Written by fellow RM Michelle Bilodeau

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Being a parent in the midst of the Coronavirus outbreak means that you’re probably  trapped in your home with your offspring (I’m on day 12) and you’re probably considering trying pretty much anything that promises to curb your current (understandable) soaring anxiety levels.

Enter: Cannabis.

Maybe you’re new to the substance. Maybe you’re intrigued by the fact that cannabis retailers have been filed under the category of an essential service in many provinces and states.

Maybe you’re trying to reduce your alcohol intake (did you know that shit can actually make anxiety more pronounced?). Maybe you’re just bored out of your fucking mind. Could right now be the time to try? It might just be.

Now, this is the part where I’ll get pretty serious, but I promise to share some goodness on the other side.

Ok, here it is:

What I don’t have to tell you right now, is that times are F***’ed. For all of us

But one thing you might be interested to know is that according to the WHO one in 13 people on the planet suffer from generalized anxiety, and less than 40 per cent of people who experience symptoms of anxiety actually get treatment. And, this next tidbit won’t be super surprising: The likelihood of having a one-two-punch of anxiety and depression is really high.

Here at home, stats suggest that one in four Canadians will have an anxiety experience in their lifetime. And those stats are from well before we started dealing with COVID-19 (and climate change, and #MeToo, and Trump, and and and…). According to CAMH, stress can heighten our anxiety during times like this (i.e. being inundated with messages from all over social media and the daily press conferences and the news updates, as well as the general uncertainty of it all).

*Thankfully, CAMH is offering some tips on how to assess your stress levels, for you to assess how you’re doing if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

If you’re holed up with a baby, toddler or kid of any age, you’ve likely already had a few stressful moments. Tantrums, tears and lack of manners can cause SO.MUCH.TENSION (and I am not just talking about the children!).

So… time for that good ISH: Some of us already know that CBD can help curb anxious feelings. And it just seems smart to rely on something more natural at a time like this (if you can!).

If you’re into CBD, make sure you’re stocked up. Like, don’t start hoarding that shit, but make sure to grab an extra bottle or vape pen (or two!) to have on hand.

And if you haven’t tried it yet, well, now might be the perfect time. I have consumed cannabis on and off for many years (17-year-old me used to hotbox my parents garage with a group of friends while they were away at the cottage!). But when CBD became the buzzword that it is today, I was still a bit scared to try it. I had heard great things, but wondered what it would actually feeeeeeel like. So, after a while, I finally grabbed a tincture from my local dispensary, and put some time in my calendar to be at home and try it. And I think that was key—being at home, in a safe space for my first experience.

And guess what? We’re likely going to be on lockdown for at least another month or two, so the time is nigh. And, you will not get high from ingesting CBD. You will notice a slight feeling of euphoria (um, I think we could all use that right about now), and any pain that you’re experiencing (i.e. period cramps or headaches) will likely dissipate.

Now, CBD isn’t a cure all, but (and here’s some more goodness!) multiple studies have shown that the hyped-up cannabis compound can help to diminish social anxiety, deter panic attacks, and mitigate the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And in one animal study, it was even found to reduce the effects of depression (yes, animals get depressed, too!!).

Other bonuses to CBD consumption include a slight increase in libido, which, hey, if you’re looking to pass the time, sex is also a great way to release some tension. Just make sure to wrap it up if you’re not interested in participating in a COVID-19 baby boom in nine months.

CBD can also help with muscle soreness, so once you’re done all those Zoom workout sessions, squirt a little bit into your mouth and you won’t feel as sore the next day. I used CBD quite a bit when I was training for a half marathon almost two years ago and trust, it was a lifesaver.

And for all you beauty lovers out there, CBD has been proven to help with inflammation, so apply that shit directly to any stress breakouts that may be poppin’ up. It is also anti-bacterial so that will help with any dirt/sebum in your pores keeping your complexion in check while we’re hosting all those video chats with loved ones.

This all sounds like a pretty great salve for general COVID-19 anxiety. But there really is so much more to talk about. So, if you have any q’s about CBD and anxiety, I’ll be taking over The Rebel Mama IG stories today (Wed, March 25th) and answering any and all of your cannabis questions there.  Send in your q’s in directly by replying to my IG Story or [email protected] and I’ll make sure to come with all the answers!

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