Stress and anxiety are increasingly common in our modern world, and living with them can feel like hell. This beast can affect people silently, which can be very isolating. Frequent stress and anxiety can affect your life in ways that keep you from enjoying time with friends and family, being able to perform well at work, and even take you away from being present with your kids. Marijuana strains for anxiety and stress can help…
Living with these common ailments is something that more and more Americans are having to manage. But if you’re not interested in taking pharmaceuticals or over the counter drugs, cannabis can be a great alternative to find relief, relaxation, and a reprieve from the grip of constant stress and anxiety.
Whether you suffer from extreme stress and anxiety or experience it in episodes, lighting up a joint or eating an edible can be a great way to find relief and get back to life as you once knew it. Finding relief can also allow you to take control of your mental health, which is incredibly empowering when you felt like you’re at the mercy of your stress and anxiety.Our professional bud tenders at our Pueblo and Trinidad, Colorado dispensaries are incredibly knowledgeable and will help you get on the road to taking your life back.
What is anxiety?
According to recent data and mental health professionals, anxiety has become the number one mental health issue in North America. There are many factors that contribute to being diagnosed with anxiety, many of which include the extreme pressures of living in our society.
Anxiety is a normal feeling that comes from our need to assess risk and operate in either fight or flight mode. This stems from our days as cavemen when running from animals was common. This issue now, however, is not something we have to deal with in our modern society. We are now running from work obligations, relationships, and responsibilities in general. Because our bodies are not processing the stress hormone, cortisol, created from situations like a difficult meeting or worrying about paying bills by physically running from the treat, that hormone builds up in our bodies and can wreak havoc.
There are many different anxiety disorders including:
- General anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Major depressive disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Panic disorder
- Phobic disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Separation anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
There are many cannabis strains available to help manage stress and anxiety, and more and more seem to be created each day. This wide variety and availability of cannabis is a great thing, but it can also be overwhelming if you’re not sure which strains are best for stress and anxiety. With the developing technology to create new strains, the mad scientists in the cannabis labs are discovering specific strains that can help with very specific symptoms.
Best Strains for Anxiety and Stress & Why They Work
Typically, an indica dominant strain is going to bring the most relief for stress and anxiety, and associated symptoms like insomnia, loss of appetite, depression, mood swings, etc. Indica strains are colloquially referred to as “in da couch” because they calm the body and bring relief to common imbalances in mental health that our society is experiencing more and more often.
Some associate cannabis with more anxiety and even paranoia. This is more commonly from sativa dominant strains, as this can create a head high rather than a body high. The difference between sativa and indica is vast, so let’s take a quick look at these different types of cannabis:
Most Indicas are a rich source of the popular cannabinoids THC, CBD and CBN. The effects of the Indica strain high are:
- Creates a body high
- Mental relaxation
- Eases headaches
- Reduced stress
- Muscle relaxation
- Decreased nausea
- Acute to chronic pain relief
- Increases appetite
- Eases seizures
- Assists in falling asleep and staying asleep
- Increases dopamine
- Nighttime use
- Reduces panic attacks
Indica is easily most loved for its ability to reduce extreme stress, treat anxiety, and make sleepless nights a thing of the past. And with little to no fogginess of the head that can sometimes happen with sleep aids or sleeping pills, Indica is touted for this.
Sativa strains have fewer cannabinoids like CBD and CBN, and higher THC. The medical and recreational effects of the Sativa strain are:
- Cerebral high
- Anti-anxiety
- Anti-depressant
- Energetic high
- Good for nausea and vomiting
- Increases focus and creativity
- Increases serotonin
- More laughter/giggles
- Eases depression and mood disorders
- Helps ease ADD/ADHD
- Ability to socialize and be creative
- Daytime use
Sativa strains are known to be the life of the party as they promote a more energetic effect. The lightness of the buds correlates to the lightness of the high, although the medicinal properties are not light at all.
When it comes to managing stress and anxiety, it’s best to avoid sativa strains and go for indica dominant strains or CBD strains. This can be consumed in flower, edibles, or vaporizers. With the multiple ways to enjoy the medicinal benefits of cannabis, there’s something for everyone.
It’s also important to note and remember that everyone will be different. What works for one person is not going to universally work for everyone. Keep this in mind when testing out different strains for stress and anxiety, and you’ll maintain the open mind needed to find the strain that best for you and managing your stress and anxiety.
Best Indica Dominant Strains for Stress and Anxiety
There are many indica strains that can be consumed for stress and anxiety. Discovering your favorite can be a fun journey. We recommend starting with small amounts and trying each separately to gauge the effects effectively. Beginning with a gram of flower, a pre-roll joint, or a disposable vape pen of your favorite strain for anxiety and stress.
Here are some of the best strains you can sample for stress and anxiety, which are all available at our Trinidad and Pueblo dispensaries:
- Blueberry Kush
- Girl Scout Cookies
- Bubba Kush
- Afghani Kush
- Durango OG
CBD dominant strains can also we excellent to relive symptoms of anxiety and stress. Stop in to talk to our seasoned and professional bud tenders and we’ll help you get on the road to living a stress and anxiety free life with the assistance of cannabis.