How Does CBD Affect Mental Health Disorders

Mental health is greatly called upon due to the increased number of cases worldwide. Mental health disorders affect a person’sbehavior, thinking, and mood. The requirements are manageable, but when not taken care of, it might result in serious health issues, for example, heart attack and stroke. Since the legalization of CBD by the food and drug administration(FDA), it has opened the way for more research on the potential benefits of CBD. CBD is a compound derived from cannabis; it is a greatly appreciated natural remedy for pain and its ability to alleviate mental disorders in humans and animals. This article discusses how CBD affects mental health disorders.

What is CBD

CBD is the second most known chemical compound derived from hemp and marijuana. Hemp-derived CBD is emphasized due to the smallernumber of resins. Hemp CBD is legal in over 50 states. Tetrahydrocannabinol is well-known for its psychoactive effect on the user. CBD and THC are derived from the same plant but have different effects on the body. CBD does not alter the mental state of the consumer; instead offers the body several health benefits, for example, pain relief, improve sleep, and alleviating mental disorders, including anxiety, stress, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Uses of CBD

For a thousand years, cannabis has been used for medical reasons. This plant has more than 100 cannabinoids, and CBD is purported to affect mental disorders significantly. Here are the uses of CBD,

Treating Epilepsy

CBD’s effect on the body does not have scientific backing, but it has proved reliable. CBD for treating epilepsy (epidiolex) is the only drug approved by the food and drug administration.Lennox-Gas taut syndrome and Dravet syndrome are conditions diagnosed in early childhood and may not respond to anti-seizure medications.According to Gray & Whalley(2020),patients with epilepsyindicated that thosewho were administered CBD had great improvement by reduced frequency of seizures compared to patients with a placebo.

Depression

Depression is a common mental health disorder faced by people today. For example, statistics indicate in the US, 17.3 million adults are affected yearly. Antidepressants and psychotherapy are usedfor treatment, but there have been alternative treatments. CBD has been studied and indicated potential antidepressant effects and thus can be used for treating depression. CBD interacts with the serotonin in the brain and helps maintain the levels because low serotonin amounts may lead to depression. CBD does not increase serotonin levels but affects how the brain responds tothe quantity available.

Anxiety

Many people experience anxiety. According to García-Gutiérrez et al. (2020),CBD can help with an anxiety disorder by alleviating its associated symptoms. CBD is found effective forvarious anxiety conditions, for example;

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Panic disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Generalized anxiety disorder

However, there is a need for further studies, although the substance has considerable potential to help with anxiety.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder is characterized bynightmares, intrusive thoughts, re-experiencing traumatic events, and avoiding things that might trigger traumatic events.According to Bitencourt & Takahashi(2018), CBD can help reduce PTSD by targeting the symptoms due to the relaxing and soothing effect on the body and the brain. Specialists suggest that CBD infused in the normal routine of the patients works best.

Sleep Difficulties

Sleep is essential for a healthy life. However, due to different factors, for example, health conditions and lifestyle people have. Sleep is a critical component for general well-being and mental health. It is advisable to get enough quality sleep since lack of sleep is connected to diabetes, obesity, depression, and heart disease.In the study, people with anxiety and sleep issues experienced improved sleep and reduced anxiety after using CBD, as suggested by Teitelbaum(2019). Most people were administered 25 milligrams of CBD. People respond differently to CBD, and thus it is important to start low and small and gradually increase the amount to get the amount that works for you.

What Are the Factors Which Cause Different Experiences?

Body Weight

Body weight can determine the amount of CBD you need to get the desired experience. People with large body weights need more CBD than those with small bodies.

Potency Of CBD Used

CBD strength is vital for the effect experience. High-potent CBD offers a fast effect compared to low-potent ones. Therefore, before purchasing any CBD product, consider the potency.

The Type ofCBD In the Product

There are three types of CBD; full spectrum, broad spectrum, and CBD isolate.

Full spectrum CBD.

Full spectrum CBD has all compounds of the plant, including THC. Although many people avoid THC for its psychoactive effect, studies indicate that CBD and THC complement each other’sproperties; form an entourage effect. This offers the body more benefits. Also, an increase infull-spectrumCBD dosage increases the impact.

Broad spectrum CBD.

This contains other plant components, such as terpenes, all cannabinoids, and flavonoids except THC. This is best for people who avoid THC but do not mind benefiting from other compounds.

CBD isolate.

It is also called pure CBD because it does not have other plant components. The CBD isolate effect is constant despite the increase in dosage.

The market is flooded with counterfeit products, which might harm the user more than good. Ensure you purchase a high-quality product for a better experience. The following will help you pick the best quality out of many on the shelves,

• Source of CBD (plant extracted, region)
• Manufacturers reputation
• Extraction method
• Third-party tested
• Certificate of analysis (COA)

Conclusion

CBD is greatly appreciated as a natural remedy for people's health issues. For example, pain relief help with mental disorders, including anxiety, sleep issues, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and epilepsy. CBD for epilepsy is the only one medically approved for use by the food and drug administration. Others have limited research and thus call for more information. The legalization of CBD propelled massive growth of companies making different products, and therefore markets flooded with poor quality. Get the best quality product by considering extraction considering, the party test source of CBD, andthe manufacturer's reputation. There are different ways of taking CBD for mental health disorders. Consider trying all and settle for the one that works best for you.

References

Bitencourt, R. M., & Takahashi, R. N. (2018). Cannabidiol as a therapeutic alternative for post-traumatic stress disorder: From bench research to confirmation in human trials. Frontiers in neuroscience, 502.

Teitelbaum, J. (2019). A hemp oil, CBD, and marijuana primer: powerful pain, insomnia, and anxiety-relieving tools. Altern. Ther. Health Med, 25, 21-23.

Gray, R. A., & Whalley, B. J. (2020). The proposed mechanisms of action of CBD in epilepsy. Epileptic Disorders, 22, S10-S15.

García-Gutiérrez, M. S., Navarrete, F., Gasparyan, A., Austrich-Olivares, A., Sala, F., & Manzanares, J. (2020). Cannabidiol: a potential new alternative for treating anxiety, depression, and psychotic disorders. Biomolecules, 10(11), 1575