Do you suffer from anxiety? You’re not alone; anxiety disorders are the most common forms of mental illness in the United States. Millions of people seek treatment for their anxiety and there are plenty of methods for trying to control it.
How do you manage your anxiety?
While many people opt for psychiatric medications for their anxiety problems, others aren’t fond of the side effects, or their anxiety is resistant to medication. If this sounds like you, have you considered CBD?
The benefits of CBD oil for anxiety are well-recorded and studied. When combined with counseling, it may even help with severe anxiety.
But what are the benefits of CBD oil, and how can you use it to help your anxiety? We want to keep you informed so you can decide whether or not it’s for you.
Keep reading to learn more.
1. You May Get Better Sleep
This is one of the big benefits of CBD oil that may not seem directly related to anxiety but is.
People with anxiety often have poor sleep. Poor sleep feeds into more anxiety. It’s a vicious cycle, and it often seems like there’s no escape from it.
Research suggests that CBD oil promotes better sleep and regulates sleep cycles. It can help calm racing thoughts and promote a gentle feeling of sleepiness that isn’t as heavy as the drowsiness that comes from sleeping pills or over the counter sleeping aids.
It also promotes morning wakefulness in some people, which will help get you ready for the day ahead without the jitters that come from combining anxiety with stimulants.
2. People Report a Sense of Calm
CBD for anxiety has been studied. In a study on rats, CBD has been shown to relieve symptoms of physical and mental stress. There’s also plenty of anecdotal evidence to support this research.
People who consume CBD report a feeling of calm and relaxation. It’s not as extreme as the feeling from benzodiazepines (a form of common anxiety medication that providers prescribe) so you’re able to go about your day after consuming it.
3. It Isn’t Habit-Forming
One of the major benefits of CBD for anxiety over (or in combination with) other forms of anxiety relief like psychiatric medication is that it’s not considered to be habit-forming.
Common medications for anxiety should be used in moderation if possible. While this is good in theory, people who experience anxiety all day need more than just infrequent relief.
When people overuse anxiety medications, they risk building a tolerance or becoming dependent. They may find themselves abusing the medication when it no longer works at its standard dose. Benzodiazepine overdose is dangerous.
CBD, on the other hand, shouldn’t create dependence. It’s also very difficult to overdose on CBD. Taking too much CBD can result in amplified effects and certain unpleasant side effects, but not severe illness or death.
Benzodiazepine overdose is deadly. While these medications are good for anxiety, they should be taken in moderation.
4. Side Effects Are Minimal
Speaking of side effects, there aren’t many side effects of CBD when you compare it with other anxiety medications.
SSRIs, another common medication used for anxiety and depression, can cause drowsiness, emotional numbness, trouble sleeping, and sexual dysfunction (among other problems).
Benzodiazepines can cause nausea, fogginess, extreme drowsiness, insomnia, poor sleep, and more. Some people who take them at night report feeling unrested in the morning.
CBD side effects are minimal and mild, especially if you take the recommended amount or build up until you get the desired results.
It may result in appetite changes, mood changes, mild drowsiness, and nausea, although many people report using CBD as a nausea cure. Side effects vary depending on the person and how much CBD was consumed at the time.
5. Long Term or Short Term Relief
Did you know that the different ways of consuming CBD result in different kinds, durations, and speeds of relief?
This is great for people with anxiety. For those who are just looking for short-term but intense relief before a stressful event or before going to sleep at night, there are great options available.
CBD capsules (such as these capsules that are vegan, bio-enhanced, and water-dispersible for better results) and CBD edibles (most common type is gummies) go into the system in a slower manner. For those considering CBD gummies, the energy gummies from Muddy Boot Botanicals are a good place to start. They make their way through the digestive system and then the CBD disperses throughout the body.
This makes it so the CBD lasts longer in the system. It’s still potent, but it carries throughout several hours, so you don’t have to keep using more. It’s sometimes inconvenient to continue consuming CBD in public.
Some other methods of CBD consumption, such as vaping, smoking, and taking the CBD under the tongue bring almost instant relief. This is because the CBD can get into the bloodstream faster.
The anxiety relief won’t last as long, but it will be more intense and immediate, making it great for stressful situations.
6. It’s Accessible
CBD oil is available online and anyone who is of age can try it without a doctor’s prescription. In a country where healthcare is expensive and the mental health system is unreliable, it’s great to have an accessible option.
You should talk to a doctor if you plan on consuming CBD.
Are These Benefits of CBD Oil Convincing?
There are plenty of benefits of CBD oil when it comes to managing your anxiety. Between the mental health effects, the lack of negative effects from traditional medications, and the flexibility for duration and speed, trying CBD for your anxiety is a great idea.
CBD is accessible and available without a prescription. Why not give it a try?
For more posts on CBD, vaping, and anything else you’re curious about, visit the rest of the site.
