According to research, total consumer sales of CBD in the United States reached more than $358 million in 2017. With so many studies taking places highlighting the benefits of the oil, it’s no surprise that everyone is jumping on the bandwagon.
The list of conditions that CBD can help treat continues to expand. From epilepsy to pain and inflammation, CBD is taking the world by storm. But, it’s important to note that CBD doesn’t get you high. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t contain psychoactive properties.
While people across the world continue to use CBD to treat various conditions, one of the most popular continues to be anxiety. In fact, by targeting some of the many symptoms of anxiety, CBD can also help cure other conditions like depression and PTSD in certain cases.
Read on to find out more about CBD for anxiety and the five ways in which it can help with specific symptoms.
1. Healing Phobias and PTSD
Fear stems from our emotional processing center, the limbic system. But, the hippocampus, our center for learning and memory also lives within our limbic system.
While information passes through our cerebral cortex, it also filters through our limbic system. As our limbic system screens new information, it associates it with past experiences which also attaches it to an emotion or feeling. Events link to traumatic experience leading to various forms of anxiety such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and phobias.
PTSD is when a person suffers from uncontrollable fear after a traumatic event. A phobia is more or less the same but it doesn’t only occur when a person suffers a traumatic experience. In fact, phobias can happen for a variety of reasons, some of which we can’t explain yet.
Thanks to research, there is reason to believe that CBD, or cannabidiol, can cure anxiety caused by these two conditions. According to studies, cannabidiol can reduce learned fears in various ways.
Cannabidiol severely reduces fear expression. Additionally, the non-psychoactive substance disrupts memory reconsolidation. This can reduce fear before memory retrieval.
2. Preventing Panic Attacks
Anxiety has the where with all to express itself in a more physical way. One of the most common symptoms of anxiety is panic attacks. Panic attacks are the onset of intense fear which can lead to some or all of the following symptoms:
- Palpitations
- Increased heart rate
- Sweating
- Shaking or trembling
- Shortness of breath
Unfortunately, some of these symptoms are scary and can lead to marital and employment problems, among others. Over time, these can lead to an increase in anxiety and depression. While reducing stress, breathing exercises, and a healthy lifestyle can reduce these symptoms, CBD is also a viable option.
CBD activates a receptor in your body that stimulates serotonergic neurons. By doing so, the substance reduces defensive and escape-like responses such as panic.
3. Relieving Physical Symptoms
Aside from panic attacks, there are various other symptoms of anxiety. Every day, we process events through our autonomic nervous system via our hypothalamus. This part of the nervous system controls our fight or flight mode.
Anxiety travels through our sympathetic system which has large physical implications. With this in mind, anxiety can affect our:
- Heart
- Muscles
- Blood pressure
- Water balance
- Metabolism
- Hormones
- Digestion
- Enzyme activity
Anxiety is one of the most common causes of conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Irritable Bowel Disorder (IBD). Additionally, intense anxiety can lead to nausea and vomiting in extreme cases.
By interacting with our serotonin receptors, CBD can reduce nausea and vomiting. Also, CBDA, the raw form of CBD is a more potent anti-emetic than both CBD and THC.
4. Improving Mood
Depression and anxiety go hand-in-hand. This is because chronic anxiety can lead to people having a bleak outlook on life. Without the right treatment, this can lead to an extremely low mood, depression, and in severe cases, a higher risk of suicide.
But, there is a link between depression and serotonin. And, as mentioned above, CBD stimulates serotonergic neurons. While more research is necessary to prove that CBD can help cure depression, there is enough evidence to show that the substance can reduce symptoms and improve mood.
The key to using CBD to reduce anxiety and fight depression is to buy the right product. Today, there are thousands of stores selling CBD oil. While many offer organic products, others cut theirs with substances that can do more harm than good.
The key to choosing the best CBD oil for your symptoms is to do your research and read online reviews. Also, make sure to ask friends and family for their recommendations.
5. Reducing Social Anxiety
Public speaking is a big trigger in people with and without anxiety. This happens when people fear judgment from others. This fear can also lead to more severe conditions like social anxiety.
Social anxiety is when a person fears social situations that most believe to be normal. This can lead to feelings of:
- Self-consciousness
- Embarrassment
- Depression
- Humiliation
- Inferiority
- Inadequacy
Over time, a person can seclude themselves from social situations altogether leading to further issues. Luckily, CBD can help with social anxiety.
There are now various studies that prove that CBD can help with both public speaking and social anxiety. During these studies, those who took CBD rather than a placebo were less uncomfortable during their speech. They also showed fewer signs of cognitive impairment.
How Do You Use CBD for Anxiety?
The key to using CBD for anxiety is choosing the right products. You need to find a supplier that sells organic CBD. You also need to get your dosage right to enjoy the full effects.
Most people recommend you take 25mg of CBD oil twice a day. That said, everyone is different so start small and increase your dose as you become familiar with it.
Also, remember there are various ways you can ingest CBD. Many would put a few drops under their tongue. Today, you can buy sprays, vapes, and various other forms of CBD.
We recommend you use CBD concentrates to get the full effect. To find out more about CBD dabs and how to smoke them, visit Best Smokeless Cigarettes Reviews today. We share a wealth of information on everything from e-cigarettes to CBD and using cannabis.