Can CBD Help With Anxiety? What You Need To Know
Even where modern medicine seems to fall short, CBD has proven to be incredibly beneficial. Even though many of the claims as to its health and wellness benefits remain scientifically unproven, there are still many proven therapeutic health and wellness benefits that you can stand to gain from cannabidiol (CBD).
Amongst all of the benefits of CBD, one of them that seems to capture a lot of attention is as it relates to social anxiety and anxiety disorders. This is because the cost for therapy, even the low-cost treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy are still pretty expensive. Today you no longer need to spend huge amounts on off-the-counter medication when CBD has proven to be more effective in relieving anxiety and most importantly, cheaper.
In the CBD market today, you can find products like CBD-infused topicals, CBD capsules, CBD tinctures, CBD vape cartridges, CBD patches, and much more from tons of manufacturers. This may prove to be challenging especially if you are new to the market and looking for high-quality, potent, and safe CBD products that do just what they say.
What Exactly Is CBD?
Every heard about the hemp plant? Well cannabidiol or CBD is one of over 100 active cannabinoids found naturally occurring in the hemp plant. CBD itself is nonpsychoactive and so it does not produce a high feeling.
If you are wondering why hemp is associated with a high feeling, the reason is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is also one of the active cannabinoids found naturally occurring in the hemp plant.
According to the 2018 Farm Bill, only CBD products that contain less than 0.3% THC are considered legal, and so long as you get your CBD products from reputable sources like CBDfx then you have nothing to worry about.
How Does CBD Help With Anxiety
Research has shown that CBD may work in treating anxiety by affecting the serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical found in the body. It plays a vital role in many of the body’s functions like your mood, sleep, digestion, and behavior. However, it is not 100% clear how CBD actually treats anxiety.
CBD has proven to be beneficial with people who have a general anxiety disorder (GAD) and also people with other forms of anxiety disorder like social anxiety disorder (SAD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
How Much CBD Would I Need To Take?
The amount of CBD you would need to take depends on factors like your weight, which is one of the reasons why there is no one-size-fits-all dosage as regards CBD. If you are new to CBD, a good rule of thumb is to start from small doses and gradually increase. Taking the right dosage is important because it would determine the overall effect that you would feel.
If you are taking CBD gummies for anxiety, then you would want to take your dosage hours before you want to feel the effects since they generally take longer because the gummies would have to first be digested. It is not the same for CBD tinctures since they get to work almost immediately you administer as they go directly into your bloodstream.
Does It Have Any Side Effects
CBD is considered generally safe and well-tolerated by a lot of people. However, some negative side effects can occur in cases where the CBD interacts with off-the-counter medication, or with people who are not used to nutrient-dense foods or herbal medicine. Some of the side effects are:
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Changes in appetite
- Changes in weight
- Irritability
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Fogginess
Conclusion
Even though CBD has been prised for its benefits especially in the treatment of anxiety, it is still important to talk to a professional so you can get the best possible effects from CBD.
