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Stress Mitigation and Cannabis by Peter Kershaw , contributing writer
Don ’ t Worry ... Be HAPPY !
In his book Stress , Appraisal and Coping , psychologist Richard S . Lazarus stated : “ Stress occurs when an individual perceives that the demands of an external situation are beyond his or her perceived ability to cope with them .”
According to the American Psychological Association Dictionary of Psychology , stress is defined as : “ the physiological or psychological response to internal or external stressors . Stress involves changes affecting nearly every system of the body , influencing how people feel and behave . For example , it may manifest by palpitations , sweating , dry mouth , shortness of breath , fidgeting , accelerated speech , augmentation of negative emotions ( if already experienced ), and longer duration of stress fatigue .”
The APA dictionary goes on to further define “ severe stress ” and “ chronic stress ,” each of which has even worse psychological and physiological consequences than normal and infrequent bouts of stress . Stress is experienced when the body releases stress hormones into the bloodstream , particularly catecholamines and cortisol . This release of stress hormones is mediated by the “ HPA axis ,” the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the brain , and adrenal glands on the kidneys . These are the so-called “ fightor-flight ” hormones . In genuine emergency situations , stress hormones can literally save your life , but the mind and body were never intended to be doused in them daily .
Millions of Americans operate routinely , if not daily , in fight-or-flight mode , with stress hormones cranked up far higher than normal . Left unaddressed , high levels of stress hormones take a heavy toll not only on the mind but on our physical well-being . Stress can literally be a killer . One of the most common triggers for stress is “ constricting emotions ” such as fear , anxiety , anger , defensiveness , etc . If possible , one should take steps to avoid those situations ( and perhaps certain people ) that trigger such emotions . Gratefully , there are also any number of therapeutic relaxation techniques one can engage in that can positively affect our ability to manage negative emotions better , thereby mitigating stress .
Mankind has always known stress . However , our ancestors experienced far lower levels and less frequent bouts of stress than we do today . Chronic stress wasn ’ t even defined until 1940 . Industrial and technological advances have brought us many benefits and conveniences , but they ’ ve also come at the expense , in many cases , of making our lives inherently more overloaded and complicated . Some of us might recall as children sitting around grandpa and grandma ’ s living room , listening to them reminisce about the good ol ’ days . While our ancestors often had to work harder and longer hours , they
24 November 2024
were also far less stressed . They also slept much better , averaging two hours of sleep a night more than we do . Their lives were simpler , and for the most part , they were more pleasant , relaxed , and accommodating of their families , neighbors , co-workers , and even strangers .
As we ’ ve gotten more modern , our stress levels have gone up . Stress today in America is historically perhaps the highest it ’ s ever been , thanks in no small part to the recent COVID scaredemic . On top of that , there ’ s all the political acrimony . We are a polarized nation , none of which helps our stress levels .
Cannabis and Stress
Stress and anxiety have for many years been reported as the top two conditions for which patients seek out medical cannabis ( followed thirdly by pain ). Cannabis is widely acknowledged for its capacity to dissipate destructive emotions ( e . g ., pessimism , anger , fear , anxiety ) and replace them with a positive disposition and optimistic outlook .
The HPA axis is regulated by the endocannabinoid system , which both reacts to stress and assists with adapting to stress . Endocannabinoid signaling is an essential process in regulating and adapting to stress . Unfortunately , a great many of us suffer from what Dr . Ethan Russo terms Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency , resulting in a great many health problems . 1 Periodically supplementing with a little medical cannabis has proven , for millions of Americans , to be incredibly beneficial for a host of issues , including stress .
Therapeutic Window
Your therapeutic window determines your ideal cannabis dose . It ’ s subjective , varying from person to person , and has a bottom and top threshold . Consuming below your bottom threshold will yield ineffective results . Consuming above your top threshold may actually worsen the condition you ’ re attempting to treat because in addressing certain conditions ( stress being one of them ), cannabis is “ bi-phasic ,” meaning small doses of the right strain can produce positive results . However , large doses ( especially of the wrong strain ) may exacerbate whatever symptom one is targeting . High-THC cannabis strains have the potential to exacerbate stress due to the down-regulation of CB1 receptors , 2 potentially even resulting in paranoia . Studies confirm that chronic cannabis use ( i . e ., abuse ) results in higher blood levels of cortisol . 3
Where it concerns stress , more THC isn ’ t better . Successfully treating stress usually requires only a very small dose , typically 2.5 – 5mg , to effectively treat it . Even CBD alone is reported by many to treat