Mental Health and Wellbeing: How Can CBD Help You?

Mental health diseases are more prevalent in our society than you think.

In the United States, about one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder every year. In the U.K, the statistics are a little higher for working-age adults, with one in six adults experiencing symptoms of mental health disorders.

Anxiety has surpassed depression as the most prevalent mental health illness. Six out of ten people turn to CBD products to treat their mental health problems rather than take widely prescribed medications.

Why is that?

We’ve done the research, so you don’t have to. In this article, we’ll explore CBD, its far-ranged benefits, and how it can help you nurture your mental health and wellbeing.

Let’s get to it.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (short for CBD) is a naturally occurring compound (cannabinoids) found in Cannabis plants. CBD is one of two main active phytocannabinoids concentrated in the flower of a cannabis plant and has a rich history of therapeutic properties.

Often, people use hemp, cannabis, and marijuana interchangeably. Some even mistakenly believe that CBD is found in hemp and not marijuana, but these reports are pretty inaccurate on multiple levels.

Hemp and Marijuana are from one genus family — Cannabacae but have key distinctions between them. For starters, hemp differs genetically from marijuana. It contains minimal THC — usually less than 0.3 percent by dry weight.

Hemp differs from marijuana phenotypically in that it has a solid fibrous stalk and grows taller with fewer flowering buds than marijuana.

On the other hand, CBD is closely linked to another medicinally essential phytocannabinoid — tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the compound that gives cannabis its well-known “high.” Unlike THC, Cannabidiol does not induce a high in consumers but instead acts beneficially on their physiology.

Thus arguably, CBD has some psychoactive properties that may alter your mood, like the caffeine in coffee would, but not get you stoned.

CBD vs. THC

Another key distinction between THC and CBD is in the way they react with the body.

CBD interacts indirectly with the CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are the principal cannabinoid receptors in the body. These receptors maintain and regulate functions associated with inflammation, mood, pain management, and a few others.

Various research suggests that CBD has positive impacts on mental health illnesses and physical illnesses such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, chronic body pain, inflammation, epilepsy, and seizures.

Great — So, What About THC?

THC’s relationship with CBD is like a cousin that goes all out in a family gathering. Everyone knows when it’s around and feels its presence — the high-effect.

THC influences the CB1 receptors found in the brain and central nervous system, making it very psychoactive. Asides from this, THC has therapeutic effects on arthritis, inflammation, and chronic fatigue.

Some researchers claim that, since CBD and THC are both found in cannabis plants, CBD can reduce the psychoactive effects of THC when paired together in a product. Though this depends significantly on its composition and how much you consume.

The high effect makes THC have an enormous following, especially with young adults. But, people looking for the medicinal benefits of cannabis without the “all-time high” — or with less of it — often go for CBD products.

CBD and Mental Health

Recent research has debunked the initial fears around misconceptions of CBD; hence CBD products are now a thing of interest.

According to the Permanente Journal, eight out of ten CBD users experienced reduced anxiety. As a result, health professionals now consider CBD use for its positive mental health effects on patients.

Uses of CBD for Mental Health Disorders

CBD treats mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. It also helps with progressive neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and dementia, leading to a decline in mental health in patients.

Here’s how CBD helps with mental health illnesses.

Anxiety

Anxiety in young adults has more than trebled since 1998. Statista reports that 38 percent of adults in Britain took CBD products for anxiety, and 40 percent agreed to CBD being more effective than regular medicines for treating anxiety.

It’s easy to understand why this is. Most people suffering from mental health disorders would rather opt for a low-cost treatment than go for a therapy that costs hundreds of pounds.

A low-income citizen suffering from anxiety may have to work extra hours to afford a session. Some anxiety medications are not even insured to make things worse, making it difficult to manage their symptoms.

As a result, many people who suffer from anxiety tend to forego medical care and cognitive therapy in favor of using Cannabidiol (CBD) to control and treat their symptoms.

CBD products such as CBD oils are effective for various types of anxiety disorders like:

• Social anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder

However, scientists are still researching the long-term effects of CBD oil on these health conditions.

Depression

Major depression is a severe mental disorder. It causes severe cognitive impairments that interfere with or impede people’s ability to carry out major life activities.

About 17.3 million people living in the U.S have had a minimum of one major depressive episode, with the symptoms being more prevalent in women at 8.7 percent than men at 5.3 percent.

A 2018 study showed that CBD produces antidepressant effects depending on the serotonin levels in the brain. Low levels of serotonin in the brain might cause depression to progress rapidly.

Some antidepressants interact with these serotonin receptors found in the brain to produce effects. Hence, CBD does not increase serotonin levels but rather affects how the brain responds to them.

Sleeping Disorders

Sleep is integral to mental health and overall wellbeing. Adults require seven or more hours of sleep daily, yet up to 16 million adults in the U.K find it hard to sleep at night.

This is a challenge because lack of sleep can lead to various health problems such as depression, obesity, and heart disease.

One study showed that after a month of taking an average of 25mg of CBD daily, 65 percent of adults with anxiety and poor sleep had some improvements. Though those scores fluctuated over time, it also suggested that CBD’s calming effects can help patients improve sleeping disorders.

How can CBD Nurture Mental Health and Wellbeing?

When it comes to your physical health and wellbeing, simple things like regular exercise and a balanced diet can help put you on track. But with mental health, it’s not such a straightforward process — you may need the extra support from friends, family, and conventional or alternative medicine.

CBD is one form of alternative medicine. It interacts with a part of our physiology called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS).

ECS regulates and balances many cognitive and physiological processes associated with immune response, cell communication, pain sensitivity, mood, memory formation, and more.

The ECS regulates these processes by producing cannabinoids, which CBD and THC interact with to provide numerous benefits. Also, the ECS is mainly located in the Central Nervous System (CNS).

As a result, previous research and lab tests on CBD have shown compelling evidence to support improved health conditions associated with the CNS, like epilepsy in children, pain, inflammation, and sleep disorders.

This compelling evidence of positive impact on our mental health and wellbeing indicates how CBD is invaluable.

Turning CBD Into an Active Lifestyle

CBD comes in different forms and products that make it easy to incorporate into your daily lifestyle.

It is imperative to note that CBD can be extracted from both hemp and marijuana. This knowledge will influence the type of CBD product you choose and use actively.

The CBD extracted from hemp plants contains trace amounts of THC that are insufficient to get you intoxicated. However, CBD from marijuana might have relatively more significant THC content, producing varying degrees of psychoactive effects.

CBD Types

CBD comes in three main types:

• Isolates: which contains only CBD
• Full-spectrum: a pure CBD oil extracted from the main hemp plant and contains all its phytochemicals like essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre. The Full-spectrum CBD also has a THC content that is below 0.2 percent in Europe and 0.3 percent in the U.S.
• Broad-spectrum: which is extracted from Full-spectrum CBD but undergoes a process to remove all THC content. Though the broad-spectrum CBD lacks THC, it contains other cannabinoids that can produce the entourage effect.

CBD Products

CBD products can come in different forms like edibles or skin products such as:

• CBD oils
• CBD gummies
• CBD tinctures
• CBD oils
• CBD ointments
• CBD creams and balms.

The current CBD regulations have made it possible to influx commercially substandard CBD products into the market. These products may be adulterated or contain very high THC content passed off as CBD products.

Thus, we advise that you buy these CBD products only from trusted stores, pharmacies, and websites.

Last Words on CBD and Mental Health

When you use or take CBD products or supplements at the optimal dosage, it improves your wellbeing and maintains optimum health.

CBD’s calming effects on the brain also helps you sleep better and feeling refreshed when you wake up. Along with these benefits, CBD ensures you lower stress hormones, thereby maintaining a balanced emotional state.