CBD For Anxiety: What I Need to Know – Muscle MX
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CBD For Anxiety: What I Need to Know
In recent years, the demand for cannabidiol (CBD) products has skyrocketed. When the federal government legalized CBD with the passage of the Farm Bill in 2018, companies were suddenly able to produce CBD products en masse, increasing both availability and popularity. Even though CBD research is still in its infancy, the information currently available suggests that CBD may help with a plethora of ailments, one being anxiety. Given these promising early results, many people have been motivated to try out CBD to relieve anxiety.

Identifying Anxiety

‌ Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress and potential danger. It’s very common for people to experience anxiety before significant life events, such as before taking an exam or speaking to a large crowd. However, anxiety disorders are a different beast and can be debilitating. To learn about the effects of external stress factors that can cause anxiety, read our article on stress symptoms and factors. Signs of anxiety are:
  • Increased heart rate/heart palpitations
  • Fear / Panic
  • Insomnia
  • Sweaty palms
  • Dry mouth
  • Nausea
  • Hyperventilation / Uncontrollable rapid breathing
  • Muscle tension
  • Difficulty concentrating

Types of Anxiety Disorders

‌Anxiety disorders can present themselves in a variety of ways. The following list includes the most common anxiety disorders:
  • Social anxiety: The constant fear of being judged by others. People suffering from social anxiety will often avoid large crowds and social gatherings.
  • Panic disorder: Characterized by episodes of sudden, intense feelings of terror, which can be triggered by anything and happen without warning. People experiencing a panic attack may confuse it with a heart attack.
  • Separation anxiety: A person suffering from this type of anxiety may feel scared for their own well-being when left alone. They may also constantly fear for their loved ones’ well-being.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): This form of anxiety is often associated with military personnel that have been in combat. In the past, it was referred to as “shell shock” or “battle fatigue.” However, PTSD can affect anyone that has been through a traumatic experience such as abuse.
  • Generalized anxiety disorder: Someone with generalized anxiety often experiences excessive worry about many aspects of their life. These people may worry about everything while also experiencing other types of anxiety such as social or separation anxiety‌.

Potential Anxiety Treatments

‌Anxiety disorders can disrupt every area of a person’s life, including work, school, and relationships. Unfortunately, establishing what type of anxiety disorder a person is suffering from can take some time, and they may end up trying multiple different prescription medications to help manage it.‌‌ Common anxiety medications include:
  • Antidepressants
  • Benzodiazepines for panic attacks
  • Beta-blockers which treat high blood pressure
  • Seizure medications
  • Antipsychotics‌
Unfortunately, most anxiety medications come with a list of potential side effects. As a result, more and more people are turning to naturally derived herbal remedies to treat their anxiety and avoid unpleasant side effects.

‌Potential Natural Remedies

Natural remedies come in many forms. Most herbal products, oils, or medications are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so some doctors may be reluctant to recommend them. ‌Popular natural remedies include:
  • Exercise: A lack of exercise can impede a person’s mental health as well as physical health. When a person exercises, their body releases hormones called endorphins. These endorphins can ease stress and lift a person’s mood.
  • Aromatherapy: This natural remedy uses essential oils derived from herbs to create a calming effect. The oils can be used in a variety of ways, such as in a diffuser, on a bracelet, or rubbed directly on the skin.
  • Herbal remedies: Remedies made from herbs can come in the form of tea or capsule. Studies are currently being conducted on the effectiveness of herbal remedies.
  • CBD: CBD is derived from the cannabis hemp plant and could be considered an herbal remedy. Many studies looking into CBD's potential mental health benefits are currently being conducted, including research into CBD oil for depression and anxiety treatment. CBD is sold in many forms, including gummies, tinctures, and topical balms/moisturizers.
Researchers are also currently looking into the potential benefits of broad- and full-spectrum CBD products, which contain terpenes and other naturally occurring compounds in the cannabis plant, to see if the use of terpenes for anxiety and hemp for anxiety is effective.

How CBD Works

‌CBD is a unique natural remedy because it can interact with the endocannabinoid system. This system is responsible for helping the body regulate and maintain homeostasis. The body produces natural endocannabinoids, and cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the nervous system. ‌Currently, little is known about how CBD interacts with endocannabinoid receptors, but experts know that it doesn’t bind to the receptors like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — another famous cannabinoid — does. CBD also doesn’t create a “high” like THC does.

‌CBD For Anxiety

‌So far, research using CBD to treat various forms of anxiety is showing promising results. For example, several studies have indicated CBD could benefit people who are suffering from PTSD. Other studies are showing CBD can reduce stress in animals. ‌Currently, the FDA has not approved any CBD products for the treatment of anxiety. However, since the legalization of CBD, products are available and can be used as a natural remedy to help relieve anxiety symptoms. ‌‌There are many CBD brands available, but they aren’t all equivalent in the quality of the products they sell. When looking into which CBD products to buy, and which brands to purchase from, you should choose a company that has their products third-party tested and is transparent with the results.

CBD Dosage

The perfect CBD dosage for anxiety is different for everyone and can take some time to figure out. There are many variables — weight, tolerance, metabolism — that factor into how an individual will react to CBD. The easiest way to establish the correct dosage for someone is to have them start with one drop or gummy, and then wait an hour to see how intense the effects are. If the effects are too weak, they can then take another drop or gummy. It can take some time to find the sweet spot, and the dosage needed can change depending on how anxious they are at the time. ‌Muscle MX strives to provide high quality, all natural CBD products that can help ease anxiety, including CBD Gummies and Drops. Our CBD Gummies for anxiety are 25mg each and come in two formulas — Relax and Energy. Our CBD Drops for anxiety are available in potencies ranging from 500mg to 1,000mg, and they can be used topically or placed under the tongue.

‌For More Information

‌For more information about how CBD can help treat anxiety, contact Muscle MX. We offer some of the best CBD gummies for anxiety on the market, and our knowledgeable and friendly customer service staff can offer insight into all of our products.

Sources:

“Anxiety disorders: Types, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment,” WebMD. Available: https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/anxiety-disorders.
  1. Raypole, “Endocannabinoid system: A simple guide to how it works,” Healthline, 17-May-2019. . Available: https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system.
  1. M. Blessing, M. M. Steenkamp, J. Manzanares, and C. R. Marmar, “Cannabidiol as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders,” Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics, Oct-2015. . Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/.
“Farm bill,” USDA. . Available: https://www.usda.gov/farmbill.
  1. Donohue, “Post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd),” Healthline, 12-Nov-2019. . Available: https://www.healthline.com/health/post-traumatic-stress-disorder.
  1. of the Commissioner, “FDA regulation of cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products: Q&A,” U.S. Food and Drug Administration. . Available: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-regulation-cannabis-and-cannabis-derived-products-including-cannabidiol-cbd.
  1. Coelho, “What to Know About Broad-Spectrum CBD,” MedicalNewsToday, 22-Sep-2020. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/broad-spectrum-cbd
  1. M. D. E. Contributors, “8 natural remedies for Anxiety: How to treat your symptoms and when to see a doctor,” WebMD. . Available: https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/natural-remedies-for-anxiety.
  1. N. Upshaw, “The side effects of anxiety medications,” NeuroSpa, 01-Oct-2020. . Available: https://neurospatms.com/the-side-effects-of-anxiety-medications/.

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