Does indica make anxiety worse?

For example, indica can cause orthostatic hypotension, which is a form of low blood pressure that worsens when you stand up. For those suffering from anxiety, the feeling of disconnection and dizziness that accompanies orthostatic hypotension could worsen their anxiety symptoms.

Does indica make anxiety worse?

For example, indica can cause orthostatic hypotension, which is a form of low blood pressure that worsens when you stand up. For those suffering from anxiety, the feeling of disconnection and dizziness that accompanies orthostatic hypotension could worsen their anxiety symptoms. Anxiety is one of the most common conditions people treat with cannabis, but how cannabis affects anxiety has always been a complicated picture. Research suggests that cannabis is effective in relieving anxiety, but paradoxically, cannabis can also worsen anxiety.

This may be partly due to the fact that the main and minor active ingredients in cannabis, THC and CBD, help with anxiety at low doses, but worsen it with higher doses. Depending on the user, marijuana can relieve anxiety or worsen anxiety, literally at opposite ends of the spectrum. Sativa and Indica are the two main categories of cannabis plants, and they are also mixed to create hybrid strains. Sativa strains have a cognitive effect, providing an energetic, concentrated and mental high, while Indica strains are known for their physical effects.

Think “indica means “on the couch. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the chemical compound found in cannabis that has inherent qualities for treating anxiety. CBD doesn't make you “feel high,” but it's been found to have all kinds of medical benefits. Tetrahydrocannibinol, or THC, on the other hand, provides all of the psychedelic and some physical effects of marijuana, but it tends to induce anxiety in users, especially those who already struggle with the symptoms of anxiety disorders.

If you're curious about the effects of CBD compared to THC, vaporizers are available to order from tons of trusted brands. When it's this complex, you often end up with a hybrid that leans toward sativa or indica. Breeders around the world have done their best to create cultivars that take the best attributes of indicas, sativas and mother and father plants to calm the anxiety of the masses, very much in the line of benzoin-based pharmaceuticals that work for most people who experience panic or feeling anxious. And it has certainly risen to the realm of cannabis, that if you want to experience cravings, a quiet night and a good night's sleep, you choose an indica.

The main reason people find indicas puzzling rather than soothing is that a heavy hitter can have someone deep in their head with no conceivable way out. Unlike most of the strains on this list, this is an indica-dominant hybrid, but the high that comes with smoking is quite broad. Its genetics consist of Sativa and Indica components, but it is definitely a sativa-dominant hybrid. Pure indicas are true medicine and should not be discredited in any way, shape or form, but they are not for everyone.

Zachary Schrieber
Zachary Schrieber

Internet guru. Incurable web scholar. Infuriatingly humble coffee scholar. General bacon lover. Infuriatingly humble beer lover. Award-winning zombie expert.