Is CBD Good For Anxiety?

CBD has presented a variety of favorable, therapeutic effects and benefits for users including sleep regulation, mood stabilization, and antipsychotic properties.

It has also frequently been sought after for its anxiolytic abilities and is a popular homeopathic remedy for anxiety and mental health disorders.    

More than 40 million adults in the U.S. have an anxiety disorder, with an estimated 31 percent of adults experiencing an anxiety disorder at some time in their lives.

CBD can help assuage and alleviate anxiety as well as its causes such as stress or lack of sleep.  

If you’re looking for alternative anxiety relief, read on to find out how CBD can help. 

What is CBD?

CBD or cannabidiol is a compound extracted from the flowers or leaves of the cannabis plant. Cannabis plants produce two types of variants: marijuana and hemp. 

Marijuana plants produce high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels, which is the psychoactive, intoxicating substance found in marijuana that makes you feel high. 

Hemp plants, on the other hand, produce low levels of THC and are abundant in naturally occurring, non-intoxicating cannabinoid compounds. This is where CBD is found. 

Why Does CBD Help With Anxiety?

CBD works as an anxiolytic or anxiety reducer because of its pharmacological receptors that interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The ECS is a biological system inside your body that maintains homeostasis. In other words, the ECS regulates balance and communication among and between the parts and functions of your body. This includes managing immunity, appetite, sleep, and emotions – like anxiety.

According to scientific research, anxiety-reducing effects of CBD have also been associated with distinct receptor mechanisms in multiple brain regions. 

When CBD interacts with the ECS it does so by way of receptors. Several of these receptors regulate anxiety and anxiety-related behaviors, most notably the cannabinoid type 1 and cannabinoid type 2 receptors. 

Most CBD-anxiety-related research has been done on animals, but human-based studies have also shown CBD to assist in performing anxiolytic reduction. 

One such test examined the effects of CBD in comparison to a placebo on public speakers. The results found that CBD mitigated speech-induced anxiety where the placebo did not. 

While more studies are needed to better understand the extent of CBD’s impact on anxiety, we do know that CBD helps reduce anxiety and that preclinical evidence strongly supports CBD as a potential treatment for acute anxiety disorders. 

Vaping or Smoking -The fastest Way to Alleviate Acute Anxiety 

Inhaling CBD by smoking or vaping is one of the most common ways in which CBD is used for anxiety. This is because inhalation is the fastest way to get CBD into your bloodstream. 

When the CBD passes through your lungs it immediately begins to circulate throughout your body. As the CBD travels, it gets broken down and dispersed, all the while its receptors interact and communicate with your endocannabinoid system. 

The quicker CBD enters your body, the more rapidly you will feel its effects. The faster you experience the effects, the faster it will help reduce your anxiety.  

Inhaling CBD can also force you to slow down your breathing, regulating your breaths and heartbeat. Tempering your oxygenation and cardiovascular systems can also help alleviate anxiety by calming you down. 

CBD can be smoked or vaped by using a vape pen or by smoking CBD concentrated hemp bud or flower. 

At this time, the safety concerns and regulations regarding smoking, vaping, and healthcare are still up for debate. Check local law and ordinances and with your doctor before inhaling CBD to make sure it’s legal and right for you. 

Taking CBD Sublingualy 

Sublingual ingestion is the second fastest way in which CBD can be absorbed into your body. Taking CBD sublingually means applying a few drops of CBD oil or tincture under your tongue. 

Most sublingual absorption calls for holding the CBD under your tongue for 30 seconds and then swallowing, but for those who dislike the taste, you can swallow immediately.  

When you sublingually ingest CBD, some of the oil is partially absorbed by capillaries that are found underneath your tongue and inside your mouth.

The material that is absorbed is sent immediately to your bloodstream while the rest is directed to the digestive tract. 

This dual-ingestion process means that sublingual users experience both an initial CBD effect and a secondary onset that brings another set of effects after the CBD that was swallowed is processed intestinally. 

Those who choose to immediately swallow will experience longer waiting times and only one set of effects. 

Sublingual ingestion is a great option for those looking to curb anxiety that have asthma, prefer not to smoke, or are caused more anxiety by smoking. It’s also a good option for those needing more instant anxiety help but could benefit from a backup dose as well.  

CBD Edibles 

CBD edibles are a preferred anxiety something for those looking for dosing and consistency options. 

Dosing out your anxiety is discrete and allows you to know exactly how much CBD you will be taking, which is much harder to calculate when inhaling or sublingually ingesting CBD.

Similar to sublingual absorption swallowing, ingestion via your digestive tract means that CBD takes considerably longer to take effect (up to or over two hours). 

With edibles, you can plan out how much CBD you want to consume and when you want to take it so that the CBD is working when you want it to. 

Edible effects will take longer to feel but they will also last longer, giving users a steady anti-anxiety regime.

Edible CBD is a great option for those who are looking to use CBD proactively. 

CBD Seltzers 

The act of drinking water naturally calms us down. The act of drinking CBD could calm you down even more. 

Drinking CBD-infused seltzers or herbal tea is a great way to target less extreme anxiety. Just as with edibles and digestive ingestion, drinking CBD offers relief for more subdued forms of anxiety. 

The act of drinking CBD is a forward-looking approach but offers a natural way in which to mitigate your anxiety in the meantime.  

CBD can be applied for anxiety as an immediate form of relief or as a proactive form of regulation, or both. 

If you are experiencing anxiety and are interested in using CBD, talk to your doctor and explore your CBD product and dosage options today.