CBD Oil for Anxiety
Chances are you probably know what anxiety feels like—a tightening of the chest, agitation, restlessness, worrying, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, tense muscles, and trouble sleeping. What if there were an all-natural solution that had only beneficial side effects? Enter CBD oil—a hemp flower derivative that is becoming a go-to for managing daily stress and anxiety.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the U.S., affecting nearly in one five adults. Risk factors include genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events. Anxiety can come from everyday life stress—jobs, kids, and, well, just being human—and can spiral into full-blown depression.
Traditional treatment includes everything from cognitive behavioral therapy to antidepressants, which can have a host of unpleasant side effects—including loss of sex drive (ugh). But the good news is that CBD can help with that, too. Most people (63%), however, never receive any treatment at all for anxiety disorders. Though the FDA has yet to approve CBD, research is incredibly promising that it could provide meaningful relief.
How It Works
The human body has an endocannabinoid system, which is made up of receptors (chemical structures attached to your cells) that receive signals from various stimuli. Scientists believe that CBD interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are found in the central and peripheral nervous system, respectively.
While researchers still don’t understand exactly what the CBD does, they believe it may alter serotonin signals. Serotonin is a chemical your nerve cells produce that’s considered to be your body’s mood stabilizer. It’s responsible for the feelings of happiness and well-being. (People with low serotonin levels often suffer from depression and, yes, anxiety.) Serotonin also helps with sleeping, eating, and digestion.
Scientists believe that CBD doesn’t boost serotonin levels, it just might change the way your receptors respond to the serotonin your body naturally produces. A 2019 study, for example, showed it significantly reduced both anxiety and pain—often comorbid symptoms—in rats. In another 2019 study, male subjects who ingested CBD before a simulated public speaking test significantly reduced their anxiety.
More research is needed to determine dosing, but because CBD is generally considered safe with very few side effects, you may want to experiment with different doses to find out what works for you.
We recommend starting with a 10 mg dose and working up from there. We have tinctures and soft gels that are easy entry points, as well as 35 mg Hemp Infusions Sparkling Beverages that taste great and contain other functional ingredients, too.
Our CBD products are derived from organically grown hemp plants on our family farm in Boulder, Colo., and are third-party lab-tested. If you have further questions about CBD, CBD oil, and CBD products, please feel free to explore our InFocus Journal.
