CBD for Anxiety – Clinical Studies

Introduction

CBD oil for anxiety is something we have touched upon throughout previous HealthyTOKYO articles, such as CBD for Sleepand CBD for Concentration, and today we will be diving deeper into this topic. Anxiety affects a large number of people worldwide. Although it is a natural feeling to have in certain situations, continuous affliction can be considered a mental disorder and worthy of treatment. There are various convincing studies and mounting research to support the claim that CBD oil can help cope with feelings of anxiety. So without further ado let’s explore the potential of CBD oil for anxiety.

What is CBD and CBD oil

CBD is an abbreviation for “cannabidiol”, one of many compounds known as cannabinoids that are sourced from the Cannabis Sativa L. plant. Cannabinoids like CBD interact with a system in our bodies called the endocannabinoid system, which includes neurotransmitters in the brain and throughout the body. A growing library of research suggests that when CBD binds to these receptors it produces a range of health benefits such as reducing certain kinds of epileptic seizures, minimizing cancer symptoms, and much more.CBD can be in taken in a variety of forms, one of the more common methods being CBD oil.

An additional benefit associated with CBD oil is its calming and anxiolytic (anxiety relief) effect. This is, of course, the whole point of our article today, so let’s go into what anxiety is and how it affects people, and the research supporting CBD oil for anxiety.

What is Anxiety?

As defined by the American Psychological Association, anxiety is “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure.”While it is rather normal to feel anxious from time to time, when it becomes a persistent issue constant anxiety may be considered a medical disorder. Depending on the severity of one’s anxiety, symptoms can range from a vague uneasiness to an inability to perform everyday tasks.
Disproportionately high levels of anxiety can be grouped in with numerous other mental health issues such as apprehension, fear, constant nervousness, and worry.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, nearly 20% of Americans aged 18 and over suffer from anxiety, making it the most common mental disorder in the United States. On a global scale, anxiety is estimated to affect about 4% of the world population, with the number of people affected thought to have grown by nearly 15% between 2005 and 2015.

CBD oil for Anxiety

In a 2019 study on the potential applications of CBD for anxiety and sleep, nearly 80% of participants showed improvement with their anxiety symptoms after one month into the study and continued to maintain positive results throughout the full three month study period.

In separate double-blind study on CBD and anxiety in relation to public speaking, participants with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) received either CBD or a placebo before taking part in a public speaking simulation. In addition to the SAD group, a control group of healthy participants was also examined but given no form of medication. The results were judged by noting visual mood indicators, negative self-statements, and physiological measurements such as blood pressure and heart rate. The participants who had been given CBD before the presentation showed greatly reduced anxiety and significant improvements in their speech performance and perceived comfort levels when compared to the placebo group. Furthermore, no significant differences in performance and comfort level were found between the CBD group and the healthy control group.

Finally, an anecdotal account from an individual on goodhousingkeeping.com reports that after self-dosing over the course of a few weeks by using CBD oil in the form of a vape pen, her anxiety quickly dissipated and she felt “noticeably calmer”.

Conclusion

The current research provides some pretty convincing evidence to support the claim of CBD oil for anxiety. This is great news considering the high number of people suffering from some form of anxiety; A supplemental treatment like CBD oil is a welcome option. If you have any questions about CBD for anxiety or any other related questions, do not hesitate to contact us through the onsite chat feature on located at the bottom right of the screen.

Before you go, just remember:

• It is not uncommon to feel anxious from time to time, but a constant affliction could be considered a mental disorder
• As many as 1 in 5 Americans and about 4% of the world population suffer from some level of anxiety
• CBD interacts with neurotransmitters throughout your body providing anti-anxiety and other numerous health benefits
• Recent research has shown CBD can effectively reduce symptoms of anxiety and maintain positive results with continued use