How MMJ Health can help Patients with Depression

What is Depression?

Clinical depression is a mood disorder that causes distressing symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and can interfere with your ability to complete daily activities like sleeping, eating, or working. Symptoms are usually present most of the day, nearly every day for at least 2 weeks. You may be able to differentiate depression from feeling low as those feelings will usually pass with time, but depression symptoms will persist.

What causes Depression?

Scientists are still researching the causes of depression, but research suggests that the cause could be a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.

Depression can also occur simultaneously with other serious illnesses like diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease among other debilitating or long-lasting afflictions with long-term difficulties. Depression can make these conditions worse and vice versa. Medications taken to treat another illness are sometimes also the cause of or may contribute to depression symptoms. simultaneously called mixed dementia. Dementia can also be caused by damage to brain cells.

Other conditions may also cause symptoms of dementia, including some that may be reversible such as thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies.

Common Types of Depression

Common depression types include:

Major Depression: Experience symptoms most of the day, every day for 2 weeks or longer that interfere with work, sleep, appetite, focus, and enjoying life. It can occur only once or can be on-going. Usually, people with major depression will experience it more than once in life.

Persistent depressive disorder: (dysthymia) Experience symptoms of depression that last for at least 2 years. May have episodes or major depression along with periods of less severe symptoms.

Perinatal Depression: Full-blown major depression during pregnancy or after delivery (postpartum depression).

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): This type of depression comes and goes with the seasons. Normally starting in late fall and early winter when the weather changes and subsiding in spring or summer.

Psychotic Depression: This can occur when a person with severe depression also suffers from a form of psychosis, like delusions or hallucinations.

Symptoms of Depression

Sadness is only one small part of depression and some people with depression may not feel sadness at all. Different symptoms will affect different people.

Symptoms may include:

Persistent sad, anxious, “empty” mood
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies or activities
Decreased energy
Fatigue
Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
Difficulty sleeping or waking up
Appetite or weight changes
Thoughts of death or suicide
Restlessness or irritability
Aches or pains, digestive problems or cramps without a clear physical cause and do not ease with treatment

If you notice any of these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Diagnosing Depression

Depression is often hard to diagnose. You will need to speak to your primary care physician or doctor to be diagnosed if you or a loved one are experiencing these symptoms. Talking is the most important diagnostic tool when it comes to diagnosing depression. You may also experience routine screenings for depression even if you have never experienced it, where the doctor will ask about your moods, behaviors, and lifestyle habits.

Please see a licensed doctor in order to get properly diagnosed with depression. MMJ Health has professional and knowledgeable Medical Marijuana Specialists that can create a treatment plan that works for your lifestyle.

What can a Florida Medical Marijuana clinic do for Depression?

Researchers are still gathering data on medicinal marijuana and its effectiveness as one additional treatment for depression. Some types of marijuana containing high amounts of CBD are known to help relieve symptoms of anxiety, and studies show it may aid in sleep as well, and those affected by chronic stress.

While research is ongoing, researchers have shared that it is possible medical marijuana could restore “normal” endocannabinoid function and help with mood stabilization.

Under Amendment 2, depression may be a qualifying condition for a medical marijuana card in Florida.

If you are currently suffering from depression and would like to talk to our certified Florida Marijuana doctors, you can book an appointment and come to any of our 10 convenient MMJ Health locations.