Some possible good news at last! It seems like after two months, we may be seeing some light at the end of the long coronavirus tunnel. With the hope that we may be through the worst of the pandemic, many states and municipalities are relaxing restrictions and allowing some businesses and individuals to return to work.
It might be too early to tell if we are truly out of the woods yet regarding the virus itself and the consequences of the shutdowns, but at least we are slowly starting to see a return to normalcy. At Urban Roots, we understand that the transition back to work and to any kind of “normal” will not be without its challenges.
People will still continue to get sick, many people will still be unable to go back to work, some businesses will unfortunately never reopen, and we may be in for some tough economic times ahead. But we are staying optimistic and know that the only way forward is to remain positive, do your best to stay healthy, and take everything one day at a time.
States May Reopen, but Anxiety Will Remain
As long as people take proper precautions, reopening is a good thing. Going back to work is a good thing. Not letting the virus keep you at home cowering in fear is a good thing. However, for many people, spending more time out in the world and going back to work while the virus is still prevalent and spreading fills them with anxiety. And that anxiety is understandable.
Many of those people who have felt and are still feeling anxious about the COVID-19 situation are turning to CBD to help calm their nerves. As we stated in a previous article of ours, according to the Brightfield Group, 50% of CBD users purchased more products than they normally would over the past six to eight weeks. They also found that users were using CBD more frequently and in higher doses to try and cope with the present situation.
We think it’s great that many people are trying to improve their mental health and cope with an uncertain world using natural, healthy, therapeutic methods like CBD. Needless to say, self-medicating with cannabidiol is healthier than self-medicating heavily with alcohol or other harmful substances.
In addition to CBD, we also recommend trying to focus on the things you can control in your life, instead of driving yourself crazy worrying about all the big problems in the world. Easier said than done, I know, but this type of thinking will become even more important as you return to work and the outside world. Take the correct precautions and keep yourself informed, but, if you are feeling stressed out, a little tunnel vision now and then might do some good.
The Case for CBD and Anxiety
Before we dive into how to go about using CBD to help anxiety, let’s lay out the evidence that CBD has a positive effect on anxiety in the first place. We’ve shared some of these studies before in other articles and are just adding them here in case you missed them.
- Here is a 2011 study that found that CBD helped combat social anxiety.
- This 2015 review of 49 studies found evidence that CBD has strong potential as a treatment for general anxiety, panic disorder, PTSD, social anxiety, and more.
- This study from 2019 found that CBD improved 80% of the subjects’ anxiety and 70% of the subjects’ sleep in the first month.
- A 2010 study found that cannabidiol could reduce symptoms of social anxiety in people with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Brain scans of participants revealed changes in blood flow to the regions of the brain linked to feelings of anxiety.
How to Use CBD for Anxiety
Over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, many people have begun using CBD for the very first time. Whether they were only just able to learn about it or they needed a global pandemic to give the last push to finally try it, the good news is more people are consuming it.
However, the problem is that, because CBD has really exploded over the past several years, there is a lot of misinformation out there. What’s more is that many new CBD consumers may not quite understand how it works or think it is a cure-all that will solve all their problems within minutes of the first tincture hitting their lips.
You should not expect instant results. A lot of new CBD users will become discouraged when it doesn’t work exactly the way they want or expected it to immediately. Stick with it! Try different doses or different delivery methods but, above all else, give it time to build up in your system. CBD can affect everyone differently but, for many people, taking a daily dose is the best way to see results.
For the majority of consumers, CBD is subtle and it takes time to build up in their bodies. As CBD is distributed throughout their endocannaboid system, they may feel relaxed but not intoxicated. Others report feeling something similar to a “runner’s high”, which is essentially a flood of endorphins that lifts your mood in a completely natural way. Some users often experience a heightened sense of awareness, ability to focus better, and an overall sense of well-being.
Where to Start with Taking CBD?
The fact of the matter is that the amount of time it takes for an individual to notice the benefits of CBD will vary from person to person. How quickly you feel CBD depends on a variety of factors. Here’s where we suggest starting:
- Determine what type of CBD product works best for you. Everybody’s body is different, and that means that different people respond differently to certain modes of consumption. CBD products can be ingested orally, inhaled, or applied to the skin in the form of creams or lotions.
- Find the right dosage. Many CBD products will come with a recommended dosage, but it really depends on your own particular body. For that reason, it is necessary to experiment; start with a low dose and slowly increase it over time until you find your “sweet spot.”
- Give it time. Like we mentioned, for most people feeling the positive effects of CBD requires time. Think of consuming CBD like a commitment—users typically report that they need to ingest it for several weeks or even several months before they see a difference with whatever health issue they are trying to improve.
Conclusion
As we go back to work and try to return a degree of normalcy to our lives, many of us will continue to experience elevated levels of anxiety. CBD may be able to help ease the transition and make it easier for you to cope with the craziness going on around you (along with trying not to think about the craziness too much).
If you, like thousands of other Americans in recent weeks, are trying CBD for anxiety or other conditions for the first time, follow our advice about how to get started and use it effectively. Above all else, stay positive and focus on living the best life you can, regardless of what’s going on around you!