CBD Oil For Anxiety
Over the past few years, the number of people using CBD oil for anxiety and stress relief has been steadily increasing. When the 2018 farm bill passed in the US, it heralded the full legalization of industrial hemp. As a result, CBD quickly became a household remedy for anxiety, depression, and many other severe conditions. Research is still somewhat lacking to fully establish whether or not hemp oil products represent a viable treatment for anxiety, depression, and stress, but people who use them do claim an overall decrease in symptoms. In this article we will attempt to address the most common questions people have about CBD. Additionally we will attempt to explain the effects and health benefits of CBD oil for anxiety specifically.
CBD refers to cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating extract from cannabis that does not have the psychoactive properties of tetrahydrocannabinol CBD oil is believed by some to treat pain, reduce anxiety, and stimulate appetite in the same way that marijuana does. CBD has also shown promise in treating certain types of seizures.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems that people struggle with in modern society. A report released by the World Health Organization in 2017 states that at least 264 million people are living with anxiety across the globe. Anxiety is characterized by excessive worrying and restlessness. People who struggle with social anxiety disorders typically have a hard time speaking to a crowd, making decisions that could positively or negatively affect them, or confronting people with problems that may involve risk.
From panic disorder to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety comes in many forms. Fortunately, regardless of the kind of anxiety you are suffering from, cannabidiol may be able to help you cope. CBD is known to promote a sense of calm and relieve the most common symptoms associated with a variety of anxiety conditions.
Historical records show that cannabis has been used for anxiety relief for thousands of years. In fact, it has been used to treat a host of ailments throughout history. Unfortunately, due to decades long cannabis prohibition in more recent times, experts and healthcare professionals have been unable to study the effects of cannabinoids due to their illegality. Fortunately, thanks to the legalization movement and the passage of laws like the Farm Act of 2018, researchers now have more freedom to study CBD, and cannabis in general, as a potential treatment for a wide range of diseases.
The beauty of CBD is that in addition to treating chronic conditions like childhood epilepsy, it has also been shown to help with emotional problems like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, work-related stress, and you guessed it, anxiety.
Traditional Anxiety Treatments
Before CBD was widely recognized as a potential anxiety treatment, or made legal in many places, people would generally turn to therapy as a treatment option for their anxiety. Therapy usually involves talking to a licensed counselor or psychotherapist who attempts to help you understand why you are struggling with anxiety issues and take the first steps toward understanding your feelings so that you can begin to heal. Techniques like Socratic questioning, exposure therapy, and other methods can help a person overcome the irrational thinking patterns that fuel constant worrying in some patients, but oftentimes this is not enough.
In some cases, when a patient’s anxiety is so intense that they can’t bring themselves to leave the house for instance, therapy alone is not enough. Generally, in these cases, medication is also prescribed. A wide range of medications for anxiety already exists. These drugs are known as anxiolytics. Unfortunately, as is common in psychiatric medications, anxiolytics can have numerous unpleasant side effects. CBD functions as an anxiolytic, but is natural and gentle. Generally CBD is well tolerated and does not have negative side effects. It’s also safe for use in children and adults.
As a result of positive outcomes from preliminary health studies and clinical trials, some healthcare professionals have turned their attention towards cannabinoids. Many experts believe cannabidiol may have a beneficial impact on the brain and reduce the symptoms of stress, depression, or anxiety. It can even be used for pain relief, but what exactly is CBD?
CBD stands for cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is the main cannabinoid found in hemp and other forms of cannabis. CBD should not be confused with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), as cannabidiol doesn’t have the psychoactive effects commonly associated with marijuana use.
While CBD does not get the user ‘high’ it can have positive effects on the brain. CBD interacts with CB1 receptors and can affect your serotonin levels. Serotonin levels play a huge role in mood regulation. Serotonin levels that are too high or too low can often result in mood disorders. That’s why using CBD oil to regulate these levels may be a viable treatment option for anxiety, stress, and depression. Whether it comes in capsule form, oil form, or in the form of gummies or other edibles, cannabidiol might just be the next big breakthrough in mental health treatment.
CBD Oil Effects
Although adequate research on CBD is still somewhat lacking, the recent clinical trials that have been done have revealed that CBD oil can be an effective treatment for a wide range of severe conditions such as chronic pain, and even conditions like multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, it can also help lower blood pressure by acting as a natural anti-inflammatory, which benefits the circulatory system and could potentially help with some heart conditions as a result.
Some people find it difficult to tolerate the often unpleasant side effects of psychiatric medication. For those looking for a natural alternative with a low chance of negative side effects, hemp oil that contains CBD may be a good choice. As one 2010 paper published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology suggests, cannabidiol can serve as a viable treatment for anxiety. CBD oil capsules can be of great use even for those of us dealing with specific forms of anxiety. For example, a 2011 study published in Neuropsychopharmacology, revealed that cannabidiol could reduce social anxiety – one of the most common types of anxiety disorders.
In conclusion, CBD oil can be of great benefit to those who are suffering from anxiety disorders, as well as those who are seeking natural alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs. While anxiety is just one of the disorders CBD may help with, it is extremely important that you consult your doctor or physician before beginning a CBD regimen. If you are still interested in learning more about CBD and the ways in which it can help in the reduction of symptoms for various conditions, please feel free to visit CannabidiolLife.com where you can find a full list of conditions that CBD is known to help with, as well as shop for some of the best CBD oil products available online.