CBD And Anxiety: Does It Help?
If anxiety has taken over your life, chances are you feel too anxious about trying CBD or have heard good things about it and now wonder if it can help with anxiety. Indeed, CBD has gained millions of consumers' attention, and stress is one of the primary reasons CBD enthusiasts have incorporated it into their routines.
After trying so many different remedies unsuccessfully, you may still need more assurance before trying another, but CBD isn't just another failed attempt. Consumers who take CBD for relaxation report its effectiveness, and studies indicate CBD's calming effects. Keep reading to learn more about CBD and anxiety and whether it helps.
Does CBD Relieve Anxiety?
It's quite an understatement to say CBD is popular – it has taken the wellness stage by storm since the legalization of hemp and its derivatives. People take CBD for different reasons, but the 2021 U.S. consumer report found that 60% of U.S. consumers take CBD for relaxation and most of them report it as effective. While anecdotal evidence is probably not enough assurance, we have compiled several studies that support consumer claims and indicate CBD's efficacy in relieving anxiety.
CBD for Treatment-Resistant Anxiety Disorders
A Study investigated the safety and efficacy of CBD for treatment-resistant anxiety disorders by conducting an open-label trial. The study participants were 31 young people aged 12-25 with a DSM-5 anxiety disorder and no clinical improvement with treatment with cognitive-behavioral therapy and/or antidepressant medication. For about a year, all participants received add-on CBD for 12 weeks according to a fixed schedule, starting with low doses of CBD and increasing up to 800 mg/d.
The study found that CBD can reduce anxiety severity and has a good safety profile in young people struggling with treatment-resistant anxiety disorders. Randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm these conclusions.
CBD for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
In one of the acute psychological studies on healthy adults and subjects with SAD, CBD reduced anxiety caused by a simulated public speaking test with comparable efficacy to ipsapirone and diazepam. CBD also alleviated the presumed anticipatory stress of undergoing a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging procedure in healthy and SAD adults.
CBD for Social Anxiety Disorders
Social anxiety is a common disorder affecting millions of people's quality of life. A study investigating CBD's effects in patients with a social anxiety disorder found that repeated CBD administration in teenagers with SAD reduced the severity of anxiety compared to a placebo.
CBD for PTSD
Each year about 12 million Americans have PTSD – a debilitating anxiety disorder that interferes with one's ability to enjoy everyday activities, work, stay productive, and function healthily. Can CBD help them live healthier lives?
The 8-week study examined oral CBD's effect on PTSD symptoms of 11 adult patients diagnosed with PTSD by a mental health professional at an outpatient psychiatry clinic. They received CBD according to a flexible dosing regimen along with routine psychiatric care.
The study found that subjects experienced a reduction in PTSD symptom severity, CBD was generally well tolerated, and no patients stopped treatment due to side effects. CBD also offered relief to those patients who reported frequent nightmares as a symptom of their PTSD.
How to Use CBD for Anxiety?
With CBD being mainstream, finding a CBD product for anxiety is undoubtedly not a problem. You can choose between various products ranging from sublingual drops to softgels and multiple types of CBD edibles. Here's a quick breakdown of what effects each of these CBD types offers:
CBD tinctures:
CBD oral drops, commonly referred to as tinctures, are many consumers favorite due to its ability to bypass the liver and digestive tract and provide faster results than other ingestible CBD products. They offer the highest bioavailability of all CBD products – meaning your body will absorb more CBD from the product. Finally, it's easy to titrate CBD tinctures using a convenient measurement dropper that comes with them.
CBD Softgels
CBD softgels are a tasteless, flavorless, and effortless way to take CBD. These soft-shelled capsules contain premeasured CBD oil, and you only need water to ingest them. One disadvantage of CBD softgels is that they take longer to affect your body unless you buy nano CBD like Primabee premium CBD softgels.
CBD Gummies
The most fun and delicious way to consume CBD is by consuming one of these colorful CBD gummy bears. They come in various fruitful flavors, usually contain around 10mg CBD per piece, and offer an enjoyable CBD experience.
In Conclusion:
Millions of consumers have already tried CBD and achieved desired results. Numerous studies indicate CBD's anxiety-relieving effects, but more human studies are needed to confirm these findings. Before then, the best way to find out whether CBD can help alleviate your anxiety symptoms is to try CBD yourself. Make sure you buy premium products that an independent laboratory has tested, and test results are available online.
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