Top 7 Cannabis Strains to Help Ease Social Anxiety

Whether you’ve been dealing with a social anxiety disorder for years or it’s a recent diagnosis, managing it can be difficult and frustrating. Managing social interactions can seem impossible, and leaving your home can occasionally even be frightening. Before incorporating cannabis into your treatment plan for social anxiety disorder, you should always get advice from a medical marijuana doctor. The doctor will examine your health, determine whether marijuana is the best option for you, and provide you with advice on how to use it safely. 

Cannabis has gained attention as a potentially helpful alternative treatment to help people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) get past mental obstacles in social settings. Read on to discover how cannabis might help and our top strains (cultivars) to take into consideration if you’re looking for a medical marijuana-based solution to manage your social anxiety.

The Impact of Cannabis on Social Anxiety

There appears to be little evidence to support cannabis as a long-term, successful treatment for social anxiety. In order to maintain homeostasis in a number of regulatory processes, including appetite, memory, immune response, metabolism, and stress response, cannabis interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). Cannabis appears to be a good fit for the position because of the ECS’s involvement with stress and anxiety.

Additionally, cannabis functions in the body in a manner akin to that of current anxiety drugs. Many of these medications target GABA, one of the neurotransmitters in your body that regulates anxiety levels all over your body. According to recent research, cannabis, specifically cannabidiol (CBD), alters the body’s GABA activity. Accordingly, cannabis may be just as successful at reducing stress as a number of popular prescription medications that treat anxiety.

Cannabis can affect the body’s cortisol levels, according to other research. The hormone that determines stress levels is cortisol; low levels of cortisol indicate low stress, while high levels indicate high stress. In one study, anxiety patients who were given marijuana showed discernible decreases in cortisol levels, suggesting that they were becoming more relaxed.

Another annoying and stressful component of many anxiety disorders is insomnia. Cannabis provides a solution in this area as well; studies have shown that using marijuana, especially high-CBD strains, significantly increased the amount and quality of sleep. Reduced levels of perceived anxiety are directly correlated with this improvement in sleep quality.

Lastly, CBD has exciting potential as a general anxiety-reduction tool. In one study, CBD was administered to SAD patients over a number of sessions. Researchers found that increased blood flow to the cingulate cortex improved the ability to interpret other people’s reactions. In addition, CBD decreases blood flow to the hippocampus, which is crucial for memory formation. Patients generally reported feeling less anxious and having a higher quality of life.

Effective Ways to Use Cannabis for Managing Social Anxiety

The way that cannabis is used to treat social anxiety is completely up to the individual who wants to use it, even though it can feel like a heavy, ongoing burden.

Because the cannabinoids enter the bloodstream through the lungs and circulate throughout the body within 30 minutes, smoking and vaping cannabis are two fast-acting methods of consumption. It is helpful for shorter social gatherings or running errands because its effects last for up to three hours. Additionally, smoking and vaping are more social consumption practices that may provide a way to unwind and develop the habit of social interaction.

Although the effects of edibles take a little longer to manifest—up to 90 minutes—they provide a more durable cannabis treatment for anxiety. Edibles from dispensaries provide an accurate, consistent dosage that lets you manage how much cannabis you take and prevent overconsumption, which increases anxiety.

Remember that not all cannabis strains will help with social anxiety; some strains in particular, or excessive dosages, can exacerbate symptoms and cause more stress. To determine what works best for you, start with low, gradual doses and talk with your medical marijuana doctor about your treatment options. The doctor will give you a medical marijuana card in Newark that will allow you to legally obtain marijuana for medical purposes in your state and will also educate you on the most recent medical marijuana laws in your state.

Best Cannabis Strains for Managing Social Anxiety

1. ACDC

The high-CBD strain ACDC provides quantifiable pain relief without the intoxicating effects of THC. Its high CBD content also has anti-inflammatory properties and aids in regulating the chemical signals linked to stress reactions. Beta-caryophyllene and myrcene are the two main terpenes found in ACDC.

2. Chocolate Chunk

A more physically oriented strain, Chocolate Chunk is said to promote deep, full-body relaxation. With this extremely powerful strain, which has high concentrations of the anti-inflammatory compounds carene and valencene, a little goes a long way.

3. Northern Lights

An older and well-liked cannabis strain with sedative and calming effects is Northern Lights. The cultivar has a higher profile of myrcene, beta-caryophyllene, and pinene, and more THC than CBD. Together, these terpenes help patients unwind and reduce stress while fostering joy.

4. Harle-Tsu

Harlequin has a relation to Harle-Tsu. With less than 1% THC, this award-winning strain typically tests much higher than its average of 13% CBD. Because of this ratio, it’s a popular option for those who want to improve their mood, focus, and anxiety levels. Ocimene, myrcene, pinene, and terpinolene are the main terpenes found in Harle-Tsu.

5. Harlequin

Due to the roughly 2:1 ratio of CBD to THC in Harlequin, both cannabinoids can provide some stress relief while maintaining a mildly intoxicating effect. The most prevalent terpenes in Harlequin are limonene, beta-caryophyllene, and myrcene.

6. Granddaddy Purple

This hybrid strain is well-known for its deeply calming properties, which make it beneficial for people who are struggling with tension and insomnia. It is ideal for treating panic attacks in the evening because of its concentrations of camphene, a natural stress reliever, and linalool, a calming terpene.

7. Critical Cure

Critical Cure, also known as “CBD Critical Cure,” is a calming strain that is ideal for people with SAD who need to reduce their stress levels because it has been shown to relax tense muscles and slow down racing thoughts. The main terpenes in Critical Cure are geraniol, ocimene, myrcene, and humulene.