Submitted by Alex M. from Seattle, WA

Maybe my life sounds familiar. I’m over 50. I’ve struggled with depression, anxiety and PTSD for most of my life. I also had the whammy of postpartum depression.

Of course, I self-identified as anxious and depressed. I was triggered by all sorts of external realities.

But all that changed in 2020.

With the interruption in normal life that Covid-19 brought, my life changed for the better!

I lost my job, was homeschooling a second grader (yes, had my child late in life), had two new dogs – a rescue and a golden retriever puppy. The dogs were expected; everything else was not.

During this time, I noticed that when I would have thought I would be massively stressed, anxious and depressed given what had changed so quickly, I wasn’t.

I was feeling great!

When I thought about what had changed

Less stress from the job, sure, and I didn’t have financial stability; more time with my son, yes! And I was homeschooling a SECOND grader. Dogs are cute, yes, but can you say land shark? Not to mention that a rescue only starts to show true behavior when they become more comfortable and at home.

What changed? More Cannabis in my life!

I was consuming more Cannabis and feeling better and better. I was feeling so much better that I made a plan with my medical team to come off my antianxiety and antidepressant medications. I was on a cocktail of Wellbutrin, Prozac, and occasionally Xanax. Over six months, I slowly decreased them, eliminating Xanax and Prozac first, then finishing with Wellbutrin.

Started to learn more about Cannabis

I learned how it works in the body and my body in particular. I learned what Cannabis can be used for. I realized that I was barely exploring what Cannabis could do for me, as I was focused on THC initially. The more I learned, the more I realized I needed more Cannabis in my system. I needed all of what the Cannabis plant has to offer.

Found the right mix of Cannabis that works for me

I enrolled in a program to learn how to make my own medicine and developed a multi-cannabinoid tincture with the ratios of Cannabis that I need. What I’ve noticed? I need less medical Cannabis the longer that I work with it to support my health. What am I really doing? Balancing my endocannabinoid system by consuming my medicine containing THC, THCA, CBD, CBDA, CBG and CBGA.

Me Today

So now I’m here, a happy and healthy medical Cannabis patient. I’m also an ECN advocate.

Why am I an advocate? Because I’ve learned through personal lived experience the stigma and misinformation surrounding Cannabis. I’m here to help normalize and destigmatize the consumption of medical Cannabis.

Medical Cannabis is an integral part of the foundation of my good health.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

This is Alex’s personal story and not meant to be medical advice. It is for informational purposes.

To work with a medical Cannabis professional, please visit our directory of coaches, educators, and medical professionals. Everyone's endocannabinoid system (ECS) is different; good results start with the right approach. You don't have to figure it out on your own.

If you need help with any terminology in this article, you may find some answers in our glossary.