How CBD Can Help with Anxiety

Considering the prevalence of anxiety disorders, it isn’t surprising that countless individuals are seeking ways to better manage their conditions. However, before you adopt anything new to help treat or manage your anxiety, it’s important to make sure you know enough to make an informed decision.

If you’ve been thinking about trying CBD to help treat your anxiety, keep reading.

Does CBD Help Anxiety?

If you have been considering CBD oil for anxiety and panic attacks, you’re certainly not alone. Many individuals with anxiety are interested in hearing about the potential benefits of CBD products. You may wonder, however, how true are these claims? Is it possible for CBD products, such as CBD oil, to help alleviate symptoms of anxiety?

As it stands, the scientific world is in the early stages of researching the true benefits of CBD. There’s more research that needs to be done before any concrete claims can be made. However, based on what we know thus far, the results are already beginning to look promising. In particular, research seems to indicate that CBD might aid in the production of serotonin; this can be an especially beneficial achievement for those experiencing anxiety or depression.

Serotonin is a hormone and neurotransmitter produced within the brain. This hormone plays a huge role in the regulation of emotions. Much of the time, those affected by depression or anxiety disorders don’t produce an adequate amount of serotonin. This leads to imbalanced emotions or low moods.

Many common antidepressants aid in serotonin production. This group of antidepressants is known as SSRIs. The serotonin receptor that SSRI medications target is called 5-HT1A—a tried and true method to boost mood in those with depression or anxiety.

Although our understanding is still fairly limited, it seems to be the case that CBD could lead to similar effects as SSRIs. As indicated by the study above, our current research into CBD is mainly limited to rats. Nonetheless, from what we’ve gathered so far, the results look extremely promising, and they certainly seem to warrant the need for additional research in the future.

What is CBD?

CBD has been rapidly gaining popularity over the past several years, especially in helping manage mental health disorders. CBD shows impressive promise in this area, so it’s certainly worth considering for those seeking an accessible means to balancing moods. Here’s what you need to know, before getting started with CBD.

CBD is a type of chemical known as cannabidiol. Almost 200 cannabidiols can be found in the cannabis plant – including THC, the psychoactive compound that leads to feelings of euphoria. However, CBD does not have the same effect.

Both THC and CBD bind to the cannabinoid receptors in the user’s brain. Most CBD products (including CBD oil) are extracted from hemp, rather than a more THC-hearty part of the cannabis plant. Hemp contains just a small amount of THC. Even without psychoactive properties, CBD is still more than capable of making a significant impact on the human body, just in different ways. As the years go by, it seems more benefits of CBD are uncovered.

Is CBD Safe to Consume?

Yes, CBD is a safe chemical compound to consume, and the risk of side effects is quite low. However, if you’re planning to begin taking CBD, discuss further with your doctor. Of course, this is a standard practice, and there are many reasons it should be done before you start any new supplement regime. For instance, it is possible that CBD could react poorly with medications that you’re currently taking. Without your physician’s input, this could easily be overlooked by the user, and that can come with consequences.

Furthermore, if CBD and a medication need the same enzymes to be absorbed by the body, then it’s possible that CBD use will speed up the pace at which the body metabolizes certain medications. Whenever this occurs, the user could end up with a concentration of the medication that’s too high—or, at least, higher than was intended by their prescription. However, only a minority of medications fall into this category. In reality, most common medications are compatible with CBD, with little to no risk of issues.

Do your research. Due to the increasing popularity of CBD products in the health and wellness world, not all products are up to par. Some CBD products are of a lower quality – it’s best to stay clear of those. Stay educated on CBD products you’re consuming, ensuring that you are sticking with those of a higher quality—this will decrease your risk of experiencing side effects or other problems.

How to Use CBD Oil for Anxiety

First, as we’ve mentioned, make sure you’ve spoken to your doctor. This is the first (and possibly the most important) step you’ll need to take, if you’re interested in beginning a CBD regime to treat anxiety. In particular, if you take anti-seizure medication or blood thinners, there is a fair chance that CBD might not be the best treatment for you.

Once you know that CBD is a safe treatment option for you, it’s time to begin establishing your regime and figuring out how CBD fits into your life. A good place to start would be by trying out a CBD tincture. Due to the high bioavailability of CBD tinctures, they are easily absorbed into the body.

Unfamiliar with tinctures, and uncertain how to begin using them? All you’ll need to do is take the dropper and place the liquid beneath your tongue. Whenever you do this, you are taking CBD sublingually. Make sure to wait a few seconds before swallowing, however — this will give the CBD adequate time to absorb into your bloodstream. This is how you will begin to experience the positive effects of this substance.

How Much CBD Should I Use for Stress and Anxiety?

Another potentially confusing component of beginning CBD use can be determining the dose that’s best for you. If you have no prior experience consuming CBD, it might be difficult figuring out what a reasonable dose size looks like. Even then, there are no official dosing guidelines for CBD consumption at this point in time. Naturally, this is going to lead to a fair deal of confusion, especially among new CBD users.

Much of the time, you are going to need to undergo some initial trial and error. It can be difficult determining the ideal CBD dosage for you. Understandably, you’ll probably need to make some adjustments before reaching the dose best suited to you.

At the start, it’s a good idea to err on the side of caution and begin with a lower dose. For instance, it’s wise to select a lower strength CBD product. Then, you can start out with a small, one milliliter dose of CBD every evening, ideally taken around an hour before going to sleep.

The effects of CBD often aren’t immediate, so you’ll need to maintain your routine for several weeks, before coming to any hard conclusions about modifying your dosage. If time goes by, and you’re still not experiencing the anti-anxiety effects of CBD, then try increasing your dosage. Try to stay patient during this process, as you work to determine your ideal CBD dosage. In the end, you’ll often find that this patience will be worth it.

How Do I Determine the Quality of CBD Products for Anxiety?

So, we’ve already stressed the importance of opting for high quality CBD products, rather than the variety of lower quality products.

A good place to start would be by checking that the CBD product discloses third-party testing results. This is a solid, often objective way to better understand the CBD product you’re thinking about consuming. It can help you get a clearer idea of how much CBD is actually contained within the product. Additionally, you’ll be able to confirm that no harmful chemicals or additives are being incorporated.

When companies are more transparent about CBD products, you can feel more confident in knowing that you’re consuming a high quality product. You can also look to see if the company discloses how their hemp was grown and processed. This is generally a good way to determine whether or not a company is willing to be upfront and transparent about their CBD products. If the company seems secretive, then it’s probably best to play it safe and move on to another option—there’s plenty of CBD on the market, after all. Only put the best products into your body.

Sage Neuroscience Center Treats the Whole Person

Whether you’re facing an anxiety issue, or if you’ve been experiencing another disorder entirely, Sage Neuroscience wants to help support your journey. We believe clinicians should treat a whole person. Illnesses rarely exist in a vacuum, and this is a fact that should be accounted for during care.

Interested in learning more about the services we offer? Find more about our integrated health services here or call us to speak with a member of our caring staff.