Last updated : December 16, 2024
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is often associated with our veterans who have experienced the horrors of war firsthand. No wonder it was once commonly referred to as “shell shock.” However, anyone can suffer from PTSD after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic or terrifying event that involves serious physical harm or the threat of it.
Witnessing or being the victim of assault is a major contributor to the disorder. Other factors that evolve into PTSD include:
- the unexpected death of a loved one
- serious accidents, natural disasters
- or, as already mentioned, war
It’s normal to experience emotions such as shock, fear, anger, nervousness, or even guilt after being involved in or witnessing a traumatic event. However, these emotions should subside over time. If a person is affected by PTSD, however, these emotions don’t fade. Moreover, they can even become more intense making it difficult to focus on work, relationships, and even tending to the daily business of self-care.
However, treating the condition with tranquilizers to keep patients calm and even keel didn’t seem to help with PTSD symptoms. Worse, some tranquilizers, such as lorazepam, marketed under the brand name Ativan, or clonazepam, otherwise known as Klonopin, are addictive.
Treatments currently used
The key to treatment is to help the patient reduce their anxiety levels so that they can function normally and get back to taking part in the life activities going on around them. Medications are sometimes prescribed for this purpose.
They include:
- Antidepressants to help control feelings of anxiety.
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Celexa
- Luvox
- Prozac
- Paxil
- Zoloft
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Elavil
- Doxepin
- Mood stabilizers
- Depakote
- Lamictal
- Atypical antipsychotics
- Abilify
- Seroquel
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Blood pressure medications
- Clonidine for sleep
- Prazosin for nightmares
- Propranolol to decrease the intensity of traumatic memories
- MDMA or ecstasy
Psychotherapy is another plan for treatment to teach patients the coping skills that can enable them to manage symptoms without drugs. Therapists also work with the patient and their family to learn how to work through the fears associated with the trauma they have experienced.
Therapeutic approaches include, but aren’t limited to:
- Cognitive processing therapy – aims to analyze the upsetting thoughts and feelings and learn to change them to create a more positive outlook.
- Prolonged exposure therapy – is a behavioral therapy that requires the patient to relive the traumatic event or identify the objects or situations that trigger anxiety.
- Psychodynamic therapy – puts the focus on helping the patient examine their personal values and the emotional conflict that the trauma caused.
- Family therapy – is important so that everyone realizes it’s the PTSD that causes outbursts and how to deal with that on a personal level.
- Group therapy – is helpful to some because the patient is surrounded by others who suffer as well. Sharing thoughts, fears, and feelings with those most likely to understand can be freeing.
Dude! What about weed?
The treatment goal when working with PTSD patients is to enable them to remain calm and relaxed rather than succumbing to the negative emotions and feelings that bombard their minds night and day. Marijuana is well known for being a drug that induces feelings of euphoria and a sense of well-being. Someone tormented with horrific nightmares and flashbacks could certainly use a sense of well-being!
There are those in the medical community who tend to agree. Marijuana may well be a viable treatment for PTSD patients.
In the past, the medical community largely assumed that smoking pot would exacerbate PTSD symptoms. Others formed a stance at the opposite end of the spectrum stating it could cause the user to create a dependency on the drug.
However, according to statements from veterans and others diagnosed with PTSD, using marijuana has allowed them to get off other medications and vastly improved their mental outlook. Symptoms had either significantly lessened or were no longer an issue at all. Of course, many in the medical field “poo-pooh” the idea and deem the testimonies uncreditable because there are no scientific studies to concur.
Ready to clear the smoke
Despite the military claiming they would study the possibility of using pot to treat PTSD as far back as 2014, things are still up in the air regarding the subject. As a matter of fact, the outlook still appears to lean toward discouraging using marijuana as a PTSD treatment.
Two universities have taken on the challenge of determining once and for all whether or not marijuana could be the key to freeing millions from the devastating effects of PTSD once and for all.
Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan completed a study looking at the way marijuana use impacts the amygdala response of patients dealing with trauma-related anxiety. The Wayne State research team created three groups of participants:
- Healthy controls who had not been exposed to trauma
- Trauma exposed adults without PTSD
- Trauma exposed adults with PTSD
There were 71 participants in all taking part in Wayne’s randomized, double-blind procedure. They were either given a low dose of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) or a placebo. After receiving their dose, the participants were exposed to threatening stimuli as their amygdala responses were recorded.
There was no question that of all three groups, those who were given THC had lower threat-related amygdala reactivity. In other words, they had less fear and anxiety than those who received the placebo.
But wait… there’s more
A second study on this topic was conducted at Brazil’s Federal University of Parana. It explored the possibility of using marijuana to extinguish the intensity associated with memories of trauma. Moreover, the study was extensive. It included a thorough review of cannabis literature from 1974-2020. They were looking for evidence from controlled human trials supporting or refuting the theory that marijuana helps with the “extinction” of traumatic memories.
The research concluded that, yes, marijuana use, entailing doses of both THC and CBD (cannabidiol), enhanced the extinction rate for traumatic memories. Moreover, it reduced overall anxiety responses. The study concluded that it was THC that drove the extinction rate improvements and CBD that tended to minimize any potential side effects from higher doses of THC.
Their road is dark
For anyone suffering from PTSD, life can be a terrifying existence. Imagine being constantly plagued by nightmares when trying to rest. Then, you’re dropped into a flashback triggered by a common sound or any element in your surroundings causing you to relive the trauma over and over again multiple times a day.
Many voices are speaking out about their journey to help and healing. More and more, those voices are sharing the part marijuana has played on the path to living a more enriched and fulfilling life. Some in the medical community are listening to their stories and delving into research to discover more.
We champion their effort.
