Can You Use CBD Oil To Treat Anxiety?
Recently, CBD oil has gained popularity as a treatment for anxiety and other mental health conditions. Learn more about its benefits and uses in this blog post.
Note: I am not a mental health professional. The information presented in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or to replace a medical diagnosis from a mental health professional or your primary care physician. The following information is for educational purposes only.
Note: I am not a licensed mental health professional or specialist. Please Read The disclosure for more information.
I don’t smoke marijuana. However, I occasionally use CBD oil for anxiety, especially when the symptoms become overbearing. I’ll admit that CBD oil sometimes improves my mental health more than any medication prescribed.
CBD products are a new phenomenon. One minute, everyone was condemning these products, and suddenly, it was all over the place, and everyone was talking about it as if they’d found some healthy alternative to marijuana. Also, there’s complete chaos regarding CBD on the internet.
Many websites are touting it as a panacea that can remove all your health problems and turn you 20 again. But is this true? Can CBD oil cure anxiety, alleviate symptoms, or improve mental health?
Undoubtedly, CBD is a beautiful discovery with many healing effects… But my question was: can it cure anxiety (and panic attacks)? Will using CBD oil for anxiety make it better? Well, that is precisely the question I am going to answer today.
Why Is It So Popular?
Over the last few years, the hemp industry has grown massively. In a report from Grand View Research, they found that “The global cannabidiol market size was valued at USD 2.8 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.2% from 2021 to 2028.” When you think about it, that makes sense.
Many people seek natural and healthier alternatives for dealing with many health problems. This high demand for more plant-based or natural products is one of the most significant reasons the CBD oil industry is so massive.
It’s also frequently marketed in most mass media as a treatment for many health conditions and chronic illnesses, such as:
- Cancer
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Chronic Pain
- Migraines
- Joint Pain
- Parkinson’s Disease and more
The legality of CBD is a bit of a gray area. All 50 states have laws legalizing marijuana, CBD, and hemp products with varying restrictions. Nowadays, you can walk into any major shopping center or corner store to find CBD in various forms.
But, before you search Amazon or go to your local dealer for some CBD products, you should know what CBD stands for.
What Is CBD?
In easy words, CBD is short for Cannabidiol, a chemical extracted from cannabis Sativa plants that carry both hemp and marijuana. It is the second most active ingredient in marijuana and is the most crucial part of most medical marijuana products.
CBD is obtained (mainly) from the hemp plant rather than marijuana, which contains the ‘high’ element. The high element? Yeah, the one that gets you high. It’s scientifically called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Don’t worry. You need not memorize that.
So, CBD has the healing effects of marijuana, but it won’t get you high, which is why it has gained some acceptance among doctors.
CBD Oil – How Does It Work?
The research on CBD has been minimal, and experts are still weighing up CBD for its pros and cons. But that doesn’t stop CBD makers from flooding the market with incredible products like CBD oil, pills, shots, syrups, candies, capsules, or add-ons.
Let’s talk about oil. So, how does CBD oil work?
Experts think CBD interacts with the central nervous system, calming the body and mind. In addition, CBD oil’s anti-inflammatory power makes it a healer for the body’s neurotransmitters.
That, in return, may relieve symptoms of anxiety.
CBD Oil For Anxiety
According to some preliminary research, CBD oil was found to have soothing effects on anxiety. For example, a study in 2011 showed that CBD could reduce stress and discomfort for those afraid of public speaking.
It’s no magic. Behind the scenes, something very ‘technical’ is at play…
Doctors say that low serotonin levels are at the core of anxiety, and CBD oil can interact with the CB1 brain receptor and improve serotonin levels. Serotonin is a substance in the body that controls mood, digestion, sleep, and blood regulation. This substance is often associated with happiness and joy produced through smiling or other good-feeling activities.
Low serotonin levels are linked to many mental illnesses like depression or anxiety. By interacting with the CB1 brain receptor, CBD oils can indirectly cause you to feel less anxious, happier, and calmer temporarily.
That means CBD can work similarly to anti-anxiety medicines and regulate your serotonin better, relieving panic and anxiety.
CBD Dosage for Anxiety
Unfortunately, CBD oil has no definite safe dosage, and doctors are still working on the proper dosage. However, studies show that 300 – 600 mg of CBD is enough to reduce anxiety.
But don’t you take the liberty to gulp down any amount of CBD because they are side effects, just like regular anxiety medication?
When using CBD oil for anxiety, following the instructions on the packaging is essential. Do not use more than intended because the side effects of it may backfire on you. Also, if you’re considering buying CBD products to support loved ones, then get their consent.
CBD Oil Does Have Side-Effects
With all its heavenly effects, CBD also brings some nasty side effects. For example, a recent study found that CBD can cause drowsiness, insomnia, diarrhea, decreased appetite, etc.
So, to help with anxiety, it certainly does, but with little research and scarce evidence of its therapeutic qualities, CBD is NOT a favorite prescription among doctors. And, taking any risks with it on your own is, well, RISKY…
So, before you start on CBD oil (or any CBD product), Consult Your GP!
Before doing anything, consult your primary care physician or local mental health specialist.
Where To Find High-Quality CBD Oils
After speaking to your doctor and researching, you must purchase some high-quality products using CBD oils. Not using high-quality oils can result in getting sick, and ingesting harmful chemicals and materials doesn’t offer many therapeutic benefits.
Below are some small businesses and online brands that sell great CBD oil.
Best CBD oil from small businesses and online brands
- CBPlus: A British CBD brand selling high-quality products for fitness, health, well-being, recovery, and skincare
- Blissful Stoner Body Essentials: A small female-owned business featuring all-natural and cannabis-infused skincare and beauty products
- Hapsy: A woman and locally owned business selling premium CBD oil and topical when and where you need it.
Final Thoughts
Like any medication or chemical substance, it’s essential to research ahead of time. CBD oil can be a fantastic tool for managing your overall mental health and help alleviate anxiety symptoms when used correctly.
If you’re not yet comfortable with hemp products, that’s okay. However, you should never feel pressured into trying something new simply because someone says so. As I mentioned before, I don’t smoke marijuana. Therefore, I rarely use CBD products. But, I recognize the benefits of using CBD oils for anxiety and other mental health illnesses, so I wrote this post.
Regarding your mental health, do what is best for you.
I’ve been meaning to do some research into CBD, so this has been a good starting point. Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome!
This was a really informative post! I hadn’t heard of CBD products before but I suffer from anxiety and it sounds like these could really help, although I personally think I’ll wait a bit to see if any more research comes out – and definitely speak to my GP before making a decision! Thank you so much for sharing x
Hey! Thanks for reading and commenting. I am happy to have introduced you to the concept of CBD and hopefully your general practitioner will be able to give you more information relative to your health.
This was such a useful breakdown of information about CBD oil; something I have thought about maybe asking my doctor about. My anxiety has improved a lot lately so I likely don’t need it right now but it’s always good to have options if/when anxiety become overwhelming. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Hi Molly, I’m glad to hear that you’re not feeling as overwhelmed right now. Definitely speak to your doctor before trying any CBD brands out.
What a well researched and helpful post! I have been taking CBD in gummy form for some time now and I do find it to help with my anxiety. Is it a cure-all kind of product? I don’t think so (at least not right now). But if it helps, it helps! I hope there will be more and more research done on CBD now that it’s legal in more places!
Hi Deanna,
I agree that with more research, hopefully CBD can become legal in more places. I don’t use CBD often, but when I do, I find that it helps which is something I think mental health professionals should look into.
I don’t know very much about CBD and anxiety, but some of my parenting-coaching clients use CBD oil, so I read this post with great interest. Thank you for shedding some more light on this topic Riyah.
OFC Laura!
OFC Laura! I know my parents are huge advocates for CBD.
I have tried a couple of different cbd oils from different brands, but I currently don’t have any I am using. Thank you for sharing this post. I think cbd is going to become even more popular. It is really helpful for pain which is why I use it.
Lauren x
I use it sometimes and it helps a lot with pain, especially migraine pain. As it becomes more popular, I hope there will be more research on it.
I love how informative this post is because it explains the difference between marijuana, CBD, and THC, which many people can find confusing. I know a friend who uses CBD oil for chronic pain quite a bit. I rarely smoke marijuana, as it hurts my lungs far more than cigarettes. But recently I tried making edibles with it, and although time consuming, it is easier than I expected and had good results. It helps a lot with my periods and all the side effects that come with that, as well as sleeping a full 8 hours. There are some amazing uses for all parts of the marijuana plant, and I’m glad to see it becoming legalized across the country now.
Wow I never even considered using it for my periods, that’s something I am definitely going to look into. I’ll admit that I was a bit confused at first too until I started researching and speaking to more people about it.
I haven’t met oil that didn’t calm me down. I think there is something about using them that works as well. I used CBD and I actually find it very soothing. I don’t have anxiety or any other issues but it helped me handle the stress especially when I had to arrange an international move in under 3 weeks being 32 weeks pregnant (29-32 to be exact).
WOW that’s a lot of stress to undergo while pregnant. I’m so happy that you found something to help you relax.
Thanks for this well-written and research write-up on CBD. As it is being more socially acceptable to use these products, they play a role in helping people deal with various issues that impact them. Thanks for taking the time to write this.
OFC Gerald, I think it’s super important for us to talk about these things as they become more prevalent to our society.
i’ve also considered CBD oils for stress / anxiety. i will def consider it.
You should, just talk to your doctor about it first.