Here’s How CBD Can Help With Stress

Learn/Here’s How CBD Can Help With Stress

Feeling stressed out? You’re not alone. Rising stress levels has led the American Psychological Association to call stress a national health crisis. Cannabis has been suggested as a way to lower stress, but for some people THC can actually worsen disquietude instead of making it better.

CBD, however, is known for its calming effects. In fact, clinical and anecdotal evidence indicates that CBD may help people to better manage stress. Here’s what you need to know about CBD for stress.

CBD For Stress: Does It Work?

When CBD and THC are ingested, they produce their effects through their interactions with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS works to keep the body in balance by regulating many crucial functions including sleep, appetite, discomfort, and stress.

THC works by binding directly to cell receptors in this system. However, CBD works through complex and indirect mechanisms which can make it hard to narrow down exactly how CBD for stress relief may work.

But one thing is for sure. More and more people are turning to CBD for stress management, and many report that it works for them. One recent survey found that 37% used CBD for managing stress.

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What Does Science Say?

Numerous studies on both animals and humans indicate that CBD has serious potential in the treatment and management of stress.

Multiple studies have found that CBD was able to reduce stress during public speaking, an exercise known for inducing anxiety in the speaker. One 2011 study found that pretreatment with CBD oil resulted in less stress and cognitive impairment. Another study from 2019 found that pretreatment with 300 mg of CBD was able to decrease stress when compared to the placebo.

Moreover, a 2020 review of 8 different studies found that CBD may be beneficial in treating several other stress-inducing conditions, as well. The review found that CBD was able to improve numerous clinical outcomes, with few reported adverse effects.

According to a 2017 study, some of CBD’s anti-anxiety activity may come from its ability to regulate emotional memory processing. By regulating fear memory processing, CBD may be able to reduce the stress responses produced by learned fear, potentially allowing people to remain more calm in situations that would normally freak them out.

What CBD Dosage for Stress is Right?

When it comes to CBD for stress, finding your perfect dose will require some trial and error. A good place to start is at about 20 mg of CBD. If you find that amount isn’t quite getting the job done, then you can bump your dose up slowly. Upping the dose by 5 mg at a time is an easy and often effective increment.

Moving up too quickly will increase the likelihood of experiencing one of CBD’s rare, minor side effects so increasing your dose slowly, over time is essential. Documenting the effects of each dose in a cannabis journal can be a good way to keep track of how each dose makes you feel and could help you to narrow down your perfect dose more quickly.