Using CBD Oil For Treating Anxiety

Anxiety is something we all have to deal with on occasion. Some people deal with anxiety on a daily basis whereas others just get a curveball thrown at them from time to time. Either way, anxiety wreaks havoc on your body, mind, and soul. Evidence suggests that using CBD oil for treating anxiety is just as effective as it is for helping those suffering from pain.

But how effective is it? Here is all you need to know about using CBD oil for treating anxiety.

What is Anxiety?

Did you know that anxiety is actually a normal and healthy emotion that helps you to recognize dangerous situations? In some cases, anxiety is actually a good way to get your body motivated. However, when you feel anxious for no reason or have disproportionate levels of anxiety compared to other emotions, you may have a medical disorder.

Anxiety disorders affect about 40 million people throughout the United States. It is constituted as a mental health problem. Symptoms of anxiety include excessive nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worry. These symptoms can be mild, but if they are severe, they can affect your day to day living. If you have the following issues, you may have severe anxiety:

Restlessness
Uncontrollable feelings of worry
Irritability
Trouble concentrating
Problems sleeping
High blood pressure
Nausea

If you feel this way more often than not, it may be a good time to speak with a doctor about CBD oil.

What is CBD Oil?

In order to fully understand how CBD oil is effective for treating anxiety, you have to know what CBD is and how it works. CBD is actually an acronym for Cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is a cannabinoid that is found in cannabis plants.

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that are found in both cannabis plants and in our own bodies. CBD works in our body because it closely resembles our own cannabinoids.

When we take CBD into our bodies, it interacts with receptors in the endocannabinoid system. This means that when we take extra cannabinoids like CBD, it can directly affect our body by decreasing anxiety.

Using CBD Oil for Treating Anxiety

CBD oil does various things in the brain which explains why it would be effective in treating anxiety. Here is how using CBD oil for treating anxiety works:

It Increases the 5-HT1A Agonist

The fact that CBD increases your 5-HT1A is important because anxiety, as well as depression, is typically regulated by medication that increases serotonin.

Serotonin is increased when the 5-HT1A receptor is activated as it tells your body to produce more serotonin. Serotonin is an important chemical in your body that helps to regulate your moods, emotions, social behavior, digestion, and sleep. In simpler terms, it is what makes you “feel” happy.

This is why when you have anxiety, doctors will usually prescribe serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Celexa, Zoloft, or Prozac. CBD oil is similar to these medications as it can boost signaling through your serotonin receptors.

In fact, one study done on animals found that CBD enhances the 5-HT1A receptors which affects serotonin levels faster than prescription medications.

CBD Promotes Neurogenesis

Another way that CBD works to combat anxiety is by promoting neurogenesis. It promotes this in the hippocampus part of the brain. Brain scans of patients suffering from anxiety or depression show that they have a smaller hippocampus than other people.

To successfully treat depression or anxiety, the birth of new neurons or neurogenesis in the hippocampus is required. Serotonin reuptake medications promote neurogenesis.

Because CBD promotes neurogenesis like serotonin reuptake medications, it works in the same way as prescription medications.

Human Studies Using CBD Oil for Treating Anxiety

Although most studies on using CBD oil for treating anxiety have been done on mice, there have been human studies as well. Click the links below to see each study!

Social Anxiety Disorder Study
Public Speaking Anxiety Study
CBD and SAD Study

Before stopping a medication, always discuss it with your doctor. CBD oil is showing miraculous results with those suffering from anxiety, but it should always be discussed with a medical physician.

Have you tried CBD oil for treating your anxiety? If so, share your results with us in the comments below!

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Elena Ognivtseva

Nutritionist at atomicvaporstore.com

Nutritionist – Cornell University, MS

I believe that nutrition science is a wonderful helper both for the preventive improvement of health and adjunctive therapy in treatment. My goal is to help people improve their health and well-being without torturing themselves with unnecessary dietary restrictions. I am a supporter of a healthy lifestyle – I play sports, cycle, and swim in the lake all year round.

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