It’s not as straightforward as you might think.

By Dan Reich

Anxiety is one of the most pervasive and hard-to-treat mental health issues of our time. More than 40 million people in America suffer from one or more forms of anxiety, which can take many guises, from generalized anxiety to post-traumatic stress disorder. Panic attacks affect 6 million people, whereas phobias are a problem for more than 19 million. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) manifests itself in 2.5 million, and Social Anxiety Disorder (a spectrum of behaviors from fear of public speaking to agoraphobia) affects the social activity of 15 million.

Anxiety is generally defined as a sense of unease or foreboding with no easily identifiable cause, or at least one that is insignificant compared to the anxiety response. Anxiety can be a chronic state of worry, or it can be caused by any of several triggers. These can include excessive or unresolved stress, a genetic predisposition to anxiety, an experience of trauma or loss, or a side effect from medication.

Anxiety generally involves feelings of apprehension or worry about events that might occur in the future, whereas fear is a response to an immediate threat, such as an approaching storm or something chasing you. Fear is a normal, healthy biological response…we wouldn’t be here if fear hadn’t enabled our ancestors to escape danger…but anxiety is not nearly as useful. It keeps people from living normal lives, and causes a lot of pain for those affected by it.

Treating anxiety with pharmaceuticals, such as antidepressants, has not been a solution for many. As society begins to embrace alternative therapies, such as cannabis, studies have been undertaken that demonstrate that cannabis could be a good solution for mitigating anxiety. But here is where it gets tricky. THC – the cannabinoid that gets you high – can be effective in small doses, but in larger amounts, can actually cause anxiety. THC has emerged in studies on PTSD as an effective treatment, but it seems to have the most potential when combined with CBD. The two cannabinoids work in concert (the entourage effect) and when CBD is combined with THC, its psychoactive (and anxiety-inducing) properties are minimized.

CBD, on the other hand, has demonstrated that it is an effective anti-anxiety medicine, and is also invaluable in its ability to allow THC to provide therapeutic benefits without making the anxiety worse.

Dosing Is Everything

For those suffering from anxiety who have not tried cannabis to treat it, establishing the right dose is of paramount importance. Conventional wisdom is to start small, and gradually increase the dose. Depending on the type of anxiety, it’s probably best to avoid products that have more THC than CBD to avoid psychoactive side effects.

Inhalation is the quickest delivery method for cannabinoids as the lungs give immediate access to the blood system.To address acute anxiety or a full blown panic attack vaping or smoking a CBD-rich strain will bring therapeutic relief in seconds. Synergy’s pure extraction vape cartridge CBD:THC 24:1 (#351) is recommended for cessation of anxious symptoms and Synergy has a range of high CBD flowers for conventional smoking.

.A CBD-dominant strain like ACDC in tincture form (CBD;THC 24:1 #100,#101,#102) can offer anti-anxiety benefits without a THC influenced buzz. Containing only trace levels of THC, ACDC uses the force of CBD and terpenes like myrcene to invoke a clear, calm state of mind. If you’re new to cannabis and leery of feeling high, start with ACDC or another CBD-rich strain. If the psychoactivity of THC is helpful. a blended tincture with a low ratio of THC will be mildly psychoactive and can be uplifting and effective. Synergy offers two 4:1 CBD to THC tinctures, Indica dominant (CBD;THC 4:1, #103-#105) for calming action and Sativa dominant ( CBD:THC 4:1 #116) for uplifting anxiety relief. Both these tinctures are very mildly psychoactive especially at low doses.

For the most tailored and precise dosing tinctures are the best option. Using a sublingual dropper, you can easily manage consistent dosing. Any of our CBD-rich tinctures can be helpful with anxiety, particularly our CBD:CBG blend (CBD:CBG 3:1 #230), which includes a lesser known but powerful cannabinoid (CBG) that is particularly indicated in addressing anxiety.

160# CBD Medley is a blend of 4 CBD -rich strains (ACDC, Valentine X, Electra and Therapy A. Each strain has its own terpene signature and a blend offers the benefit of an enhanced entourage effect.

If you are suffering from anxiety and have not obtained the relief you seek, look into cannabis and CBD. It could make all the difference.

Anxiety can also be a triggered response to social pressure, if you suffer from pre-event anxiety, if parties or a dental visit set you on edge CBD will relieve anxious symptoms effectively.

Before starting a treatment program, it’s best to do so under the supervision of a medical provider. If you would prefer to work with us rather than another provider, we are always available for consultations to develop treatment plans and recommend the most suitable products.