Anxiety is a common feeling or symptom of a mental health condition that exists on a spectrum, ranging from mild instances of worry and concern to severe episodes of panic and distress.
It’s a part of daily life for many people including myself, and can have an important function. When it’s not out of control, experiencing anxiety forewarns us about a potential problem, danger or discomfort, which prompts us to act in a way that will allow us to circumvent it.
However, when our anxiety is dysfunctional, such as in cases of generalised anxiety disorder or panic disorder, it appears repeatedly and for no reason which, if left untreated, can lead to more serious mental health issues.
If you experience regular anxiety or stress in your day to day life, you may be considering using CBD to help alleviate the symptoms. Although many anxiety sufferers take daily medications to manage their conditions or have tried therapy to help, oversubscribed mental health services in the UK mean that a lot of people are turning to CBD to calm and mellow their unwanted anxious feelings.
CBD oil and its anxiolytic effects on social anxiety, sleep, and post-traumatic stress disorders have been well researched and findings have been made available online.
CBD is thought to boost signalling through serotonin receptors. Spanish researchers found that CBD can affect serotonin faster than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs such as Prozac and Zoloft.
Brain scans of patients suffering from depression and anxiety often show a smaller hippocampus. The hippocampus is a part of the limbic system which is the part of the brain that deals with emotions, memories, and arousal.
Successful treatment of depression is associated with the birth of new neurons through neurogenesis in the hippocampus. This is because CBD boosts serotonin, regenerates neurons, and affects synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus.
While there is a growing body of medical research available online, more research on CBD oil and its effects on anxiety could open new avenues for study and a better understanding of depression, anxiety, and how to treat them successfully.
You should administer CBD ‘as needed’ – it will usually take effect within 20-30 minutes when dropped under the tongue as an oil and quicker when inhaled through a vape pen.
Finding the right product and dosage is a matter of determining which is right for you. With CBD being a new medicinal product, the strengths and varieties of different oil products and the cannabis strains from which they are produced may have different effects.
The fastest and most effective way of taking CBD for anxiety is to inhale it, using CBD E-Liquid in a vape pen. However, some people prefer to take tablet supplements as a more discreet ingestion method (we recommend one capsule per day with food).
You can also take CBD drops under the tongue, in a cup of tea, or even use it in dressings, sauces and baking. CBD drops are a good way to manage anxiety as you can control the amount you use easily and adjust the dosage.
CBD products come in different strengths, and to successfully use CBD oil for anxiety, we recommend staying mindful of your frame of mind before and after using whichever products you have chosen to administer. For the most noticeable effects, wait for a bout of anxiety before vaping or ingesting the oil.
Please note: This blog post reflects historical data predating recent changes in cannabinoid laws, medical cannabis regulations, and some of our best CBD product names, strengths, and formulations. These historical blogs remain as a reference post our website update, but they might contain outdated information. Discover our updated CBD and legal cannabinoid products for the best CBD experience.
