How Cannabis Helped Me Heal My Body Trauma & Trapped Emotions

Plus, 5 mythbusters about THC and CBD

For most of my life, I lived in my mind.

My body was just a vessel, something I used to navigate life but never truly felt into. Unresolved trauma had left me disconnected, dissociating from both physical pain and emotional depth. I thought I was strong, that bypassing overwhelming emotions and refusing to let people know that I was suffering made me resilient.

In reality, I was numb and in denial.

That all changed when I reconnected with cannabis as a healing tool. And let me tell you something—if anyone who knew me in my younger years heard me say that, they would be shocked.

I used to be Judge Judy about it all. In high school, I dated a couple of smokers (and even some dealers), and it was the center of our arguments all the time. I couldn’t understand the appeal. I blamed it for their behavior. At one point, I smoked just to see what the hype was all about—I hated it.

All I could think was, “When is this feeling gonna go away?”

It made me super paranoid. I felt a loss of control that heightened my stress. It brought down my defenses in a way that felt threatening. Later, when this plant medicine came back around as an adult, my experience was different, and I realized why it was bringing all of this up.

In 2013, I got out of bed and fell straight to the floor. I had no idea what happened, but suddenly I had excruciating pain in one of my knees and couldn’t walk. All I remember was walking through Old Town Pasadena the night before and falling straight to my knees on the concrete as though someone pushed me from behind (no one was there…). Then, while sleeping, I vaguely recall hearing a pop in my leg as I shifted positions.

I got an MRI and went to physical therapy for two weeks to be able to walk again, and even with all of that, I still have no answers as to what actually happened. I also had no pain medication.

At the time, a friend of mine came over to keep me company and brought some weed. I wasn’t a smoker, but I was desperate, so I indulged. We laughed hysterically watching infomercials together and for the first time in what felt like forever, the pain subsided.

Now, I share that with caution. Your environment, your company and other factors matter here, and using it without intention (just to numb pain) is not the point of this message. I’m simply illustrated that this was a door, but I still didn’t walk through it fully.

It did, however, allow me to release some of my judgement and be a little more open to the idea of this plant, but it wasn’t until roughly 2019 that I really dove in—and I realized that the paranoia, the fear, the hesitation in using this plant was in large part due to the fact that it “weakened” my defenses.

Suddenly, I felt everything, and as someone whose body was always so tense, the release of control felt so threatening that I hated it. I didn’t realize that what I was actually experiencing was relaxation.

I began approaching it with intention—with reverence. Through mindful use, cannabis became a gateway to my body’s wisdom. It softened the armor I had unknowingly built, allowing me to sit with my sensations instead of running from them. Memories surfaced, emotions unfolded, and for the first time in a long time, I felt truly present within myself.

I started integrating cannabis into my somatic healing practices, using it to deepen my connection with movement, breathwork, and self-massage. It helped me release stored pain, acknowledge emotions I had long suppressed, and embrace my body as a sacred space rather than a battleground. I would sit on the couch by myself and cry for hours, tears that I didn’t even realize were trapped and waiting for a way out.

What once felt like an uncomfortable weight now became a home I could tend to with love and care. And don’t even get me started on the channeling. The wisdom I’d tap into was life-changing.

Now, I know what you might be thinking—Bruna, are you promoting drug use?!

No. I’m promoting awareness to alternative healing methods while also breaking some myths. Like these…

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Five Myths About THC and CBD

Myth: THC and CBD Have No Medical Benefits
Reality: Both compounds have well-documented medicinal properties. The FDA has approved Epidiolex, a CBD-based drug for epilepsy, and Dronabinol (synthetic THC) for nausea and appetite stimulation in cancer and AIDS patients. (Source: FDA, National Institutes of Health - NIH)

Myth: CBD is Non-Psychoactive
Reality: While CBD doesn’t cause a "high" like THC, it does affect the brain, influencing mood, anxiety, and cognition. It interacts with serotonin receptors, which is why it’s often used for anxiety and depression. (Source: Frontiers in Immunology, 2018)

Myth: THC is Only Used for Recreational Purposes
Reality: THC has strong pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. It is used medicinally for chronic pain, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, and even Alzheimer’s disease. (Source: Journal of Pain Research, 2021)

Myth: More CBD is Always Better for Healing
Reality: CBD follows a biphasic effect, meaning too little may not work, but too much can reduce its effectiveness. Many conditions respond best to moderate doses. (Source: Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 2017)

Myth: THC and CBD Work Best Alone
Reality: The "entourage effect" suggests that cannabinoids work better together. Full-spectrum cannabis (which includes THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids) often provides stronger therapeutic effects than isolated compounds. (Source: British Journal of Pharmacology, 2011)

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Healing is never linear, but finding the right tools makes the journey softer. If you, too, are seeking a deeper connection with yourself—one rooted in awareness rather than avoidance—then ethical cannabis use may be helpful. As always, moderation and intention is key.

I understand it’s still taboo for many, and I’m not saying it’s going to be the best route for everyone (please use your discernment here), but it was a surprising healing resource for me.

During my trip to Egypt, a traveler offered me a gummy on the sleeper train, since it was going to be difficult to sleep that night. I went on a journey! She shared that she works for this company TBD, and after arriving back home, was kind enough to send some of us a care package to try their products.

In all honesty, I don’t know what it is about their gummies or drinks, but it was different than the rest—smoother, spiritual, special. Again, everyone’s experience is unique, but I personally haven’t cared to indulge in any other brand since. And as part of my ethical use, I only partake on certain occasions, setting intentions on what I want the medicine to help me heal, instead of just mindlessly partaking out of habit.

Again, I’m not telling you to do anything you’re not comfortable with, but if this is something that you’ve been curious about, then here’s a potential resource for you.

You can check TBD out here. I believe in this brand so much, that I literally begged them to create an affiliate program so that I could sign up (lol, my Capricorn is showing). They’re also currently having a sale! Use discount code SmarterStPaddysDay for 20% off your order. Valid until St. Patrick's Day or as long as supplies last.

Whether you’re looking to soothe your nervous system, unlock creativity, or just be with yourself more fully, this plant medicine might hold exactly what you need.

Xo