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  • 5 weed strains to help melt away pandemic anxiety.

    5 weed strains to help melt away pandemic anxiety.

    These are terrifying times indeed. Millennials and Generation Z are experiencing the first single event that brings the entire world to a halt in their lifetime. Even if you do not live in a coronavirus hotspot, you’re probably always tracking the news and asking yourself ‘when is this going to end?‘ The reality is that no one can give us the answers or accurately forecast the timeframe and effects of the pandemic. That just makes the entire thought of it overwhelming and breeds panic and stress steadily.

    There’s so much talk about avoiding use of substances but no one has come up with alternative pandemic relaxation techniques so why not. When you use marijuana responsibly, there is potential for it to treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety. However, before consumption, it is important to acquaint yourself with the types of strains available so you know which is best for you. We encourage you communicate with your doctor if you choose to use marijuana therapeutically, especially if there are medication interactions to consider.

    The strains listed below are just a few of the many strains that could help with panic relief. If you have any other suggestions on how to treat anxiety with marijuana, let us know by posting them in the comments section.

    White Widow (Sativa Dominant Marijuana Hybrid)

    White Widow is a sativa dominant hybrid. It is a cross of a South Indian indica and a South American sativa. It promotes a full-bodied, ‘spacey’ high, which makes it a popular choice for patients with anxiety or PTSD. With a THC content of between 18% and 25%, novices should opt for a less potent herb. White Widow provides the perfect blend of euphoria and stimulation and be used to relieve mood disorders.

    Granddaddy Purple (aka Grand Daddy Purp or GDP)

    This hybrid that was first propagated in Northern California in 2003 by breeder Ken Estes, it is a cross between Purple Urkle and Big Bud. The strain is THC-dominant and eases you into a peaceful mindset while urging your body to release all that stress and tension. Sink in and let the trees blow your mindsets over.

    Sour OG (Cross of OG Kush and Sour Diesel)

    If you’re in search of a mellow and relaxing strain that may help with stress and anxiety, you just found an excellent choice for relief. Its conservative THC level is around 13-17 per cent which makes it is less likely to cause side effects than other more potent strains. Because of its ability to induce relaxation without causing sleepiness, most people tend to use it as an afternoon delight and energy booster. Sour OG is also an award-winner, it received first prize in the ‘hybrid’ category in the 2011 High Times Medical cannabis cup.

    Bubba Kush (Heavy hybrid strain)

    Bubba Kush is a classic indica with a sedative high that leaves consumers relaxed but still functional. It has a typically high THC content, ranging from 15% to 22%. Bubba’s high begins with a warped, disoriented sensation in the head giving way for a body melt that intensifies as the high wears on. According to Leafly, muscles ease with heaviness as dreamy euphoria blankets the mind, crushing stress while bringing happy moods.

    Lemon Garlic OG

    This particular strain boasts of a chemical composition that’s capable of reducing stress and anxiety and replace with a fortified sense of calm. This strain is a rich, balanced blend of limonene that always delivers relief. The heady blend of citrusy, garlic and earthy pine notes offer some excellent aromatherapy.

  • Admit it, you’re scared of coronavirus. Here’s how to help yourself conquer the anxiety

    Admit it, you’re scared of coronavirus. Here’s how to help yourself conquer the anxiety

    Look around you, it’s in the news, all over social media and most likely in the air. Coronavirus or the ‘boomer remover’ as it is jokingly referred to keeps spreading across borders. The whole world is witnessing a drastic slow down of economic activities, social gatherings, panic buying, closure of airports, more cases of COVID-19 as well as escalating death reports. 

    Whether or not you live in a country that is largely or mildly affected, you have read or heard about certain times in history where the world had to deal with such pandemics, you’ve seen apocalyptic movies and read many theories, without doubts the stats are terrifying.

    No matter how hard you try, it’s hard to turn a deaf ear to all that’s happening. Nobody wants to catch the rona, I get it but being absent minded isn’t the best preventive measure and same goes for anxiety too. I’ll touch more on anxiety because the larger bulk of the world’s population is currently dealing with this, knowingly and unknowingly. 

    Is anxiety a good response? All I can say is that it is normal because you’ve no control, I mean you’re worried about losing your life or loved ones or this sort of history happening in your lifetime. But anxiety isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it can be productive in some cases and make us more cautious in our day to day life.

    According to Tina Montreal, an assistant professor in McGrill University’s department of educational and counselling psychology, “the more you normalise anxiety, the less you view it as a problem and the less it is going to be amplified’. This means a small amount of anxiety allows us to be prepared, alert to what has to be doe and to be motivated to do so. 

    However, people who already suffer from anxiety and related disorders are especially likely to have a hard time during the coronavirus crisis. It is important to put certain checks in place to help you deal with the growing tensions. A very unnecessary thing to do now is to be on high alert all the time, it will only make you unstable, emotionally and physically. Instead, try some of these strategies and reduce your risks of getting the coronavirus. 

    Some useful tips to employ:

    1. Always checking the news for virus updates isn’t an antidote for calming your fears. A miracle wouldn’t happen overnight and the only way you’ll survive this is by precautionary measures seriously not watching primetime news. I recommend limiting your exposure to coronavirus news to no more than 30 minutes per day.
    2. Stick to credible sources of medical information to avoid any misinformation.
    3. Connect with your loved ones via video chats, phone calls, texting, and email. This keeps you away from the noise and helps you feel the strength of your connections.
    4. I’m not trying to scare you but the world is going to end someday and we are all going to die. So learn to tolerate uncertainty because it makes everything easier. Working on your tolerance threshold will help you cut down time you spend researching for virus updates or panicking. 
    5. There are over 190,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases but did you also know know that more than half of the people receiving treatment have successfully recovered? You should also look out for more positive news surrounding the pandemic because there are. Share them with your contacts and you’ll definitely feel relieved or much better. Humans tend to exaggerate the danger of unfamiliar threats compared to ones they already know.
    6. Sometimes trying new things and discovering new activities you can benefit from and enjoy can be a welcome, healthy distraction. Binge-watching, Yoga, Meditation, Journaling, Reading a book are some of the activities you should try.
    7. Get adequate sleep, exercise regularly, practice mindfulness, spend time in nature and employ relaxation techniques when stressed. Its a good time to work on a self-care routine. 
    8. If all of these still feels like gibberish to you, please feel free to get professional help. Cognitive behavioral therapy and certain medications can successfully treat anxiety problems.

    We are all in this together, stay safe and positive!