We all know how stressful life can be, whether it’s problems at work, trouble in a relationship, or the kids aren’t doing well in school. If you’ve tried anti-anxiety medication with no success, then you may be online right now searching for more effective, and safer alternatives. CBD, a compound found in hemp and cannabis, is receiving plenty of press these days, mainly because it can help to treat a wide range of conditions including skin issues, depression, pain, and even anxiety. If you’ve been doing your own research in regard to how effective CBD is, then you’re probably wondering “will CBD oil relax me?” or you may even want more information concerning whether it can be incorporated into your current medication regimen. The good news is CBD does have a reputation for promoting relaxation, without causing sedation. It can be used to naturally treat anxiety, stress, and sleep issues. In fact, CBD can take effect in a matter of minutes, providing instant relief when you need it the most.
Will CBD oil relax me? Yes. CBD will help to regenerate neurons in the brain, which have become damaged due to chronic levels of stress. It can provide an instant feeling of relief, helping to significantly ease anxiety in a matter of minutes. However, CBD oil will be the most effective if it’s used in conjunction with your current anti-anxiety medication regimen.
Taking CBD oil can be a natural way to manage your anxiety and stress and can help you control your anxiety easily, allowing you to focus on your work, or enjoy your time with your family.
Read on to learn how CBD works to minimize anxiety and the other benefits associated with regular use.
CBD’s Impact on Anxiety
For most people, prescription medication that’s supposed to help promote relaxation tends to fall short. If you’ve recently been struggling with chronic anxiety or stress then you may be considering supplementing your treatment with a CBD product. But does CBD really work?
These days, CBD oil is more popular than ever, thanks to plenty of convincing evidence that has shown how effective CBD oil is for the treatment of anxiety, pain, inflammation, stress, skin issues, and more. There are several trials with human participants currently underway that are dedicated to teaching us exactly why CBD is so effective, how it works, and who it can help. Today, we know that CBD can be used to effectively treat the following conditions:
- Panic disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- OCD
- PTSD
- Social anxiety disorder
In order to understand how CBD works, we’ll dig a little deeper into the science of how anxiety affects the brain and body.
Understanding Anxiety
To date, one in four Americans has suffered from some type of anxiety disorder at some point in their life. This includes feelings of unpreparedness, feelings of imminent danger, and feelings of dread that recur frequently. This can lead to physical reactions and racing thoughts. But where do these feelings come from?
Genetics is a major contributor. The tiniest differences in our neurotransmitters or hormones can have a major impact on how we regularly respond to stress. Lifestyle toxins and environmental toxins can also impact our neurochemistry. Stress is often the biggest source of anxiety. When we’re chronically stressed out the stress trains the brain to feel restless and anxious. It wants us to remember these feelings to help us to anticipate and avoid more feelings of stress in the future. For most people, this type of stress response isn’t exactly useful considering we’re required to walk into stressful situations repeatedly. In the wild, this type of stress response helps animals to survive. In our day to day urban lives, it only leads to chronic anxiety and panic attacks in severe situations.
When we’re stressed, a small burst of stress hormone is released in the body to tell us to prepare for a fight or flight response. Unfortunately, the human body simply isn’t designed to deal with constant states of panic. Levels of high-stress hormones, especially cortisol, can wreak havoc on our bodies and can lead to heart disease, depression, panic attacks, digestive issues, weight gain, headaches, migraines, fatigue, and a weakened immune system.
How Stress Changes Our Brain
But the good news is that if you’re constantly dealing with stress and also suffer from some of these issues, CBD oil can be used to help improve your systems.
Aside from damaging your body, chronic stress is also able to rewire the brain. Certain stress hormones will tell the brain to get ready and focus. Unfortunately, if this message is on repeat, the brain will make certain changes to tune out the message.
Research is ongoing to learn about the different layers of changes that take place in the brain and body when chronic stress is a factor. Certain areas of the brain shrink and atrophy, while other areas of the brain become hyperactive. Additionally, levels of neurotransmitters and their receptors will also experience changes. Even if you’re able to successfully minimize stress after a period of time, it will persist, and so will the negative impact it has on the rest of your body. When this occurs, you may need more help in order to restore the balance in your brain.
Adding CBD Oil To Manage Anxiety
If you’re ever tried cannabis products, then the odds are you’re familiar with the different types of reactions people experience when they get high. On TV when a person smokes marijuana they may turn paranoid or they may be seem sedated.
Too much THC can actually overstimulate receptors in the brain, while CBD can indirectly and directly counteract the anxiety you experience from using too much THC. Different strains of cannabis have different concentrations of THC and CBD.
There is currently growing evidence that shows us CBD works to promote relaxation and minimize stress. CBD is able to target more than sixty-five areas in the body. Studies have shown that CBD helps to effectively combat anxiety by stimulating neurotransmitter systems.
Most people tend to associate serotonin with happiness, yet this neurotransmitter’s role is very complex. The effects of serotonin are complex to say the least and it depends on what it binds to and where it is. Serotonin has around fourteen different receptors, however, CBD will bind to 5 HT1A specifically. This receptor is thought to have the biggest role in anxiety disorders. The drug buspirone, an anti-anxiety medication also binds to this receptor.
Cannabinoids
The body is able to produce cannabinoids naturally. Cannabinoids are used throughout the brain and body in the endocannabinoid system. But under chronic stress, this system can become dysregulated when you’re constantly stressed. Using CBD oil can help to restore balance to your endocannabinoid system. It can do so by preventing the overstimulation of the CB1 receptors. It can also help to boost endocannabinoid production.
While chronic stress can cause shrinkage in the brain and can cause major damage to neurons, there are still some areas of the brain that can regenerate. During our lifetime, we continue to create new neurons and make new connections. CBD can help to boost this process. Basically, CBD can help to counterbalance the damage to our brains that is caused by chronic stress. Many studies have shown that CBD can encourage neural regeneration, especially in the hippocampus. Essentially, it has the ability to minimize anxiety in people who are chronically stressed due to its ability to create new neurons.
Using CBD for Relaxation
If you decide to use CBD, it will work the best as part of an anxiety treatment plan. Before you begin CBD use, I recommend speaking with your team of healthcare professionals. This will be especially important if you’re currently taking medication. CBD can interfere with the body’s ability to metabolize certain drugs. Your doctor will also be able to help you rule out any type of other worrisome health issues and any contributing deficiencies.
Since CBD oil is not regulated as a treatment for anxiety, the right dosage is not very clear and tends to vary from person to person. Most physicians will recommend starting off with a lower dose and gradually increasing it over a period of several days until you find a dose that’s effective.
How Will CBD Make Me Feel?
CBD is the non-psychoactive, major cannabinoid complex found in the cannabis plant and it offers significant health benefits, such as pain management and stress reduction. It will not cause you to feel the type of high that’s commonly linked to smoking pot. Instead, you’ll find that you’re able to focus more, you don’t feel stressed or anxious, basically, it will not have any type of impact on your ability to function and carry out your day to day tasks. It will help to rebalance any imbalances found within the body. The benefits of use will manifest themselves differently, depending on the user.
The effects of CBD are very subtle. This compound is repurposed and used by the body in the way it’s needed the most, which means how it makes you feel can be much different than how it makes your spouse feel. However, for the most part, it provides balance and feelings of relief. If you have anxiety, once the effects of CBD oil set in, you will feel that weight removed from your chest, so you’ll be able to breathe a little easier. When you take CBD oil it’s not exactly about the way that you feel. Instead, it’s more about the way you don’t feel.
Related Questions
What are Terpenes?
There’s been a lot of buzz around terpenes these days, especially when it comes to CBD and THC use. But those who are not familiar with terpenes are also not aware of their many benefits. Terpenes are responsible for the scent and smell of pretty much everything. They’re also commonly found in marijuana and cannabis plants. Recent research has shown use that when terpenes are added to CBD oil or THC that it can have a major impact on the effects of both compounds. Essentially, terpenes can help to improve focus, or promote relaxation. To learn more about terpenes, click here to read my guide on terpenes and see in what ways are they good for you?
What Type of CBD Oil Can I Use to Treat Anxiety?
If you’re looking for a potent product and an oil that earned high marks from users, then I recommend CBD Pure Hemp Oil Extract. This is a potent formula that can take effect in a matter of minutes if taken sublingually. To learn more about CBD and how it works and to get a glimpse of other top-selling drops, click here to read my CBD drops buyer’s guide.
Can CBD Oil Help Me Sleep Better At Night?
Yes, it can. If you normally toss and turn at night, worried about work, family issues, or other stressors, CBD oil can work to promote relaxation and minimize feelings of anxiety and stress. It can also reduce pain and inflammation, both of which are common causes of restless sleep. If taken thirty minutes before bed, you’ll notice right away that you feel more calm and relaxed. Keep in mind that CBD doesn’t work as a sedative, but instead will focus on treating the underlying cause of your sleepless nights.
Final Thoughts
The role of CBD oil in the treatment of anxiety disorders remains unclear since more long-term studies are needed in order to accurately assess the risks and benefits. For people who are currently experiencing chronic anxiety and have had no success with other types of treatments, CBD can be an effective alternative. Now that you know the answer to “will CBD oil relax me?” you should speak with your physician to determine the right treatment in terms of dosing size and frequency. Over time, you’ll find that CBD can help to naturally relax you and can help to minimize feelings of both anxiety and stress, allowing you to focus on your work and family life and enjoy a better quality of life.
