Why Do People Use CBD for Anxiety?
“CBD may help people with anxiety reduce their symptoms with few or no side effects” [1]
Anxiety can be described as a condition that causes: worrying, apprehension, fear and nervousness. These negative mental states impact the way that we feel and behave, and if these conditions go on for an extended period of time, then they can manifest in unhealthy physical symptoms. If the anxiety is mild, it is unnerving and obscure; however, if it is severe, then every day living at work and home becomes a problem. “Anxiety disorders affect 40 million people in the United States. It is the most common group of mental illnesses in the country” [2].
Finally, there is now a natural solution to getting rid of anxiety, and all the terrible knock-on effects that come with it. People from all over the world are turning their lives around by supplementing with CBD (cannabidiol). - And the positive scientific research that backs up the benefits for anxiety sufferers, just keeps growing and growing. Countless people are now able to say 'adios' for good to the pharmaceutical drugs that they have been taking, along with all their unwelcome side effects and dependency traits.
How Does it Work?
It is believed that CBD works with receptors (docking stations) within the brain, named CB1s. These docking stations are minute proteins embedded within some cells' membranes (outer sections). They pick up chemical signals from various stimuli, which enable our cells to respond.
While the way in which CBD precisely reacts with the CB1s is not yet completely clear, it is believed that it affects the signals from the happy hormone, serotonin. The latter is linked to our mental health. People who suffer from depression usually have low serotonin levels, something which can also bring in anxiety.
“The conventional treatment for low serotonin is prescription selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Zoloft and Prozac are both SSRIs. CBD, for some people, may be an alternative to SSRIs for anxiety management” [3].
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The End of Anxiety
So what do the scientific trial say so far?
Research conducted in 2010, determined that CBD is able to reduce social anxiety symptoms in individuals who suffer from SAD (social anxiety disorder). In fact, not only did the test subjects feel better: “brain scans of participants revealed changes in blood flow to the regions of the brain linked to feelings of anxiety” [2].
In addition to this, in 2011, further research was carried out, and this also showed that CBD was able to lessen social anxiety. The strategy for this particular study was to examine the way in which CBD affected people's anxiety levels when they had to do public speaking [2].
Another study in 2015, was an overview of various CBD research trials. This analysis summarized that: “CBD oil is a promising treatment for numerous forms of anxiety, including social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder” [2].
Further, in 2016, research was conducted to ascertain whether CBD might be successful in negating post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, as well as sleep disorder that was provoked by anxiety, due to a traumatic past. The results indicated that both sleep and anxiety were ameliorated [2].
References
[1]. Villines, Zawn (2018). “Can CBD oil help anxiety?” Medical News Today https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319622.php
[2]. Medical News Today (2017). “ Anxiety: Causes, symptoms, and treatments.” https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/anxiety
[3]. Cherney, Kristeen (2017). “Using CBD Oil for Anxiety: Does It Work?” https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-for-anxiety