Medical Cannabis for PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not weakness or imagination - it is a real bodily response to trauma that can rob people of peace for years. Intrusive memories, nightmares, insomnia, constant tension and vigilance are daily life for many after accidents, violence, service or loss.

The question of whether medical cannabis can help comes up more and more. The answer is cautious: it is sometimes considered as support, but it does not replace psychotherapy, which remains the foundation of trauma treatment.

In PTSD the fear- and stress-processing system is dysregulated. Cannabinoids act on the endocannabinoid system, which co-regulates the stress response, sleep and emotional processing, so some patients notice improvement in specific symptoms:

This is easing symptoms, not removing the cause. That is why the best results come from combining it with therapy and specialist care.

PTSD often goes hand in hand with anxiety, and high doses of THC can heighten anxiety rather than ease it. So the choice of profile and dose must be balanced and led by a doctor. In people with a history of psychosis and in some mental disorders cannabis may be contraindicated.

Do not stop medication prescribed by a psychiatrist on your own. Treat cannabis therapy as a possible addition that a doctor decides on after assessing the whole situation.

A conversation about medical cannabis makes sense especially when troublesome nightmares and insomnia persist despite treatment, and current medication does not help enough or is poorly tolerated.

We cover related topics in anxiety and depression and insomnia.

The first visit takes place in person - in Krakow, Bydgoszcz, Torun or Kielce. The doctor takes a calm history, reviews your records and, if there are indications and no contraindications, qualifies you for therapy.

You book online or at 731 000 645; the qualifying visit costs 169 PLN. We describe how to prepare in what to bring to a first visit.