Grief is a normal and healthy reaction to loss. Grief often manifests in multiple and unpredictable emotions which vary with each individual. Emotional responses to grief include profound sadness, confusion, seclusion, and anger, while physical symptoms can range from fatigue to chronic pain to changes in appetite.
You may have heard about the various stages of grief – shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing, and acceptance – however, grief isn’t usually a linear healing process. An individual can experience these stages in any given order and for unspecified durations, and the feelings often become overwhelming during events like anniversaries and birthdays.
Although medication is available to cope with the symptoms of grief, more and more people are looking for natural remedies. Among these is cannabis, a plant-based substance that can help improve personal reflection, social interactions, and physical symptoms like insomnia and pain. But are these effects only temporary? That’s what we’ll be discussing today.
Cannabis – A Brief Introduction
Cannabis, also called marijuana, refers to the dried flowers, leaves, seeds, and stems of the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. The legalization of cannabis for medicinal use is under considerable debate nowadays.
Cannabis comprises over 120 compounds known as cannabinoids and each has distinct properties. Experts have studied two of these compounds in great detail: cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that is non-intoxicating and does not get you ‘high’. CBD is widely used to help decrease inflammation and chronic pain, along with managing seizures, anxiety, nausea, and sleep problems.
On the other hand, THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis and is responsible for the ‘high’ that most people experience when they consume recreational cannabis.
Can Cannabis Help Cope with Grief?
While cannabis may not be a cure for grief, it can help manage and mitigate some of the physical and psychological symptoms related to it. Moreover, cannabis can help improve one’s overall well-being during mourning by improving sleep and reducing stress.
Interacting with the Endocannabinoid System
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an inherent system of complex pathways in humans. Cannabinoids such as cannabis interact with receptors present in the ECS and help regulate various symptoms associated with grief, such as sleep disturbance, mood changes, and appetite loss. It can also reduce pain sensations (headaches, migraine, body aches) and modulate emotional responses linked with anxiety and happiness.
Increasing Serotonin Levels
Cannabis has been used for centuries as an anti-depressant in traditional medicine. Research has shown that cannabis increases levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain’s limbic system (the part that regulates emotions). Serotonin is responsible for inducing feelings of joy and happiness; thus, consuming cannabis in grief can help improve mood and reduce feelings of sadness.
Promoting Feelings of Calmness
It often becomes impossible to relax and calm your mind when you’re dealing with grief. This also leads to disrupted eating patterns and interrupted sleep. Researchers have discovered that CBD decreases blood flow to specific regions of the brain associated with anxiety, like the hypothalamus, which is generally overactive in individuals with anxiety disorders.
Thus, consuming cannabis during grief may help promote feelings of calm and help replace sadness and anxiety with emotions of tranquility and peace.
Reducing Depression and Suicidal Thoughts
The grief of losing a loved one can cause immense pain, guilt, and depression which makes it harder to cope with the loss. Sometimes, these feelings lead to suicidal ideation (SI – thoughts of suicide) and can have dire consequences if not dealt with promptly.
As discussed, CBD can help mitigate feelings of depression by improving mood and reducing stress. It can create a sense of calm in the mind which can help an individual recognize and process their emotions more effectively.
Final Thoughts
Grieving is a personal process with no fixed timeline, and we must respect that process. While cannabis can help provide relief during mourning, research supporting how it mitigates various psychological and physical symptoms is still in its infancy. Also, cannabis may not be suitable for everyone and should never be used in replacement of professional support or other types of treatment.
If you’re considering using cannabis during grief, consult with a trained and state-registered cannabis clinician for advice on suitability, dosage, and duration. Remember: grieving is hard, but you are not alone. With the right interventions and mindset, these dark and difficult times will soon pass.
As a pharmacist and mental health professional, I’ve navigated through the depths of depression, understanding its complexities firsthand. My journey as a chronic caregiver for my mother, who battled irreversible heart failure, has illuminated the profound realities of caregiving and loss. These experiences have deepened my empathy and underscored the crucial need for support in times of grief, caregiving, and profound loss.
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