Between 2017 and 2018, 13.1% of Australians were reported to have anxiety-related conditions (Australian Bureau of Statistics). In the same year, 10% of Australians were also reported to have depression. Since 2014, the number of Australians experiencing behavioral and mental issues has increased, with more and more Australians coming forward with their mental health struggles.

In response to increasing reports of Australians suffering from mental illnesses, the healthcare industry has provided a wide range of treatment options, from drugs, to therapy, to drug-free complementary and alternative care. As part of modern health care, medicinal cannabis is emerging as a potential health care method for ailments such as anxiety and depression.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is both an emotion and a mental health disorder. Anxiety is an emotion characterised by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil, often accompanied by nervous behavior such as pacing back and forth, somatic complaints, and rumination. It is the subjectively unpleasant feelings of dread over anticipated events.

Anxiety as a mental health disorder involves persistent and excessive worry that interferes with daily activities. It is often accompanied by physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, sweating, and dizziness.

Types of Anxiety

There are a number of different types of anxiety. Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness and involve excessive fear or anxiety.

Examples of anxiety disorders include:

• Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD): This is characterized by chronic, excessive worry about a variety of topics, such as work, family, or finances. A person experiencing GAD may have difficulty concentrating and sleeping
• Panic disorder: This is characterized by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks. Panic attacks are periods of intense fear that may include palpitations, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, and nausea
• Agoraphobia: This is characterised by a fear of situations where escape may be difficult or help unavailable if the person experiences a panic attack. Agoraphobia often leads to avoidance of public places or large groups of people.
• Social anxiety disorder (SAD): This is characterised by extreme fear of humiliation or embarrassment in social situations.
• Specific phobias: This is characterised by a fear of a specific object or situation, such as heights, animals, or flying. A person with a phobia may go to great lengths to avoid the object or situation

What are the Common Causes of Anxiety?

There are a number of different factors that may cause anxiety, including:

• Genetics: Anxiety can run in families, so it may be partially due to genetic predisposition
• Brain chemistry: Imbalances in certain brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) have been linked to anxiety
• Stressful life events: Exposure to trauma (such as abuse or battlefield experiences) or major life transitions (such as divorce or moving to a new city) can trigger anxiety
• Medical conditions: Some physical illnesses can cause symptoms of anxiety, such as heart disease, thyroid problems, and respiratory disorders
• Substance abuse: Excessive use of drugs or alcohol can lead to anxiety or make existing anxiety worse

Anxiety can also be caused by the side effects of certain medications, such as birth control pills, cold medicines, and steroids. In some cases, there is no identifiable cause for anxiety.

What are the Symptoms of Anxiety?

Some common symptoms of anxiety include:

• Feeling tense, nervous, or edgy
• Having a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom
• Having an increased heart rate
• Trembling or shaking
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling like you can’t catch your breath
• Hyperventilating (breathing too fast)
• Nausea or upset stomach
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Difficulty concentrating and falling asleep

Anxiety can also cause physical symptoms such as:

• Fatigue
• Muscle tension or aches
• Headaches
• Chills or hot flashes
• Chest pain

What is Depression?

Depression is a serious mental health condition that often requires treatment. People with depression may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities and may feel like they are stuck in a “dark hole”.

Types of Depression

Like anxiety, there are many different types of anxiety, such as:

• Major depression: Major depression involves a low mood that lasts for two weeks or more. People with major depression may have difficulty doing normal activities, such as going to work or school
• Persistent depressive disorder: Persistent depressive disorder (also called dysthymia) is a less severe form of depression that can last for years. People with this condition may have trouble doing day-to-day activities, but they are not usually as impaired as people with major depression.
• Psychotic depression: This is a rare but serious form of depression that occurs when a person has severe depression plus some form of psychosis, such as having delusions or hallucinations.
• Postpartum depression: This form of depression occurs after a woman gives birth. It is more than the “baby blues” (relatively mild depressive and anxiety symptoms that typically clear within two weeks after delivery) that many women experience after childbirth. Postpartum depression can begin anytime during the first year post-delivery.

What are the Symptoms of Depression?

Common symptoms of depression can include:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities, including sex
• Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down”
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite and/or weight changes
• Thoughts of death or suicide, or attempted suicide
• Restlessness, irritability

Some individuals may also experience persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and pain, for which no other cause can be diagnosed.

What are Treatments for Anxiety and Depression?

There are a number of effective treatments for anxiety and depression, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that helps individuals understand and change the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to their distress. Cognitive-behavioural therapy can be delivered in individual or group sessions, and research has shown it to be effective for a range of anxiety and depressive disorders. This is because it helps people to identify and change negative thinking patterns and behaviors.

Medication can also be an effective treatment for anxiety and depression. The most commonly prescribed medications for these conditions are antidepressants, which can help to relieve symptoms of both disorders. In some cases, anti-anxiety medications may also be prescribed to help manage symptoms of anxiety. It is important to work with a mental health professional to find the right medication or combination of medications for you.

In addition to therapy and medication, making lifestyle changes can also help to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Getting regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and reducing stress can all help to improve a person’s mental health. These lifestyle changes can have a positive impact on overall well-being and may help to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Medicinal Cannabis, Anxiety and Depression

There is increasing research on the effectiveness of medicinal cannabis as a care method for mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. Medicinal cannabis is known to interact with the endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating mood and anxiety.

Medicinal cannabis is made up of various cannabinoids, including THC and CBD. THC is the psychoactive component of cannabis that produces the “high” feeling, while CBD is non-psychoactive and does not produce this effect.

In the case of anxiety, a 2022 study from the Australian Journal of General Practice found that anxiety is the second-most common reason for medical cannabis prescriptions in Australia. The study concluded that CBD in particular may help patients with managing anxiety disorders. Specifically, it suggests that CBD has anxiolytic properties that may be effective in patients for whom existing treatments have been ineffective when taken in doses between 300 mg and 800 mg per day.

As for depression, research from Front Psychiatry has also found that medicinal cannabis may reduce depressive symptoms in anxious and depressed individuals. CBD in medicinal cannabis may help to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system. This system regulates various biological processes, including mood and emotion. When CBD binds to receptors in the endocannabinoid system, it can help to improve mood.

While more research is needed to confirm the efficacy of the CBD medicinal cannabis product in treating anxiety and depression, the available evidence suggests that use of medicinal cannabis may be a promising option for those who do not respond well to traditional treatments.

In Australia, medicinal cannabis can only be prescribed to individuals after an appropriate medicinal cannabis product application from a doctor is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The ability to access medicinal cannabis products is tightly regulated by the TGA.

AQs - Medical Cannabinoids for Anxiety and Depression

Below, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions concerning legal medicinal cannabis products and how they may care for anxiety and depression.

What is medical cannabis used for in Australia?

In Australia, medicinal cannabis is used for a range of mental and physical conditions. The Australian government first legalised the use of medicinal cannabis in 2016. Since then, a number of clinical trials have been conducted to assess its safety and efficacy.

While the results so far have been promising, more research is needed to confirm the therapeutic potential of cannabis, and the industry (especially when prescribing medicinal cannabis) is still tightly regulated.

What medicine contains cannabinoids?

Some medicinal cannabis products approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration may contain cannabinoids. Some examples include nabiximols (Sativex®) and synthetic cannabinoids such as Dronabinol® (Alcohol and Drug Foundation). Most medicinal cannabis products, if not all, are regulated by the TGA and require approval via the Special Access Scheme, Authorised Prescriber Scheme, or Clinical Trial Scheme (for a particular group of patients) before medical professionals can prescribe medicinal cannabis.

How do you calm anxiety?

There are a number of ways that people can calm anxiety. Some people may take medication prescribed by a medical practitioner, while others may try natural remedies. Some people may also find relief through therapy or relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation.

What will happen during depression?

Depression is a mental illness that can cause a range of symptoms. These may include feeling sad or down, losing interest in activities you used to enjoy, struggling to concentrate, feeling tired all the time, changes in appetite and weight, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Depression can last for weeks, months, or even years if it’s not treated. Treatment for depression usually involves medication and talking therapies.