Ptsd Essay

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a relatively new diagnosis that was associated with survivors of war when it was first introduced. Its diagnosis was met largely with skepticism and dismissal by the public of the validity of the illness. PTSD was only widely accepted when it was included as a diagnosis in 1980 in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) of the American Psychiatric Association. PTSD is a complex mental disorder that develops in response to exposure to a severe traumatic event that stems a cluster of symptoms. Being afflicted with the disorder is debilitating, disrupting an individual’s ability to function and perform the most basic tasks.

The initial reaction of PTSD is fear, nausea, dizziness, depression and sleep disturbances. Marijuana has been proved effective even for treatment resistant patients. While the side effects of smoking medical marijuana to help with PTSD can be a win/lose challenge depending on the way the patient’s body and how it reacts with different strains of marijuana it can either greatly lighten the symptoms while it may increase the symptoms including paranoia. The pills that a doctor would give a PTSD patient would have the same effect either it would work or make the symptoms worse. A patient who has PTSD can not control when they would have a episode, with the use of medical marijuana you can lower the chance of a episode happening when you smoke marijuana. Picking the right strain and find the right amount to smoke could be big variables in controlling episodes, mixing up up or changing the set usage it could cause the episodes to get worse and be more unexpected. Many veterans come back from serving time over seas fighting for our country that we love so much with depression problems, traumatic experiences, and bad sleeping habits. The men and women who come back to the US with PTSD find themselves at the bottom of a bottle or smoking marijuana I would rather see my loved one smoking marijuana than drinking themselves to death. People with PTSD have a hard time controlling their episodes and often even with over the counter medication their depression and flashbacks happen uncontrollably. With patients using medical marijuana to cope with PTSD have a stronger confidence in going out and not worrying about having to deal with depression or flashbacks. People with PTSD find it hard to enjoy everyday things in fear it could spark a flashback or send them straight into depression. The calming agents in marijuana helps the PTSD patient fight depression and the

According to the United Nations, “158.8 million people around the world use marijuana—more than 3.8% of the planet’s population” (Marijuana). Marijuana has become a crucial topic throughout the world in recent years. Marijuana has been legalized medically throughout many countries, such as Australia, Chile, Spain, and Uruguay. Within the United States of America, twenty-eight states have legalized marijuana for medicinal use, the most recent legalization passed was in the state of Florida. Therefore, one can assert that medical marijuana is a controversial topic locally and globally. Medical marijuana portrays many advantages and disadvantages within society. Medical marijuana portrays many benefits to victims of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,

This forces vets who don’t live in states where medicinal marijuana is legalized to get their cannabis from the black market. She also states that many vets who become severely addicted to the opioids they are prescribed microdose cannabis to deal with the withdrawal from these drugs. However, patients doing so in states where medicinal cannabis hasn’t yet been legalized are ultimately taking a huge risk due to the substance violating various pain medications’ terms of agreement. O’Connell mentions another example of a veteran who uses cannabis due to a difficulty of access to other treatment named Michiko. Michiko began suffering from PTSD when she was raped by her commander in a military hospital. She is highly dependent on fentanyl and gets triggered whenever she enters a hospital setting. This makes it extremely difficult for her to access conventional treatment. Veterans Affairs strongly advised Michiko to visit rehab as a part of her treatment, however she knows that its hospital-like setting would trigger her. She ultimately uses cannabis as an effective way to treat her withdrawals. The article concludes with Sisley urging for more research to be done on cannabis’s healing abilities for veterans suffering from PTSD since she claims that most studies related to cannabis focus solely on its safety as a substance. She

Recent years have brought about a rapid shift in the approach that many states take towards the utilization of medical marijuana. Currently, thirty-nine states, the District of Columbia, and Guam have legalized some form of medical marijuana. Despite this progress, federal policies continue to inhibit United States veterans from obtaining the relief that such laws provide to other citizens. There are many sobering statistics regarding the abnormally high rate of drug addiction and suicide among veterans. Currently, too many veterans suffering from lingering pain or post-traumatic

Marijuana is also much less harmful than addictive drugs, such as cocaine and heroin (“Office of National” 4). Some skeptics may say that this is an instance of replacing one drug with another. However, marijuana has been proven to be non-addictive and to alleviate many symptoms for people suffering from mental and emotional disorders (Musto 1-9). Researchers note that cannabis, more commonly known as marijuana, may effectively treat a number of different physical and mental ailments, including post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, and depression (“Office of National” 3). Research shows the benefits of using marijuana to help in successfully treating mental illnesses.

PTSD is one of the most highly researched mental diseases and conditions of our century. PTSD can be caused by anything and everything. It has caused hundreds of people that don’t want to talk to someone about their conditions but, they’re research has shown that medical cannabis has approved conditions exceptionally. The used a formula and pattern to analyze the situation by studying N=170 at a cannabis dispensary in California. The article concluded that people with PTSD scores high and low both have different outcomes.

Military Pathway (2013) concluded “Military life, especially the stress of deployments or mobilizations, can present challenges to service members and their families that are both unique and difficult”. Hence, it is not surprising that soldiers returning from a stressful war environment often suffer from a psychological condition called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This paper provides a historical perspective of PTSD affecting soldiers, and how this illness has often been ignored. In addition, the this paper examines the cause and diagnosis of the illness, the changes of functional strengths and limitations, the overall effects this disease may have on soldiers and their families, with a conclusion of

Marijuana is probably the safest drug available, meaning a drug that won’t damage the body or have negative effects on the body and mind. Marijuana has helped army veteran Jose Martinez. Martinez had lost both of his legs and his arm in 2012. Then later in December, he had got into a car accident. He smokes marijuana to relieve his ptsd, or posttraumatic stress disorder. For him, marijuana helped him calm down instead of giving him an adrenaline rush causing his mind to race. “It relaxes me and helps me sleep at night.” It takes away the nonexistent pain of his missing limbs. Martinez now advocates marijuana legalization. Martinez isn’t the only soldier that has ptsd, and many other veterans use marijuana as an escape from their traumatizing

Available scientific evidence indicate that marijuana contain a useful chemical that treats several mental disorder illnesses. The useful purpose of this drug has prompted a long standing debate as

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a widespread disorder that affects certain individuals psychologically, behaviorally, and emotionally following the experience of a traumatic event (Lee et al., 2005, p. 135). However, because of inconsistencies regarding the percentage of individuals who experience PTSD and the percentage of individuals who subsequently develop PTSD, researchers hypothesize that both biological and environmental factors contribute to the development of PTSD (Wolf et al. 2010, p. 328). In order gain a better understanding of this disorder and to discover contributing and predicative factors which contribute to the development of PTSD, this paper analyses the historical context and prevalence of PTSD, the

Depression is a widespread issue in today’s world. It can be caused by abuse, conflict, a sudden change in one’s life, and much more. The number one cause of depression is stress. Cannabis, or marijuana, has been used to treat depression dating back to the year 1621 with doctors in India using it to treat depression in their patients. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, was shown to change negative images or emotions in the minds of the patients who smoked marijuana. Many patients stated that it took them to another world, a place where they felt comfortable and the feeling of depression was obsolete. The sad part is that since marijuana is still classified as a

Despite the current marijuana laws, medical research has shown a variety of therapeutic benefits that arise from the use of cannabis. (Gowling et al. 1998, p. 446)) Revealed that ‘Over the years, cannabis has been claimed to increase appetite, relax the muscle, improve mood, relieve anxiety and combat pain and nausea’. As a result of these advantages, medical marijuana advocates support and has pushed for the legalisation of cannabis. However, it is argued that harmful effects can arise, demonstrating an association between cannabis with psychosis. Psychosis is a condition of the mind, involving a “loss of contact with reality”. Hall (1998) stipulated that ‘A high doses of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the

The use of cannabis toward medicine should not be shocking to anyone, since it has been around for centuries. As a matter of fact, it has been under medicinal aid for an estimated 5,000 years. Western medicine truly grasped marijuana’s medicinal abilities in the 1850’s. Infact, doctors documented over one hundred papers about how marijuana helped numerous disorders, such as nausea, glaucoma, movement disorders, pain relief, depression, and anxiety. It also helps cancer patients and those with HIV or Aids. Currently, many American patients have access to marijuana use so that they can have effective treatments for their illnesses. Medical marijuana use is achievable because

Imagine a world, where veterans, can live life with no worries, chronic pain, or do not have to suffer. American soldiers, after combat, build a disorder known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a disorder, that can lead to depression, suicidal thoughts, aggressive actions, and/or even flashback thoughts to the fighting of the wars they have battled in. These soldiers are prescribed antidepressants, when there are other alternatives that are better, and safer. Marijuana(pot/weed) is a safer alternative for the veterans here in America, because antidepressants can lead to worse depression, if taken incorrectly, or overdosing. Opposite of this, marijuana opens the mind, leading to happier