Anxiety is something everyone struggles with in their lives, and serious anxiety issues occur much more frequently than most people realize. In fact, 1 in 4 Americans will be afflicted by an anxiety disorder during their lifetimes.
If you’ve ever suffered from acute anxiety before, you know it is no picnic. With symptoms that include the sweats, a pounding heart, shortness of breath and escalating negative thoughts, it can feel as though one is suffering a heart attack and make it impossible to function normally.
Though there are many FDA-approved medications out there doctors prescribe for serious anxiety, think Xanaz, Zoloft, Prozac, Klonopin and others, many of these prescription drugs come with some pretty serious drawbacks.
Besides being expensive, many of these drugs can cause some very serious side-effects and others are highly addictive. Klonopin, for example, is so physically addictive the American Addiction Centers warn that withdrawal symptoms can cause “potentially fatal seizures or a coma.” This is why those on Klonopin are advised to quit Klonopin gradually.
As anxiety affects so many people and many prescription drug options come with serious costs, side effects or addiction risks, many have been starting to turn to CBD. Although CBD hasn’t been approved by the FDA to treat anxiety, CBD has become a very popular option thanks mostly to positive word-of-mouth, sometimes referred to as “anecdotal evidence,” from people who have tried it.
If you’ve never tried CBD for anxiety before, here are 5 things you should know.
1. CBD acts on the same neuroreceptors as popular anti-anxiety drugs.
Though CBD’s interactions with the human body are still poorly understood and much more research needs to be done, preliminary research indicates that CBD interacts with a receptor called 5-HT1A, which is the one thought to play the strongest role in anxiety disorders. 5-HT1A is the same receptor targeted by prescription anti-anxiety medications like buspirone.
2. More clinical research is coming online showing CBD has potential for helping those with anxiety disorders.
One double blind study demonstrated that CBD provided relief from anxiety on a level equivalent to Paroxetine, which is often prescribed to those suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder. The 2019 study was conducted on 37 Japanese teenagers, and involved a daily 300mg dose of CBD for four weeks. Besides the patients reporting positive results, there were some following benefits: 9 of the teenagers decided to seek psychiatric treatment after their experience. This is a big positive because people afflicted with Social Anxiety Disorder often avoid therapy and the stigma that comes with it.
Another 2019 study, this time conducted at Fort Collins, Colorado mental health clinic involved giving patients 25mg of CBD daily in addition to their prescribed treatments.
79.2% of patients reported that their anxiety issues were less severe after the first month. After month number two, 78.1% of patients said they felt they’d improved even more compared to the first month.
Although the FDA still hasn’t approved CBD for treating anxiety, clinical evidence is growing. Already, there are indications that CBD shows promise for treating:
- Panic disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Social anxiety disorder
3. CBD is generally safe to try.
Unlike many prescription drugs, CBD is easy on the body and large doses are “well tolerated” by humans according to the WHO.
With CBD there is no risk of overdose. Additionally, CBD is non-addictive and comes with very little in terms of side-effects. In the case of very large doses, side-effects may include nausea, drowsiness, change of appetite, restlessness, These side effects are usually rare and mild.
4. The CBD industry is poorly regulated.
CBD is a new industry and many new companies have emerged trying to cash in. Unfortunately, some of these companies are shady. The FDA has found numerous instances of false or unproven health claims as well as numerous instances of CBD products that contain no CBD whatsoever. One big concern is that some CBD products sold have much higher concentrations of THC than what the label states. This can be very problematic for people who have to submit to drug testing for their jobs.
When buying CBD, consumers have to do their due diligence. Check ingredients and labels well. If something is labeled “Hemp oil” it may contain no CBD whatsoever. CBD comes from the flowers and stalks of the cannabis plant, hemp oil comes from hemp seeds which do not contain CBD.
Another thing to look for are 3rd-party lab tests, also called COAs (Certificates of Analysis). 3rd-party lab tests are essential for understanding how much CBD, THC and other cannabinoids are in a product.
What’s more, consumers 3rd party lab tests can reveal whether there are any residual solvents or contaminants in their product. For these reasons, consumers should always make sure to check 3rd party lab tests prior to buying a product to ensure what they are getting is safe and contains the amount of CBD that is stated on the label.
5. You need to consult a medical professional before you try CBD for the first time.
Although CBD is gentle on the body, that doesn’t mean it is totally risk-free. CBD can interfere with the metabolization of certain medications in a way similar to grapefruit. For this reason, it’s important that first-timers consult their medical professionals before trying CBD, to ensure it won’t affect any medications they are taking, and to receive some guidance about CBD use.
Though not every doctor is a fan of CBD, many in the medical profession are starting to supervise their patient’s CBD use and seeing positive results. The problem for doctors is, there isn’t enough research out there yet that proves that CBD works and there isn’t enough research to understand how to prescribe CBD accurately.
Despite this, millions of people have embraced CBD. Though it may not work for everyone, CBD’s rapidly rising popularity suggests that it is worth a try. CBD’s safety profile compares favourably compared to many prescription drugs as it is so easy on the human body and mind. More research is necessary before we have scientific proof CBD can actually be effective for the many medical conditions people are using it to treat, but preliminary results are very promising.
Now that you’ve armed yourself with the essentials, the only question is, will you try CBD?
