Using CBD for Anxiety & Depression 

CBD is a very versatile compound that has recently been promoted for its ability to help manage a number of health conditions. CBD can be used for fighting the symptoms of physical issues, like pain and insomnia, and also to combat mental health problems like anxiety and depression.

Anxiety and depression are both fairly common problems, but they can also be quite serious. In this article we’re going to discuss how CBD can be used to help manage some of the symptoms of these conditions. 

Remember, if you suffer from serious anxiety or depression, there’s no substitute for seeing a psychotherapist or counselor. CBD may certainly be able to help you curb the anxiety or unhappiness enough to motivate you to seek professional help, but the most important thing is to figure out the root cause of your problems and tackle that.

About CBD

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a powerful phytocannabinoid, or a plant-based cannabinoid. Cannabinoids are substances which have a direct or indirect influence on the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The ECS is the most widespread system of neurotransmitters in the body, and has a huge number of responsibilities. The ECS influences our mood, our sensitivity to pain, our appetite, and our mental health. 

The first thing that many people wonder about CBD is whether or not it will get them high. This question stems from the fact that THC – the sister cannabinoid of CBD, which is found in abundance in most strains of marijuana – is a highly intoxicating compound.

Nonetheless, CBD is a non-intoxicating compound. In fact, it can provide pretty much all of the same benefits of THC without causing the intoxication. In some cases, it can actually be used to reverse unwanted or overwhelming intoxication caused by THC.

This is because CBD works in an indirect manner, preferring to initiate changes in the ECS by instigating the action of other compounds. THC, on the other hand, directly binds to the receptors in the ECS.

But enough technical babble. Let’s learn about how CBD can be useful for helping to treat depression and anxiety.

Using CBD for Anxiety

There are many different forms of anxiety. Fortunately, CBD has been shown to be useful for helping to manage just about all of them.

CBD is an ideal substance for anxiety management because it’s highly relaxing and can help to slow or still delusional thought patterns. This unique benefit allows it to be of great use to people struggling with anxiety – especially when compared with other anxiety medications.

The most commonly prescribed anxiety medications are known as benzodiazepines, which influence the brain’s GABA system. Causing a spike in GABA is certainly effective for helping to inhibit anxiety, but benzodiazepines also tend to numb the mind and body. This can make it difficult to focus on actually treating the issue.

Furthermore, CBD is non-addictive and does not cause dependency. The majority of the anxiety medication commonly prescribed (such as Ativan and Xanax) can cause serious dependency issues, and even lead to withdrawal symptoms that can be fatal. 

CBD does none of this – and can still be considered for treating many different types of anxiety. Some of the most common forms of anxiety are as follows:

• General anxiety occurs when someone feels anxiety throughout the day for no particular reason. People treating general anxiety with CBD would probably want to do so with a longer-lasting CBD product, like a capsule.
• Social anxiety occurs when people are faced with social situations, especially when those situations are unexpected. CBD can eliminate social anxiety when used prior to social engagements.
• Panic disorder is marked by the occurrence of panic attacks: sudden, high-intensity bouts of anxiety that can have a number of physical symptoms like increased heart rate and sweating. Using CBD during the onset of a panic attack can stop it in its tracks.

  People using CBD for panic disorder may prefer to use a short and fast-acting form of CBD, such as a CBD vape juice.

CBD can even be useful for helping to eliminate anxiety related to traumatic conditions, like PTSD. It does this while allowing the user to remain cognizant so that they can continue to work through their problems with a counselor or psychiatrist.

Using CBD for Depression

There is not currently a huge amount of research regarding the use of CBD for depression. However, many people have used it successfully, and the research is certainly pointing in a promising direction. 

• One thing that CBD has been noted for is helping the brain respond to serotonin differently. Serotonin deficiency has been linked to depression, but by helping your brain respond more positively to the serotonin that you already have, some depressive symptoms can be alleviated. 

• CBD can help to reduce the intensity of a number of conditions that can contribute to depression. Stress, anxiety, and chronic pain can all lead to depression, and CBD has been shown to be useful for treating all of these conditions.
• CBD has been shown to be an effective aid for enhancing cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment can lead to depression and self-esteem issues.

If you’re going to be using CBD to treat depression, you would probably want to make sure that you use a long-acting form like a capsule and continue to take it on a regular basis. There is some debate as to whether or not the effects of CBD actually build up in your system as you take it more often, however, there’s no doubt that someone struggling with chronic depression would want to use the substance on a daily or at least bi-daily basis.

In Conclusion

CBD has been shown to be very useful for helping people manage and cope with depressive symptoms and anxiety. It can also help with a variety of conditions known to contribute to both of these problems.

It’s important to remember, however, that anyone struggling with intense depression or anxiety should seek the help of a psychologist or a counselor. This will help to uproot the problem for good!