Can CBD Oil Help with My Anxiety and Depression?
There’s a growing interest in using CBD for various health conditions. Some of the popular uses of CBD include reducing pain, improving sleep, and promoting relaxation.
So, you may be thinking: can CBD help with my anxiety and depression? What does the research say about using CBD for these conditions?
We will answer all these questions and more. Learn about CBD and how effective this compound might be for your condition. Also, this natural compound may be popular and beneficial. But is it safe for consumption? There’s so much to learn about CBD’s effects on mood disorders, and this article will help you get started.
Does CBD Oil Actually Help with Anxiety?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid found naturally in cannabis. Another popular cannabinoid in cannabis plants is tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. However, unlike THC, CBD doesn’t get the user high.
Instead, studies show it provides a host of therapeutic effects. These include analgesic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory benefits of CBD.
Research suggests that CBD could help with mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. How CBD works in these health conditions is still being studied. But researchers believe it works by interacting with serotonin receptors.
One cause of anxiety is low serotonin levels. Anti-anxiety drugs work by preventing the absorption of serotonin in the brain. Thus, increasing its amount in the brain. CBD is thought to act similarly.
Role of Fidget Ring for the Treatment of Anxiety
Anxiety is something we all feel from time to time. It’s the feeling of being nervous, shaky, hot, and flustered, like when you’re giving a speech, going on a first date, taking a driving test, or walking down the aisle. This is fine. But many people live every day with feelings of unease, dread, and often irrational fear, which is hard. What other people may take in stride, like jumping on a Zoom call or going to a party, can cause intense worry, a sense of impending doom, and a never-ending stream of “What if this happens?” and “What if I do this?” thoughts. If this sounds like something you’ve heard before, you’re not alone.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness says that over 40 million adults in the U.S. (19.1 percent) have an anxiety disorder, and that about 7 percent of children ages 3 to 17 have anxiety problems every year. How do people deal with anxiety or even get rid of it? There isn’t a fix that works for everyone. You should look for something that works for you. For some, that might be medication and/or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). For others, it might be meditation and exercise. But in recent years, anxiety rings, a simple piece of jewelry that helps people feel better quickly and easily, have become very popular. Fidget anxiety rings are a new version of the toy that was popular a few years ago. They were inspired by the craze for “fidget spinners.”
The rings look like traditional spinner rings, but they are meant to help calm anxiety by giving the wearer something to fidget with. Fidget rings are a much more subtle way to calm your nerves, and one of the best things about them is that you can use them whenever you need to. And they don’t just help with anxiety; if you’re trying to quit smoking, they can help you forget about the urge to smoke. We wanted to join this new trend because we are always up for anything that helps us live a happier, healthier life. Here are some of our favorite and most fashionable fidget rings.
What the Research Says About Using CBD for Anxiety & Depression
Several studies show that CBD could be effective for reducing anxiety disorders, including:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
There was a significant decrease in behavioural and physiological symptoms in these studies. Also, participants reported a reduction in insomnia caused by anxiety.
CBD works similarly for depression by encouraging an increase in serotonin. Reports show that a person is bound to be depressed when serotonin is low.
Also, studies show that CBD may influence the hippocampus. People with depression have dysfunctional hippocampus. And CBD may help promote the formation of neurons in this area of the brain.
How Effective is It?
There’s an abundant amount of research and anecdotal evidence to show CBD can be effective for anxiety. However, there are only a few studies on depression.
One of these is a 2018 study on rats. The result of this research showed that CBD reduced symptoms of depression effectively. The researchers attribute the success to CBD’s impact on the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. It helped repair neural damage in these brain parts.
CBD is also known to positively influence a person’s mood, sleep, and pain perception. Note that CBD is available in different forms. These include full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate CBD.
A theory – the entourage effect, suggests that the most effective form of CBD for anxiety and depression might be full-spectrum. This type contains CBD, a trace amount of THC, and other beneficial compounds in cannabis.
The theory hypothesizes that these compounds work together to increase their individual effects.
How Much CBD Oil Should I Take for Anxiety and Depression?
Clinical trials use varying doses of CBD for anxiety and depression. For instance, a study involving hundreds of participants reported success with doses ranging from 40 to 300 mg CBD per day.
Most clinical studies jump straight to using high CBD doses. For example, 600 mg in patients with social anxiety disorder and 300mg in a public speaking test.
On the other hand, other studies have successfully used lower doses. The bottom line is you have to find a dosage that works for you. Experts always advise starting with low CBD dosages and slowly increasing it.
Always monitor if there are changes in your symptoms. The idea is to find the lowest, most effective dose for your needs.
How to Use It?
After picking CBD oil for anxiety and depression, how do you use it? Using CBD oil is quite simple – put a few drops under your tongue and swallow after about 60 seconds. Most persons also use CBD oil by mixing it with drinks and meals. Also, we have other popular CBD products, such as CBD gummies, CBD vape pens, and CBD capsules.
Side Effects and Potential Risks of Using CBD Products
CBD is generally a safe substance to use. Reports show that people have safely used up to 200mg of CBD for 13 weeks. Also, research shows that people tolerated 1500mg of CBD daily for 4 weeks.
That said, CBD can lead to some side effects. Some of these include dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness, and changes in appetite. Also, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid CBD products. The reason is that there is not enough information on the safety of CBD for your fetus or infant.
CBD can interact with some medications. It interferes with how the liver breaks down these medications. And this could cause a change in how these drugs work, leading to severe side effects.
Another concerning side effect is potential liver injury. Stay safe and consult your doctor before taking CBD, especially if you’re on medications.
Final Thoughts
CBD is a potential alternative therapy for anxiety and depression. However, more studies are needed. Most research works on the effects of CBD are on animal studies or small groups of human subjects.
Although there may be possible side effects, CBD is relatively safe. Also, a dose that may be effective for someone may not do anything for you. Start from a low dosage and slowly work your way up to find your ideal dose.
If you’re interested in using CBD to manage symptoms of anxiety or depression, talk to your doctor. It’s crucial if you’re taking any medications. They’ll help you with dosing and let you know about possible drug interactions.
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