Next to pain and inflammation, one of the other most well-known applications of CBD is said to be for stress and anxiety. Researchers are still digging into many claims and researching the capabilities of the substance. However, CBD has relaxation benefits that work to calm certain individuals down who have too many anxious feelings according to many customers and users.
CBD is no replacement for counseling and other proven mental health treatment methods. It may be a way that you can begin coping and dealing with your anxiety while you receive treatment from a mental health professional.
If you have anxiety and are interested in CBD as a potential natural treatment method, take a look at this article to learn a little more about both the substance and the disorder.
WHAT IS ANXIETY?
Anxiety is a natural reaction that occurs when an individual is stressed. For example, think about a major school project or a job interview that you have had in the past. Before the job interview or school project, were you feeling nervous or fearful? This is exactly what anxiety is and it is generally a feeling that goes away once a major event passes and the individual can revert back to their calm and normal state.
For others, they may live in a constant state of anxiety that makes even the smallest of actions seem scary and dangerous. When this happens, the individual in question is dealing with what is known as an anxiety disorder. Those with anxiety disorders will often find it hard to do anything as they are constantly worried about the possible outcomes of their actions. This issue not only affects their ability to do things but their overall mental and physical health as well. Social anxiety disorders range from issues such as panic disorder to obsessive-compulsive disorder but revolve around one thing: fear.
Anxiety vs Nervous
Some people confuse being nervous with anxiety. The best way to differentiate between the two is that anxiety is irrational and you know it makes no sense. Being nervous is a sensible reaction to something you can experience.
No matter what type of anxiety disorder someone is suffering from, general symptoms of these disorders include:
· Nightmares
· Panic attacks
· Increased heart rate
· Sweating
· Shaking
· Issues with falling asleep
· Problems with focus and concentration
· Restlessness
· Rapid breathing
It’s important to note that these symptoms may be present in some but not all anxiety disorders.
How Do You Get It?
An anxiety disorder is something that is formed over time but, unfortunately, may be formed due to a variety of different reasons. There isn’t a known cause for this disorder.
Researchers show that anxiety disorders tend to be passed on through genetics or a person’s chemical makeup combined with their external environment, their personality, and certain events experienced throughout their lifetime. For example, those dealing with long-term stress, those put through traumatic situations, and even certain upbringings may be able to cause an anxiety disorder in certain people.
Another possible reason for anxiety disorders can be specific medical conditions that trigger fight or flight responses consistently, such as seizures and specific brain tumors. When an older individual begins to develop an anxiety disorder and had no previous history of mental health issues, this is most likely the case.
CBD Benefits on Anxiety Disorders
Despite a lack of research in the field, there are plenty of anecdotal evidence as to why CBD affects anxiety disorders. The first one lies in the way that it reacts with the hippocampus. When the brain doesn’t produce enough neurons, the hippocampus begins firing off more neurons in an attempt to compensate. When this process happens, the result is anxiety.
Through the use of CBD, it is said that the chemical can calm hippocampus activity. It also allow for the regeneration of new neurons while preventing the individual from experiencing the negative side effects that come from the overactive hippocampus.
CBD and GABA Receptors
Beyond this one key function, CBD is also said to interact with a neurotransmitter known as GABA, which helps to let the body know when to calm down. It is also said to be linked with activating adenosine receptors in order to activate additional neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. Both of which are linked to our overall mood and a lack of either chemical could result in the development of anxiety.
Although it isn’t a direct result, it should also be taken into consideration the way in which the CBD is consumed. If you are vaping an oil with a flavor that you absolutely love, if you eat a CBD edible that is made of chocolate or a gummy product that you enjoy, or if you take some other flavorful form of the substance, you are bound to receive some benefits in terms of mood as well.
How to Consume CBD for Anxiety
When it comes to anxiety, no one wants to take a substance that isn’t going to ease their symptoms quickly. Nothing is worse than having to wait for a substance to kick in so that you can experience relief or waiting and becoming more anxious as you wonder, is it actually going to work?
If you want to try CBD as a natural way to ease your anxiety, here are some of the best ways to consume CBD for this purpose.
Smoking/Vaping
Should using CBD prove useful for your anxiety, smoking or vaping CBD is one of the fastest ways to absorb it. When you smoke hemp flowers that have high percentages of CBD, the smoke is taken into the lungs and absorbed into the bloodstream.
If you’re health-conscious, you may want to instead vape your CBD. Vaporization occurs when one uses a vaporizer device to heat up their substances to the point where the active ingredients are turned into a vapor and then inhaled. Once in the lungs, the CBD is distributed. Vaping is often the preferred method of consumption as it is much safer for the user and is also much more enjoyable as manufacturers will flavor the oils that are used in vape devices.
Tincture Oil
Tincture oils are yet another type of CBD product that are quickly absorbed by the body so that you can experience the benefits quickly. Although the name may lead you to believe that it is an oil that is applied to the skin, tincture oils containing CBD are oils that are meant to be used orally.
These oils are placed under the tongue for a period of approximately 30 to 60 seconds so that the CBD can be absorbed into the bloodstream. CBD tincture oils are great because they often come in a variety of different flavors and they are relatively easy to dose. In some cases, CBD tincture oils may be mixed with food and water if you are not too fond of the taste of your chosen oil.
Conclusion
Overall, anxiety disorders are very unpleasant and can grow to the point that the affected individual is unable to function in their daily lives. While CBD is by no means a replacement for traditional therapy and other forms of medication that are designed to tackle this disorder, CBD may be a way for you to experience some relief in addition to your current treatment plan. If you feel as though you would like to try CBD for your anxiety, learn more about your disorder and the potential use of CBD using the guide above.