In honor of Remembrance Day, Seed & Stone pays tribute to members of the armed forces who have served and continue to serve the country and sacrifice their lives to ensure that we live in freedom and safety. We honor their courage, bravery, and passion towards their nation, that enables us to maintain peace in our daily lives.
For the public, the only source to catch a sight of the wartime is through a television or news, but to be physically present in the experience and serve through all the hardships and fears, is something that only our heroes can imagine. For the men and women who serve in the army, Remembrance Day comes with a wave of emotions and can trigger traumatic memories and flashbacks of the massive losses experienced and trigger survivor’s guilt.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological disorder that is experienced by 7 or 8 out of every 100 people, including veterans, which can lead to irritability, anger issues, insomnia, nightmares, and in extreme cases- self destructive behavior and feeling of detachment from their environment and people in general. It is extremely important to recognize these symptoms at an early stage and take actions to bring relief and work on improving their quality of life, if possible.
According to the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Cannabidiol is a non-psychotomimetic cannabinoid compound that is found in plants of the genus Cannabis which may have a beneficial effect on the endocannabinoid system. It can be given in the form of oil or capsules, according to preference and dosage suggested by healthcare professionals, and accompanied with routine psychiatric care.
According to past studies, Administration of oral CBD in addition to routine psychiatric care was associated with PTSD symptom reduction in adults with PTSD. CBD also appeared to offer relief in a subset of patients who reported frequent nightmares as a symptom of their PTSD. Another study also found that cannabis reduces the activity in the part of the brain associated with fear response to threats- amygdala, which acts in a therapeutic manner for those suffering from PTSD. “Cannabinoids may reduce traumatic memory by affecting its retrieval or reconsolidation, or by stimulating the process of aversive memory extinction”.
Apart from psychological therapies and CBD products, people suffering from PTSD can also take support from medications, anti-anxiety, and anti-depressants in recommended dosage by experienced healthcare professionals. Because PTSD can elevate and leave a person with extreme destructive thoughts, it is also very important for their environment and the people around them to be supportive, helpful, and understanding, which enables them to experience and enjoy the full life that they deserve. It is a process but important to understand that there is always hope and recovery from these traumatic experiences can take a long time, but with the right treatments the quality of life can improve gradually.
Sources:
Artherapyinternational.org: https://artherapyinternational.org/blog/memorial-day-and-living-with-post-traumatic-stress/
Bitencourt, R. M., & Takahashi, R. N. (2018, July 24). Cannabidiol as a Therapeutic Alternative for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: From Bench Research to Confirmation in Human Trials. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6066583/
Elms, L., Shannon, S., Hughes, S., & Lewis, N. (2019, April 1). Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Series. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6482919/
