CBD also known as Cannabidiol is one of many active ingredients that are found in the hemp/cannabis plant. Amongst many other cannabinoids, CBD continues to grow in popularity as more people discover its medicinal benefits. The CBD molecule can be extracted from both the hemp and marijuana plant. People often confuse CBD and THC for their different effects. It’s important to understand the difference between the two compounds in order to yield the health benefits that you are expecting.
CBD and THC are found in both the hemp and marijuana plant, they are both considered to be cannabinoids although the arrangement of their molecules are different allowing them to have much different effects on the human body. The popularity of CBD continues to grow as people discover its therapeutic benefits. The CBD molecule binds to CB1 AND CB2 receptors that are responsible for assisting the brain to achieve balance/homeostasis in the body. Unlike THC, this molecule does not cause the body to yield a euphoric high feeling or any psychoactive effects, it in fact does the opposite in relaxing the body. CB1 and CB2 receptors are found in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system and play a key role in how our body interprets pain stress and fear. CBD AND THC can potentially relieve anxiety and stress symptoms by leveraging these two systems.
How do I know if I have Social Anxiety?
Social Anxiety is a common mental disorder that brings on unbearable feelings of anxiousness in social settings. This feeling of anxiousness can be onset by several different social environments ranging from doing a presentation to attending a party or sometimes this can be caused by prolonged eye contact. These are all social activities that can potentially trigger social anxiety symptoms. Socially anxious people have different reasons for being fearful of social situations.
This can be numerous reason such as:
- Fearful of being judged
- Fear of being embarrassed or humiliated
- Accidentally being offensive
The symptoms of social anxiety can range from:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Tension in muscles
- Dizziness
- Troubled stomach
- Trouble breathing
These symptoms can be caused immediately after the thought of going into any uncomfortable social environment for the individual or while being in that social setting. Social anxiety can be triggered in numerous ways; relating to any form of human contact.
Can CBD help with Social Anxiety?
There are several studies that are in favour of CBD being a good alternative to other medical prescriptions for many types of anxiety, not limited to, but including Social Anxiety.
Serotonin plays a role in your mental health, low levels of serotonin are associated with people who have depression or other mood disorders.
In some situations, low serotonin levels can contribute to the onset of anxiety.
Most commonly, individuals who have low serotonin levels in the body are treated with SSRI also known as “selective reuptake inhibitor” such as Zoloft or Prozac amongst many others.
Some individuals are able to manage their anxiety symptoms with CBD instead of SSRI. It is always recommended that you consult your doctor before making any drastic changes to your treatment plan.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse stated that CBD has been shown to reduce stress in rats. After ingesting CBD, the rats demonstrated lower behavioural signs of anxiety. More specifically, after taking CBD the heart rate of the rats was significantly reduced and their overall mood also improved.
In addition to this, a study taken in 2011 tested the effects of CBD on humans who were diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder experienced reduced anxiety symptoms after taking CBD. Each participant was given an oral dose of 400mg of CBD or a placebo. It was confirmed that individuals who were given CBD for social anxiety responded positively to the dosage amount.
Lastly, a study taken in Japan speak to the positive impact of CBD being noteworthy according to their research. In this study, 12 patients were given a dose of 600mg of CBD for social anxiety. When anxiety that was caused by public speaking was compared between pretreatment and posttreatment there was a significant decrease after CBD treatment, while there was no change shown in individuals who were given a placebo.
How much CBD should I take for Social Anxiety?
There are a few variables that can affect the recommended dosage amount of CBD.
Tolerance: An individual with a history of using cannabis will likely require a higher dosage amount. Over time the body may require a higher potency of CBD in order to yield full benefit of the molecule.
Concentration: Before purchasing CBD be sure to purchase an oil tincture that is suitable for your desired effects. A 30ml oil tincture that contains 1000mg of CBD dosed at 1ml compared to a 30ml oil tincture that contains 250mg of CBD dosed at 1ml will affect the body much differently.
Body Weight: An individual who is 100lb compared to an individual who is 230lbs may respond differently to the same dosage amount. It is likely that a heavier weight person will require a higher dosage in order to yield the same effects
CBD works best when cycled in the system on a consistent basis, if possible taking CBD on a daily basis can potentially yield the best results.
For more details on CBD dosage for social anxiety, see our dosing chart.
Conclusion
The effects of CBD and THC are much different. While CBD has NO psychoactive properties it is important to understand how the CBD was made before ingesting. CBD taken from the hemp plant has minimal amounts of THC allowing it to be highly recommended to individuals who are not interested in the psychoactive properties of the plant. A CBD pure isolate is a common form of CBD to take for individuals who are looking to avoid the effects of the THC molecule on the body. According to many studies, CBD can have positive effects on social anxiety symptoms potentially proposing a great holistic alternative to pharmaceutical drugs. Before making any changes to your treatment plan consult your doctor before using CBD Products for anxiety.