Nobody likes that feeling of dread, fear, rapid heartbeat, and sudden head spinning that takes over us in stressful situations. Anxiety attacks have become quite common in today’s fast-paced world, where most people don’t have enough time to properly relax and let their bodies and minds heal in peace.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 4% of the earth’s population suffers from some sort of anxiety disorder, which makes it one of the most common mental disorders on a global scale.
Sadly, only 1 out of every 4 people in need gets the proper resources and treatment to deal with this catastrophic condition. In recent years, CBD, or cannabidiol, has gained quite some popularity as a safe and effective method to deal with anxiety disorders.
A large number of people globally now prefer to take CBD for stress and anxiety instead of prescription-based, chemical-ridden, over-the-counter medications. Why? CBD is completely natural, doesn’t have any severe side effects, and is generally well tolerated by the human body. Let’s dig in and learn more about how taking CBD every day can help you with anxiety.
What Is CBD?
Both hemp and marijuana plants have more than 100 naturally occurring compounds of a healing and therapeutic nature; CBD is one of them. It’s completely non-intoxicating in nature, unlike other major cannabinoids containing THC.
Hence, people can enjoy CBD’s healing and nerve-calming effects without worrying about getting high. Hemp plants naturally have a higher CBD concentration and only trace amounts of THC.
The 2018 Farm Bill has clearly stated that only industrial hemp-derived CBD products with no more than 0.3% THC in them can be legally produced and sold in American states.
This legally made CBD now comes in many different forms, like gummies, tinctures, capsules, balms, sprays, shampoos, bath bombs, beverages, and every other possible crazy consumable stuff you can think of.
CBD is now also available for pets, including cats, dogs, and horses, because they also have endocannabinoid systems just like humans.
From simple relaxation tools to perfect sleep aids, CBD has now become one of the highest-selling and most sought-after product categories in the health and wellness space.
How Does CBD Help With Anxiety?
All mammals, including humans, have a complex cell signaling network in their bodies; this network is known as the endocannabinoid system. This system plays a crucial role in regulating various biological functions, including our mood, sleep cycles, anxiety levels, and pain perception.
It is made up of cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2), enzymes, and endocannabinoids (Annadamid and 2 AG), which bind to these receptors to manage the above-mentioned bodily processes.
CBD influences these receptors without binding to them and enhances their functioning. As a result, we feel less anxious and relieved after taking some drops of CBD oil or munching on some delicious CBD gummies.
CBD also affects some non-cannabinoid receptors in certain parts of the brain to increase the flow of happy chemicals, such as serotonin and endorphins.
Fluctuations in the levels of both of these neurotransmitters have a direct impact on our anxiety and overall mood. Serotonin mainly serves the function of stabilizing and well-being by helping other systems in the body to work properly. At the same time, endorphin release provides us with pain and stress relief.
Inflammation in the brain is the leading cause of various mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders. CBD has both anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, which result in better protection of our brain cells, proper brain functioning, and diminished anxiety and stress levels.
CBD also has nerve-calming effects, and people report that after consuming CBD, their body slides into a calm and relaxed state, which ultimately reduces their stress.
This is especially helpful for individuals who have stress-induced anxiety, as stress and anxiety often go hand in hand, and reducing stress levels can naturally lead to a reduction in severe anxiety symptoms.
How To Take CBD For Anxiety?
The onset time and overall efficacy of a CBD product can vary from person to person. We all have different body chemistry, tolerance levels, and wellness goals. So one method and product may work for your friend but not for you.
So don’t limit yourself, try different routines, different doses, and different products, so that you can figure out which blueprint works best for you. Mainly there are two types of popular anxiety-relieving CBD products you can choose from i.e. edibles and sublingual.
Edibles like gummies or CBD chocolates have a slow onset time, as they first pass through your digestive system before getting metabolized. This takes around an hour or two, and that’s why edibles are notorious for sneaking up on you.
One of the best ways to take edibles for anxiety is to consume them with dinner or roughly a few hours before bed. By the time you reach your bed, edibles will kick in and curb your anxious thoughts, which might result in a more restful and rejuvenating sleep.
Next, you have sublinguals, like CBD oils or tinctures. All you have to do is put a few drops under your tongue, and within 10-15 minutes you’ll start noticing the effects.
It’s a quick method as we have capillaries under the tongue that absorb and release CBD right away in our bloodstream. You can take CBD oil to calm down immediately under stressful situations.
In essence, it’s a quick fix for your anxiety, and its effects last for up to 8 – 10 hours. For people who want anxiety relief during office hours, before meetings, or in between travel, but don’t have much time, CBD oil or tincture is the perfect and convenient option.
The Final Note
To sum it up, Yes, Taking CBD every day can help with Anxiety. It’s proven for its anxiolytic and nerve-calming effects, and both common folks and researchers vouch for its credibility.
You can choose from tons of different products like gummies, tinctures, vapes, or capsules, just make sure to buy them from reputed and third-party lab-tested brands like Colorado Botanicals.
CBD is not a magic wand that will take away your anxiety in seconds, you’ll need to develop a schedule, take it daily, and include healthy food, exercise, and some meditation in your wellness routine for maximum effects.
Finally, keep a check on your dosage, start with a small amount and then gradually increase it over time. Also, increase your water intake as CBD tends to cause slight dehydration.
