Using CBD Oil for Anxiety - Does It Actually Work?
Using CBD Oil to Treat Anxiety
Anxiety at its root is a primal response that alerts us to threats and protects us humans. Many personal accounts claim using CBD oil to treat anxiety helps to curb these natural responses that are sometimes difficult to control. When we are unable to manage the magnitude of our response to feelings of anxiety, we tend to lose control of rational thinking which can lead to a whirlwind of negative thoughts and emotions. An inability to work through any anxious thinking can negatively impact areas of life including work, school and relationships.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults each year — that's 18.1% of the population! So for those of you reading, you are not alone! Not everyone requires professional treatment with less than 40% of people suffering from anxiety actually seeking help. Dealing with your anxiety on its own can be achieved through meditation, mindfulness and yes, possibly CBD Oil. As opposed to using prescription medication, there has been a rise in the use of naturally occurring alternative treatments, such as cannabidiol (CBD Oil), to provide a healthy and more natural remedy to help combat anxiety.
How Medical Marijuana paved the way for CBD
The United States’ policies and laws towards marijuana have shifted to a more relaxed stance following the legalization and decriminalization in a number of states. As a result, the use of marijuana to treat anxiety and depression has surged in states where it is medically legal. What sets CBD apart from marijuana is that CBD does not have the same mind-altering effects since it does not contain the psychoactive component, THC.
Can CBD actually act as an alternative to prescription medication?
You’re probably wondering, how exactly does CBD work to improve your anxiety? For starters, it is helpful to understand how pharmaceutical SSRI medications function to remedy anxiety and depression. Medications like Zoloft and Prozac target serotonin receptors and restrict serotonin absorption in the brain, leading to more available serotonin, or the happy chemical! This increase in serotonin causes the brain to communicate more positive signals, which can assist in reducing the symptoms of anxiety and depression. CBD treatments have demonstrated similar effects to those of SSRIs. In a clinical animal study done by Spanish researchers, CBD increased transmission of 5-HT1A; thus, increasing the availability of serotonin in the brain and more serotonin = less anxiety. Treatments using CBD may even stimulate the growth of the hippocampal region, which is a region of the brain that tends to be smaller for people with anxiety and depression.
From the available research, it has shown that SSRIs have very similar results to those of CBD, which is why researchers are pushing for more CBD clinical trials.
Can CBD Actually Help Anxiety?
Stemming from successful studies on animals, an increase in studies in humans is beginning to provide evidence that CBD can improve many moderate symptoms of stress and anxiety.
During one such small study, researchers had patients suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder perform a simulated public speaking test. Participants reported significantly less anxiety, findings supported by objective anxiety indicators like heart rate and blood pressure. Researchers concluded, “CBD significantly reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment, and discomfort in their speech performance,” whereas the placebo group experienced “higher anxiety, cognitive impairment, and discomfort.”
Although there are no scientific guarantees that CBD Oil can help your anxiety or depression, the recent increase in publicity and clout certainly speak volumes when considering how popular the supplement has become. As always, exercise caution and do your research before purchasing and using any supplements not recommended directly by your physician.
Please share your personal experience with CBD below and let us know how it has worked for you!