You may be wondering if taking CBD could actually increase your anxiety instead of relieving it. Research has shown that CBD can decrease anxiety or have no effect on anxiety even at high doses, while THC decreases anxiety at lower doses and increases it at higher doses. After two years of taking prescription medications, I decided to stop and noticed that my anxiety was worse than before. My doctor suggested things like meditating and bathing, but nothing seemed to help.
All my symptoms had returned and I was willing to try anything. I hadn't eaten much processed or added sugar in about 10 years, so I decided to completely eliminate it, just in case it was the cause of my chronic headaches. I carefully examined the wellness department of health food stores and tried everything (melatonin, valerian root, kava) to no avail. Because of the way CBD interacts with the human body, it doesn't cause rebound anxiety.
Rebound anxiety is a bodily response to withdrawal from a substance or medication. CBD does not affect brain pathways related to dependency and therefore cannot create this response. I started taking CBD oil and then hemp oil because I had heard a lot of stories about its benefits for anxiety and pain reduction. After a couple of months of heightened anxiety, I established the connection between the hemp oil pill and my depressed mood.
When I stopped taking hemp oil, I felt an immediate improvement in my emotional well-being. My story isn't typical, but I wanted to share it in case others have had a similar experience. Smoking or vaping CBD oil can provide immediate relaxation that can help people during especially stressful events, such as giving a speech. A study found that men who took 300 milligrams (mg) of CBD oil reported having less anxiety than men who received a placebo; however, men who took 100 mg or 600 mg of CBD oil did not experience the same effects. Knowing that the oil had also helped people with sleep problems, I put a dropper filled with Everyday Plus oil on my tongue, as instructed, and waited. A study that compared the effects of THC and CBD found that while THC increased anxiety by activating neurotransmitters involved in the fight or flight response, CBD actually suppressed autonomic arousal or nervous system response associated with sudden increases in heart rate or breathing.
