Cannabis and PTSD
Did you know that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be associated with disregulation of the body's natural endocannabinoid system?
When the endocannabinoid system isn't working well, it can lead to:
An overactive amygdala (a part of the brain highly involved in stress regulation)
Always on high alert!
Underactive medial prefrontal cortex (a part of the brain highly involved in rational thinking)
Hard to manage emotions and feel safe!
Stress response is stuck "on"
Hard to return to a calm state after stress
More anxiety
in everyday life and under stress
Bad memories come back easily and it is harder to 'unlearn' the fear tied to them
Chronic inflammation
with damaging effects on overall health
This is why cannabis products, which target the endocannabinoid system, could possibly have therapeutic effects for PTSD.
Currently, over 18,000 Canadian Veterans are using medical cannabis to manage PTSD symptoms (and often for sleep and pain)
However, for many of them, it takes 1 to 4 years to figure out the right dose that works best.
Research to help support better use is highly needed!
If you are a Canadian Veteran with a current or past history of PTSD, we want to learn from you!
AND
We are searching for people who are using cannabis as well as people who do not.
Please click on the blue button to fill out a survey led by researchers at the University of Ottawa in collaboration with the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families: