Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is one of the most common mental disorders, which results from excessive worry about work, health, and relationships. Symptoms of GAD include feeling restless, tired, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances. According to the WHO, millions of people worldwide are experiencing anxiety disorders, such as GAD, and thus care for the same becomes necessary. Psychometric treatment, SSRIs, and lifestyle changes have been considered the conventional treatments of GAD. While the quest for alternative medicines has grafted CBD, a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, as a potential “anxiety drug”.
CBD: How Does It Work?
The cannabis plant has more than 100 cannabinoids. Most of which many users are familiar with, include CBD for anxiety. CBD does not produce any psychoactivity unlike THC. As such, it is considered safe for patients that want to be treated for anxiety without psychotropy. Cannabidiol is believed to act through the ECS system by stimulating mood-related, anxiety, and stress chemicals within the brain. CBD is believed to stimulate the activation of serotonin receptors within the brain, thereby increasing happiness and well-being. Cannabidiol modulates the ECS and serotonin activity, which may reduce anxious thoughts and emotional power.
Research of the Evidence of CBD in Anxiety Control
CBD has been very promising for anxiety treatment, but primarily for GAD. CBD reduced the amount of anxious feelings in animal and human studies. According to a “Journal of Clinical Psychology” study, CBD significantly reduced social anxiety compared to the placebo group in a 2019 study. A recent systematic review in “Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research” showed that Cannabidiol actually lowered anxiety in clinical and non-clinical populations. Already available evidence also suggests that Cannabidiol may potentially be an excellent add-on therapy for GAD and comorbid anxiety states. More research is warranted.
Traditional Anxiety Treatments
The safety of CBD for anxiety is another critical benefit in managing GAD. CBD is, in general, very well tolerated; it is not like prescription anti-anxiety medication that has a high propensity for abuse, tolerance, sedation, and impairments of cognitive ability. This Cannabidiol is of great interest to those who seek a more natural way of alleviating anxiety. There are Cannabidiol oils, CBD capsules, sweets, and topicals.
Thus, users can choose the preparation that best suits them. A huge point of this CBD’s treatment of symptoms related to anxiety without causing any side effects is for a more holistic approach towards psychological interventions that promote total well-being rather than suppressing the symptoms. The application of Cannabidiol in mental health conditions, like GAD, will keep growing with time as research becomes better. As patient advocacy continues to push for holistic and alternative medicines, interest in the effectiveness and mechanism of Cannabidiol has been growing.
