Anxiety is a common disorder that most of the people suffer from. And the hard truth about anxiety is that it interferes with almost everything in your life. Not only it affects your mental health and inner peace but it can also lead to chronic diseases.
If you get nervous about something not so important, you always think about the worst possibility, you get nervous before making important decisions or your mind goes a million miles in the blink of an eye, chances are there that you suffer from anxiety.
And if is so, this write-up is going to help you. Here we are going to discuss the way CBD oil helps in relieving anxiety. Though research on cannabidiol oil and its uses is still in its infancy, there are shreds of evidence which suggest that people can get relief from stress and anxiety by taking it.
However, before we go with the topic of using CBD oil for anxiety, let’s provide you with a brief overview of the different types of anxiety and anxiety disorders.
Types of anxiety and anxiety disorders
We all have emotions and get anxious. But when that anxiety lasts for long and we get habitual to it, it becomes a disorder. The different types of anxiety disorders are:
Panic disorder
It is a disorder where fear strikes randomly. You may experience chest pain, sweating, palpitations or feel like you are having a heart attack.
Social anxiety disorder
In this, you are likely to feel more self-conscious even in normal everyday situations. You feel embarrassed or ridiculous by thinking about others’ judgments for you.
Phobias
While having a phobia, you feel intense fear from a specific object or situation. It may be the dark, heights, water, spiders or anything else.
Generalized anxiety disorder
In this kind of disorder, you worry or get tensed without any reason. You often feel unrealistic.
CBD oil for anxiety
CBD is one of the 80 cannabinoids which are found in the marijuana plant. It comes after THC in terms of popularity but is effective for treating a number of illnesses. It is preferred over THC because it does not make the user feel high.
The uses of CBD oil for anxiety are so hyped that you must be thinking if it is something you can rely on. No doubt it can help you to get relief of your anxiety disorders, but it needs to be used accurately.
However, before you begin using CBD oil for anxiety, you must know the concept behind its working.
How CBD works?
CBD exerts different actions in the brain, which make it effective in treating anxiety. Though most of the researches are based on animal studies, these provide an insight of the right direction to the users.
According to the Spanish researchers, CBD enhances the transmission of 5-HT1A and thus, can affect serotonin quickly as compared to SSRIs.
5-HT1A is a subtype of the serotonin receptor. It is important because sometimes anxiety and depression can be treated by targeting the serotonin system. That is the reason the drug companies have created selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs block the re-absorption of serotonin in the brain and this increases its availability in the synaptic space. As a result, the brain cells transmit more signals and it helps the person improve mood and reduce anxiety.
As CBD oil affects the serotonin faster than SSRIs, it can help you get rid of the stress and anxiety.
Another study, that was done on animals, discovered that CBD can help the hippocampus regenerate neurons, and this would be useful for treating depression and anxiety. The hippocampus is the major brain area that plays an important role in memory formation. Those who suffer from anxiety and depression are often scanned with a smaller hippocampus. As the treatment of depression involves hippocampus neurogenesis, CBD oils can help in the treatment of anxiety.
Even there are some human studies which demonstrate that CBD reduces anxiety. Brazilian researchers organized a double-blind study of the patients suffering from social anxiety. The patients experienced a significant decrease in anxiety after they consumed CBD. Even the subjective reports of the patients validated the anti-anxiety effects of CBD.
The researchers concluded that CBD reduces anxiety, discomfort and cognitive impairment in patients.
How CBD oil can be taken?
When taking CBD oil for anxiety, you can inhale it or take it orally.
You would need a vape pen and a special CBD e-juice if you want to inhale the CBD oil. Just place a few drops of oil on the coil and inhale. And if you are concerned about the amount you should use, it can be discovered through hit and trial method. You will experience immediate effects by vaping CBD oil as vaping will cause CBD to enter your bloodstream immediately.
If you want long-lasting results from your CBD oil, you can take it orally. Though you will feel the effects a little late (because the oil will pass through the digestive system and then to your bloodstream), they will last longer as more CBD will enter your bloodstream.
So, it’s totally up to you that what you feel comfortable with and how you want to consume CBD oil.
Final thoughts
A number of human studies have validated CBD’s efficacy in the treatment of anxiety, although the researches are still going on. As anxiety is costing people both socially and financially, CBD can play a major role in treating anxiety-related disorders.
Though more researches are required for examining the potential and long-term effects of CBD, its efficacy and safety profile make it a perfect alternative to the pharmaceuticals currently available.
- CBD Oil for Anxiety – How It Works? - October 24, 2018
