Why Do We Experience Anxiety?
Anxiety. The all too-common mental state that life perpetually hurls us into without warning. Its purpose as a state of arousal is evolution’s answer to immediate threats and dangers in our environment (such as being eaten by a predator). In this state, we become hyperaware and our adrenaline flows freely to fuel our response to a life and death situation. In modern times, these mortal threats have been replaced by more mundane worries but our bodies still react the same way. With so many things to worry about, a body can end up in a constant state of fight-or-flight that taxes the bodily systems and causes a plethora of health issues.
Anxiety and Antidepressants
As anxiety has steadily grown among the world population, it has been primarily addressed through the prescription of anti-anxiety medication. In fact, the level of antidepressant use rose to an all time high during the covid-19 pandemic. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine “An estimated 26% of Americans ages 18 and older – about 1 in 4 adults – suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.” 1 The vast majority of these disorders are anxiety and depression or a combination of the two. Even among children under 17 antidepressant use has soared. According to The Independent “As per figures from the NHS, rates of probable mental disorder in young people increased from one in nine in 2017 to one in six in 2020.” 2
Are Pharmaceutical Antidepressants the Best Option for Anxiety?
As anxiety in the population increases, the amount of antidepressants prescribed rises in tandem. Pharmaceutical antidepressants inarguably help, especially in serious cases, but are often criticized for having major side effects as well as creating dependence. They can also have negative impacts on overall health specifically by negatively impacting the microbiome and gut health. Isn’t there anything better? Perhaps something plant based with no known side effects that neither creates dependence nor harms the gut?
Natural remedies have been around for ages with St. John’s Wort being an excellent example of a proven effective natural antidepressant. It was probably the best known, non pharmaceutical, antidepressant available until the widespread availability of CBD. Currently, more and more research is showing that CBD is the new queen of natural remedies for treating anxiety and depression.
Does the medical establishment recognize the power of CBD?
The FDA has approved one CBD medication, Epidiolex, for the treatment of two severe forms of epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome. It also approved the medication for the treatment of seizures associated with tuberculosis sclerosis complex. Epidiolex is nothing more than a massive dose of pure CBD. It is amazing that pure CBD alone can stop these severe seizures in their tracks and it should prove beyond any doubt that CBD is a powerful medicine that is absolutely recognized by mainstream health care.
What Does Research Say about CBD and Anxiety?
Aside from fighting seizures, the most scientifically researched and supported benefit of CBD is its ability to help us deal with stress and anxiety. CBD has been shown to boost serotonin levels and mimic the effects of antidepressants without the unwanted side effects. CBD has been used successfully to treat specific anxiety disorders such as social anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. 3 4
According to the National Institutes of Health “CBD has broad therapeutic properties across a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, stemming from diverse central nervous system actions” Adding that, “CBD has a broad pharmacological profile, including interactions with several receptors known to regulate fear and anxiety-related behaviors” 5
The following studies have all shown the ability of CBD to reduce anxiety.
- A 2011 study showed that CBD reduced anxiety and discomfort during public speaking in people with social anxiety disorder.
- Another 2011 study found that CBD reduced anxiety symptoms in people with social anxiety disorder.
- A 2015 review of 49 studies found evidence that suggests CBD could help with generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- A 2019 study found that out of 11 patients with PTSD, 91% experienced reduced symptoms after taking CBD.
- A study in 2019 used CBD to treat people who were struggling with anxiety and sleep. Almost 80% of people’s anxiety improved.
Will CBD make me “high?”
No. CBD will not make you feel “high” at all. The well known “high” of marijuana comes solely from THC. Not only does CBD not produce this effect, in fact it does the exact opposite. “Research on CBD in the 1970s and 1980s focused on its interplay with other cannabinoids, and particularly THC. Whereas THC can induce psychotic symptoms, impair cognition and make people anxious, CBD appears to do the opposite,” says Philip McGuire, a psychiatrist at King’s College London.” 6 This means that anxiety caused by ingesting too much marijuana (THC) can be counteracted by taking CBD.
Does CBD have any negative side effects? Can I take too much CBD?
As for adverse side effects, there aren’t any, even in massively high doses. This is well proven by the massive dosage of CBD in Epidiolex that is needed to stop a seizure.The NIH states in regards to dosage “A review of potential side effects in humans found that CBD was well tolerated across a wide dose range, up to 1500 mg/day (orally), with no reported psychomotor slowing, negative mood effects, or vital sign abnormalities noted.” To put this in perspective a dose as low as 20mg can be effective in treating anxiety. So the fact is, you couldn’t overdose if you tried. There is literally no pharmaceutical antidepressant that can make this claim.
Should I Try CBD for My Anxiety?
Since there is plenty of scientific evidence that CBD helps with anxiety and causes zero side effects, why would a person not try CBD? If you have anxiety or depression, then there is literally no logical reason not to try it. If it doesn’t work for you, nothing is lost, but if it does, life is improved dramatically. It is not expensive, does not require a prescription, and is easy to obtain. The biggest and perhaps only problem is obtaining a quality CBD product that you can trust.
What Should I Look for in a CBD Product?
Unfortunately the biggest issue with CBD currently is that not all CBD products are created equal and some perhaps contain little to no CBD or are formulated in such a way that the CBD is not actually bio-available and thus not absorbed by the body. That is why if you are considering taking CBD for anxiety you should do proper research and only purchase products that clearly state the amount of CBD in milligrams on the packaging and have been formulated to be easily absorbed into the bloodstream. Only purchase from known and reputable brands such as Cordial Organics. Cordial Organics only uses the purest CBD in its Balance and Enhance oils. All Cordial Organics products are regularly lab tested for quality assurance so you can trust that you will always get what you pay for. We have been perfecting its formulas for over five years and have mastered the techniques that allow our products to be highly effective and absorbable.
In Conclusion
If you or someone you care about is suffering with anxiety, we wholeheartedly encourage you to give CBD a try. No other plant based remedy has such powerful anti-anxiety properties with zero side effects. Try it! You honestly have nothing to lose (other than all those bad feelings!)
