Due to current events, the spread of anxiety is increasing. Months of uncertainty have amplified the stress more than ever.
According to one CoviPrev survey which monitors the evolution of the mental health of the French people since the start of the epidemic, the mental health indicators have deteriorated.
Why Cannabidiol for Anxiety?
In recent years, more and more people are discovering the therapeutic benefits of CBD. Already showing promising results in the treatment of various conditions, CBD is now attracting the attention of researchers due to its potential to relieve anxiety .
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is the active ingredient in the Cannabis sativa plant. It is one of 113 known cannabinoids in cannabis and has shown promising therapeutic potential in the treatment of many mental and physical disorders.
In France, CBD is perfectly legal - and no, it's not drugs. The psychoactive properties of cannabis are due to THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. For a CBD product to be sold legally, it must contain small amounts of THC >0.2%.
How does CBD work?
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (DRY). It's a biological system that helps regulate our mood, appetite, sleep, immune activity, memory and more.
SEC effectively coordinates the nervous and immune systems to ensure our minds and bodies work in perfect harmony.
Within the ECS there are two main cannabinoid receptors - CB1 and CB2. Through the activity of CB1 receptors, the endo system helps to diffuse the serotonin in the brain. When there isn't enough of it in the brain, it can cause mental health issues such as anxiety and the depression .
How cannabidiol helps with anxiety?
There is growing evidence to support that CBD is a anxiolytic , meaning it can reduce symptoms of anxiety.
Anxiety is our body's response to stress or to a trauma . It's hard to pinpoint the direct cause of anxiety, but common triggers are major life changes, past traumatic experiences, physical health, or certain medications.
Although anxiety is recognized as a mental disorder, its symptoms can be both physical and psychological.
Anxiety manifests differently in each person, but common symptoms include:
- rapid heartbeat
- Headache
- Sleep problems
It can usually be overcome using stress reduction techniques.
I' chronic anxiety is different; your mind is in a constant state of perceived stress, even when there is no immediate threat.
It is an extremely debilitating condition that often requires clinical treatment.
CBD may show promise in treating common anxiety disorders, including:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Social anxiety disorder (SAD)
- Panic disorder
Many studies have also been conducted on the effect of CBD on the disorder of post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Although these are stand-alone disorders, anxiety is a major symptom that CBD can help relieve .
CBD is believed to relieve anxiety by activating the receptors of serotonin , especially 5-HT1A.
This does two things:
- Increases serotonin levels
- Improves our mood
- Can reduce our body's hormonal response to stress.
Frequently prescribed anti-anxiety medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Like CBD, SSRIs increase serotonin levels in the brain, but they may have Side effects rather unpleasant.
Symptoms only begin to improve after about 4-6 weeks of use, and discontinuing SSRI use can lead to unpleasant cravings.
could CBD be a natural alternative?
CBD may also reduce anxiety by indirectly increasing the activation of CB1 receptors.
SEC contains endogenous cannabinoids - or endocannabinoids - which are produced naturally by the body.
CBD has been shown to increase levels of anandamide also called happiness molecule, a key endocannabinoid, by preventing its degradation.
Researchers suggest that endocannabinoid signaling is our body's natural way of reducing stress. If CBD can help with this process, it holds great promise for the future treatment of anxiety.
What the science says about CBD
There's a lot of information out there about how CBD can help with anxiety, so we've looked at some of the latest studies.
Analyzing recent CBD publications, anxiety was at the center of almost 40% of them. Of these studies, 70.6% showed promise
The most promising results were noted in social anxiety disorder. Some of the earliest evidence of this dates back to 2011. In a randomized study in a double-blind study, 12 participants received a single dose of CBD or placebo before a simulated public speaking session. 600mg of CBD can significantly reduce physiological and self-rated anxiety.
Recently, these findings were replicated in 18- to 19-year-olds with chronic social anxiety. Participants received a daily dose of 300 mg of CBD for 4 weeks and demonstrated significantly lower levels of anxiety than those receiving a placebo.
THE sleep And anxiety are more related than you might think. If we are anxious, we cannot sleep; if we are deprived of sleep, we are more prone to stress. In a study Anxiety UK , 81.8% of respondents said anxiety was the main cause of their poor sleep. Because it has been shown that the SSRIs have a negative effect on sleep, CBD may be a more appropriate treatment for anxiety.
Can CBD Make Anxiety Worse?
If you look at the effectiveness of CBD on a graph, it tends to follow a bell-shaped curve. As the dose increases, the therapeutic benefit of CBD also increases.
However, once the dose of CBD exceeds optimal levels, it can begin to have the opposite effect. CBD in high doses has been shown to cause anxiety or have no effect on anxiety.
So how much CBD should you take for anxiety?
Doses seem to vary across studies, and there's actually no evidence to say which is best.
The optimal dose of CBD is different for everyone; it largely depends on your height, weight, and the severity of the symptoms.
The best advice is to start with a low dose and increase it if necessary.
CBD is known to be safe and well tolerated by most people. Although in rare cases there may be mild side effects such as fatigue, diarrhea or changes in appetite.
CBD has also been reported to interact with other medications, which can affect our liver health.
More research is needed to assess the safety of using CBD with other medications, so be careful before adding it to your routine.
Do not hesitate to consult our article on the CBD Dosage and Drug Interactions to guide you on the best cbd dosage and its risk interactions with drugs.
CBD is not an addictive substance
it does not cause withdrawal if you stop using it. A study in 30 healthy volunteers found no withdrawal symptoms after stopping CBD twice daily. So if CBD isn't working for you, you don't have to phase it out, which isn't the case with anxiety medication.
Which CBD for Anxiety?
The CBD market is booming. There are countless ways CBD is packaged for consumption. Here are some of the most effective ways to take CBD:
Sublingual CBD Oils
Sublingual administration involves dripping CBD oil under the tongue.
This allows CBD to enter the bloodstream directly, so it's an efficient way to get your dose.
This is the most common method of taking CBD oil to treat anxiety, but it is not the only method of taking CBD.
CBD Capsules for oral intake:
Oral CBD is available in many forms, the most common being capsules .
It's a convenient method that provides you with a consistent dose, but since CBD has to go through the digestive process, it takes between 30 minutes and 2 hours to feel the effect.
There is also a bioavailability issue. CBD is fat soluble; it does not dissolve very easily, so much of it is broken down in the stomach before being absorbed.
Taking CBD with foods high in healthy fats will give you a much greater effect.
CBD Liquid Vaporizer
The CBD in e liquid quickly enters the bloodstream. Because it is easily portable, CBD vape can be used for instant relief.
With its rapid effect and impressive bioavailability, vaping may seem like the best option, but there are also concerns.
The long-term effects of vaping are not fully understood, so approach this method with caution.
I think CBD can help me - How do I choose?
Want to try CBD? First, do some research. There are many products out there, and it's important to make sure you're buying from a reputable brand.
CBD brands should share their lab reports to know exactly how much CBD you're getting.
Traceability is also crucial; markings should be transparent about where their plants are grown. If none of this information is readily available, it's time to look for another.
More clinical trials need to be done before doctors start prescribing CBD for anxiety .
But the testimonies abound; CBD has helped many people manage their anxiety.
If you want to discover the wonders of cannabinoids for yourself, but don't know where to start, check out our recommended products below or contact a specialist via the Chat available on this page.
