Benefits of CBD in Treating Social Anxiety Disorder

CBD contains antidepressants that interact with the body to improve confidence to interact with others in a social set-up.

CBD has been gaining popularity and demand for various health applications. Although extensive research is required to establish how CBD works, it has various medicinal purposes, such as pain, inflammation, and relief. However, a growing amount of evidence shows that CBD might help those with anxiety. Ideally, social anxiety disorder inhibits an individual’s capacity to interact with others without getting irritated. CBD contains multiple properties that can improve mood and suppress anxiety, allowing the patient to relate with others without fear. The current article explores how CBD interacts with the body to reduce social anxiety disorder.

What is CBD?

The cannabis plant has been a part of man's social life for a long time. Research shows that the 5000-year-old studies of CBD for various recreational, medicinal, and therapeutic applications provide optimism for its significance in healthcare products. Many people, however, don't know that the plant has two variants; Hemp and Marijuana plant. The Marijuana plant has a high percentage of a compound called THC responsible for the 'high' effect; this has placed the plant under the strictest laws. On the other hand, CBD lacks the psychoactive THC. However, it has been in the spotlight for having different properties that might treat various diseases.

How CBD Works

The human body is full of endocannabinoid system receptors; these protein-based chemical structures can be found all over the body and are responsible for sending and receiving information from different cells. The receptor cells system contains structures similar to cannabinoids (Corroon & Felice, 2019). CBD reacts with two main receptors in the endocannabinoid system, CB1, and CB2. Although research is ongoing to determine how CBD interacts with the brain, studies show that it interacts with these receptors to alter certain body functions. CBD inhibits the endocannabinoid system’s interpretation of pain and inflammation; this is how CBD helps with pain and inflammation. For instance, CBD can adjust serotonin levels; this neurotransmitter is responsible for mood and sleep. 

CBD for Anxiety

There may be several causes for anxiety; past trauma or social anxiety. CBD has been in the spotlight as one of the options for treating anxiety (Blessing et al., 2015). The ability of CBD to influence serotonin levels might affect your mood, helping those with depression, PTSD, and anxiety (Stein et al.,2008). Notably, social disorder anxiety leads to irrational social interactions. Patients get irritated with trivial aspects; hence they need a drug to improve their moods. As aforementioned, CBD interacts with the ECS receptors to improve mood. Therefore, it may be useful for social anxiety disorder.

How to Know the Right Dosage for Your Anxiety

There is no specific dosage of CBD for anxiety. However, if you are using CBD products for anxiety, start and adjust as you get used to it. You might start by using one drop per a specific time interval as you feel the effect. The dosage varies due to factors like body mass, weight, and the form of CBD used. Notably, the method of consumption determines the amount of time for the CBD effects to manifest in the body. For example, edibles might take longer than tinctures because they go through the digestive system before getting absorbed into the bloodstream. Learn more about can cbd help with an itchy scalp

Are CBD products Safe?

Choosing the right CBD product is vital for anxiety. Full-spectrum CBD might contain some level of THC, intoxicating anxiety patients. Hence, ensure that your full-spectrum product has THC level of 0.3% or lower. There side effects associated to CBD products. However, many of these side effects are tolerable and vary from person to person. Taking a large dosage of CBD products might lead to side effects like fatigue, diarrhea, and a change in appetite (Drennan et al., 2020). Hence, users should seek medical advice when the side effects persist. 

Conclusion

Although research on the efficacy of CBD products for anxiety is ongoing, there is a rise in the demand for CBD products. Recent research has shown that CBD can treat anxiety. CBD products have properties that interact with the ECS receptors spread throughout the body to correct body imbalances that lead to anxiety. CBD products come in different forms, consumption methods, and spectrums. Hence, users should select the products depending on their needs and preferences. While the human body tolerates CBD, improper usage could lead to mild side effects like dry mouth, diarrhea, and nausea. First-time users should seek medical advice before they adopt CBD for social anxiety disorder.

References

Blessing, E. M., Steenkamp, M. M., Manzanares, J., &Marmar, C. R. (2015). Cannabidiol as a             potential treatment for anxiety disorders. Neurotherapeutics, 12(4), 825-836.

Corroon, J., & Felice, J. F. (2019). The Endocannabinoid System and its Modulation by             Cannabidiol (CBD). Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine, 25.

Drennan, M. L., Karoly, H. C., Bryan, A. D., Hutchison, K. E., & Bidwell, L. C. (2021). Acute             objective and subjective intoxication effects of legal-market high potency THC-dominant             versus             CBD-dominant cannabis concentrates. Scientific reports, 11(1), 1-10.

Stein, M. B., Schork, N. J., & Gelernter, J. (2008). Gene-by-environment (serotonin transporter    and childhood maltreatment) interaction for anxiety sensitivity, an intermediate           phenotype for anxiety disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology, 33(2), 312-319.