Clinical evidence supports CBD’s anxiolytic, antistress, and anticompulsive properties; its benefits may help alleviate anxiety through actions such as conditioning fear extinction, reconsolidation blockade and autonomic arousal reduction. Furthermore, CBD also has minimal sedative properties.
Researchers conducted a small study where CBD reduced social anxiety among men who needed to give an simulated public speech.
1. Reduces stress
CBD products range from oils to edibles, and inhaling CBD-dominant cannabis (containing no more than 0.3% THC) has shown promise for relieving stress and anxiety; indeed, according to a 2022 Nature study people suffering from social anxiety disorder reported feeling less stressed during simulated public speaking events after four weeks of using CBD oil.
The same study demonstrated that CBD significantly reduced blood-oxygen level dependent activation of the amygdala and medial temporal areas during a fearful faces task, as well as reduced skin conductance response amplitude associated with amygdala activity. Furthermore, dynamic causal modeling suggested that CBD significantly reduced forward functional connectivity between amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex in response to fearful stimuli.
Rodents exposed to chronic unpredictable stress responded more positively when given CBD than when not. Unfortunately, this research only involved acute dosing of CBD with healthy subjects; further investigation of its therapeutic and chronic effects are necessary in specific clinical populations.
2. Reduces anxiety
Studies conducted on CBD’s effect on anxiety have demonstrated its ability to significantly decrease both short and long-term stress responses. By suppressing neurotransmitters involved with the fight or flight response, it helps calm the body. Furthermore, CBD improves sleep which in turn helps decrease anxiety.
CBD’s anxiolytic effects in animal models of innate fear and anxiety have been associated with specific receptors and brain regions. CBD was shown to counter the increased heart rate and blood pressure induced by restraint stress through CB1R activation; furthermore it repressed THC’s anxiogenic effects by blocking NMDA receptor antagonism [79, 80].
A 2022 Nature study reported that those suffering from generalized social anxiety who used cannabis products with high-CBD and low-THC content experienced reduced symptoms compared to placebo participants. While this research is promising, further examination is required in order to fully comprehend CBD’s anxiolytic properties.
3. Improves sleep
Sleep deprivation or insufficient restfulness can exacerbate anxiety and contribute to insomnia as a side effect of anxiety. CBD has been shown to aid sleep by improving restfulness and helping individuals get a good night’s rest.
One study conducted on college students with anxiety who took 50 mg of CBD orally or a placebo for one month reported an improvement in sleep quality after just that amount of time, as measured by researchers who also measured anxiety levels after one month – with participants receiving CBD groups having significantly reduced anxiety levels after only 30 days of treatment.
CBD has been successfully tested in animal models of general anxiety using elevated plus maze and Vogel conflict tests, where it demonstrated anxiolytic effects at moderate doses with a bell-shaped dose-response curve. Furthermore, CBD reduced fear expression while improving contextual fear conditioning extinction rates.
Studies conducted over recent years have demonstrated that CBD helps individuals suffering from social anxiety disorder (SAD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) manage their anxiety by decreasing nightmares and the replaying of painful memories, while simultaneously helping promote restful sleep.
4. Reduces pain
CBD may help alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms by acting on over 65 receptors in your brain – including some which increase levels of serotonin production – but other receptors and brain pathways may also play a part.
Studies on both animals and humans demonstrate that CBD can effectively treat anxiety. CBD reduces anxiety-like behavior in animal models by inhibiting activity of the amygdala, an area which controls autonomic and behavioral responses to fear and threat. A microinjection of CBD into midbrain dorsal periaqueductal gray (DPAG) was shown to decrease stress-induced anxiolytic effects via 5-HT1ARs in EPM and VGC areas while not providing any benefits in bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), which mediates behavioral effects related to fearful stimulus.
CBD products can be bought both online and in store, but it’s essential that they’re carefully scrutinized prior to purchasing. Look for certificates from accredited laboratories stating the chemical analysis of the product; additionally, consult with your physician regarding an ideal dosage level.
