As the popularity of CBD increases, more and more people are considering it as a viable treatment for many health and wellness related issues, ranging from loss of appetite to chronic pain. But one ailment, in particular, has gained a lot of attention: anxiety. While it’s great to know someone who feels like CBD has helped them, many of us would like to know what the research on CBD for anxiety has found.
Let’s discuss what anxiety is and how it’s defined. We will also take a look at some of the most promising research that surrounds CBD as a treatment for anxiety.
What is Anxiety?
In a recent poll, about 40 million Americans said they live with a type of anxiety. That’s nearly 18% of the population. There is no denying that many Americans live with a form of anxiety that can be detrimental to their well-being. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, anxiety disorders can be broken down into five main types. This includes generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, PTSD and social anxiety disorder.
In general terms, anxiety can be described as a feeling of fear towards a specific event or setting. If you get nervous before a job interview, for example, that’s a type of anxiety. However, it is only considered a true disorder when these feelings last for long periods of time and are brought on by a specific event or thoughts. Anxiety can hugely burden people who suffer it by filling their days with constant fear and nervousness. Many people with anxiety disorders tend to stay at home or avoid socializing with other people. And in extreme cases, it consumes the person to a point of depression.
Research Related to CBD
There are numerous studies that have shown a decrease in anxiety with the use of CBD. Effects range from a marginal improvement to almost miraculous, life-changing results.
Childhood PTSD
One such case is that of a young child that dealt with crippling PTSD as a result of severe trauma. The anxiety caused by her PTSD also brought upon a sleep disorder. The study was done in 2016 to test the effectsCBD on childhood PTSD. The results were shocking: After the use of CBD products, her PTSD was greatly diminished and the anxiety-related sleep disorder began to disappear. The grandmother of the child seemed very pleased: “My granddaughter’s behaviors are definitely better being on the CBD. Her anxiety is not gone, but it is not as intense and she is much easier to be around. She now sleeps in her own room most of the time, which has never happened before.” This story is not only touching, but shows the effectiveness that CBD can have against anxiety.
CBD for Social Anxiety
Another study, performed in 2010, explored the efficacy of CBD for social anxiety disorder in multiple people. The researches scanned the brain waves of the participants and found that blood flow to the areas of the brain associated with anxiety decreased when using CBD. This means that not only did it decrease anxiety, it also changed the way their brains responded to stressors. This study was interesting because it used scientific data in addition to participant reports.
There are many other studies that show great promise with CBD as a treatment for anxiety. The list just goes on and on. More studies are being funded every day to test these effects. The only downside is that there still aren’t any studies on the long term effects of using CBD. Some argue that there may be health risks associated with it, but for many people, it’s a far better option than heavy medications prescribed by a doctor.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has recognized that CBD has shown to be effective in reducing stress in rats. They see CBD as having a great deal of potential to not only treat anxiety but other ailments as well. Listed in their report are effects of CBD such as anti-seizure, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-tumor, anti-psychotic, and as well as potential to help with substance abuse disorders.
Side Effects
There can be some side effects of CBD use. Most of the research into this has concluded that many of the risks come from smoking. But, now we are lucky to have many different options for treatment using CBD. There are balms and lotions and high concentration oils that can be added to food or drink. It turns out that most of the side effects are very mild, especially compared to other other-the-counter and prescription medications.
Most interestingly, the FDA has very recently approved the first clinical drug to include CBD. The drug is called ‘Epidiolex’ and is used to treat people with rare forms of seizures. This is the first step towards getting the FDA to adopt CBD as a compound with real health benefits. While this drug is not intended for people with anxiety disorders, it is paving the way for more products to be developed and approved.
Some typical side effects of CBD use can include a change in appetite, changes in weight, fatigue, and diarrhea. It is also very important to note that CBD can interact with other medications, especially blood thinners. Do not stop using your prescribed medications and consult your doctor if you think CBD may be a better option for you.
Overall Conclusion
The use cases for CBD seem to grow every day. There still have not been any studies done to see the effects of CBD use over long periods of time. But for many people struggling with severe anxiety disorders, it can be a true game-changer. CBD has different effects on different people, so what works for one, may not work for you. However, if you are interested in a natural alternative to anxiety medications, a quality CBD Oil is a great option to try.
If you follow proven dosages and make sure CBD won’t have a negative interaction with prescribed medication, it can open a world of possibilities. Luckily, most of the research surrounding CBD is specific to anxiety, so there is no shortage of information out there. Anxiety can be a crippling disorder that really breaks people down. CBD has proven to be a worthwhile treatment for many things and anxiety disorders top the list.