Does CBD help with mood?

28 Jul Does CBD help with mood?

Posted in Blog, Health, by naturecan

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With the importance of looking after your mental health in focus now more than ever, the issue of stress management is dominating the conversation. From day-to-day worries to long-term stress, we explore if CBD can provide support for one of the world’s biggest problems.

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DEALING WITH ANXIETY

Being anxious about certain situations in life is absolutely normal. Facing something we think is threatening or frightening, such as job interviews, money worries, or issues with personal relationships, is what causes anxiety to build. Our body naturally kicks in to make our thinking more alert, as well as giving us physiological feedback through an increased heart rate and perspiration. And although this can be beneficial in some instances, long-term acute and chronic anxiety can be extremely unhelpful with long-term impacts on health and mental well-being. From minor issues such as fear of public speaking to recurring situations like the struggle to socialize in large groups or maintain calmness in daily traffic – it can have a significant effect on how we live our lives.
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WHAT IS CBD AND DOES IT SUPPORT MOOD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a completely non-psychoactive extract of the cannabis plant, one of over 100 natural components, processed to remove THC content. This cannabinoid reacts with our body’s endocannabinoid system to give users the benefits without the unwanted ‘high’.

CBD works by interacting with one of the body’s own regulatory system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). We have endocannabinoid receptors almost everywhere in the body and it is part of our nervous system. We find them most abundantly in the brain but also in the gut, reproductive system, bones and immune cells.

The ECS plays an essential role in keeping the body within a narrow range of operating conditions and controls important functions like mood, memory, stress, sleep, behaviour, appetite, immune function and reproductive health. In the body we naturally produce chemical substances called endocannabinoids, which bind to the endocannabinoid receptors and regulate all of these functions. Because of this, the endocannabinoid system holds an important role in keeping us healthy.

So, for those who suffer from stress (whatever the level of severity), CBD is a way to help restore the balance within your body – working naturally to reduce your prolonged, unsettling sense of alertness, and bring an end to other psychological and physiological effects as a result.

WILL IT WORK FOR YOU?

From different strengths and products you use, to the level of anxiety experienced on a day-to-day basis, this is where results will depend on the individual and their specific CBD use. For the majority of us, real anxiety will only kick in during moments of fear, especially in anticipation. And again, for the majority of us, public speaking is our least favourite thing to do. This is the simplest example to demonstrate how anxiety can attack the body – leading to sleepless nights, sweaty palms, and the failure to deliver on the day.

In a 2018 study, male subjects received CBD before undergoing a simulated public speaking test. The researchers found that an oral dose of 300 mg, administered 90 minutes before the test, was enough to significantly reduce the speakers’ anxiety.² And it’s this strong indication that’s enough to make most professionals take notice. Also highlighting that you don’t have to be an extreme sufferer to adopt this method of natural support for stress management.

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FINDING YOUR ANSWER

Although more research is needed when it comes to generalized anxiety, these promising studies offer some positive indications that CBD may be an effective option for dealing with symptoms of stress, each and every day.

Stress affects us all in different ways. So when it comes to tackling symptoms, as well as long-term solutions, it will always come down to the individual. With different strengths of CBD available, as well as different ways to take it, it’s recommended to introduce it slowly so you can adjust dosage to meet your needs.