PTSD

[Lamster67]

Hi all...I'm posting on behalf of one of my military bros who is suffering badly with PTSD, I'll call him Jon.

This guy means alot to me as he once pushed me out of the line of a tracer which would have hit me squarely in the face, so I feel forever indebted to him.

He's been through all the usual anxiety/depression treatments which only made things worse for him.

So I'm here now asking for advise on which strains he should be looking at growing.

On his last grow he was forced to crop early due to a unwanted visit from his probation worker,  unfortunately the army shit on him & he left with alot of anger....& the trichs weren't ready hence he has alot of paranoia going on...i told him to make hash with it.

He's got a 3ft² tent with a marshydro ts100 & his skills are getting better.

Thanks for taking the time to read & please,  any suggestions are more than welcome 

Cheers Lamster 

[pollenlover]

Indica and related hybrids work for me. I love sativa too but can catch me unawares if my heart starts to race a bit and can give me a little paranoia sometimes which triggers the symptoms of PTSD. I also sleep a lot better with indica and don't dream as much.

[ratdog]

i struggle with strong weed if i'm not drinking on it, but nordle cbd is consistently comforting and not overwhelming, i'm currently going to try to reduce my booze intake with it as it's the first one i have found that doesn't fuck with my head while otherwise sober.

[Boojum]

I find if I've got weed that's too 'uppy', which can make me anxious and stuff, if I decarb it in an oven bag before smoking it that mellows it out a bit (it ruins the taste, but I don't really smoke weed for the taste).

[tokenroll]

Any indica strain and let it get over ripe before harvest, and a pure cbd and use both mixed together. Same goes for harvesting if your going to make canna butter or coconut butter, No racing heart rates or  paranoia. Im using my coconut butter in 00 capsules very low strength for during the day and stronger ones late at night if i cant sleep.

Toke...

Edited December 14, 2021 by tokenroll
more info

[Arthur Mix]

I find a good Indica broad leaf  a helps tone it all down . Also does he have any interests there is a good group called “Models for Hero’s “ that is a charity he could access if he’s fancying a hobby like model making. They offer groups across the country and have kits and supplies available FOC .

[ratdog]

shark shock cbd is another great relaxing smoke when done properly, i have both on the go atm, ss slightly stronger than the nordle but both great if you want an easy ride

[Guest]

I can whole heatedly say Herijuana may be just the ticket for him. It's a small dose kind of deal unless taken once trichs are heavy amber. Very relaxing and sedative toke all round with very little in the way of anxiousness if not overdone. Has helped no end with disassociating from my nerve pain & helps with the PTSD. It's a god send as high or CBD dom strains are a no no for me due to the fact CBD uses up massive amounts of the Enzyme my blood thinners relies on to work.

[j.o.i.n.t]

@Lamster67

Weed aside, I'd suggest a good psychotherapist. I'm told it's not an easy process, but they can help.

 

 

Can be easier said than done to access that, though. Charities can help, here's the link to one.

 

https://ptsdresolution.org/

 

 

Edited December 14, 2021 by j.o.i.n.t
@

[Whatwentwrong]

On 14/12/2021 at 9:08 PM, j.o.i.n.t said:

@Lamster67

Weed aside, I'd suggest a good psychotherapist. I'm told it's not an easy process, but they can help.

 

 

Can be easier said than done to access that, though. Charities can help, here's the link to one.

 

https://ptsdresolution.org/

 

 

m gonna agree with this. I used to have some fucking ridiculous dreams as a kid and when I started smoking weed they went away. Fell asleep dead easy (making a hash or oil or butter would knock the raceyness out of it) with absolutely no dreams for years.

 

when you don’t dream when you sleep though your body will make you kind of day dream more whilst your going asleep and that’ll eventually fuck your sleeping up again.

 

i found some of the anti depressants can give you insanely vivid dreams but then also if I quit weed for a month after a couple of weeks the dreams are intense. Like actually living them, I went sky diving one night and remember feeling wet as I went through a cloud. Fucking insane.

 

so although weed does knock the dreams on their head constantly using weed to go into a coma of a night does have other issues. I know it will help but it won’t fix all things on its own.

[Diddy]

Duty of care from the armed forces ffs. Your mate needs proper help as @j.o.i.n.t alluded too. Different situation but still ptsd, my mate a fireman (now ex) suffered badly a delayed case it was. Took 2 year after the shock before any of the indicators that something was wrong became apparent. To be fair the Scottish Fire Brigade were excellent and went through a whole range of treatments/therapy various specialists. In the end it came down to talking therapy or whatever it's called these days. 

Mentally he is "ok" now. No bad dreams, No panic attacks, no physical symptoms, He has moments of stress that he can now control (using techniques he has learned from therapy). The brain is a funny thing, it's as hard as nails...until it breaks then it's a bloody long process to rewire it and not forget stuff because that's impossible but to learn to live with shit deal with it and appreciate it for what it is. 

 

I will leave you with this shit quote (its good really)

Quote

“Lord, grant me the strength to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

 

[Bustin Jieber]

purple afghan kush

[Pepe Ramon]

On 12/16/2021 at 9:58 PM, Whatwentwrong said:

m gonna agree with this. I used to have some fucking ridiculous dreams as a kid and when I started smoking weed they went away. Fell asleep dead easy (making a hash or oil or butter would knock the raceyness out of it) with absolutely no dreams for years.

 

when you don’t dream when you sleep though your body will make you kind of day dream more whilst your going asleep and that’ll eventually fuck your sleeping up again.

 

i found some of the anti depressants can give you insanely vivid dreams but then also if I quit weed for a month after a couple of weeks the dreams are intense. Like actually living them, I went sky diving one night and remember feeling wet as I went through a cloud. Fucking insane.

 

so although weed does knock the dreams on their head constantly using weed to go into a coma of a night does have other issues. I know it will help but it won’t fix all things on its own.

 

THC interferes with normal sleep patterns...

 

"How does cannabis affect sleep architecture?

 

Sleep architecture refers to the nightly structure of sleep, as it moves through repeated cycles and individual stages. Every full cycle of sleep (a typical,7-to-8-hour night’s sleep includes 4-5 complete cycles) contains two main types of sleep: non-REM (or NREM) and REM sleep. Within NREM, there are four different sleep stages, moving from light sleep to deep sleep. REM sleep is a distinct stage from the 4 stages of Non-REM. All the stages of sleep appear to be affected by cannabis, to a degree.

 

Light sleep: Stages 1 and 2

 

These light non-REM sleep stages tend to be increased by use of cannabis,. Within the body, activation of the endocannabinoid system has been shown to lengthen non-REM sleep phases. The sedative properties of cannabis, most closely associated with the cannabinoid THC as well as with several different terpenes found in cannabis, help shorten sleep latency—meaning, it helps you fall asleep more quickly, and perhaps lengthens the early phases of these lighter stages of non-REM sleep.

 

Light sleep might sound like a throwaway sleep—inconsequential, or lacking in substance. It’s not. Throughout a night of sleep, light sleep paves the way for the cyclical stages of deep sleep and REM sleep, with changes to brain waves, nervous system activity, and hormones. Dreaming can occur during light sleep, and important elements of cognitive processing—including the emergence of sleep spindles in Stage 2, which help the brain transfer memories and newly acquired information, and also elevate the soundness (aka quality) of sleep—take place during these sleep stages. Sleep architecture is a finely-calibrated balance of stages, each serving important purposes. That’s true for light sleep as it is for slow-wave sleep and REM.

 

Deep Sleep: Stages 3 and 4

 

While the full spectrum of research to date is somewhat mixed, with some individual studies showing no changes to slow wave sleep or decreases to slow wave sleep via cannabis, a persuasive body of research has demonstrated that cannabis is likely to increases deep, non-REM, slow-wave sleep. This sleep phase, composed of Stages 3 and 4, is when the body engages in its most powerfully restorative work to the body, repairing cells and tissue, strengthening immune function, and makes important contributions to memory processing. One open question about the effects of cannabis on slow wave sleep is, for how long might these deep-sleep boosting effects last? Some research indicates that the increase of slow wave sleep from using cannabis may not be a long-term, durable phenomenon. We don’t know enough yet to have a clear answer to that question.

 

REM sleep

 

There’s been a fair amount of attention paid to the effects of cannabis on REM sleep. Cannabis, especially THC-rich strains, are likely to reduce levels of REM sleep. This is the stage of sleep when we do our most active dreaming, and when the brain does a lot of memory processing and consolidation of acquired information, as well as the processing of emotional experiences. REM sleep can be thought of as a kind of wiping the slate clean in the brain each night, helping prepare the brain for all the activity, including cognitive and emotional activity, that it powers during every moment of waking life.

 

Too much suppression of REM sleep is not healthy—that’s true for all sleep stages. But it’s also possible to experience too much REM sleep. Cannabis is now increasingly recognized as a promising therapeutic tool for sleep disorders associated with abnormal REM sleep and disruptive dreaming, including REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and PTSD.

 

What happens to sleep architecture when you stop using cannabis?

 

Studies have observed alterations to sleep architecture from stopping the use of cannabis, particularly after long-term and/or heavy use. Research of long-term, heavy cannabis users has found that stopping was linked to reductions in slow wave sleep, changes to REM sleep, increased sleep disruption, and a lengthening of the time it takes to fall asleep. These changes align with the anecdotal reports of heavy cannabis users who often describe increased difficulty sleeping after stopping. But there’s a lot we don’t yet understand about the changes to sleep that are associated with stopping regular cannabis use, including:

 

How long do these sleep changes last?

 

Are these changes to sleep directly attributable to cannabis cessation—or are they revealing of sleep issues that were present before cannabis use began?

I’ll talk more in an upcoming article about the issues and scientific evidence related to heavy cannabis use, withdrawal, and sleep.

How do the compounds in cannabis affect sleep architecture?

 

As I’ve said, the impact of cannabis on sleep architecture is likely to be influenced by a number of factors, including the composition of any given cannabis strain. Different strains are made up of different amounts of the cannabinoids THC, CBD, CBN and others, as well as other biochemical compounds such as terpenes. Let’s take a brief look at what we know about how the two best-known, most used cannabinoids may affect sleep cycles and stages.

 

THC appears to be the cannabinoid that plays the most active role in altering sleep architecture, and time spent in specific stages of sleep. Over the decades of research on cannabis and sleep, many studies have focused on THC and THC-rich strains of cannabis, and it’s this cannabinoid that is most closely linked to reductions in REM sleep and increases to deep, slow-wave sleep and the lighter stages of non-REM sleep. THC has clear sedative effects. Strains of cannabis that are higher in THC will generally be more sleep-inducing. But take note: a too-heavy concentration of THC can lead to next-day grogginess.

 

It’s less clear what specific effects CBD has specifically on the cycles and stages of sleep—in part because so much of the research that focuses on cannabis and sleep includes strains with plenty of THC, making it difficult to isolate the effects of CBD apart from this other cannabinoid.  Some research has demonstrated that CBD delivers little to no effect on sleep architecture, but it’s important we see more research before drawing any firm conclusion. CBD has been shown as a promising therapy for REM behavior disorder. At different doses, CBD can be either stimulating or sedating. Low doses of CBD tend to provide stimulation, while higher doses deliver sedative, or sleep-inducing effects. Right now, it appears that CBD’s most potent role in facilitating sleep comes through relief from its ability to relieve anxiety and pain." The Sleep Doctor.

[Bemoet]

When it comes to strains that may help with PTSD, some people find relief with indica-dominant strains like Purple Kush or Afghan Kush. But remember, everyone's response is different, so experimentation may be needed.

Regarding mental health help, it's essential to seek professional guidance.

[Bemoet]

Consider typing mental health help near me or searching online for resources like therapists or support groups. They can provide Jon with the support he needs on his journey to recovery. Best of luck to both of you, and I hope Jon finds the relief he deserves!