It’s fair to say that the last few years could have been a bit better. Between the worldwide pandemic that forced the whole planet into their houses alone and isolated for more than a year and left ⅓ of adults dealing with depression and the social and economic impacts that followed, it’s only natural to be feeling a little down in the dumps.
For many, however, depression isn’t just something that they can shake off and get back to normal life after the lockdown was lifted. In fact, more than 264 million folks worldwide are dealing with some variety of depression, making it one of the leading causes of disability worldwide.
Plain and simply put, depression is a massive and serious problem for many. So with that in mind, there must be a massive array of treatment options for folks to try out and opt for, right? Unfortunately, not so much.
Even in today’s modern age of massive pharmaceutical intervention and the normalization of therapy and openness about mental health, treatment options for those actually dealing with depression are somewhat limited. If you’re looking to avoid heavy pharmaceutical interventions especially, then that limits realistic options even further.
That’s why so many have turned to medical cannabis as a practical solution. Not only does depression stand as a qualifying condition, but medical cannabis is showing real potential as a treatment option. That’s where we here at FadeMD come in!
This article is going to break down exactly how medical cannabis works as a proper treatment for depression and symptoms of depression, go in-depth on which compounds are the most helpful for those dealing with depression, and break down exactly how and why medical cannabis can help!
Let’s get right into it!
How and Why Medical Cannabis Can Help
Depression is, after all, one of the most common types of mental health conditions in the country. Nearly 21 million American adults have had at least one depressive episode. For some perspective, that’s close to 10 percent of all American adults. The tricky thing about depression is that it often works alongside or contributes to other issues like anxiety disorders, which makes it even more difficult to treat properly.
As of right now, antidepressants and benzodiazepines are often the primary course of treatment for standard doctors and have a vast array of often harmful side effects like weight loss or weight gain, appetite changes, excessive sweating, tremors, headaches, joint pain, nausea, GI upset, and, in rare cases, an increased risk of suicide. That’s where medical cannabis comes in! We all know about medical cannabis’s ability to ease anxiety and put our minds at ease. The same concept applies when it comes to depression.
One key reason why medical cannabis might be an incredibly helpful option for many is due to the speed at which it works to alleviate symptoms. It’s well-documented that antidepressants can take some time to build up in your system and feel relief from symptoms. Cannabis, on the other hand, kicks in nearly immediately. That means that those who have gotten their medical cards have access to a medicine option that can not only alleviate some of their anxiety but also kicks in immediately and reduces their symptoms. It’s a total win-win scenario.
Another factor to consider is the impact of medical cannabis on your body’s endocannabinoid system. While the research on what exactly the endocannabinoid system is and how it works is still somewhat limited, we know enough about it to say that the cannabinoids introduced into your endocannabinoid system can help regulate your mood, sleep, and mental health. The endocannabinoid system runs throughout our whole body and can be directly addressed by using medical cannabis, so it’s absolutely a factor worth considering.
The final factor to keep in mind is the terpene profile of your medical cannabis products. As we’ve covered before here at FadeMD, terpenes can have a massive impact on what your medicine does, the effects it has, and how it can work alongside cannabinoids via the entourage effect. With that in mind, some of the terpenes to check those product labels for are terpenes like pinene, beta-caryophyllene, limonene, and nerolidol. All of those previously mentioned terpenes have uplifting, relaxing, stress-reducing effects, which will help you with your depression-related issues.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, depression is a deeply personal and serious ailment to treat. Not only can it be difficult due to the symptoms of the illness itself, but treatment options are just so limited right now. So if depression and anxiety-related conditions end up on your state’s list of qualifying conditions, you should absolutely get a medical cannabis card of your own. Thankfully, that’s where we here at FadeMD come in.
Not only can we quickly and easily link you up with certified medical cannabis doctors and healthcare professionals, but we can do so fully digitally. It’s a simple, quick process and allows you to focus on what’s important instead of filling out hours of paperwork, making your own appointments, and tracking down a doctor that’s not only legit but actually is in your state.
To get a medical cannabis card of your own and start picking up some medicine or your own from your local dispensary, click here!
Disclaimer: The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained in this article is for informational purposes only. No material from this article is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new health care regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
