Treatment Options
Sophie continued to research severe anxiety
treatment options. Although Sarah’s
counsellor was lovely, and offered some good
suggestions and strategies, Sophie decided to
consult a psychologist who specialised in
social anxiety.
“One of the options the psychologist offered
was an anti-depressant.
But Sarah had already done her own research
on anti-depressants, so it took me by huge
surprise when she said, flat out, “No way. I’m
not comfortable with the side effects”.
” Then she stumbled upon a small trial – the
use of cannabis oil for social anxiety – which
had positive results.
At this point, the situation was putting
massive stress on the whole family, and she
was willing to try options ‘outside the square’.
After many months of trying to improve life
for Sarah, Sophie didn’t know how much
more she had left in her.
She couldn’t focus on work; even simple
conversations were an effort.
So, after hearing cannabis oil might be
beneficial for her too, Sophie decided she and
her daughter would try it together.
How Cannabis Oil Works
There are protocols to follow, depending on
your condition. For example, you might need
a specific mix of CBD (for energy, mood
lifting) and THC (for pain relief, relaxing).
Sophie says: “The way the dosage worked
was to start slowly and build up.
Because each person is unique, so is the dose.
So it was one drop, four times a day – adding
a drop per dose until you hit your ‘sweet spot’
which may be reached in a few days or more”.
The oil is just one part of the protocol. A big
focus is on healing the gut, and cutting out
foods that cause inflammation.
Sugar is off the table, as are dairy and grains.
This means a paleo, or LCHF (low carb,
healthy fat) way of eating is ideal.
Hemp seeds are suggested to help ‘mop up’
the gut, and there are teas and other herbs that
help with gut repair – healing and reducing
inflammation.
“The protocol emphasises the importance of
addressing the gut-brain connection”, Sophie
says. “The gut sends more messages to the
brain than the brain sends to the gut.
So if the gut is unhappy, it’s going to be
sending suboptimal messages to the brain”.
It is recommended the protocol be continued
for 30 days.
Noticing A Difference… In Just Four Days
Around Day 4, Sophie noticed something
different: Sarah looked truly happy – happier,
in fact, than Sophie had seen her in many
years.
Sarah had energy to get off the couch, and
would sing to herself as she did things around
the home.
She was drawing again, smiling, laughing,
and being playful.
She started to bond with the kids at school,
and stopped asking for days off; in fact, she
started to enjoy school again.
“When she looked at me, I felt she was more
connected and present, rather than looking
down, being distracted, or changing the topic
in conversations.
She’d stopped talking about wanting to die,
rediscovered her creativity, and was enjoying
life again”, beamed Sophie. “It’s exactly how
life should be.
It didn’t change her into someone else, or
make her high, instead I felt like I had my
daughter back.
She was emotionally balanced and able to
cope with everyday life”.
Sophie continued: “At that moment, I realised
I felt something different too. While I was still
fatigued, I had a lot more mental energy.
I felt like having conversations; I felt calm and
composed.
I felt my focus and attention back again, and I
was being more loving towards others.