While science has not pinpointed the exact cause of anxiety and panic attacks, scientists have come to agree that CBD is potentially an effective treatment. This is huge for anyone who has had to cope with the physical and emotional upheaval, or deal with other people’s doubt or denial that the symptoms are real.
Millions of Americans Are Suffering
Anxiety disorder is affecting more and more people in Western countries, including the U.S. Those who have it feel awful, for reasons that are hard for them to explain.
Anxiety attacks start when a person reacts to a stressor, like feeling threatened or afraid of a particular event or situation. When the stressor goes away, so does the anxiety attack.
However, panic attacks (more formally called Panic Disorder) are not focused on a stressor. They relate to repeated and unanticipated feelings of intense fear, followed by symptoms that can feel like a heart attack.
Panic attacks can cause:
- chest pains
- pounding or racing heart
- tingling in various body parts
- chills
- dizziness and nausea or upset stomach
- terror such as fear of dying or losing control
- a feeling of deep anxiety between episodes
- a phobia about the place or situation where the attack took place
Negative Impacts That Can Escalate
Panic attacks can leave deep emotional scars and severely limit your life. They can progress into:
- avoiding certain environments or situations because they seem similar to the conditions of a previous attack
- avoiding crowds, enclosed areas, physical exercise — any place or activity where you feel you couldn’t escape during another attack
- inability to relax and feel like yourself between attacks and instead being overtaken by fear of another one
How CBD Oil Can Help Relieve Anxiety and Panic
A number of studies have looked into CBD as a treatment for anxiety and panic attacks, some showing that it may work by affecting serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical that occurs naturally in everyone’s body, helping to regulate mood, sleep, digestion and behavior.
Reported effects of CBD that could be helpful in treating anxiety include:
- uninterrupted sleep
- feeling more relaxed
- fewer racing thoughts
- improved ability to focus
- more positive outlook
A survey of 49 studies found other encouraging evidence that supported CBD as a treatment for:
- generalized anxiety disorder
- panic disorder
- PTSD
- other conditions including social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder
Getting Started With CBD For Anxiety
CBD tinctures and oils are a simple, accurate way to use CBD; making these products a great option for those looking for a natural way to deal with anxiety. The oils are made of CBD extracts combined with a carrier oil, usually coconut or hemp seed oil. Tinctures generally have CBD extracts in an alcohol base. Both forms of CBD:
- are taken with a dropper
- allow you to measure your intake
- are taken under the tongue
- enter the bloodstream quickly
- can produce results in a little as 10 minutes
- may last up to 3 or 4 hours
How Much CBD Should I Take For Anxiety
Low and slow is the best approach. And the right dose depends on a variety of factors:
- severity of your condition
- your weight and metabolism
- sensitivity to CBD
Pay close attention to your symptoms and take as little CBD as needed to ease them to a point where you feel better. Definitely start with a single, low dose each day. If needed, you can gradually increase the milligrams you take or add another dose. And of course, discuss all of this with your doctor beforehand.
Some average doses of CBD for anxiety would be:
- mild anxiety – 5 to 15mg
- moderate anxiety – 15 to 30mg
- severe anxiety – 30 to 60mg
More Steps You Can Take Toward Wellness
When you’re in the throes of a panic attack, it’s natural to want to do something to stop it. But some of the most common actions people take can actually make the situation worse.
What to avoid and why:
- Reaching for a cup of coffee – as a stimulant, caffeine can trigger various emotions including nervousness, nausea and lightheadedness
- Eating or drinking anything with refined or artificial sugar – these are challenging to avoid, so check labels if you’re not sure. Sugar has been shown to cause changes in the body that can make anxiety symptoms worse
- Turning to alcohol – sure, it seems like a stress reliever, but alcohol makes the levels of serotonin in your brain fluctuate. And that harms your physical and mental functioning. It can also speed up your heart rate
- Eating trans fats – aka hydrogenated fats, they’re found in commercial baked goods and lots of other treats. Studies have found trans fats can increase your risk of depression and may lead to more anxiety-like symptoms
Keep Working Toward Your Own Easy Day
The memories of your experiences with anxiety and panic attacks lasts a long time. They can really damage your self-confidence and disrupt your everyday life to the point where you barely recognize it.
After serving for a decade as a US Navy SEAL and then an additional five years as a High Threat Security Contractor I have experienced first hand the amount of time and focus it takes to “come back” and rewrite your life for the better. Trust me a well-balanced natural existence is well worth the time and discipline it takes to achieve and the benefits will reward you for the rest of your life
If you or a loved one are dealing with anxiety or panic attacks and you are interested in exploring what CBD might do to help; Easy Day Hemp offers a wide selection of CBD oils to choose from. Check them out here.