CBD For Anxiety

A Comprehensive Guide to its Benefits

Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive compound that offers plenty of therapeutic potential without any adverse side effects. Cbd oil can be useful for anxiety disorders and everyday stress.

Anxiety is an extraordinarily common mental health issue. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the United States alone, 40 million adults are affected by it each year and 18% of Americans are estimated to suffer from an anxiety disorder.

The growing popularity of CBD for anxiety has led to a rising number of people who are trying it. However, not everyone knows how CBD works and what its benefits are.

In this article, we will take a closer look at CBD for anxiety and help you find out whether this could be an alternative treatment for you.

Understanding anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders have been recognized as a mental illness for many years now and it is mentioned in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). There is no single way to understand anxiety but we can say that there are two main ways: psychological or biological.

Psychological explanations attribute anxiety to factors like family history, emotional reactions to certain events or social situations.

Biological explanations look at the physical mechanisms that cause anxiety such as hormones and neurotransmitters in our brain.

Anxiety symptoms

Excessive worry or fear
Restlessness, trouble being still, and hyperactivity
Irritability
Sleep problems
High blood pressure
Panic attacks
Chronic stress

Anxiety disorders can have significant effects on people’s day-to-day lives. They can be a debilitating condition that prevents them from living their life the way they want.

Fortunately, treating anxiety with CBD has become an alternative treatment option that has proven to be safe and effective.

According to a 2007 study, cannabidiol CBD acts as an antidepressant when activating serotonergic neurons through the medial prefrontal cortex.

How CBD works?

Cannabidiol is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant which has been shown to have significant therapeutic potential for mental health and well-being.

CBD oil works by interacting with our endocannabinoid system (ECS) – an internal messaging network that helps to regulate our nervous system, mood, and mental well-being. CBD stimulates the production of serotonin – a neurotransmitter that is linked to feelings of happiness and wellbeing.

Serotonin is also important for the regulation of sleep, appetite, and mood. Low levels of serotonin are associated with anxiety disorders and depression.

CBD oil can help balance serotonin levels in the body, which makes it useful for both anxiety-related mental health.

Cannabidiol CBD interacts with both CB₁ (the type associated with appetite) and CB₂. These are cannabinoid receptors in our endocannabinoid system which has been shown to help with anxiety and depression.

CBD oil for anxiety

If you’re looking to treat anxiety with CBD oil, the most popular way to take it is through a sublingual application, where you place the drops under your tongue.

CBD oil can also be taken orally with both food and drink – but you should avoid taking it too close to bedtime or before a workout in order to protect your sleep patterns.

There’s a great variety of hemp-derived CBD products for you to choose from, including oils, tinctures, edibles, and more.

You may need up to 20–30 minutes for CBD to take effect, so don’t forget about it.

CBD oil may also help with the symptoms of:

– Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

– Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

– Social anxiety disorder (SAD)

– Panic disorder (PD)

– Chronic depression

– Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

CBD oil has also been shown to be effective against epilepsy attacks and Dravet syndrome, one of the most severe childhood epilepsy conditions.

CBD for social anxiety

Generalized social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by feelings of anxiety and high social fear in everyday situations.

Cannabidiol CBD can help with this condition because it has been shown to stimulate the release of serotonin, which can help you feel more at ease.

A 2018 study proved the effectiveness of CBD in male subjects before giving a simulated speech.

The findings of this study are significant because the male subjects who received CBD before undergoing a simulated public speaking test were significantly less anxious than those in the placebo group. This suggests that taking 300 mg 90 minutes beforehand is enough to reduce anxiety induced when doing something as stressful as giving a speech.

What The Experts Say

Academic research institutions have researched the effects of CBD oil on anxiety and found that it is a safe treatment option.

The majority of CBD research has been on animal models, however, most studies have shown potential benefits in the treatment of anxiety.

Researchers recently studied 397 adults to evaluate the effects of CBD in New Zealand. The participants received medical prescriptions for various ailments including non-cancer pain and mental health symptoms.

After 3 weeks of CBD treatment, the quality of life for all groups improved. These improvements include their ability to perform daily functions and reduce pain and anxiety or depression symptoms in individuals who were only suffering from these conditions before starting on CBD therapy.

These clinical trials concluded that CBD provides anxiolytic effects that interact with the central nervous system, being a potential treatment for treating anxiety.

One individual with a record of trauma and schizoaffective disorder received up to 175 mg of CBD daily. After two months the patient showed harm reduction or elimination in symptoms related to anxiety.

Although the further investigation and more clinical data need to be collected, it is safe to say that CBD oil can be an alternative treatment for anxiety-related disorders.

How much CBD oil should I take?

A study published in the Brazilian Journey of Psychiatry stated that the recommended dosage for treating general anxiety is 300–600 mg taken once or twice daily.

This study was carried in 57 adults who presented anxiety and PTSD symptoms and taking up to 300 mg of CBD treatment showed immediate results for most patients.

What are the benefits?

CBD for anxiety is a great alternative to medications that can come with side effects and don’t work for everyone. CBD doesn’t produce any psychoactive effects, it’s not addictive or toxic.

Apart from relieving your symptoms. Cannabidiol CBD also offers other benefits:

– CBD can help with sleep problems.

– It is an anti-inflammatory. It’s great in case you have chronic pain as well.

– It can improve skin conditions like acne or psoriasis.

– It is a mood booster, which means that you will feel more relaxed and will help you regulate fear.

– CBD oil has been linked to decreased rates of depression – making it one more reason why this could be your alternative.

Safety and Side Effects

The main advantage of taking CBD oil for anxiety is that it will not create addiction.

CBD does not contain THC, which is a psychoactive cannabinoid that can cause an individual to feel high.
In case you consume too much, there may be some adverse reactions like:

dry mouth
diarrhea
drowsiness
weight changes

The FDA (Us Food and Drug Administration) does not regulate CBD oil or any CBD products for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. So we recommend using your best judgment if you decide to treat anxiety with CBD.

If you are taking other medications, it is best to consult your doctor before using CBD oil for anxiety as the interaction between these substances may have adverse effects.

Other treatments for anxiety disorders

Although research suggests that CBD can be a safe and effective treatment for anxiety disorders due to its therapeutic effects, there are various alternatives we would like to mention:

– Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This treatment focuses in the way a person thinks and reacts to certain situations.

– Transcranial magnetic stimulation: This treatment plan restores the neurons in the amygdala and the brain areas involved in anxiety disorders.

– Medical cannabis: The use of medical cannabis to treat anxiety is controversial, but some studies have shown that it could be an effective treatment for managing anxiety.

– Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): These medicines are usually recommended for the treatment of depression, but they have the risk of addiction and worsening symptoms.

– Benzodiazepines: These prescription medications are usually used for short-term treatment of anxiety disorders, but they have the potential to create addiction as well.

More research needs to be done to determine CBD products as a safe alternative to treat a severe case of anxiety disorder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CBD legal?

Cbd products as CBD oils are federally legal, which means that they are not classified as controlled substances.

CBD oil for anxiety is legal in all 50 states without the need for a prescription or doctors. However, CBD is not FDA-approved.

Does CBD really work for anxiety?

There is a lot of clinical evidence that CBD can be used as a treatment for anxiety disorders. CBD interacts with the nervous system, responsible for mood alterations.

CBD oil can help with generalized anxiety and related conditions as social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive syndrome, etc.

In case you are suffering from acute stress, it’s best to consult your doctor before using CBD oil as a way to cope with your symptoms.

How much CBD should I take for the treatment of anxiety

Around 300 to 600 mg a day.

It will depend on the frequency and severity of your anxiety symptoms. Although there is no systemic administration and most CBD oils are nonprescription CBD products, research suggests taking higher doses if you suffer from sleep problems or acute anxiety.

Does CBD work for depression?

Research states that CBD oil may be effective in the treatment of depression. CBD is known for stimulating the production of serotonin.

Since most findings have been obtained from relevant animal studies, more research is needed to understand how CBD products could affect mental health.

Can CBD help with PTSD?

CBD oil can be beneficial for post-traumatic stress disorder since it can relieve anxiety, promote a sense of calm, and help with sleep problems.

Bottomline:

CBD is an effective treatment for anxiety disorders in various ways. CBD can help with generalized anxiety and related conditions as social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive syndrome, etc. In case you are suffering from acute stress, it’s best to consult your doctor before using CBD oil as a way to cope with your symptoms.

According to preclinical and clinical evidence, the recommended dosage is about 300 to 600 mg per day, but it will depend on the frequency and severity of your anxiety symptoms.