In recent years CBD has established itself as a leading natural remedy for all types of everyday ailments, including anxiety.
In fact, more and more people suffering fromanxiety prefer to consume CBD oil rather than undergo benzodiazepine-basedtreatment, drugs with well-known side effects .
Nobilis zooms in on anxiety and the potential benefits of CBD.
Table of contents
Anxiety: causes, symptoms and treatments
Anxiety is often confused with stress. Although these two "psychological states" are intrinsically linked, it's important not to confuse them.
If you would like more information about the effects of CBD on stress, then we recommend that you read our detailed article on CBD and stress.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a feeling of dreadapprehension. It's a sensation that can be felt on the eve of an exam or any other important event and/or that suggests a certain risk-taking.
Of course, it's perfectly normal - and healthy - to experience feelings of anxiety in certain situations. In fact, anxiety is nothing more than the vestige of our self-preservation instinctthe very instinct that has enabled us to adapt, evolve and survive throughout history.
It's never pleasant to feel anxious, but this feeling usually disappears with the source of the stress.
What are the symptoms of pathological anxiety?
When the feeling of anxiety does not seem to have a concrete and reasonable cause, and when this anxiety is not only disproportionate to reality, but also.., constant over timethen we speak of anxiety disorders. In this case, we're talking about a psychological pathology. Between 15% and 20% of the French population are affected [1]. So it's not a marginal illness.
Anxiety disorders are expressed through different symptoms and take several forms:
- Generalized anxiety constant, long-lasting (over 6 months) and disproportionate worry about at least two different themes (family, work, social life, etc.) with headaches, pain, insomnia, palpitations, etc;
- Panic disorder Repeated panic attacks (sensation of imminent death, extreme anxiety);
- Social phobia Acute fear of being judged by others, avoidance of social relationships and competitive situations;
- Specific phobia An irrational fear of a situation, object or animal;
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): recurrent, intrusive thoughts and/or impulses about dirt, disorder, sexuality, sacrilege.
An anxiety disorder of any kind has a very negative impact on the individual's quality of life who experiences insomnia, depression, pronounced emotional instability, memory problems, difficulty concentrating and extreme fatigue (among other things...).
Anti-anxiety medication
There are several approaches to alleviate severe anxiety: psychotherapy, sophrology, meditation, etc. But generally, when the condition is really disabling, we turn to medicinal solutions such as antidepressants and anxiolytics.
- Antidepressants are serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). They help increase serotonin levels in the blood, a hormone associated with feelings of serenity and peace;
- Anxiolytics (benzodiazepines) are positive modulators of GABA receptors. They inhibit the action of the central nervous system, inducing a slight drowsiness associated with a state of relaxation.
Antidepressants are prescribed for long-term treatment (at least 6 months), while anxiolytics are designed to calm a crisis topically. Their efficacy and safety are the subject of much debate.
In all cases, it's important to get the right information, discuss it with health professionals and consider seeking the help of a therapist.
How does CBD work against anxiety?
Thanks to its interaction with our endocannabinoid systemsystem CBD seems to act in a similar way to antidepressants (serotonin inhibitors) and anxiolytics (GABA receptor modulators)... The only difference is that CBD is not addictive. non-addictive.
CBD to boost serotonin levels
According to some studies, CBD (cannabidiol, a molecule derived from the hemp plant and cannabis) has a high affinity with 5-HTreceptors, whose role is to capture excess serotonin in the body. Thus, CBD CBD could inhibit the reuptake of serotoninreuptake, acting in a similar way to antidepressants, and thus promoting a state of relaxation.
In fact, one of the studies carried out on the effectiveness of CBD in combating anxiety [2] showed that CBD treatment helps to significantly reduce the fear associated with public speaking. An effective action.
Scientists have also studied the anti-panic of CBD on mice. On CBD, mice exposed to imminent danger (the presence of a snake, in the case of the study) showed less panic: for example, they did not stop in fear.
Of course, these studies are still insufficient, but they still place CBD as an ideal candidate to replace traditional anxiolytics.
CBD's action on the central nervous system (GABA)
As we mentioned earlier, CBD acts on our endocannabinoid system, a set of receptors distributed throughout our body.
Some of these receptors are located in the brain and control the functioning of our central nervous system. And according to certain studies [3], CBD may be an indirect modulator of GABAreceptors, facilitating their binding and therefore their tranquilizing action.
GABA is a neurotransmitter naturally released by the body after a stressful situation to regulate heart rate and lower blood pressure. It also helps reduce neuronal activity, making it easier to fall asleep. Indeed, CBD is also used to improve sleep.
Again, more studies are needed to understand CBD's anxiolytic action.
How to benefit from CBD's anxiolytic and antidepressant effects?
Before using CBD to combat anxiety, we recommend that you consult a health professional. Anxiety disorders can severely affect quality of life and lead to serious psychological pathologies if not promptly treated.
What type of CBD for anxiety?
There are dozens of ways to consume CBD, but as part of a treatment for anxiety, it's usually CBD oil oil is generally recommended.
In fact, CBD oil allows you to benefit from a high concentration, while offering excellent bioavailability, enabling anxiety sufferers to enjoy a rapid effect.
To enjoy the best effects of CBD against anxiety, we have two products.
1. The first isFull Spectrum cbd oil, which contains all the cannabinoids, including THC, for a highly effective entourage effect.
2. The second was designed for people who do not want to consume THC, even in very small doses. These are our"Stress and Sleep" CBN and CBD oil formulations made from CBD and CBN (another cannabinoid that acts on stress and sleep).
[1] Understanding adult anxiety disorders (severe anxiety)(Ameli)
[2] Evidence for the anti-panic actions of cannabidiol(Pubmed)
[3] The direct actions of cannabidiol and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol at GABAA receptors(Pubmed)
[3] Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series(Pubmed)
[4] The Ramsay Générale de santé foundation creates its stress observatory(Ramsay santé)