Can You Use Medical Marijuana Treat PTSD in Louisiana?

Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical or emotional harm occurred or was threatened.

Louisiana residents are especially vulnerable to PTSD, and the Orleans Parish School Board has stated that 60% of children in New Orleans suffer from PTSD.

PTSD can result when a person suffers substantial emotional trauma such as the result of rape, assault, domestic abuse, car accidents, natural disasters, robberies, exposure to warfare, and in fact, nearly any traumatic event could lead a person to developing PTSD.

What are the Symptoms of PTSD?

PTSD takes many forms; some patients with PTSD experience only one symptom while others may report many different problems. PTSD symptoms usually appear within three months of the incident but can emerge years later, making PTSD difficult to identify and diagnose.

Difficulty Regulating Mood and Emotion

PTSD can heavily affect mood and emotions, and problems with the two can surface without warning which sometimes makes it difficult to relate to others, and to express appropriate emotions or thoughts.

Nightmares and Flashbacks

PTSD can manifest itself in many different ways such as nightmares and flashbacks about past experiences, irrational thoughts or anger, and when combined with unpredictable mood fluctuations, PTSD can be a severely debilitating disorder for those suffering from the condition.

Trouble Sleeping

PTSD victims commonly have sleep difficulties along with constant states of alertness that can trigger irritability and anger.

PTSD symptoms (flashbacks, nightmares, etc.) can be triggered by anything that emotionally resembles the experience of the PTSD sufferer's past trauma, or in some cases remain persistent regardless of exposure to familiar events.

Memory Issues

PTSD victims also frequently have a difficult time remembering key features of traumatic events.

How Common is PTSD?

PTSD is prevalent in both men and women, and children are especially vulnerable to the condition as exposure to severe traumatic events as a child can all but guarantee residual problems later in life.

PTSD problems are even similar to alcohol or drug addiction, as PTSD symptoms can mimic these conditions with byproducts such as confusion, depression, anxiety and problems with sleep.

PTSD sufferers often experience some of the following symptoms:

Disturbing recurring flashbacks
Nightmares and dreams about the event that caused PTSD
A feeling that you are still in danger or that your life is threatened even when you are safe from harm
Inability to stop thinking about what has happened
Avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Irritability or outbursts of anger
Difficulty concentrating or remembering key elements of the event that caused PTSD
Feeling detached from others and emotionally numb

Can Louisiana Medical Marijuana help with PTSD?

Demands for medical marijuana to treat PTSD symptoms come on the heels of a decision by Louisiana health officials to add chronic pain and PTSD to the list of medical conditions recommended for treatment with medical marijuana.

Studies in the United States, Canada, and Israel have shown that medical marijuana may have the potential to help with many of the symptoms of PTSD.

Chronic pain, sleeping issues, irritability and stress are all problems associated with PTSD, and cannabis may have the medical efficacy to provide help with exactly these kinds of issues.

While PTSD can often make a person irritable, lose sleep, and assume high levels of inappropriate stress, cannabis can often make a person calmer, sleep better, and stay less stressed.

What are the Complications of PTSD?

For someone suffering from the kind of debilitating symptoms that PTSD can cause, relief can make an incredible impact in their quality of life, relationships, and emotional wellbeing.

Unfortunately, in a sample of urban young American adults, those diagnosed with PTSD are reportedly 15 times more likely to attempt suicide than those without PTSD, a terrifying statistic.

Complications of PTSD can range from suicidal ideation, the inability to maintain healthy relationships, and even a loss of interest in activities or hobbies that were once joyful.

PTSD robs you of your love for life, and addressing the condition requires a full-time treatment plan to help manage the condition and its symptoms.

Get a Louisiana Medical Marijuana Card for PTSD

Medical marijuana has shown strong enough results with PTSD patients to be approved as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in Louisiana, offering a natural and potentially healthier alternative to dangerous pharmaceutical drugs that can wreak havoc on the body and mind.

If you or a loved one are suffering from PTSD, consult with our staff of qualified doctors that can help walk you through the path of getting medical marijuana to help with PTSD.

Our doctors can be reached at (833) 253-2943 to help answer any questions you may have about getting a Louisiana marijuana card for PTSD.