Reflecting on Women's Health Month...
Motherhood is beautiful. But somedays the weekly grocery haul feels like a vacation because I’ve got a whole hour to myself. And while I wouldn’t trade a single moment for the world, even on the most trying of days, I would be lying if I said I didn’t sometimes burn out. How can it be so natural and easy to take care of all those around me, but go into dummy mode when it comes time to take care of myself?
Making time for yourself and your health is vital to feeling like your best, which in return, is vital to being the mother and partner you want to be. We need to make ourselves a priority and make time to take care of ourselves. Whether it be shopping, going to a movie, or meeting with friends for dinner, whatever your cup of tea is, indulge and take a big sip. You deserve it.
I often hear women discussing different care treatment plans for anxiety and depression that they hoped would help but instead gave them side effects that were impacting their relationships and physical well-being. Low libido, low appetite, and zero motivation are the most common symptoms they confided in me.
Cannabis is an alternative way to manage symptoms that is sadly overlooked and undermined because of the stigmas in the world of motherhood. The more moms we have learning and educating other moms, the more normal this natural alternative is going to become. I used to feel silenced, especially by groups of other mothers, by judgement. Meanwhile copious alcohol consumption, and the hang- overs that go with it, is socially acceptable because alcohol is legal.
So, I started speaking out. I started sharing why and how I use medical marijuana and people started listening. Establishing better daily habits creates a healthier mindset and I use cannabis to help me with the two issues I struggle with most.
Eating enough food and getting the right nutrition is essential to how we feel. I naturally have a low appetite and when I am not intaking enough food, I become lethargic, which tanks my motivation. I use cannabis to increase my appetite. It helps me achieve that hungry feeling and allows me to recognize my cravings. I now know what I like and enjoy what I eat instead of just grabbing something quickly for convenience. The better food I eat, the better I feel, the more I want to do. With three very active kids, I need to be energized and my best self to keep up with them.
Another key to my well-being is sleep. A good night’s sleep can dictate our overall health. Balancing my job, family, animals, and home sometimes makes it hard to shut off my thoughts at night. I felt like my mind was racing trying to remember if I put the uniform in the dryer, and did my youngest brush her teeth? Did I send my boss those numbers he requested yesterday? And reassuring myself we will be able to make it from tumbling to soccer in the 15-minute time frame we will have the next day. It never stops. Sleep is too precious to lie in bed for three hours before I could shut my mind down. Medicating with cannabis before bed allows my mind to calm and gives my body a sense of peace. I now look forward to lying in bed and feeling relaxed mentally and physically before drifting to sleep. My legs aren’t restless, and I am not tossing and turning the whole night. The adequacy of sleep has completely changed how I wake up in the morning and my sustainability throughout my next day. Sometimes it’s the little things that need to be changed and once they are you realize how big of an impact they have. Start with the small and simple to achieve the bigger picture.
There are many ways to medicate with cannabis. Most commonly used are flower, edibles, concentrates, lotions, and tinctures. Most recently available at all Swade locations is something very new to the cannabis market. During Women’s Health Month SWADE successfully launched the first ever, Cannabis Suppositories with THC by Amend. This product acts much like a tincture in that it is absorbed by the mucosal membranes in the body. The THC is not processed through the liver resulting in zero intoxicating effects. Patients will start to feel relief within 30 minutes to an hour after insertion. SWADE dispensaries work diligently to cater to the needs of women of all kinds. Speak with a SWADE Cannabis Specialist to learn more about this product and its health benefits for women.
