Quarantining at home may have been fun for the first week or two of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re several months in, now, however, and the novelty of staying home all day every day has worn off. Isolation from family, friends, and social gatherings has begun to take its toll. Many people are feeling the effects of limited to no contact with others. While it helps to mitigate the spread of the virus, it has led to an increase in mental and physical health problems. Recreational cannabis may be able to help manage these effects, making quarantining at home more bearable.
Effects of Isolation
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and people continue to remain at home, it’s becoming more and more apparent that isolation has many significant effects on your overall wellbeing. Isolation can lead to poor sleep, depressive symptoms, reduced immunity, and poor cardiovascular health. Other effects include:
- Fear
- Stress and anxiety
- Sadness
- Anger and irritability
- Emotional exhaustion
While these feelings are normal during prolonged isolation, there are things that you can do to cope.
How Recreational Cannabis Can Help
Studies show that cannabis provides effective relief from many different physical and mental health issues. During times of isolation, taking care of yourself is essential. Cannabis can help to reduce your stress, allowing you to relax. It can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and help you to sleep.
If you’re using cannabis for the first time, one crucial thing to keep in mind is that you should start with a very small dose and gradually work your way up, especially if you’re using a strain that has a larger amount THC. While small amounts of THC can help to lessen anxiety, a bigger dose can worsen the symptoms, leaving you feeling very on edge and paranoid. Another option is to start with a high CBD/low THC product. These products typically produce little to no psychoactive effects, but still provide you with relief from stress, anxiety, insomnia, and more.
Finding the Right Cannabis Product for You
For those who have never used cannabis before, the sheer number of products available can be overwhelming. In addition to buds, you have pipes, bongs, vape pens, edibles, tinctures, and topicals. Smoking, vaping, and sublingual tinctures provide faster relief, but the effects typically wear off in just a couple of hours. Edibles (along with tinctures added to foods or drinks) take longer to kick in, but the effects last for several hours. You should also pay attention to the strain, THC and CBD content, and terpene profile. If you’re finding yourself unsure of where to start, a budtender can help you find something that fits your needs and goals.
Being isolated from friends and family (and being unable to do the things you used to do) is hard. Recreational cannabis, along with other healthy coping mechanisms, can help you to manage these uncertain times a little better. Check out your local dispensary online to get an idea of the products it sells before you make the trip. If you have any questions about strains, products, or recommendations, one of the budtenders can provide you with the answers you need.