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CBD for Trauma and PTSD

CBD for PTSD

“Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking scary, or dangerous event,” says the National Institute of Mental Health. Humans naturally feel alarm, trepidation, and terror after a particularly frightening event, they say. PTSD is a condition in which these experiences are prolonged and disruptive to the sufferer’s life. So, let’s discuss taking CBD for trauma and PTSD, and how it impacts the condition.

When does trauma become PTSD?

Stress and anxiety are generally normal parts of life, especially during traumatic events. Afterwards, some people develop symptoms that need medical and psychological treatment. This is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The American Psychiatric Association began to include it in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1980. Although this was a controversial move back then, time proved the need for the classification in a professional capacity.

“From an historical perspective the significant change ushered in by the PTSD concept was the stipulation that the etiological agent was outside the individual (i.e., a traumatic event) rather than an inherent individual weakness (i.e., a traumatic neurosis),” says the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs. “The key to understanding the scientific basis and clinical expression of PTSD is the concept of “trauma.”

Traumatic experiences prompt responses from the body, such as trembling, racing heart, fear, and perspiration. These symptoms commonly last for a few days after the event. They’re the result of a cerebral defense mechanism that protects the body from harm. It’s generally known as the fight-or-flight response. These responses are a sign that the defensive system is functioning properly.

PTSD, on the other hand, isn’t a normal response to trauma. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America explains, “A traumatic event is time-based, while PTSD is a longer-term condition where one continues to have flashbacks and re-experienc[e] the traumatic event.” The good news is, PTSD is a treatable condition, overall.

Symptoms of PTSD

PTSD is a serious mental health disorder with agonizing symptoms that a patient usually experiences daily. Many of these symptoms can vary, depending on the person and the traumatic event.

 

The American Psychiatric Association organizes the symptoms into four categories:

 

  • Intrusive Thoughts

 

Intrusive thoughts are cerebral reminders of the sights and sounds of a traumatic event. They stir up disturbing and uncomfortable emotions. However, patients tend to have these obsessive thoughts often. Examples of intrusive thoughts include more than repeated memories playing in one’s mind. They can also include nightmares and flashbacks.

 

  • Actively Avoiding Reminders of the Event

 

The scope of things that remind people of a traumatic event is extremely broad. Moreover, it varies from person to person. Avoiding physical reminders, such as the place of the event, the people involved, or activities that occurred immediately before the event took place are common avoidance practices. In addition, patients may go to extremes to avoid discussing or thinking about the event. Many patients also turn to drugs and alcohol to numb their feelings, which only worsens the condition.

 

  • Negative Thoughts and Feelings

 

Self-esteem and self-confidence often suffer in people with PTSD. Outside criticisms are louder than outside complements. Previous mistakes often seem worse than they once did. Positive self-views begin to dwindle. Feelings of terror, anger or shame distort the sufferer’s belief system. Consequently, this often leads to disconnection in relationships and even isolation. Living with unexplained distrust or guilt after a traumatic experience is certainly a sign of PTSD.

 

  • Arousal and Reactive Symptoms

 

Negative thoughts and feelings are internal symptoms of PTSD. The disorder is also marked by external symptoms. These are arousal and reactive symptoms. Suddenly snapping at loved ones and taking unnecessary risks may signal the presence of PTSD. Insomnia and difficulty with concentration are also examples of these external symptoms.

How common is PTSD?

 

  • An estimated 70 percent of adults in the United States have experienced a traumatic event at least once in their lives and up to 20 percent of these people go on to develop posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Sidran Institute

 

 

  • The most common events leading to the development of PTSD include, combat exposure, childhood physical abuse, sexual violence, physical assault, being threatened with a weapon, and an accident. Mayo Clinic

 

FDA-Approved Medications for the Treatment of PTSD

Pharmaceutical medications are a rather small part of PTSD treatment. A complete treatment plan includes a combination of therapies. According to WebMD, these therapies can include cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and stress inoculation training.

Drugs.com lists 16 medications that doctors prescribe for the treatment of PTSD. The most popular medications are prazosin, Zoloft, and sertraline.

Prazosin

This drug widens veins and arteries. Researchers also believe that it may also block nerves that close veins and arteries. For that reason, doctors primarily use it to treat high blood pressure. Drugs.com lists the following side-effects:

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when getting up from a lying or sitting position
  • Fainting (sudden)
  • Loss of bladder control
  • Pounding of heartbeat
  • Swelling of the feet or lower legs
  • Chest pain
  • Trouble breathing
  • Painful or prolonged erection of the penis

Zoloft and Sertraline

Sertraline is the active ingredient in Zoloft, so we’ll address them together. They’re anti-depressants. Doctors generally prescribe them for depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

“Commonly reported side effects of sertraline include diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, [indigestion], fatigue, insomnia, loose stools, nausea, tremor, headache, [tingling], anorexia, decreased libido, delayed ejaculation, [sweating], ejaculation failure, and [dry mouth],” says Drugs.com. “Other side effects include abdominal pain, agitation, pain, vomiting, anxiety, hypouricemia, and malaise.

Effectiveness of CBD Treatment for PTSD: The Evidence

CBD is still in the infant stages of research. But overall results look promising. Take a look at some of the following examples of clinical studies.

  • CBD for PTSD: From Bench Research to Confirmation in Human Trials

Scientific Research Journal: Frontiers in Neuroscience

“The effects of CBD on the different stages of aversive memory processing make this compound a candidate pharmacological adjunct to psychological therapies for PTSD. CBD also shows an action profile with fewer side effects than the pharmacological therapy currently used to treat this type of disorder.”

  • CBD Regulation of Learned Fear: Implications for Treating Anxiety-Related Disorders

Scientific Research Journal: Frontiers in Pharmacology

“CBD might be an improvement over other available drugs used for treating the fear-related symptoms of phobias and PTSD, which can impair extinction (e.g., benzodiazepines) or have a less favorable side effect profile.”

  • CBD for PTSD: A Case Series Review

Scientific Research Journal: Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

“Administration of oral CBD in addition to routine psychiatric care was associated with PTSD symptom reduction in adults with PTSD. CBD also appeared to offer relief in a subset of patients who reported frequent nightmares as a symptom of their PTSD.”

  • Effects of CBD on Contextual Fear Memory Extinction (a common symptom of PTSD)

Scientific Research Journal: Frontiers in Pharmacology

“CBD both acutely inhibited fear expression and enhanced extinction to produce longer lasting reductions in fear.”

  • Veterans’ Use of CBD for PTSD

Scientific Research Journal: American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy

“While further research into cannabinoid treatment effects on PTSD symptoms is required, the evaluated evidence indicates that substantial numbers of military veterans with PTSD use cannabis or derivative products to control PTSD symptoms, with some patients reporting benefits in terms of reduced anxiety and insomnia and improved coping ability.”

Using CBD for the Treatment of PTSD

Living with PTSD is unquestionably agonizing. People have been searching for better treatment options for years. Researchers can finally make meaningful progress with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill.

Veteran’s Affairs suggests that CBD can help active members of the military in combat before developing PTSD. “Using CBD products early enough could prevent severe PTSD or anxiety from entirely developing.

If you’re using CBD for PTSD for the first time, there are a few things you should know. Firstly, CDB doesn’t get you high. In other words, you won’t notice any intoxication or changes in your mentality.

Second, the CBD dosage amount is highly dependent on weight, condition severity, metabolism, and how it’s taken. For example, CBD oil deposited under the tongue produces faster results than eating CBD-infused food. Start with a low dose of CBD and then slowly increase it until you experience the desired results. In other words, be patient.

Finally, carefully read labels and verify third-third party lab results for the product. This explicitly ensures that you’re ingesting the amount of CBD that’s printed on the label. Some companies are out to make a quick buck on the booming industry. Therefore, all CBD is not created equal. Trustworthy companies commonly use U.S.-grown hemp. Furthermore, they post lab results on their website.

We’ve developed an easy, user-friendly directory to help consumers find CBD oil and other products. Just submit your zip code and we’ll provide a listing of nearby locations for you to visit and ask further questions.

Sources

[1] Betthauser, Kevin, et al. “Use and Effects of Cannabinoids in Military Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.” American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy: AJHP: Official Journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Aug. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26195653.

[2] Bhandari, Smitha. “6 Common Treatments for PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).” WebMD, WebMD, 7 Nov. 2017, www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-are-treatments-for-posttraumatic-stress-disorder#1.

[3] Bitencourt, Rafael M, and Reinaldo N Takahashi. “Cannabidiol as a Therapeutic Alternative for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: From Bench Research to Confirmation in Human Trials.” Frontiers in Neuroscience, Frontiers Media S.A., 24 July 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6066583/.

[4] Elms, Lucas, et al. “Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Series.” Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.), Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publishers, Apr. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6482919/.

[5] Friedman, Matthew J. “PTSD: National Center for PTSD.” PTSD History and Overview, U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, 31 Jan. 2007, www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/essentials/history_ptsd.asp.

[6] Fulop, Sharon, et al. “Can CBD Oil Help with Anxiety & PTSD In Veterans?” VA.org, 30 Oct. 2019, va.org/can-cbd-oil-help-with-anxiety-ptsd-in-veterans/.

[7] Hall-Flavin, Daniel. “Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967?p=1.

[8] Jurkus, Regimantas, et al. “Cannabidiol Regulation of Learned Fear: Implications for Treating Anxiety-Related Disorders.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, Frontiers Media S.A., 24 Nov. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5121237/.

[9] Kissen, Debra, and Michelle Lozano. “How to Prevent Trauma from Becoming PTSD.” Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA, adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/how-prevent-trauma-becoming-ptsd.

[10] The National Institute of Mental Health. “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, May 2019, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml.

Additional Sources

[11] Parekh, Ranna. “What Is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?” What Is PTSD?, Jan. 2017, www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd.

[12] “Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).” Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA, adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd#PTSD%20Facts.

[13] “Prazosin Side Effects: Common, Severe, Long Term.” Drugs.com, 5 Feb. 2019, www.drugs.com/sfx/prazosin-side-effects.html.

[14] PTSD Alliance. “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Fact Sheet.” Sidran Institute, www.sidran.org/for-survivors-and-loved-ones/.

[15] “Sertraline Side Effects: Common, Severe, Long Term.” Drugs.com, 6 Dec. 2018, www.drugs.com/sfx/sertraline-side-effects.html.

[16] Song, Chenchen, et al. “Bidirectional Effects of Cannabidiol on Contextual Fear Memory Extinction.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, Frontiers Media S.A., 16 Dec. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5159417/.

[17] “Trauma.” Trauma / SAMHSA-HRSA, www.integration.samhsa.gov/clinical-practice/trauma.

[18] Tull, Matthew. “Is There a Cure for PTSD?” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 24 June 2019, www.verywellmind.com/ptsd-treatment-2797659.

[19] “VA.gov: Veterans Affairs.” How Common Is PTSD in Adults?, 13 Sept. 2018, www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_adults.asp.