Anxiety rears its ugly head in many forms. From racing thoughts at bedtime and nail biting at work to shortness of breath before a speech, there are many ways we experience anxiety. For some, these feelings are fleeting. Others have an anxiety disorder and consider this a life sentence.
In desperate need to feel better, some will turn to prescription medications. While there are many benefits to taking medicine as prescribed, it can also create a sense of dependency. Long-term use of some medications may actually result in more psychological problems because of this dependency. That’s why many people with anxiety are turning to CBD. Here’s how it feels to use hemp extract for anxiety.
How Do You Know if You Have an Anxiety Disorder?
At times, life may feel like we bite off more than we can chew. Moments where we feel this way are unique to each of us. Some people have severe cases of anxiety while driving, yet there are others who love going on road trips. Millions of people can go to a concert and dance among hundreds of strangers without worry. On the flip side, millions of others would be hyperventilating into a paper bag in that same scenario.
Just as situational anxiety varies, so does the severity. Anxiety disorders can come and go. They may be permanent or fleeting. This diagnosis pliability makes it hard to classify if someone currently has an anxiety disorder or not.
- Trouble sleeping
- Racing thoughts
- Fast heartbeat
- Lightheadedness
- Difficulty breathing
- Frequent sweating
- Overwhelming sense of dread
- Fear of crowds
- Paranoia
- Smartphone addiction
- Dependency on drugs or alcohol
- Concentration problems
- Memory loss
- Decline in productivity
- Depression
As you can see, there are a number of symptoms of anxiety. Furthermore, they overlap with symptoms of numerous conditions. If you believe you have anxiety, please talk to a specialist or at least your primary care physician. When you do, you may be prescribed medication. Let’s discuss the benefits and potential drawbacks to this.
Conventional Medicine for Anxiety
There is no denying that bouts of anxiety can negatively impact your productivity, sleep, and overall wellness. These are all essential ingredients to a thriving everyday life. So, most of us will go to great lengths to stop the anxiety that’s impeding our goals.
One in six people take prescription medications for a mental health issue. While antidepressants are the top two prescribed, rounding out the top three is an anxiety medication: Alprazolam, or Xanax.
Xanax is a benzodiazepine. Its compounds bind to receptors in the mind that slow down brain activity. As a result, the body releases GABA, a calming neurotransmitter, into the system. Most people will feel the effects of Xanax within 15 minutes of taking the drug. Those who use it say it’s like the white noise in the back of their head shuts off. This moment of peace is what keeps them coming back for more Xanax.
While Xanax can do wonders for those with anxiety, experts say it should only be prescribed for six weeks. Yet, the demand for Xanax has gone through the roof. In just 10 years, the number of Xanax prescriptions went from 6,929 to 17,019.
Furthermore, those who take Xanax regularly note that it doesn’t work like it did the first time as you keep using it. Some even start to double up on a 30-day supply to help achieve the zen they felt when they first started taking the medication. Even worse, those who get off Xanax tend to experience worsened episodes of anxiety.
Luckily, these dependency issues don’t happen with CBD.
Why Use CBD for Anxiety?
Hearing about the experiences that many face when using prescription medications often opens the dialogue that these medications can be considered gateway drugs. Ironically, that’s what many once said about cannabis. Yet, people are now turning to cannabis to get over their dependency on pharmaceuticals.
The way CBD works in the system is a lot like Xanax, in that this hemp compound interacts with receptors. However, compounds found in hemp interact with receptors that are located all throughout your body. These are known as cannabinoid receptors, and they have a profound influence on the way we feel.
When we are under stress, our body produces endocannabinoids. These are compounds that seek out receptors that are sending out negative signals. Unfortunately, those with anxiety disorders would need a faucet of endocannabinoids turned to full blast to solve their issues. Thankfully, many of the compounds in hemp mirror those that our bodies create.
By using full-spectrum hemp extract, the compounds in cannabis known as cannabinoids stimulate the cannabinoid receptors. If the cannabinoid receptor was sending off a bad signal to the central nervous system, it would then change its tune. In turn, the mind stops being annoying. Naturally, you consciously stop feeling anxiety.
How Does CBD for Anxiety Feel?
While CBD does help with anxiety, it doesn’t do so by getting you high. In fact, there is very little THC, the psychoactive compound found in marijuana, in hemp. Therefore, you get the potential health benefits of THC in full-spectrum hemp products, but without the high.
Being high isn’t the solution to fixing your anxiety. The solution is calming down the cannabinoid receptors. Research shows that cannabis has a sedative-like effect on the system. There is great hope that CBD may be an effective alternative to Xanax one day. In fact, there are ongoing clinical trials involving humans that compare the two forms of treatment. While the results have not yet been released, we are eagerly awaiting the conclusion.
The trials may still be taking place, but many are already experiencing the benefits of CBD for anxiety firsthand. When you use a CBD tincture, many feel the effects as quickly as 15 minutes. With CBD, your head will feel clearer. You will be able to focus better on the tasks at hand or even catch a good night’s sleep.
Even better, CBD is not habit forming. Therefore, you can use the product without the fear of dependency or the worry that it will lose its potency.
How to Use a CBD Oil Tincture for Anxiety
CBD oil is a great on-the-go way to help your anxiety issues. Serenity Hemp Extract is a high-quality CBD oil that you can toss in your bag, purse, or pocket. All you need to do is use the dropper to draw up some CBD oil. From there, place the drop under your tongue.
Allow the CBD oil to sit in the pool at the bottom of your mouth. Soft tissues in the area will soak up the cannabinoids in the formula. Using this method helps you experience the effects of CBD for anxiety even quicker.
CBD tinctures are great because they work quickly. You can take a few drops before walking into a party, while you’re on the train, or as you sit in traffic. In no time, you’ll feel less anxious, more focused, and ready for whatever comes your way.
How to Sleep Better with Anxiety
A common symptom of anxiety is insomnia. As if dealing with one issue wasn’t enough, now you have to drag your feet all day long. Missing out on sleep will not only ruin your productivity, but it can have disastrous consequences for your health.
When we are riddled with constant anxiety, it causes the adrenal glands to pump out cortisol. This stress hormone takes up too much space in the system for other hormones to produce. That includes our sleep hormone, melatonin.
That is why we include melatonin in our CBD oil sleep formula. Research suggests that CBD can help curb the production of cortisol. The CBD in Sleep Fast Plus opens the door for melatonin production. However, our formula also has melatonin in it to get the ball rolling. That way, you can get your sleep cycle back on track and your anxiety issues put to rest.
Are you battling anxiety? What are some ways you cope with this condition? Share your experience in the comments below!
