The number of people that suffer from anxiety seems to rise each year. From increased work stresses, financial uncertainty, and family complications, anxiety can feel like a fact of life.
For the millions of people that suffer from anxiety, there are many treatment options available but unfortunately, they are not always effective and can come with a range of unpleasant side effects.
Given these factors, it is little wonder that people are seeking out alternative options. One of the possible alternatives that seems to be gaining in popularity is cannabidiol (CBD).
CBD oil is a substance derived from the cannabis or hemp plant that people claim can cure or help treat a growing number of conditions and disorders. One of the most common uses of CBD is to help treat symptoms of anxiety, and while scientific research is ongoing, the early results are hard to ignore.
If you’re wondering how vaping CBD may be able to help with anxiety, here’s what you need to know.
Anxiety: How It Goes Out Of Control
According to researchers, nearly one-quarter of Americans will deal with an anxiety disorder over the course of their lifetime. Anxiety is characterized by feelings of fear, dread, and imminent danger, which can lead to panic and racing thoughts, as well as physical symptoms such as sweating or trembling.
While there are many reasons for anxiety, some of which are due to genetics, most people believe their anxiety is due to high levels of stress. If you are stressed all the time, your brain slowly learns to feel anxious all the time, in anticipation of the next stressful situation to come.
As a result of these various factors, anxiety can end up taking control of your life. If you’re looking for a way to break the hold anxiety has on your life, vaping CBD may be able to help you.
How Can Vaping CBD Help With Anxiety?
There are many anecdotal reports that CBD oil can help relieve anxiety but more than that, there are a growing number of studies that support this experience.
In a review from 2015, CBD oil was found to be effective in relieving anxiety related to several conditions including generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that CBD oil can reduce the behavioral and physiological symptoms associated with generalized anxiety, including increased heart rate and excessive worry.
In a 2010 study on social anxiety, CBD oil was found to be potentially useful for managing anxiety symptoms. Participants were given a brain scan before and after taking CBD. The results were promising. In the areas of the brain responsible for emotion and feelings of anxiety, there was an increase in blood flow, indicating CBD’s potential.
Other studies have simulated public speaking appearances as a way to test CBD oil’s efficacy at reducing social anxiety. Participants performed two public speaking tests, one before taking CBD and one after taking it. Participants who had been given a single dose of CBD reported feeling less anxiety and experienced a reported increase in cognitive functioning compared to those who had been given a placebo.
For people with PTSD, CBD oil holds significant promise. CBD inhibits fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) which is an enzyme that breaks down anandamide, the “bliss molecule” a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of joy and motivation. This increases the amount of anandamide available in the body. On top of this, CBD activates CB1 and CB2 receptors, which can decrease anxiety and reduce the fear response associated with traumatic memories.
These anti-anxiety effects of CBD are not fully understood and more research must be conducted before conclusions can be drawn. With more study, the picture will become more clear and we can determine how to best use CBD oil to reduce anxiety.
CBD Vape Dosage for Anxiety
Coming up with the perfect CBD dose can be difficult, with so many different factors coming into play. Effective doses will vary wildly from individual to individual, with some needing as little as 10mg of CBD a day for relief, and others needing upwards of 30mgs or more!
The first step to using CBD oil for anxiety is to talk to your doctor. While generally considered safe with no known side effects, CBD can interact with some common medications so it is best to make sure you are using as safely as possible, first.
Once you get the go-ahead from your doctor, you’ll find that the vast majority of CBD oil products will have dosage recommendations listed on the packaging. These recommendations are a good place to start.
It is important to listen to your body. When vaping, CBD, for example, you will find that dosage is based on “inhale” and what is considered an inhale can vary from person to person. Start slowly with a moderate dose and increase gradually from there if necessary.
Luckily, the effects of vaping CBD oil can be felt almost immediately, giving you a pretty good idea of how you are being impacted.
For more details on dosing, check out our beginner dosage guide!
If you are looking to try CBD oil for anxiety, a starter vape pen is a perfect stepping stone. Again, the research is not conclusive but it is promising. If you are tired of being trapped in the negative cycle of anxiety, CBD oil may, in time, prove to be the answer.
