CBD

I have spent decades thinking that I would never be able to function correctly in society.  Certain situations throughout the day would trigger me, especially any situation that caused stress. 

I have spent months over the years in sessions with psychologists and psychiatrists, in single sessions and group sessions, outside and through the VA (Veterans Affair), including with other veterans with PTSD.  I did gain knowledge from these sessions that did assist me in controlling certain situation.  While I still was not able to function in many situations and I learned over the years to avoid.

The only problem with attempting to avoid situations is that I noticed that I started to exclude myself from most functions.  Loud noises, groups of people, police, military, even going outside became an issue with extreme anxiety and eventually became fully blown panic attacks. 

Some of the sessions I found value in what was discussed.  I learned with the group sessions that what I was experiencing, I was not alone.  Even though this was useful and did assist with me being able to keep calm and have more understanding, however I still would be triggered into having extreme anxiety to the point where I could not function and then would become a panic attack.

The main process that I learned was that during these times I found myself not breathing.  Being conscious of me not breathing when these times occur has greatly helped me.  Because this was the one single most important lesson that I learned throughout my sessions, I believe it is worth explaining.  I have found that most people unconsciously hold their breath or slow breathing down dramatically when presented with a panic attack.  Pay attention to your breathing when you find yourself feeling like a panic attack is coming on or is already present.  Breath in deeply slowly and exhale slowly.  Breath in and out as much as you need to.  You will notice the tension release.

Psychiatrists wanted to prescribe me drugs from the beginning.  I did not want to take any drugs that would alter my state of consciousness.  After months of sessions and years that passed, and my PTSD still was present and seemed to overwhelm me in many situations.  Once again, I was told by a psychiatrist that I should give prescription drugs a try.  I reluctantly agreed, because nothing seemed to be working to keep my anxiety at bay.  Unfortunately, every prescription drug that I was given made me feel worse.  Some made me not able to function at all, making me feel like a zombie.  Some caused performance issues in areas that I did not like.  I was told that I had to allow these drugs to take affect and had to wait to try something else.  I eventually decided on my own that any of the prescription drugs that I took did not assist me in what I really needed.  The prescribed drugs that did help with my panic attacks caused other issues in my life that I did not feel that it was worth staying on them.  If I could not function at all while I was on these drugs than why even take them.  I felt worse on these drugs than they even helped.

A decade or so back I came across some videos that were about crossbreeding cannabis plants to have less THC and more CBD.  I saw a video with a mother feeding a thick syrup consistency through a syringe to a child that was having seizures and almost immediately he stopped and calmed down.  Other videos showed great results with this liquid goo.  

Now that CBD is becoming more and more mainstream, I was introduced to CBD oil for the first time in the summer of 2018.  I was told that it should help me.  My thought was I do not need mind-altering drugs and Marijuana is a mind-altering drug.  A massive amount of questions came to my mind, so I did what I could to research the current situation on CBD.  I found nothing but more good results on people using CBD, so I decided to purchase a bottle.

After consuming CBD oil for the first time I could almost instantly tell that my anxiety went away.  I have been consuming CBD for months with outstanding results.  People that I have given some to have all felt benefits from it.  Anyone that has been around me that I saw shaking or being angry, after giving a little bit of CBD stopped with the shaking and/or calmed down.

I fully believe in and use CBD oil.  CBD is the final search to allow me to function in this world with my PTSD.  I fully believe that anyone with PTSD should seek console by a qualified professional as getting your mind set in order.  However, CBD is the single most answer to my long-awaited answer to my PTSD.