting” of adverse and traumatic memories thanks to its modulatory activity on CB1 receptors . For this reason it is known as the molecule of “beatitude” or “happiness” (which is the translation of the Sanskrit word “Ananda”), since it helps the body to recover a state of well-being and balance . Several studies have shown that the inhibition of the enzymes that degrade Anandamide, known as FAAH, facilitates the mechanism of extinction of adverse memories, in addition to mitigating the symptoms of anxiety and fear associated with it.CBD and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: How it works
Many recent studies in both animal models and humans have highlighted the mechanisms by which CBD can represent an effective tool both to cope with the symptoms of PTSD and to promote their gradual mitigation and disappearance.- If used in the first moments after experiencing a traumatic event, CBD can alleviate the acute physical and psychological symptoms associated with the experience , characterized by anxiety and fear, allowing the subsequent consolidation of the memory to have a less intense and negative emotional connotation.
- At a biochemical level, CBD has the ability to inhibit FAAH enzymes, causing an increase in Anandamide levels in the brain, which means that it stimulates the functioning of the Endocannabinoid System itself. Thanks to this effect, the mechanisms of creation and consolidation of memories are modulated , making it difficult to reconsolidate adverse memories and facilitating their extinction and “forgetting” processes.
- Thanks to its anxiolytic and antidepressant effect, CBD promotes emotional stability and balance, relieving feelings of anxiety and fear and reducing the intensity and/or frequency of panic attacks and possible flashbacks.
- Due to its calming and relaxing effect , CBD promotes rest and improves the quality of sleep , being particularly helpful in PTSD to reduce nightmares.
How to use CBD for PTSD
Although scientific studies with people suffering from PTSD still lack a standardization of forms of use and dosage, studies on animals have demonstrated the effectiveness of CBD used internally (not regulated in Spain). In general, it is advisable to start with a minimum dose of a low-medium concentration product and gradually increase until the expected effect is achieved, although it is always recommended to contact a health professional before using CBD internally in order to have adequate monitoring . In addition, it is always advisable to have the support of a specialized psychologist who can help with more comprehensive support.Is CBD safe? Precautions
CBD is a very safe substance even when used in large quantities, however, care must be taken when taking medications or if you suffer from heart or blood pressure problems. For this reason, in these cases it is always advisable to contact a health professional.Possible side effects
Adverse effects are usually mild to moderate in intensity and may include tiredness, drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness and decreased appetite. Literature:- https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/posttraumaticstressdisorder.html
- https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/espanol/trastorno-por-estres-posttraumatico
- http://smokingmap.org/programa-cannabis-medicinal/tratamiento-con-cannabis-del-trastorno-por-estres-post-traumatico/
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