Contents
1. Stress and Anxiety
2. What Is Anxiety?
3. How Does Anxiety Become Chronic?
4. How Do Stress and Anxiety Impact Your Body?
5. The Effects of Anxiety on Brain Chemistry
6. CBD: Cannabis Sativa L’s Golden “Antianxiety” Ingredient
7. Proof That CBD Could Relieve Stress and Anxiety
8. How CBD Can Fight Anxiety
8.1 Endocannabinoids
8.2 Neural Regeneration
8.3 Serotonin
9. Integrative Approaches to Stress and Anxiety Relief
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1. Stress and Anxiety
CBD oil is being used by millions of people worldwide to relieve anxiety. (Click to tweet)
Stress and anxiety hold many back from enjoying the things that they love. In fact, 40 million adults in the USA are diagnosed with anxiety disorders every year—that's 18.1% of the population. [1]
You may be wondering:
"How can I use CBD oil to alleviate my anxiety?"
Don't worry; we've got you covered!
We've created this guide to explain what anxiety is, what causes anxiety, and how stress and anxiety can become chronic.
We'll also discuss how CBD oil can help to soothe symptoms of stress and anxiety as well as some of the integrative treatments that can help you get a handle on the worries life brings.
2. What Is Anxiety?
We've all had that “sinking feeling” associated with worry and stress. Anxiety often relates to significant life events such as college exams, job interviews, the pressures of work, or family demands.
When people suffer from chronic anxiety, this impending sense of doom can be never-ending. They may even require medical intervention to help with resetting their primal stress response mechanisms.
RELATED: What is Anxiety and How Can It Be Helped?
But here's the thing:
More often than not, there is no magic pill that completely eradicates anxiety. Plus, a lot of antianxiety pharmaceuticals have addictive qualities and can have unpleasant side effects.
For this reason, you may be considering supplementing anxiety treatment with CBD tinctures, capsules, or liposomal products.
Of course, before you purchase one of these products, you'll want to know:
"How can CBD help to improve my anxiety?"
With several clinical trials currently underway, there is already some substantial evidence of CBD's usefulness for soothing anxiety. [2] (Click to tweet)
We'll answer this question in due course.
But first, let's take a look into the science of how anxiety and stress can affect your body and brain.
3. How Does Anxiety Become Chronic?
A quarter of Americans suffer from some form of anxiety disorder in their lifetimes. These disorders often include frequent feelings of imminent danger, unpreparedness, and dread. [3]
Many people report racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, and physical reactions such as shaking and sweaty palms.
But where do these feelings come from?
A leading contributor to the development of anxiety disorders is our genetics. Tiny differences in our neurotransmitters and hormones can have a considerable impact on the way we respond to stressful situations.
RELATED: Is CBD a Mood Stabilizer?
Then there's a lifestyle as well as environmental factors and toxins present in food and drinks that can affect the way our brains function.
But what about the biggest cause of anxiety?
STRESS!
Chronic stress makes our brains feel anxious; it trains the brain to remember the times that you feel stressed so that similar situations can be avoided in the future.
Think about where we come from…
If our brains hadn't remembered to activate a “fight-or-flight” response when hunting animals millions of years ago, you probably wouldn't be reading this right now.
4. How Do Stress & Anxiety Impact Your Body?
Here's the smart part!
When we feel stressed, small bursts of stress hormones are released by our brains. As these hormones enter the bloodstream, they prepare our bodies to deal with the situation at hand. Simply put, we're not designed to handle prolonged states of panic. (Click to tweet)
When stress hormones such as cortisol remain high in our system, they cause chaos throughout our bodies, leading to:
- Digestive problems
- Depression
- Heart disease
- Weak immune systems
- Tiredness
- Headaches
- Muscular tension
If you're experiencing any of these issues, CBD supplements may improve some of your symptoms.
RELATED: How To Dose CBD Oil For Anxiety
5. The Effects of Anxiety on Brain Chemistry
On top of the physical damage that anxiety can cause, constant stress can rewire your brain!
When we feel stressed, our hormones tell our brains to "stand to attention, focus, and feel less."
If this message is repeated continuously, the brain adapts to tune out these messages.
Although scientists are still revealing neurological changes that occur in response to stress, they are pretty confident that the chemistry and structure are affected. [4]
Stress causes some parts of our brains to shrink and die, while others become excitable and hyperactive. Chronic stress can cause our receptors and neurotransmitters to change, affecting our moods and the natural homeostasis needed for optimum mental health.
These changes may persist—even once you've managed to rid your life from stressful situations—as could the adverse effects on your physical health. In these challenging times, you may require support to restore natural balance to your body and brain.
RELATED: Can CBD Help You Become Stress-Free?
6. CBD: Cannabis Sativa L's Golden “Antianxiety” Ingredient
If you've experimented with cannabis, you'll know that many people react differently when they use Cannabis sativa L. recreationally. Some people experience “the munchies” and feel more relaxed and alleviated, while others can experience feelings of intense paranoia.
Here's why:
Cannabis sativa L. contains a cannabinoid called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), an intoxicating substance and the culprit responsible for the “high” feeling associated with recreational use.
When too much THC is consumed, the body's natural endocannabinoid system is overstimulated.
RELATED: The Reasons CBD Isn't Psychoactive
Luckily, as CBD is also present in hemp and is non-psychoactive, CBD helps to counteract the anxiety that many recreational pot smokers experience.
Today, thanks to decriminalization efforts and a massive increase in medical marijuana usage throughout the USA, there is a wealth of research undertaken around cannabis production techniques and analysis. (Click to tweet)
This means it's easier for companies to produce whole-plant CBD with little to no trace of THC. Once CBD is extracted from these plants, people can enjoy the potentially soothing benefits of CBD without the unpleasant side effects that THC can cause.
RELATED: THC Vs. CBD: What’s the Difference?
Although CBD can be derived from both Cannabis sativa L. and hemp plants, we source all the CBD for SOL products from premium organic hemp plants. Hemp plants naturally produce high concentrations of CBD, with as little as 0.3% THC present. Additionally, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, it’s now legal across the US to cultivate hemp for the purpose of CBD extraction.
7. Proof That CBD Could Relieve Stress and Anxiety
On top of thousands of online testimonials from people who have used CBD oil to soothe anxiety, there is an expanding portfolio of scientific evidence. (Click to tweet)
Yes, most of this research has been undertaken on rodents. This is because human experiments can be legally complicated and expensive.
A 2015 review tested 32 rats for the effects of CBD on anxiety—concluding that all but one represented positive results. [5]
That said, there are two excellent uses for CBD in controlling anxiety that have emerged for humans and rodents.
A. Decreased levels of anxiety in response to stress were one recorded improvement.
- Rodent evidence: In one study, mice were put into a cage with a snake. The mice that were administered low doses of CBD were more strategic in their movements and spent less time in a state of panic. [6]
- Human evidence: For some people, the idea of public speaking can be as scary as being trapped in a cage with a giant snake. In a 2017 study, CBD was shown to improve performance anxiety in relation to public speaking. Additionally, CBD has been shown to help people without anxiety disorders and those diagnosed with social anxiety disorders. [7][8]
RELATED: Can CBD Oil Help With Social Anxiety?
B. Extinction Learning
The concept of “extinction learning” refers to letting go of stress triggers when there is no reason to be afraid. Many triggers can bring about a state of anxiety, and various forms of therapy aim to identify and eliminate these natural responses. (Click to tweet)
These types of therapy have been particularly successful when treating people with PTSD.
- Rodent evidence: Mice “seize up” from fear once conditioned to expect an electric shock. However, when scientists administered mice with CBD as part of their extinction learning process, they became less likely to panic. [9]
- Human evidence: Some people can be conditioned to expect an electrical shock by way of a visual cue. In a 2013 experiment, people who took a 32mg dose of CBD as they undertook “extinction training” were less expectant of receiving these shocks. These results continued two days after they took the CBD. [10]
RELATED: What Does CBD Do to Your Mind and Body?
8. How CBD Can Fight Anxiety
Now for the science behind CBD and anxiety.
CBD works in synergy with over 65 molecular targets inside our bodies. For this reason, it's hard to pinpoint the exact sources of CBD's relieving properties. [11]
Some research suggests that CBD can counter anxiety by promoting neural regeneration and stimulating our natural neurotransmitter systems. (Click to tweet)
8.1 Endocannabinoids
Our bodies produce cannabinoids naturally; CB1 and CB2 receptors are located throughout the body and the brain, forming what is known as the endocannabinoid system. When we suffer from chronic anxiety or stress, this system can become inefficient.
It's thought that CBD may help to bring balance back to the endocannabinoid system. When CBD products are ingested, endocannabinoids stimulate the CB1 and CB2 receptors, helping to promote homeostasis across the endocannabinoid system. (Click to tweet)
Scientific research on mice has shown that CBD can alleviate OCD and associated patterns of anxiety. This relief is achieved as the endocannabinoid system is activated, helping mice to process and forget their fears. [12]
RELATED: Endocannabinoid System Explained
8.2 Neural Regeneration
We mentioned earlier that chronic stress could cause damage to neurons and cause our brains to shrink. However, there are parts of the brain that are able to regenerate. We can produce new connections, generate new neurons, and make new neurological connections throughout our lives. [13]
It gets better…
CBD may help to boost this process!
This means that CBD supplements may help to repair brain damage resulting from chronic anxiety and stress. (Click to tweet)
Several studies have concluded that CBD can encourage neural regeneration. [14]
RELATED: CBD May Play A Role In Neurogenesis
In fact:
In mice, CBD has shown promise for its ability to promote the growth of new neurons. [15]
8.3 Serotonin
Serotonin is a hormone and neurotransmitter associated with feelings of happiness.
RELATED: 11 Natural Ways to Boost Your Serotonin
However, this neurotransmitter is incredibly complex! Its effects depend on what it binds to and where it is located.
Serotonin is known to work with at least 14 receptors throughout the body. CBD binds specifically to 5-HT1A, which plays a huge role in several anxiety disorders. [16][17]
9. Integrative Approaches to Stress and Anxiety Relief
With modern life providing continuous sources of stress, many people take a holistic approach to treating their anxiety. (Click to tweet)
Many doctors will suggest a mix of pharmaceutical treatments, counseling, and relaxation techniques such as meditation and yoga.
RELATED: Natural Alternatives To Common Prescription Meds Without the Side Effects
If you've experienced chronic anxiety and stress for a considerable part of your life, it takes time to restore balance and reverse the mental and physical damage. Over time, habits change, and your brain starts to rebuild healthy neurological pathways.
If you decide to supplement using CBD products, we recommend using CBD as part of an overarching anxiety treatment plan. We always recommend speaking with your physician about any plans involving CBD supplementation, especially if you are currently prescribed any medications. (Click to tweet)
This is because CBD may interfere with the way your body metabolizes pharmaceutical drugs. Your doctor or health professional can help you to build a full anxiety relief plan, ruling out any deficiencies and talking you through any health issues that could be affected by CBD.
Sources:
- https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15939837
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014299908000277
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21918503
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5425583/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3079847/
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-012-2955-y
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00213-012-2955-y
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26264914
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20695034
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23908608
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4543605/
- https://academic.oup.com/ijnp/article/16/6/1407/754216
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11064-005-6978-1
- https://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(09)00392-8/fulltext
