Hello,

My name is Ivan Mills and I would like to share my experience using CBD oil. First you should hear a little of my story and why I chose to use CBD.

I am a service connected disabled veteran. For those who don’t know the language of the military or the Veterans Affairs (VA), service connected refers to injuries or conditions received while in the service of our nation. I served on active duty in the U.S. Army for several years in the Infantry and the reserves for an additional year. I have multiple service connected injuries. I suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and anxiety. I have five herniated discs in my spine, degenerative disc disease, and arthritis. I also deal with a skin condition that caused me to lose 100% of my body hair. I am also dealing with a non-service connected condition called Marphanoid Hypermobility Syndrome. This syndrome affects my connective tissue. My joints tend to dislocate due to the laxity of my ligaments and tendons. With all that said, I by no means am ready for the glue factory.

Over the years I have been prescribed multiple medications for these injuries and conditions. I have used more medications for PTSD and anxiety – without success – than I can recall. Narcotic pain relievers for my injuries led to medications to correct my bowel issues due to the narcotics. Meds that make you numb to the world, foggy, dependent, and that are ineffective. These are the reasons I chose to try CBD oil.

I had a discussion with a fellow veteran who uses CBD to deal with his daily issues of injury and disease. He suggested I try CBD for the same reasons he did. Pain relief, PTSD symptom relief, anxiety relief, and even to break the cycle of dependency on chemical medications. Now, while I trust this man and have trusted him with my life, I had to do my due diligence and research for myself. So, I set out to educate myself on exactly what CBD oil is and what it can do. I watched hours and hours of video, read research article after article and firsthand accounts, until finally there was only trying it for myself. My fellow veteran, in the meantime, had ordered for me a small bottle of the brand of CBD oil he uses. I had it on hand and made the decision to try it.

My first experience with CBD oil was topical, part of my anxiety stems from medication and the lack of trust with the VA and their doctors. I applied it to the backs of my hands to ensure no allergic reaction would happen, after a few days of this I was finally prepared to try it sublingually. The use of it on my hands relieved pain and joint discomfort from arthritis and joint dislocation in my hands and fingers. The use of it sublingually changed my world. My spinal injuries forced me to walk with a cane and at times use my wheelchair. This was drastically changed with the use of CBD oil. After only a few uses my pain level had decreased. After a week of use I no longer needed my cane much less my wheelchair. The first night after I used it sublingually I slept, I was able to calm my mind enough to get to sleep and stay asleep for more than ten minutes. Previously I was not able to fall asleep for hours, if at all. Most nights I would have to wait for total exhaustion for sleep to find me, and even then sleep wasn’t restful. I was plagued with nightmares, sweats, and continually waking up. There was always the fear of knowing that when I did sleep my traumas would take control of my sleep and I would relive every detail vividly. So, now I can sleep. I don’t need a cane, and after several months of use I was able to even mow my own grass. Mowing grass to many is a chore but I find great joy in keeping my grass looking its best and now I can.

Is CBD a cure? No, it isn’t a cure. Is CBD a miracle drug? No, it isn’t a miracle drug. CBD is a supplement that exists in nature that helps your body heal itself and manage the body’s own functions through the Endocannabinoid System. Big word I know, but it’s a system that all mammals have in their bodies. Today’s food production through Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) and the stigma placed on cannabinoids has removed the consumption of CBD from our diets. Hemp has been used for thousands of years in various forms for consumption as well as in products for use around the home and farm. CBD Oil is known as a supplement, it supplements the lack of the oil in today’s diet. It also sheds light on what GMO’s are creating by modifying our food for mass production we are losing a serious nutritional value that affects our bodies ability to manage its own systems.

I hope that veterans and others alike will educate themselves about CBD oil. I also hope that many find the relief from their daily issues as I have. My issues are not gone. Please don’t think that. They are still here. However, I am able to manage my pain, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms better with CBD oil than I have ever been able to depending on chemical medications from the VA.