It’s seems to be everywhere these days. If you haven’t tried it, I’m sure you know someone who has. Let’s take a look at what CBD is and whether or not it might help with anxiety.
What is CBD?
CBD (short for cannabidiol) is a compound found in the cannabis plant. Most people have heard of THC, since it’s the component in marijuana that gets you high. What you might not have realized is that cannabis has hundreds of other chemical compounds known as cannabinoids, each with their own unique properties. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that can be consumed in several different ways. The most popular form of ingestion is oil, but it can also be consumed in the form of food, vaping, and smoking. I’m not a big fan of the last two for health reasons, but it’s up to you and your medical professional to decide what might be the right way to consume CBD.
How Does CBD Oil Work?
The short answer is we don’t know exactly. We know that CBD is a cannabinoid, and that our brains have endocannabinoid receptors. Some researchers think it binds to those receptors, some think that it just stimulates our brain to produce its own cannabinoids. Either way, more research is needed to understand how CBD actually works. What we do know is that it potentially has several effects on the brain and body, which I will go over in the next section.
What Does the Research Say?
There is a lot of research on CBD and the results are very mixed. Some studies have found little to no benefit, while others have produced quite promising (and even amazing) results. The bottom line is that CBD might have the following benefits:
Pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties
Reduces stress and anxiety
Improves symptoms of PTSD
Helps with insomnia
Reduces seizures
Improves mood
Strengthens bones
Lowers blood pressure
Improves heart health
If it sounds too good to be true, well, it’s still possible it could be. Panacea’s are hard to come by, and with CBD studies still being somewhat new, I’m remaining cautiously optimistic. At the risk of sounding conspiratorial, this is a multi-billion dollar industry and there is reason to believe people would want to sell the idea that CBD will fix everything. However, that has not stopped me from trying it out myself and in general I am a proponent of CBD for most people.
CBD Oil for Anxiety
Scientific studies aside, you can scour the internet and find a lot of anecdotal reports from people who say that CBD helps them with their anxiety. I am actually one of those people and would like to share my own experience with you here. I have been taking CBD oil somewhat regularly for about 2 years and have found that while the effect is pretty subtle, I do notice an overall reduction in anxiety. I also feel a slight elevation in mood, but this is not a consistent effect which leads me to wonder if it’s a placebo. I’ve heard people say “You don’t always notice that CBD is doing anything until you stop taking it,” and I agree with that statement. To me, CBD just feels like a subtle smoothing out of some of the edges of anxiety. It may not be dramatic, but to me it feels worth it to keep taking.
When it comes to anxiety, I had some pretty terrible experiences with THC in my teen years which left me with a negative bias towards cannabis. I say this to assure anyone who feels similarly that CBD is nothing like THC. Whatever your feelings may be about cannabis and/or THC, I would recommend being open-minded about CBD because there are several potential benefits and few (if any) side effects.
Side Effects of CBD (Does it get you high?)
CBD has been found to have little to no side effects when taken at recommended dosages. The most common reported side effect is tiredness, and a small number of people have reported changes in appetite and digestive issues. There are some potential interactions with other medications, so speak to your doctor if you have questions about this.
CBD is non-psychoactive and does not get you high, but it’s very important to know that there are a couple of things to look out for:
The industry is not well regulated and therefore some products may contain enough THC to produce a psychoactive effect. Be careful to only buy from reputable companies.
Full Spectrum CBD oil, which is one form you can buy it in, does contain trace amounts of THC (typically 0.04% or less) and those who are very sensitive to THC might notice an effect from this. In that case I’d recommend buying Broad Spectrum CBD Oil, or Isolated CBD Oil, both of which have 0% THC.
What if I’m an addict/in recovery?
In the world of addiction and recovery, CBD Oil is somewhat controversial. Some people feel that it would not be in line with sobriety to take CBD, while others see no problem with it since it doesn’t get you high. This is a personal choice and something you should consider if you are in recovery. It is also important to note that if you have a history with marijuana, CBD could be triggering for you as some products smell strongly of cannabis. If you think this might put you in danger of a relapse, then I recommend avoiding CBD.
There are studies that show CBD could actually have some benefit in treating addiction, including reducing cravings to use substances. I think the conversation around CBD in recovery is a very important one to be having, and there are factors to consider on both sides.
As with anything, use your judgement and consult a medical professional. If you decide to try CBD, I hope it can be yet another valuable tool for you in your efforts towards wellness, and provide you some relief from anxiety.
Take Care,
Mike