CBD is now recognized as a natural treatment for stress, which is an increasingly present phenomenon in our society, whose impact on our health is not to be taken lightly. In addition, drug treatments intended to treat the effects of stress and anxiety cause many side effects that negatively impact our health, unlike cannabidiol. By continuing to read this article, you will discover why and how CBD can help reduce stress.
What are the effects of stress and anxiety?
Anxiety, like stress, are natural reactions that, to some extent, can be desirable. When a person feels anxious, several changes occur within them , such as agitation, increased heart rate, nervousness, or even a feeling of shortness of breath, to name a few symptoms.
These manifestations are a reaction of our organism to prepare to face an emotionally strong or unusual situation, such as an imminent threat or danger, for example. From this point of view, Anxiety and stress are therefore rather healthy reactions .
It is important to know that stress, anxiety and depression are closely linked in the brain. According to several scientific studies, depression and anxiety are the results of a lack of serotonin , which is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter. The ailments caused by stress and anxiety are risk factors for depression and these behaviors are modulated by the two receptors linked to serotonin.
Symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disorders or headaches should therefore not be taken lightly, at the risk of entering a depressive phase. Stress and anxiety are illnesses generally treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants.
However, many of these drug treatments are known to have harmful side effects such as sleep disorders or decreased libido. In this sense, CBD proves to be a natural treatment to effectively combat stress, anxiety and depression with fewer side effects compared to drug treatments.
How Can CBD Help Reduce Stress and Anxiety?
Several studies prove it: consuming CBD can help reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety , by activating the serotonin receptor in order to have a positive impact on serotonin levels, without the slightest side effect.
CBD is now recognized as an effective dietary supplement for reducing anxiety, stress and depression. To understand the links between cannabidiol, stress and anxiety, We must once again focus on serotonin . This neurotransmitter, also called the “happiness hormone,” has a direct influence on morale, general well-being, as well as on appetite, the quality of our sleep and libido. In stressful situations, the level of serotonin in the body tends to decrease .
Therefore, common treatments for anxiety disorders aim to help the body regulate the amount of serotonin, in order to improve the person's mood.
Find out more about the effects of CBD on sleep .
CBD also has the ability to activate certain serotonin receptors (5-HT1A) and thereby increase the synaptic response in the brain, thus regulating the level of this hormone to improve well-being. The effect of CBD on anxiety is temporary, so this response is only occasional. However, cannabidiol could also act on hippocampal neurogenesis, that is, on the formation of new neurons within the hippocampus, a part of the brain intended to regulate mood.
Thus, CBD consumption can contribute to neurogenesis and reduce the expression of anxiety disorders and depressive behaviors in the long term. CBD therefore acts in a similar way to anxiolytic drugs, without the risk of dependence or the undesirable side effects associated with the latter.
Be careful, however, not to confuse the effects of CBD on anxiety with those of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a molecule present in recreational cannabis. Unlike cannabidiol, THC can induce stress, since it acts on perception. To effectively treat stress and anxiety disorders, it is therefore imperative to consume a cannabidiol guaranteed to be THC-free.
What form of CBD should you use to combat stress and anxiety?
CBD oil comes in several concentrations, which determine the potency of the product and the type of symptoms for which it is most effective. To start, it is advisable to take CBD oil at a low concentration (10% to 20%), and gradually increase the dosage to find the right cannabidiol product.
There are three types of CBD oil:
- Full Spectrum CBD Oil: It contains all the cannabinoids present in hemp, such as CBN, CBG and THC. However, THC is only present at 0.3% maximum to be authorized in France. This type of oil is ideal for reducing specific disorders such as anxiety, inflammation, or insomnia.
- Broad spectrum CBD oil: like full spectrum oil, it contains different cannabinoids from hemp, but no THC at all.
- Isolate CBD oil: This type of oil contains only cannabidiol, so no other cannabinoids or terpenes.
Additionally, you should know that there are also CBD oils intended to reduce anxiety in animals.
