Depression and anxiety are some of the most widely spread mental health conditions in the world nowadays. This is especially true in Western countries, where everything revolves around deadlines, status, and one’s bank account balance.
Modern medicine has introduced quite a variety of pharmaceutical antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, which are quite effective at connecting to the receptors in the brain responsible for our mood and interpretation of events. However, these types of medication may have some undesired side effects which can affect your behavior, relationships, and productivity at work.
So how can you deal with anxiety and depression while avoiding all of the negativity associated with pharmaceutical solutions? One of the best alternatives is hemp-derived CBD products, which have been proven to help many people handle depression and various anxiety disorders.
You don’t need to figure out how to become a CBD oil distributor in order to get your hands on some of it. These products are already legally and widely available in 47 American states. Before you go shopping for CBD oil or flowers, read through this article to see whether it is the right product for you!
CBD vs. THC: Know the Difference
When told to consider implementing CBD as part of their treatment for mental health disorders, many patients are reluctant to try it out. After all, marijuana has been associated with triggering paranoia and anxiety in some people, so how can it help them?
This is why it’s crucial to understand the difference between cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and what effects they may have on the human mind. When people speak of getting high or the unpleasant feeling of paranoia that stems from marijuana use, they’re actually referring to THC and its characteristics. While cannabis with high tetrahydrocannabinol contents does contain CBD as well, it is useless for treating anxiety in the long-term.
CBD oil and similar products, however, do not contain this substance. They won’t get you “stoned”, and aren’t associated with the same side effects as high-THC marijuana. CBD by itself can combat insomnia, serve as a painkiller, as well as reduce symptoms of conditions such as social anxiety disorder and depression.
When it comes to general anxiety disorder, a study conducted by scientists from the National Institute on Drug Abuse has found that CBD does reduce stress in animals. Although more studies need to be conducted in order for most doctors to recommend the use of CBD for anxiety, anecdotal evidence from people who have tried it out shows that CBD treatment can yield very positive effects.
How Exactly Does CBD Interact with Your Brain?
Anecdotal evidence on CBD may help you make a decision, but it’s important to be at least vaguely aware of the science that goes on in your brain when you use CBD products before you commit to that form of treatment.
Cannabidiol interacts with the endocannabinoid system present in your brain, more particularly to the CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are present in your central and peripheral nervous systems. The exact nature of CBD’s interaction with these receptors hasn’t been fully explored yet; however, scientists suspect that it has an impact on the serotonin signals.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, commonly known as the “happiness hormone.” Low serotonin levels are often associated with depression, but they can also trigger feelings of anxiety and self-doubt. Traditional depression treatment is based on artificially boosting your serotonin production with drugs such as Prozac or Zoloft.
Many individuals claim to have successfully replaced these pharmaceutical drugs with CBD as a way of treating anxiety and/or depression, but you should keep in mind that CBD is not yet FDA approved for medical use. This means that it can’t be prescribed to patients with mental health issues. Your doctor can merely recommend it for you to try out.
The Bottom Line
Regardless of whether you’re combatting depression or struggling with public speaking due to a social anxiety disorder, using CBD may help you deal with these problems efficiently and without as many side effects as in the case of traditional pharmaceutical solutions. There are plenty of CBD products you can try out, with CBD oil, smokeable flower, and many edible options, all having the same qualities and potential positive consequences for your mental health.
You should, however, remember that cannabis can impact individuals in very different ways. This is why it’s crucial always to consult any changes in your treatment with a qualified medical professional — there is no point in using CBD if it does not come with the desired health benefits.