Ashley Grace
Lately, CBD has become a buzz word. It’s being used in all kinds of products –salves, body lotions, chewing gum and even lip balm. The product has been extolled for curing insomnia, improving memory, mood, and overall energy. It’s also been said to alleviate anxiety, chronic pain, acne, and loss of appetite. In this article we will find out what exactly CBD is, and how you can use it to help with anxiety. If you need help finding a good CBD remedy, you can always check out the best CBD oils for anxiety out there.
What exactly is CBD
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CBD is short form for Cannabidiol, an extract from the hemp plant, a variety of the Cannabis plant. Many people confuse CBD with Marijuana. However, while both belong to the Cannabis plant family, CBD does not have the psychoactive element of Marijuana that gives a user the “high”.
CBD’s ability to treat anxiety and anxiety-related conditions has been receiving a lot of attention. This is because unlike anxiety medication, it has a lesser risk of side effects and also a lower risk of dependency.
What Is Anxiety?
To understand how CBD helps with anxiety, let’s first understand what anxiety is. Anxiety is a normal and healthy emotion that is experienced by everyone at various points in their lives. Some people, though, might experience excessive levels of anxiety, to the point of interfering with their daily life. Signs of this extreme anxiety may include very high levels of nervousness, worry, or fear.
A sense or realization of impending danger causes us to be more alert of our surroundings. This alertness is accompanied by an increased heart rate and sweating. These reactions are usually a result of the adrenaline hormone which triggers the “flight or fight” response, preparing us to confront the threat or to run away from it.
But unlike people of early civilizations, our anxiety is not triggered by danger lurking in the bush. Now causes of anxiety are work, relationships, and health related. If you’re dealing with anxiety, it may be comforting to know you’re not alone. Forty million people deal with anxiety in the United States, and 1 in 3 people function with anxiety.
Anxiety disorder is when a person experiences anxiety for a prolonged period of time or experiences it in severe intensity. Physical symptoms may also begin to manifest, such as nausea, restlessness, irritability, insomnia and decreased concentration.
How CBD Works To Alleviate Anxiety
Our bodies have an endocannabinoid system, that is, cannabis-like substances that occur naturally in our bodies. Researchers have established that we have cannabinoid receptors that interact exclusively with receptors that are found in the cannabis compound. Scientists have determined that cannabis effects on our system by mimicking these substances.
The endocannabinoid system works to maintain balance in the body. Think of it – many problems in our bodies arise out of an imbalance of hormones and other compounds. When there’s a deficiency or excess of something, it disrupts our natural body balance.
Anxiety is as a result of increased cortisol levels, which is triggered by the perception of danger, risk, or feelings of uncertainty. CBD fights anxiety by regulating how your brain responds to these stress signals and by controlling the levels of cortisol released in your body.
Why Should You Use CBD To Treat Anxiety?
Majority of people dealing with anxiety do not seek help and are left to deal with feelings of failure or debilitating physical symptoms alone. For those who seek treatment, they may be prescribed modern medication such as beta blockers, antidepressants, tricyclics and others, all of which have side effects.
Side effects may range from:
- addiction,
- nausea
- sexual dysfunction
- weight gain and/or weight loss
- headaches,
- stomach upsets
- dizziness and
- blurred vision
In addition, most of these medications require a change of lifestyle because they come with a warning not to mix with alcohol, pain medications, sleeping pills, and OTC drugs such as anti-allergy pills. Also, withdrawing from them may cause withdrawal symptoms like seizures, a pounding heart and even increased anxiety.
When beginning a treatment course for anxiety, it’s advisable to carefully consider both long term and short term effects. Enter CBD, a natural anti-anxiety treatment that naturally interacts with the body and which has far fewer side effects.
Research has proven that CBD products decrease anxiety. One study showed that patients not only experienced decreased anxiety symptoms, but their blood flow patterns were the same as those of patients being treated with conventional medicine.
Are you suffering from anxiety and would like to treat it with CBD? If your answer is yes, then great! You’re on a journey to decreased anxiety via a treatment plan that agrees with your lifestyle, and one free of adverse side effects. The first step is to determine if you want to use CBD in any of the following forms:
- tinctures,
- salves
- CBD oil,
- capsules
- edibles
Then as you progress, find out what form works for you. Always remember to research on each product and use products from credible manufacturers. You can do this by checking reviews and asking questions until you’re satisfied with the information.
Here is to good luck in your journey to fighting anxiety and staying healthy.
