Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. That moment when we come face to face with something that catches us off guard, or the dread that sets in when we think about a weekly meeting that we just can’t seem to shake off. But for some people, these feelings go beyond just a little uneasiness. They have an irrational, crippling fear, also known as a phobia, that can hinder their lives and make even the simplest tasks seem impossible. These individuals will do anything to avoid facing their fears, whether it’s avoiding airports, snakes, confined spaces, or even tall buildings.
But don’t worry, you’re not alone. In fact, around 19 million people in the U.S. suffer from some type of phobia, making it the most common mental disorder in the country. But there may be a solution to help those with phobias overcome their fears – cannabis.
Research has shown that marijuana, specifically its compounds THC and CBD, may be able to help people with certain types of phobias be less afraid. A study from the University of Michigan found that THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, may provide phobia patients with a way to work through their fears and move past them. The study involved around 30 people and used a synthetic version of THC called dronabinol. The results showed that those under the influence of THC showed less fear over time.
Another study, this one from the Frontiers of Pharmacology, suggests that CBD, the non-intoxicating compound in cannabis, may also have therapeutic benefits for specific phobias. This study found that CBD may help with fear extinction, which is the process of unlearning a fear response.
So, for those who have been living with a phobia for as long as they can remember, there may be hope in the form of cannabis. While more research is needed, these studies show promising results for using marijuana as a treatment for phobias.
