Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may develop after a person is exposed to one or more traumatic events, such as sexual assault, serious injury, or the threat of death. The diagnosis may be given when a group of symptoms, such as disturbing recurring flashbacks, avoidance or numbing of memories of the event, and hyperarousal (high levels of anxiety) continue for more than a month after the traumatic event.
Most people having experienced a traumatizing event will not develop PTSD. Women are more likely to experience higher impact events, and are also more likely to develop PTSD than men. Children are less likely to experience PTSD after trauma than adults, especially if they are under ten years of age. War veterans are commonly at risk to PTSD.
As scientist begin to make rapid advances in understanding the body’s ability to use medical marijuana, and just how it reduces stress and anxiety. It looks like things have taken a quantum leap forward for those that suffer from the debilitating anxiety that accompanies PTSD or Post -traumatic stress disorder.
Scientists have discovered a new drug that has shown to reduce stress and anxiety in laboratory mice. This new discovery seems to simulate the body’s endocannabinoids system, in that it encourages the brain chemistry and can greatly dictates how people deal with stress in their daily lives. As the new study shows when lab mice were made to experiences a dramatic event, their bodies would release a chemical known as andamide; which is an enzyme that breaks down our natural endocannabinoids.
The name “endocannabinoid” was given due to the fact they tend to react within the brain in an almost identical nature as weed/cannabis does. Much like weed, the endocannabinoids promote a deep sense of serenity and comfort. The scientists – in their new research, have discovered that by stopping the enzyme, andamide the scientists can then rapidly get the mice to learn how to overcome traumatic experiences with greater speed and less suffering.
The most interesting thing item to come out of this study, was the discovery that some people are genetically predisposed to produce this enzyme, and thereby have a much easier time keeping their heads about them when the world goes to pot.
These most recent discoveries will no doubt help us to understand, why it is that some folks are likely to have a greater predisposition, to suffer from PTSD and its related anxiety, as scientist are allowed to study, the over 80 different cannabinoids that exist in marijuana – one can hardly wait to see how deeply humans are connected to this plant.