Dr Rebecca Moore on cannabis treatment for anxiety

This week is National Stress Awareness Week. In recognition of this we asked our doctor Rebecca Moore to explain her experience treating anxiety, a condition that affects more and more people each year.

She mentioned:

“Anxiety is one of the most common presentations that I see and work with; in 2017 there were 284 million people living with anxiety worldwide.

Anxiety can present itself in many forms, with a constant fear of agitation and inner restlessness, feeling on edge and unable to relax, panic attacks, feeling unable to cope socially, a racing heart or feeling short of breath. It can even impact our appetite and sleep patterns.

It’s very tiring and exhausting to feel anxious and panicked all the time and it can have a huge impact on those who experience it, affecting their ability to work, parent, and their relationships with family and friends.

Many people will have tried medication for anxiety and found that it didn’t help them or gave them side effects. One study from 2019 found that medical cannabis users perceived a 58% reduction in anxiety and stress following cannabis use.

Medical Cannabis can give patients another option in treating and managing their anxiety long term, it’s usually taken as an oil droplet or smoked and for most people there are little or no side effects.

An assessment for anxiety would typically involve a thorough chat with me around all your issues and symptoms and then we’d work collaboratively together to make a plan for treatment that might include medical cannabis alongside dietary changes, supplements and exercise. “

If you are suffering with a mental health condition, it’s important to reach out and seek support. At The Medical Cannabis Clinics we have a great network of doctors who are ready to meet you and create personalised treatment.

At The Medical Cannabis Clinics, we have a ‘start low, go slow approach’ to achieve symptom relief for patients with the lowest dose required. Find out more about how we can help with mental health here.