Patient voices: Stress awareness special - Releaf medical cannabis patient's real stories

Every month we sit down with a handful of Releaf patients to discuss their personal healthcare journeys, from trials and tribulations, to milestone celebrations - we leave in the good, the bad, and the ugly, in the hope of inspiring others to explore alternative options. 

In the first instalment of this series we heard from Scott, Marlyse, and Lukas, Releaf patients who use cannabis-based treatments to treat chronic pain, and relieve the associated symptoms like poor sleep, low mood, fatigue, and muscle spasms. 

This time, as we’re drawing to the end of Stress Awareness Month, we’d like to focus on individuals who joined Releaf with the aim of improving their mental wellbeing. In this blog, we’ll hear from Matthew, Gerard, and Darren, three men with different lives and different conditions, but one thing in common: they access cannabis based treatments through Releaf.

Matthew: Medical cannabis and depression

Matthew has a long history with mental health and at the age of 37 told us he’s battled depression and anxiety for the majority of his life. 

Like many in the UK, over the years Matthew had been prescribed a number of different pharmaceutical medications to treat his symptoms, but they were often accompanied by unpleasant side effects that left him cycling between heavy pharmaceutical medications and going ‘cold turkey’ to reduce his reliance on these drugs. 

That was until, he happened to tune into a documentary on medical cannabis. 

Once he knew medical cannabis was available in the UK, Matthew turned to the internet and decided upon Releaf, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

Matthew's story:

In his patient story, Matthew said:

“The doctor I spoke to was very understanding and knowledgeable about mental health issues and the role that medical cannabis could play in helping me to overcome, or at least manage, some of the challenges I was facing. He actually listened to what I was saying, and it was obvious from the moment the consultation started that he wanted to find a solution for me….

The doctor explained to me that finding the right combination of cannabis-based medications and working out the best dosage for my health needs may involve some trial and error. I was prescribed a medical cannabis oil option first, but I didn't find that to be super effective for my needs. I spoke with the doctor and told him how I was getting on, and he helped me switch to the flower options.

I tried a couple of different flowers which helped, and I explained my experiences with each. It didn’t take long, just a couple of appointments, and now I’m really happy with the treatment plan we’ve designed and the options that I have been prescribed…

Before starting medical cannabis treatment with Releaf, I'd struggle through the day with constant anxiety, often spending the whole day feeling on edge. Now, I can get through the day without that weight on my mind.

Even just knowing I have something that helps if I do have a bad episode makes a huge difference. That reassurance alone makes it easier to manage my mental health struggles. But honestly, it doesn’t happen as often anymore. It’s just not a concern for me like it used to be - life feels easier, and I don’t have to think about it as much.”

Read Matthew’s full story 

Gerard: Medical cannabis and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

38-year-old Gerard also shared his story. 

Despite only being diagnosed with PTSD two years ago, Gerard has been battling mental health concerns since childhood, and says in the early 2000s he said he was diagnosed with ‘one thing after another’. 

Then in his thirties, Gerard had an accident while rock climbing. This left him with chronic pain, a slipped disk, an invasive surgery, and a hefty prescription of opioid based painkillers. 

After journeying through pharmaceutically prescribed options for both chronic pain and PTSD, Gerard said they often exacerbated his symptoms which in turn had an impact on his job, and ultimately, he had to leave that role because of his health. 

Desperate to find some sort of solution that worked well for him, Gerard turned to the internet - which is where he found Releaf. Gerard explains now his health is back on track, and he’s been able to make his dream come true: supporting himself working as a full-time photographer and artist. 

Gerard's story: 

During his interview, Gerard told us:

“I’m in my third month now. It’s been great. I have been prescribed two different medical cannabis flower options - one for the daytime, which is more uplifting, and another for the evening to help me sleep.

The daytime strain is relaxing, but still allows me to get stuff done. Right now, I’m decorating the house, and moving things around between my studio and the bins. I’m not just sitting on the couch, eating everything in sight.

The evening strain helps me wind down, allows my body and mind to relax, and now I actually go to sleep before 1 AM, which used to be very rare. If we compare it to what I used to be like - I was sleeping maybe three to four hours a night, and even then, I’d wake up multiple times. Now, I’m getting seven to eight hours. The sleep is also much more settled and much deeper. I'm waking up way less than I used to, and when I do wake up, I can just turn over and go back to sleep…

The main PTSD symptoms - the flashbacks, anxiety, and emotional instability - can come out of nowhere. If I feel them creeping in, I use my vaporiser, and after 30 minutes, it’s like my brain just re-prioritises. It’s not like suppressing or bottling things up - it just helps me, I guess, 'reset' my headspace, and I can deal with things a little easier.”

Read Gerard’s full story 

Darren: Medical cannabis and insomnia

We also spoke to 48-year-old Darren, who has insomnia, and stress was something he mentioned too. 

As a father of two, business owner, and company director, Darren has a very busy life, one that requires lots of energy, and therefore, quality sleep. But, this was something he’d never been able to properly maintain - and not for a lack of trying. 

After cycling through conventional sleep aids, over the counter remedies, natural supplements, and courses of meditation - Darren was surprised when a colleague told him medical cannabis may be able to help, but he took a leap of faith, and it seems to have paid off. 

Darren's story: 

When we spoke to Darren, he explained: 

“The reason I contacted Releaf was mainly a result of my busy, hectic, and often stressful lifestyle. As the years have gone by, as I have taken on more responsibilities and more stress, my sleep has noticeably worsened. 

My stress levels were coming up, and my sleep levels were going down. I was finding it very hard to get a decent night's sleep, and I knew I had to do something about it…

The anxiety would build, and I would end up going through a mental battle before my head had even hit the pillows, thinking things like "Am I going to sleep tonight? Is it going to be a good night’s sleep or a bad night’s sleep?"

Now, all of that stress and anxiety has melted away. I take my dose of medical cannabis oil about an hour and a half before bed, which seems to work best for me. There are still times when I wake up once, maybe to go to the loo, but I go straight back to sleep. 

Some nights, I sleep all the way through. Sometimes I even fall asleep on the sofa before I have gone up to bed. On weekdays, when I am in my work routine, by the time I turn in for bed, I feel like I am in a good place to settle - that's pretty different from before. 

If, just a year ago, someone told me that I would get to the point where I was able to drift off on the sofa, I wouldn't have believed them.”

Read Darren’s full story

Discover if medical cannabis is right for you 

At Releaf, regardless of diagnosis, we believe that no one should feel alone in their health journey. If you too are living with mental health challenges, stress, or sleep difficulties, and feel like you’ve run out of options, we hope the words of Matthew, Gerard, and Darren have provided comfort and solace. 

At Releaf, we provide more than symptom relief. We provide hope, we provide support, and we provide a truly patient-centred service, where you can be in control of your health. 

If you’re wondering whether medical cannabis or prescribed cannabis oil might be right for you, find out today using our fast and free eligibility checker. Nine out of ten of those that apply are successful in receiving a cannabis-based prescription and personalised care from our expert clinical team. 

So, why not start your new health journey today?

Simply click the link to sign up. 

Or, if you’re already a Releaf medical cannabis patient and would like to share your story to inspire others, get in touch with Releaf Patient Support - we’d love to hear more about your journey.