Tell me a little bit about how you were first introduced to cannabis therapy:
Cannabis therapy became a bigger part of my life shortly after I was diagnosed with Keratoconus, a genetic eye disease. After multiple eye surgeries, my eyes had developed corneal neuropathic damage, making my eyes very sensitive. I went from being a normal 20-something year old, to someone who was constantly struggling to not only navigate my surroundings, but also feel good about my health. I then started to use cannabis therapy to help treat my eye pain and the anxieties that came with having very limited eyesight.
In what specific ways has cannabis therapy improved your health and wellbeing?
Since using cannabis, my quality of life has improved immensely, Not only has it been a great relief in my every day eye pain, but also in my social anxieties of not being able to recognize and see those surrounding me. Using cannabis allows me the space to manage and maintain a healthy relationship with my diagnosis and the struggles I face day to day. I am very grateful for cannabis because I know that I would be in a very different place mentally if not for cannabis therapy.
What have you learned and/or realized about cannabis therapy?
The amount of knowledge gained not only from my own research, but also provided by High Mountain Health, have given me the ability to better tailor my experience with cannabis. Having the resources to go and speak to someone about what medicines will best suit me, allows me the confidence to know that I am being provided with the best.
What would you tell someone who is skeptical about cannabis therapy?
I would tell them to come into HMH and talk to someone. Everyone working in the industry all strive for the same common ground; to make your quality of life better and to find what would work best to help you get there. In today's world, the possibilities are endless with CBD, 1:1 THC/CBD, Sativa, Indica, and everything else we are finding about cannabis. It can be overwhelming at first but that is why there are professionals who strive to give you the best experience and help you find what will work best for you.
What are some misconceptions about cannabis that you have encountered in your experience?
A misconception I have faced with being a young woman using cannabis is that it is for recreational purposes. I don't always want to speak of my struggles simply because I try very hard not to let them control who I am as a person, yet, that misconception is always around me. This simply is my medicine and that is how I see it in my eyes. Without it, my mental and physical health would not be the same.
What other ways do you stay happy and healthy?
I enjoy just living my life! I love getting out in the Flagstaff wilderness with my dog, Otis, and going to local shows downtown. I am a massage therapist and a painter and love expressing myself through those art forms.
I have found that cannabis has brought me closer to those pieces of myself.
What is a specific quality that you love about yourself?
I love that I have my mother's smile and kind heart. If I can bring a smile to someone's face through my own smile, then that is a good day in my book.
Anything else you would like to include about your relationship with cannabis and/or HMH?
If you are unsure of what steps to take or just need to seek someone to talk to, please come into HMH. Every person that is in the building has so much compassion and knowledge to give and constantly is looking to share it. I know it can feel intimidating at first, but please remember we are all striving for the same thing; a higher quality of life, filled with happiness.
Thank you for reading my story!
