James Wallace

General
3 MIN READ

Cannabis and Mental Health: How Can CBD Products Help Your Anxiety

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James Wallace, (2021, October 19). Cannabis and Mental Health: How Can CBD Products Help Your Anxiety. Psychreg on General. https://www.psychreg.org/cannabis-mental-health-how-cbd-products-help-anxiety/
Reading Time: 3 minutes

CBD products can help a lot with mental health disorders such as anxiety as they can help regulate your body’s endocannabinoid system and promote a relaxed feeling. What’s even better is that these products work regardless of the person’s tolerance to THC and other cannabinoids, meaning anyone could use these products regardless of their level of weed consumption.

It doesn’t have side effects

CBD products don’t have the same harmful side effects as normal medications, and it’s actually not addictive at all. On top of that, there are very few withdrawal symptoms when you stop using CBD products. Some people might feel a bit sleepy or fatigued for a couple of weeks at most but should be back to normal very soon. The best thing is that it can be used in different forms and found online and in licensed CBD stores. So, when it comes to anxiety, CBD can work wonders and can be used by anyone who is looking for an effective solution to their anxiety.

Natural medicine

Anxiety can lead to tension, depression, and panic attacks. While not necessarily life-threatening, it can be very debilitating for the person suffering from anxiety. Traditional common treatments include medications such as benzodiazepines and antidepressants along with cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). These medications often have side effects and do not work on every person the same. Cannabis has been used for thousands of years as a natural medicine and food source. In the early 20th century, it became prohibited for its psychoactive effects and since then, much research has been done on cannabis and mental health, leading to the foundation of cannabinoid treatments for many mental health conditions such as anxiety.

Aromatherapy

While THC provides that signature high that most people are familiar with, CBD products offer the same relaxing effects without the euphoric feeling. This is because CBD does not affect your state of mind like THC and can be used to help treat mental health disorders such as anxiety. It works by activating the serotonin receptors in the brain which helps you relax naturally. Not only this, but it also helps reduce stress and anxiety by increasing your natural serotonin levels. This is done by blocking the reuptake of serotonin in the brain thus allowing more time for it to reach your brain cells, resulting in a relaxing effect. Also, CBD products are not psychoactive so you won’t be high with CBD and you can do aromatherapy with bath salts or regular CBD oil.

It affects serotonin

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that affects your mood and sleep. Serotonin is also associated with many mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and OCD. CBD can help increase serotonin levels which results in a relaxed and calm feeling without the high that most people would expect from cannabis products. Serotonin is crucial for mental health and CBD products can help regulate your serotonin levels while at the same time not affecting how you feel in the long run. Many brands offer topical, oral, gummies/edibles, and vape juices that contain CBD. It is important to note that not all products will work for everyone as some might have a higher tolerance than others. Talk to your doctor about what type of product would suit you best. 

The endocannabinoid system

Just like THC, CBD interacts with the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) in your body. The ECS consists of natural cannabinoids produced by your body as well as cannabinoid receptors located throughout the central nervous system, organs, connective tissues, glands, and related structures. These receptors send chemical signals between cells to create various effects such as relaxation or aversion depending on what’s going on inside your body at any given time. The extract can be taken on its own or mixed with other food items such as smoothies or coffee for the perfect morning pick-me-up. When it comes to mental health disorders, CBD can help treat symptoms by interacting with your endocannabinoid system without the psychoactive effects that most people expect. 

CBD products are becoming more popular for mental health disorders including anxiety. CBD interacts with your ECS to help regulate serotonin levels in the brain thus improving your mood overall. Not only this but it can also help reduce both short-term and long-term stress, leading to a calmer mind in general. You must speak to your doctor about what type of product will suit you best before using them as some might not be right for certain individuals.


James Wallace did his degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. He is interested in mental health and well-being.


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