Mental health is a broad spectrum of various conditions, such as anxiety or depression. They manifest differently in everyone, with some individuals experiencing severe symptoms while others go through milder sensations. But, no matter the case, seeking treatment and getting the necessary help is essential to elevate your mental status.
However, unlike most conditions, mental health is not easy to treat. It requires visiting different techniques before finding one that works. This includes trying out CBD, a compound in the cannabis plant popularly known for its healing properties. Recently, CBD has taken the limelight as a potential remedy for mental health conditions. Consequently, by 2019 there were more than 6 million google searches for CBD alone, so what makes this extract excellent for your psychological health? Here’s what you need to know:
Exploring CBD
Cannabidiol is a naturally occurring chemical in the Cannabis Sativa plant or hemp. CBD contains cannabinoids, which are feel-good molecules with THC levels under 0.3%, thereby preventing intoxication and making it legal to produce across 50 states, including Tennessee. This is one of the first states to approve the hemp program after the agricultural act of 2014 and then legalized hemp production along with derivates of CBD, such as delta 8, following the farm bill act of 2018.
Delta 8 is a synthetic compound from CBD oil produced under strict manufacturing conditions to prevent the formation of contaminants. Tennessee has one of the most extensive hemp programs with over 2,000 licensed growers, making it the best place for CBD products. This is why popular tourist sites like the Smokies and nearby towns like Gatlinburg may have stores where you can easily buy these derivates. So if you are in the marketplace and are looking for CBD products, such as delta 8 Pigeon Forge has a variety of stores. Additionally, you can even order online!
These give you pain relief, put you in a good mood, and can make you euphoric. If you buy this from an unauthorized shop, you may end up with an impure delta 8 product riddled with additives, making it a harmful substance.
How Can CBD Help With Mental Health?
CBD calms the brain by supporting the hippocampus, which is an area in the brain that regulates emotions and memories. CBD also releases an entourage effect in combination with THC that spreads throughout your body, relaxing your limbs, dimming your thoughts, and softening the tightness in your muscles. The body follows when your mind is at peace, eventually letting you down from your frazzled state. Here’s a further exploration of what CBD has to offer:
1. Helps You Control Anxiety
Anxiety is a common mental condition that impacts people globally. In the US, more than 20% of Americans experience anxiety yearly. Symptoms can include overthinking, frequent restlessness, irritability, easily fatigued, and inexplicable muscular pain. But by consuming CBD as oils or pills, you can prevent anxiety from taking over you. Cannabidiol can alter the serotonin levels in your body, which can put you in a better mood. This neurotransmitter controls your mood, sleeping pattern, digestion, and behavior. When all these aspects of your life are in harmony, your emotional well-being thrives.
2. Fix Your Sleep
Sleep is a natural process that slows down your metabolic rate and deepens your breathing while restoring your brain. Yet, more than half of the American population struggles to get good sleep because of stress. Lack of sleep interferes with your memory and learning. You start experiencing frequent forgetfulness and severe headaches and find your attention fleeting. A study by sleep published in January 2021 depicted that adequate rest brings clarity and boosts your performance by refining cortical plasticity. So, by using CBD, the cortisol levels in your body decrease, which sedates your body, putting you into a deep sleep.
In 2019 almost 70% of CBD users reported their sleeping patterns improved significantly in the first month. This, in turn, brought down stress, anxiety, and panic and improved their overall physical health. The recommended dosage of CBD to facilitate your sleep is about 25 mg.
3. Regulates Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a condition that develops in people who undergo a dangerous or scary event. Whenever you are in a stressful situation, your mind prioritizes your welfare, sending you into a fight or flight mode along with an influx of adrenaline. The effects of this split-second change leave lingering effects around your body, including increased heart rate and lactic acid build-up in your muscles.
Sometimes you cannot naturally recover from an incident and suffer from intense symptoms. These include recurring nightmares, unexplained paranoia, and flashbacks. All of these can weigh down on you, stealing your sleep. Impacting your appetite and also causing other mental health disorders to co-occur in your system. According to a 2021 literature review on medical cannabis, the research found that CBD may act on the endocannabinoid system, which reduces anxiety and interferes with your memory, dimming the effects of PTSD.
4. Lowers the Chances of Depression
More than 17 million Americans are depressed. Like most mental health conditions, depression starts influencing your actions, suppresses your appetite, and can remove your guilty conscience, causing you to live on the edge. Therefore, by using CBD, you can counter the effects of depression by allowing the substance to change your serotonin levels and make your receptors more sensitive to this neurotransmitter. CBD is also known for its anti-stress properties that help you calm down physically, emotionally, and mentally.
5. Dims Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that leads to severe episodes of seizures. Not every anti-epileptic medication can help reduce these phenomena. Conditions like Dravet syndrome cause an adverse reaction to these medicines. But, CBD has shown more promising results in alleviating seizures and reducing their frequency. In 2017, there was a large-scale pediatric study on CBD usage and its impact on attacks. Investigations demonstrated that CBD impacts the endocannabinoid system, which has a collection of receptors and neurotransmitters. The compound attaches itself to the GPR55 and TRPV1 receptors, reducing the neurons’ excitability and preventing a surge of electrical impulses, stopping seizures.
The results described that more than half of the population with Dravet syndrome had a massive reduction in their episodes after using CBD. Recently, the FDA has also approved CBD medication to treat childhood seizures.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to your mental health, you must find ways to control its influence on you. So if you are open to trying different remedies, use CBD. This natural compound in the hemp plant can also be further derived to create more products. However, the synthetic process has to be controlled, which prevents the formation of a harmful component. CBD can help you tone down several conditions, allowing you to find relief from anxiety, depression, and PTSD by changing how your body responds to serotonin.
Additionally, it can reduce the cortisol in your body, acting as a sleep aid. So, try CBD if you are searching for the perfect method to elevate your mental health.
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