Davids’ story: Healing childhood trauma with medical cannabis

Before we talk about your treatment, can you tell us a bit about your life and your journey with mental health?

Sure. I’m David, I’m 54 years old, and I’m from Northern Ireland. 

I recently got married for the second time, and we got married in December. I have two kids who are both grown up now. One lives in Nottingham, and my daughter lives here locally.

Many years ago, I had quite a lot of trouble with anxiety and depression. My father died when I was only ten years of age, so I was very young. In those days, it wasn’t really talked about. When my father died, that was that. He was gone, and he was never really discussed in the family. I found that a bit hard growing up.

What sort of support or treatment were you offered at that stage?

The doctor had prescribed me different antidepressants and anxiety tablets, things like diazepam, which I detested. I got terrible side effects from them. 

So I just stopped taking all those types of things. I then dove headfirst into wellness routines. I practised the Wim Hof method and did cold showers and ice baths, and breathing exercises.

Had you ever tried cannabis before being legally prescribed?

I had experience using street cannabis before here in the UK, but I always found that the cannabis you got in this country, buying it illegally, never really suited me. It actually made me feel worse. It gave me a heavy feeling in my head and made my anxiety worse. It didn’t help with my depression or anxiety at all.

I’d also used cannabis in Lanzarote, because we go there quite a lot on holiday, and you can buy it legally over there. I tend to find the guys over there know a bit more about it compared to what I’d been getting here, before I signed up with Releaf that is, and they could recommend something that’ll help me with my health issues.

We are travelling to Lanzarote again in October this year, and I plan to take my medication with me. I’m not worried about it at all. I’ll contact Releaf and get my cover letter for travelling, just to have everything in place, but I don’t see it being an issue. 

Even though it is easy to source over there, I’d still much rather bring my own medication. I know exactly what I’m getting with Releaf, and it works for me. I’ve had good experiences abroad before, but this is different - this is my proper prescription.

The flower I get through Releaf is completely different. It’s clearly produced in a way that’s designed to give you the right cannabinoids for your condition. The quality of the medicine is second to none. 

I’ve never seen cannabis flower like it in my life. It’s incredible.

Were you nervous about speaking to a doctor about cannabis?

Yeah, I was quite nervous. It felt strange, but as soon as the consultation was over, I thought, “Why didn’t I do this months ago?”. 

Once I spoke to them, within five or ten minutes, I felt completely relaxed. There should be no stigma around it. It’s legal now for medical use. If anybody qualifies for it, I would definitely recommend giving it a go.

And what was it like taking that first step with Releaf?

It was great, very smooth and easy. 

I dropped Releaf an email, paid for my first appointment, and had a really good meeting. The doctor I spoke to was really helpful. Really nice to talk to. He made me feel relaxed.

The process was so easy. I sent off my medical records, and because I’d taken antidepressants and different tablets in the past, I qualified for it. Within four days, my medication had arrived.

Was there a noticeable difference straight away?

The doctor explained that one of the flowers I was prescribed is for mostly daytime use. As soon as I vaped some of that, it was like someone switched a light on in my head. I just wanted to get up and do things. I didn’t want to sit around on the couch. I wanted to get outside and moving, which was a surprise. 

My hearing felt enhanced, my sight felt enhanced. The whole thing was excellent.

Then I took some of the oil at night. A couple of drops under the tongue before bed, and the quality of sleep was brilliant. I woke up in the morning not feeling groggy. I just felt amazing. 

The medication has really helped, and Releaf have been super helpful too.

I also tried one of the vape pens, which is great. It’s very handy if you’re going somewhere and want to take medication with you. You can just pop that in your pocket.

How would you say your treatment has impacted how you feel day to day?

On a day-to-day basis, it’s made a huge difference. Before, I’d often feel very withdrawn. I didn’t want to socialise, I’d avoid talking to people. I just kept to myself. Since starting the treatment, that’s completely changed. I want to go out. I want to talk to people. I can’t stop talking. That whole side of things has shifted.

I’d say the biggest change is that I don’t wake up with fear any more. I used to open my eyes and feel dread, not knowing how the day would go. Now I get up, and I know it’s going to be a good day. I’ve got good medicine. I feel calm. I feel like myself.

And was sleep something you were struggling with before you came to Releaf?

Yeah, I often found getting to sleep quite difficult. I did some breathing exercises, and that helped a bit, but not always. The oil has been excellent for sleep. I used to wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to get back over, but now I’m sleeping right through. 

No side effects in the morning either. You don’t wake up feeling groggy, like you would if you were taking sleeping tablets. The oil doesn’t do that. At least, not for me.

I was also prescribed a flower option, which is more in the evening. That helped with sleep, too. Sometimes I didn’t even need the oil. Just a vape of the flower before bed would help me drift off.

Has your treatment evolved as you’ve learned more about what works for you?

Yeah, the doctors I have seen through Releaf have been really flexible, and open to hearing me. 

When I first joined, I was prescribed two types of flower and the oil. Since then, they’ve offered me new options. 

That’s been important because the doctor explained that I could build up a slight ‘tolerance’ to one type, so having a few available is great. I tried a cultivar with higher levels of CBG on my last prescription, and it worked really well. 

It’s good to have different options depending on how I am feeling.

I use a Volcano vapouriser, and I find it excellent. The flower is very clean, and you get a really nice taste from it. I don’t know why anyone would want to smoke it. It just damages your lungs. 

Vapourising is definitely the way to go if you’re using flower. And if people are smoking it with tobacco, that’s just silly. It completely goes against the reason you’re being prescribed it in the first place.

Have you used your medication outside the house, or just at home?

Mostly at home, but I’ve got a few portable devices too. I use the Volcano vapouriser, which I’ve had for about 15 years, and it’s still going strong. It’s brilliant. I also have the Mighty, which is made by the same company (Storz and Bickel), and it’s an excellent device. 

For quick sessions, I did try the Omura vapouriser with flower sticks. It’s fine, but I think I prefer the others. If you want something discreet and easily portable, it does the job. 

Now that you're feeling more stable, is there anything you’re particularly looking forward to?

Yeah, my son has just launched a new album, it came out on the 11th of July, so we’re hoping to go and see one of his gigs, probably in Nottingham later in the year. I’m really looking forward to that.

It’ll be nice to have that experience and be able to bring my medication with me if I need it. I’ll make sure I have my Releaf card with me. It’s just reassuring to know that I’m not doing anything wrong. I’m not buying anything dodgy. I’ve got proper, legal medication, and it’s there to help me enjoy the day, not hide from it.

And finally, what would you say to people on the fence about medical cannabis?

If I were advising someone who is unsure, I’d say just go for it. Don’t be scared. Don’t be nervous. Speak to Releaf. It’s a quick process. If you’ve tried medication in the past, you’ll probably qualify. 

I think it’s one of the best medicines you can get, and it’s all natural. I don’t get any side effects, only positive therapeutic effects. And that’s rare. Most of the medications I have been prescribed in the past come with some kind of catch. 

My Releaf medical cannabis prescription doesn’t. For me, it just works.

For more information about medical cannabis treatments for this condition, please see medical cannabis for depression.