We’ve all been there before – a stressful situation leads into a spiralling descent into nervousness and apprehension, sometimes resulting to potentially harmful outcomes. Maybe you tend to lock up and shut the world out when confronted with an anxiety-inducing situation, or maybe you just can’t find the will or drive to drag yourself out of bed and off to work, potentially putting your career at risk. Whatever the case, it’s never cool to deal with anxiety.
According to statistics, one in every five adults in the USA struggle with anxiety. So you might say there’s comfort in knowing that you’re not alone. But even that, having company is just a consolation prize. What really matters is finding a solution that can help stop anxiety before it takes over your mind and body. The question now is – can CBD be the answer?
How Does CBD Work?
The human body works by way of millions of receptors that react to chemicals or nerve impulses scattered throughout the body. These receptors are specifically evolved so that they can only accept one or two types of input, triggering a specific response to support human physiological functioning.
Two specific receptors in the body that work hand in hand with the endocannabinoid system are the CB1 and CB2 receptors. These are directly contacted by the various cannabinoids found in cannabis, which works to ensure that the system is properly working and functional. Presently, there’s not a lot of information on how these CB receptors work, but some studies have found that they might have something to do with the production of serotonin.
As a hormone, serotonin is largely responsible for various cognitive functions, especially those involving our mood. When there’s not enough serotonin in the body, a person’s risk of developing depression rockets. In the same vein, those with moderately lower levels of serotonin production have also been found to have anxiety.
As of writing, these imbalances in serotonin are addressed by way of a group of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. That’s really just a fancy name for a drug that prevents surplus serotonin from being reabsorbed, so there’s always more serotonin available for your receptors to interact with.
Interestingly enough, some studies have found that CBD might actually be able to address this serotonin issue by encouraging the body to produce more of the hormone. By stimulating the endocannabinoid system, CBD has been found to have significant effects on the production of serotonin, but further study may be required to fully establish how this process occurs.
But What About Strain Varieties?
If you’ve been on the CBD market for a while, they you probably already know the wide variety of strains available to the general public. While some options are said to calm the senses and place the body in a state of zen, there are others that claim to awaken, energize, and pump the system with a sudden boost of vigor and zest. Now, if you’re struggling with anxiety, a jittery jolt of energy and cognitive unrest would be the last thing you’d want. So how do you make a choice?
For the most part, these distinct strain variations are most noticeable when using raw flower. In its most natural form, cannabis tends to showcase mode varied properties, which is what leads manufacturers and enthusiasts to outline the many different effects that strains might have. But once it’s turned into an extract, an edible, an oil, a tincture, or anything that isn’t flower, cannabis takes on a more consistent, more predictable form.
That said, if you’re taking Industrial Hemp Farms CBD for anxiety, you might want to consider stepping away from strains that offer inconsistent effects. Oils and other post-processed CBD products can be far more ideal for those who want quick and easy relief versus anxiety.
How Much CBD to Take for Anxiety?
As with any other use for CBD, the specific dosage isn’t set in stone. That means there’s no way to tell what specific amount will provide you the therapeutic benefits you’re looking for. That’s mainly due to the fact that everyone has a different body chemistry and tolerance, on top of the fact that body weight, age, height, and the severity of your condition also play a role in the potency of CBD when introduced into the body.
One experiment showed that individuals suffering from general anxiety disorder, when given a single 600mg dose of CBD, performed much better during a potentially anxiety inducing test and showed less prominent signs of stress prior to the experiment compared to a group that had been given a placebo. But even then, 600mg is not a magic number. Some users might find it to be a little too mild, while others might feel it to be too potent.
To be more exact, users are encouraged to start off with a minimal standard dose and then work up to a more suitable amount that provides substantial therapeutic benefits. When it comes to CBD, the rule of thumb is to provide 1mg of CBD per 10 pounds body weight for low strength effects.
If you’re interested in something a little stronger, 3mg should be enough for medium strength. But then again, if you feel that you have a much higher tolerance than most, 5mg should be the limit for high strength dosing. That is, if a person weighs 200lbs, they should take 20mg for a low dose, 60mg for a moderate dose, and 100mg for a high dose.
Shaking Off the Nerves with CBD
Touted as the ultimate, miracle-working, plant-based wonder of our present day, CBD can provide a range of benefits that far surpass just the physical body. Allowing a sense of calm and cognitive relief, CBD might just be the answer to your anxiety worries. Of course, there’s still going to be some well-informed choices to be made, but as long as you buy the right stuff for your need, then you can expect to enjoy a day free of jitters, apprehension, and worry.