The shocking recent deaths of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade have brought depression and other mental health issues into the spotlight. Mental health illnesses such as anxiety and depression have been around for over thousands of years, but it is now just recently receiving the support it needs, and for those who suffer from it.
You may find yourself questioning how you can help support a loved one who’s going through a very rough time or perhaps battling with mental health yourself.
If you or someone you know is suffering from anxiety or depression, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Even reports of some well-known celebrities have come forth, opening up stories that even they have experienced the devastating effects of it.
Anxiety-related disorders affect a huge portion of our population – over 40 million (up to 18%) adults aged 18 or older in the United States. This proves that anxiety, depression, or any other mental health related illness can affect an individual regardless of age, gender, or lifestyle.
What Is Anxiety and Depression?
Let’s not confuse anxiety with depression – they can occur simultaneously and symptoms can be very similar, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the same.
Anxiety a general term used for several disorders that cause an emotional state of fear, nervousness, worry and apprehension to the extent that usual daily tasks start to become a challenge.
Depression on the other hand, is a serious but also common medical illness that negatively affects how an individual may act, think, or feel – often times it causes the affected individual to lose interest and decrease his/her ability to function properly at work or at home.
Symptoms
- Recurring and ongoing feelings of worry, with or without known stressors
- Avoiding certain situations which may incur intensive levels of worriness
- Trouble sleeping
- Irritability
- Palpitations
- Inability to stay calm or still, feelings of uneasiness
- Feeling helpless, worthless, sadness, empty or anxious
What Is Hemp Oil?
There’s a lot of confusion revolving around CBD, mainly because at first glance you would assume that it’s practically some form of marijuana – and when we mention marijuana, you think of either being “high” or “stoned”.
Well, when it comes to CBD that’s only half-right. Both hemp and marijuana are forms of cannabis. Cannabis is the genus and general umbrella term where all of the other forms of marijuana and hemp fall under. Similarly, people often confuse the word marijuana with cannabis, which is incorrect.
When you purchase cannabidiol oil, you should opt for CBD derived from hemp. This is because hemp-derived oil is legally safe with 0.03% or less amounts of THC – the single cannabinoid ultimately responsible for inducing psychoactive effects and feelings of intoxication and being “high”.
What About Full Spectrum Oil For Anxiety?
You’ve probably stumbled upon this article because you’d like to know more about full spectrum for anxiety. Cannabidiol Hemp Oil works for anxiety and depression by binding to cannabinoid receptors, particularly called CB1.
You have receptors all throughout your body – tiny proteins attached to your cells that receive chemical signals and then help your cells respond. Picture it this way: cannabinoids works in a way that it interacts with a particular neurotransmitter called GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid). This neurotransmitter transmits messages from a brain cell to another – often something similar to saying, “slow down” or “power down”.
The effects of millions of neurons responding to CBD’s supplementary interactions with the body’s system helps reduce anxiety, calm down the nervous system, relax the muscles, and help with sleep.
A 2015 research analysis of previous studies regarding CBD for anxiety disorders concluded that Cannabidiol could become an alternative to potentially treating numerous different forms of anxiety, including panic disorders, social anxiety disorders (SAD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for short-term relief.
Full Spectrum Hemp Oil contains a substantial amount of different phytocannabinoids, terpenes, minerals and vitamins essential for the neurological and endocannabinoid system – but with one very good catch, it has very little chance or no chance at all at producing the negative side effects that often come with using regularly prescribed medication for anxiety disorders or depression.
The phytocannabinoids in hemp-derived full spectrum oil play an important role in the body’s endocannabinoid system, or ECS. The ECS is a complex system full of natural biochemicals and responding receptors that are responsible for the brain and body to function properly, such as:
- Mood
- Sleep
- Pain perception
- Memory
- Appetite
- Stress recovery
One 2012 article posted in the Journal of Psychopharmacology has considered the ECS as a regulatory buffer system for emotional responses, suggesting that it can also be essential that the system’s health is critical for maintaining healthy levels of anxiety.
Terpenes are abundant in Full Spectrum Oil. These terpenes emit fragrant oils that provide anti-anxiety benefits. Certain fragrances have been found to work better at providing relief for anxiety.
Some terpenes, such as linalool emit a citrus, spice or floral smell that has many benefits towards relief for anxiety, insomnia and stress. Additionally, limonene has a lemon or orange scent which can provide supplementary benefits for anti-anxiety.
Why Is It Gaining Popularity Over Traditional Medicine?
Many suffering from anxiety disorders are prescribed benzodiazepines, like Valium, Klonopin, and Xanax, but these traditional drugs can be very addictive and often make the users feel disoriented and lethargic. According to Dr. Junella Chin, who has been incorporating medical cannabis into her treatments since 2001,
“Anti-anxiety medications have many side effects: cognitive deficits, unusual sleep behaviours, allergic reactions, impairment of driving, decreasing blood pressure, depression, loss of coordination, and increased risk of falling in the elderly.” CBD on the other hand, can effectively provide the same benefits as benzodiazepines but without the undesired negative side effects often accompanied with them.
Final Thoughts
Evidence from animal studies and research on it’s effects on humans have begun to distinguish the effects that CBD has on the brain and body. Furthermore, research based on human studies of patients with anxiety disorders are beginning to justify Cannabidiol’s therapeutic benefits not only for anxiety-related disorders, but also for a wide array of different common health conditions. However, when looking for the best CBD for your needs, you’ll want to consider pure and organic Full Spectrum Hemp Oil or Nano Enhanced CBD Isolate depending on your preferences for both varieties, as each form of CBD has its own benefits for each individual.