Medical Marijuana Has Given Me My Life Back
When I was first diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), I took my therapist’s advice and started taking antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds and sleeping pills. I don’t like to take meds of any kind because I’m quite sensitive and seem to get a lot of side effects, but I needed them. I was suicidal, not getting much sleep and I couldn’t leave the house, let alone open the curtains because I was so afraid of the outside world.
I wanted the meds to work so badly because I didn’t like the person I was becoming, but they didn’t. The antidepressants made me cough all the time, as well as sweat uncontrollably. The sleeping pills were great at helping me sleep, but did nothing for me when I was trying to wake out of a night terror.
So, I did what I do best, and I started doing research on what the military was doing for PTSD. I was completely surprised by what I found. The first article I read discussed studies about using medicinal marijuana on our servicemen, and how it was helping with night terrors and anxiety. I went on to read article after article explaining how it worked and then decided to try it.
I found a recipe called “Dropdead Cookies” in “HighTimes,” and baked my first batch. The first night I ate half a cookie which contained about half of a gram (it was disgusting!), but I slept five hours without so much as a whimper. I hadn’t slept more than 30 to 45 minutes without a night terror in more than 30 years! I was over the moon, but was it a fluke?
I’m always waiting for the ball to drop, if you know what I mean, and I was afraid this was too good to be true. So, I tried it again and I have to say, I’ve never looked back. The only time I’ve had a night terror since I started taking marijuana is when I went on holiday and couldn’t find any to eat before I went to sleep.
Now don’t go getting all high and mighty on me, because I’m not a “pothead.” Other than medicinal marijuana doing what it’s supposed to do, there are no side effects. So I don’t have to take meds for heartburn, high blood pressure, bloating or constipation.
Marijuana has given me my life back. I’m not symptom-free, but I have something to take when PTSD is rearing its ugly head and I’m unable to leave the house. It helps to control my anxiety, daytime flashbacks and nighttime, as well as daytime, sweats. Plus I’m able to function better and finally live, because I’m getting at least five hours of sleep a night.
This is my experience and it’s a relief to have something that finally helps, because the lack of sleep, amongst other things, was really testing my sanity. I hope you can find something that helps you. Oh, and don’t forget to check out the links below to read about the scientific reasons why medicinal marijuana works so well on the traumatized brain.
Thanks for following. Stay safe and stay strong.
Here are some resources to check out if you want to learn more:
Could Pot Help Veterans With PTSD?
Medical Marijuana and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
General Use of Cannabis for PTSD Symptoms
Follow this journey on the author’s site.
If you or someone you know needs help, visit our suicide prevention resources page.
If you need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “HOME” to 741-741. Head here for a list of crisis centers around the world.
Thinkstock photo via sand86
Davina Lytle is a freelance writer that lives in Canada. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother, and she is also a survivor and advocate for mental illness. Davina has been living with a mental illness for most of her life, but wasn’t diagnosed until 2005 when she was threatened by a man claiming to have a gun. Later that year, she was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The diagnosis was devastating for her; as well as for her family and it led to her being cast out by certain members of her family of origin. Since that time Davina has become passionate about mental health. She started writing a book that she’s sure is going to be a great help to other survivors. Plus she writes a weekly blog chronicling what it’s like to live with a mental injury in hopes that she can help end the stigma around mental illness by educating people through her own experiences with PTSD.
davinalytle