CBD Oil for Anxiety
CBD Benefits & FAQs

CBD Oil for Anxiety: Treating Anxiety Disorders Safely

Disclaimer: The following information has not been approved by the FDA. This information should not be interpreted as medical advice and is not a substitute for a visit with a medical care professional. Always speak to your doctor about any health concerns. 


In America alone, 40 million people suffer annually from anxiety disorders, and this number continues to grow. Anxiety is more than just sweaty palms and stress dreams before a big test or interview. It’s a crippling mental disorder that can make even simple, daily tasks seem huge and overwhelming.

Anxiety doesn’t just affect the brain — it has profound and long-lasting effects on the body as well. Common side effects of anxiety include:

  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Numbness or tingling, usually in the hands
  • Decreased blood flow
  • Shortness of breath
  • Muscle tension
  • Nausea
  • Gastrointestinal inflammation and discomfort
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Flushed skin

Big Pharma’s Anxiety Solutions

When people are diagnosed with an anxiety or stress disorder, the first thing that most medical practitioners do is turn to pharmaceutical solutions. Medications such as Prozac, Xanax, and Valium are the most common prescriptions, but these carry a host of harmful side effects and may quickly become addictive.

CBD oil has been shown to be a promising alternative therapy, with the same properties as antidepressants and anxiolytics, but without the numerous risks.
Studies show that anxiety can be significantly reduced by CBD. In fact, CBD oil works faster than most anti-anxiety medications. For those who struggle with situational anxiety and panic attacks, this quick response-time can be life-changing.

How Does CBD Oil Reduce Anxiety?

CBD oil affects your body through your endocannabinoid system, which is made up of cannabinoid receptors. These little protein receptors are specifically designed to respond to cannabinoids, whether those your own body produces or those you obtain from plants. You have these receptors all over your body, including your skin and even in your intestines!

Your endocannabinoid system is involved in controlling inflammation, pain, sleep, immune function, mood, brain function (such as memory), hunger, and even reproduction.

CBD oil for anxiety control improves symptoms of:

  • Generalized anxiety
  • Panic disorders
  • Social fears and phobias
  • PTSD
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Mild depression

While more research needs to be done to fully understand how CBD oil for anxiety is effective, research has shown that cannabinoids influence serotonin receptors, such as 5-HT1A. When more serotonin is available in the brain, more neurons are activated. When more neurons are activated, mood is improved and anxiety is reduced.

But CBD oil does more than just activate neurons — it also encourages new neurons to be created, called neurogenesis. CBD has been shown to encourage neurogenesis in the hippocampus, the part of your brain that regulates emotions and forms memories.

Brain scans have shown that those who suffer from anxiety disorders often have a smaller hippocampus than others who do not struggle with anxiety. When new neurons are created in the hippocampus, anxiety and depression symptoms improve.

Things You Should Know About Using CBD Oil for Anxiety and Depression

It’s important to understand two things about using CBD oil for anxiety.

First, CBD oil is NOT the same as THC, which is the component in cannabis responsible for the ‘high.’ CBD oil is non-intoxicating. It will not make you high. CBD oil contains trace amounts of THC — .3% to be exact — but this is not even remotely close enough to produce a high. 

Secondly, CBD oil is not a sedation drug. This means that you can use CBD oil without worrying that it will affect your mental state. Other types of antidepressants can suppress emotions, giving a feeling of emotional ‘flatness. They can also cause a feeling of ‘fuzziness,’ or a dream-like state. CBD oil does not affect the body in these ways.

Note: A large dose of CBD oil can make you feel sleepy, but this is easily avoided by taking lower doses.  

CBD Oil for Anxiety

It’s said that humans are born with only two fears — the fear of falling, and the fear of loud noises. All the rest are fears that develop as we age. Whether your anxiety is from a chemical imbalance, a traumatic event, or another source, CBD oil may be the natural, safe solution to help you regain control of your emotional life.

CBD Oil for Anxiety: Social Fears and Phobias

Have a high-stress job with an important pitch or presentation coming up? The fear of public speaking or intimidating social interactions is one of the most common forms of anxiety. For some, social anxiety simply makes parties, work gatherings, or a daily job uncomfortable and exhausting. For others with social anxiety, it is a crippling fear that keeps them locked indoors and in isolation.

For the rest of us? We’re probably dealing with situational anxiety, such as that before a big business meeting, an interview, a first date, or a public speaking engagement.

CBD oil can help with all of this. According to this study performed in 2010, CBD oil taken before a stressful social situation significantly reduced the following:

  • Anxiety
  • Elevated heart rate
  • Trembling
  • Shaking knees
  • Sweating
  • Dry mouth
  • Shaking voice
  • Inability to form thoughts (aka cognitive impairment)
  • Lack of alertness

CBD Oil for Panic Attacks

CBD oil works by balancing our autonomic nervous system — or, in other words, it chills us out when we’re on the brink of a nervous breakdown. Think of it as a nervous system reset. CBD oil produces a chemical calming of the sympathetic branch of your nervous system.

To use preventatively, administer CBD oil before walking into a potentially nerve-wracking situation. If your trauma has caught you unawares, administer CBD oil in the midst of a panic attack to help your body naturally (and quickly) calm down.

CBD Oil for Anxiety and Depression

At some point, we all need a mood booster. For some, depression is an area we struggle with regularly.

CBD oil can help control the sympathetic branch of your nervous system, helping those with nervous disorders better manage mood. CBD oil can help you regulate your emotional responses by reducing anxiety and hysteria. When anxiety goes down, mood goes up.

CBD Oil for Anxiety Induced Insomnia

Who hasn’t been through a period in their lives in which the overwhelming stress and worry of daily life caused an inability to sleep? This lack of sleep causes a vicious cycle of anxiety and exhaustion, as one triggers or worsens the other.

CBD oil can help to stop this vicious cycle in its tracks by tackling both problems with one safe solution. As CBD oil reduces anxiety throughout the day, the mind and body are able to relax and fall asleep. But CBD oil is also used to help treat insomnia — which means more sleep, and less stress.

CBD Oil for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The British Pharmacological Society claims CBD oil can reduce learned fear responses. This is a huge opportunity for those who suffer from PTSD. Studies showed that CBD was able to:

  • Reduce fear expression
  • Smooth disrupted memory
  • Aid in enhancing memory
  • Diminish fears and the panic attacks associated with PTSD

In a lab protocol designed to mimic PTSD, CBD oil improved patients abilities to forget and release traumatic memories. This would allow individuals to move on from past traumatic events, giving them the freedom to rebuild their lives.

CBD Oil Anxiety Relief FAQ’s

The following are just a few of the questions from our customers lately. If you’ve got a question you don’t see an answer to here, call any of our store locations.

What are the side effects of CBD oil for anxiety?

Almost nil! This is one of the best benefits of CBD oil for anxiety relief! CBD oil causes no serious side effects. There are a few minor discomforts you may experience, however.

  • Dry mouth
  • Mild nausea
  • Drowsiness (lessen dose or change CBD oil blend)

Please keep in mind that CBD oil may interfere with other prescription medications, so be sure to consult your physician before taking CBD oil.

Is using CBD oil for anxiety addictive?

Nope! CBD oil is a non-addictive substance.

Can CBD oil get you high?

No. CBD oil does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is the intoxicating psychoactive component responsible for producing a ‘high’. True CBD oil cannot get you high.

What’s the best CBD oil for anxiety and depression?

There are a few great products out there. At The Healthy Place, our favorite brands are CBD Plus and Hemplucid. Whatever brand you choose, make sure that you find a product made from highest-grade CBD oil. Do your research, because CBD oil knockoffs are out there. They won’t do you any good and may do you harm.

Should I try using CBD oil for anxiety or depression?

If you suffer from anxiety or depression, we strongly recommend investigating CBD oil as a treatment option. This is safe, natural, and non-addictive. The best thing to do is to stop by one of our stores or give us a call. We can talk through your needs to find the best CBD oil for anxiety relief.

How do I determine the correct CBD oil dosage for anxiety?

Start with the smallest recommended dose on your CBD oil product, and gradually increase it until you experience the desired effect. Finding the best CBD oil dosage for anxiety can take several days to a couple of weeks. All of our bodies and situations are different, and finding the best balance may take time. For quickest results, talk to one of our Wellness Consultants.

Where can I buy CBD oil?

Here! You can buy CBD oil online or from any of our Madison area stores.

The Healthy Place

At The Healthy Place, a Madison area vitamin store, we believe in helping our friends, neighbors, and local families and businesses find healthy lives, hearts, and minds. It’s our goal to help everyone who walks through our doors find their healthy place — so, give us a call or stop in one of our stores, and let’s find yours.

If you want to read through more research studies, check out our growing library here.


*Disclaimer: All information and recommendations given on this site, in email correspondence, newsletters or other materials provided by The Healthy Place is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice nor be viewed as a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a healthcare provider. Consult a licensed healthcare practitioner before modifying, stopping, or starting the use of any medications, health programs, diets, and/or supplements, as well as regarding any health concerns you may have. Our statements and information have not been evaluated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration. As with any health-related program, product, or service, your risks and results may vary. We expressly disclaim responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the information provided to you here.”


12 comments on “CBD Oil for Anxiety: Treating Anxiety Disorders Safely

  1. CBD Oil Online on

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  2. Kelly on

    I would like to try CBD oil for my anxiety and mild depression could you advise me on a blend? I’m not taking any prescription drugs.

    Reply
  3. George Worth on

    It’s terrific that you expound on how CBD oil can provide relief from anxiety. I’ve been feeling extremely anxious for the past three weeks due to my school exams, so I’m considering buying some CBD products to try this week. I’m going to search for a reputable business in my area that sells CBD products.

    Reply

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