Is CBD Helping You Deal With Anxiety Symptoms

Cannabidiol is a source of cannabinoid – a chemical that is available in cannabis plants of hemp and marijuana. Many pieces of research have revealed the promising potential of CBD to help people relieve pain and anxiety. Unlike THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol does not lead to any intoxication feeling. It also does not make you high, which usually accompanies with cannabis.

In this article, we shall talk more about the potential benefits of some CBD products like oil and find out how it can help relieve anxiety.

How CBD Works

Your body has several different receptors. These chemical structures have proteins attached to your cells and are responsible for receiving signals from various stimuli. Cannabidiol or CBD can excellently interact with receptors of CB1 and CB2 found in the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. While scientists haven’t understood how CBD can affect CB1 receptors in the brain, some believe that it can change serotonin signals.

A neurotransmitter known as serotonin has significant importance in your mental wellbeing. There are several cases where inadequate consumption of serotonin can lead you to anxiety. Generally, low serotonin levels help people combating with depression.

People using the traditional treatment for low serotonin use Prozac or Zoloft as a part of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. These drugs are available by prescription only and may have some side effects too. Some patients fighting with anxiety might manage their symptoms using cannabidiol products instead of an SSRI. However, it is vital to speak to your physician before altering your treatment plan.

Research and CBD

There are many studies on the topic of CBD and its potential benefits for depression and anxiety. Let’s have a look at some of those here.

1. Helps with Generalized Anxiety

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, CBD plays a vital role in reducing stress. It has left many positive effects on rats. Other studies on the topic of lower behavioral signs caused by anxiety tell us that anxiety or depression can result in many behavioral symptoms, including increased heart rate, which CBD can naturally and effectively treat. However, the topic needs further investigation and research, especially when it comes to using CBD in humans.

2. Helps with Other Forms of Anxiety

CBD is also beneficial for people that experience other forms of anxiety, such as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). Many people with anxiety triggered illness insomnia have also reported benefiting from CBD.

Another research talks about how CBD can help people combat SAD. Patients using CBD report that cannabidiol helps them reduce anxiety levels. Many studies show that CBD is handy in alleviating PSTD symptoms, including nightmares and repeating negative memories. The good news is that the writers of these studies found CBD working alone as the best standalone treatment for PTSD and supplement to traditional treatment options, such as medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

3. Helps Other Neurological Disorders

Cannabidiol has been the base of many studies, including its uses and benefits for many neurological disorders. According to a recent literature review on CBD, there is inadequate evidence to publicize cannabidiol as a useful remedy to deal with depression.

These studies do not show any shreds of evidence, suggesting that cannabidiol could serve as a remedy to treat anxiety-related issues. Most of these studies had no control or separate groups. It means that the group might not receive a different treatment or perhaps never received any treatment.

They also reveal that the topic needs more human-based investigations to get a better understanding of how cannabidiol works, its ideal dosages, and its potential side effects. A study conducted by Trusted Source finds that CBD products purchased from Thoughtful Brands can help people with schizophrenia through its anti-psychotic effects. It does not result in any significant devastating drawbacks that come from some anti-psychotic medications.

What is the Right Dosage of CBD?

If you are experiencing anxiety and want to try CBD products like oil, consult with your doctor. They are the right people who can help you determine the suitable dosage for your particular symptoms.

Some non-profit institutions like NORML suggest that a few commercially available products have adequate cannabidiol to reproduce the therapeutic effects found in scientific trials. Other studies also discussed male subjects receiving CBD before they underwent a simulated public speaking test. Ideally, an oral dose of 300 mg used 1.5 hours before the test can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms.

Likewise, another study showed people receiving 150mg, or 600 mg demonstrated little improvement in their symptoms. Since all these studies looked at a small number of subjects, CBD needs more research work to determine the appropriate dose for people suffering from anxiety.

Downsides of CBD

Using CBD is safe. It may cause people to experience some downsides, such as diarrhea, fatigue, and changes in weight and appetite. Sometimes, CBD also interacts with other drugs or dietary supplements you are taking simultaneously. For example, if you are using blood thinner medications with grapefruit warning, CBD with grapefruit will act together enzymes needed for drug metabolism.

According to a study on mice, cannabis extract rich in CBD increased liver toxicity risk for these subjects, which is perhaps because of the large dosage of CBD given to some of the mice. It indicates that when it comes to using any medications, you should never stop any prescribed drugs without consulting your healthcare provider first.

Although CBD oil may help deal with anxiety, you might also notice the withdrawal of the symptoms as soon as you suddenly stop your prescribed medicines. These withdrawal symptoms are irritability, nausea, fogginess, and dizziness.

Hemp-derived cannabidiol products that have less than 0.3% THC receive legal authorization on the federal level. They are, however, illegal in some states. Likewise, marijuana-derived CBD products are not federally legal, though some state laws allow its use. It suggests that people interested in trying CBD should check their state laws as well as of those where you intend to travel. Remember, the FDA does not allow non-prescribed CBD products. It means you should carefully check if the product has accurately labeled.