Updated on June 25th, 2022
Anxiety disorders like social anxiety are some of the most common mental health concerns in the United States. An estimated 30% of adults[1] in the U.S. (approx. 66 million) have an anxiety disorder, yet few use CBD anxiety treatment. 25% of children and teenagers[2] between 13 and 18 years old are affected by anxiety.
National Alliance on Mental Illness reports:
Most people develop symptoms of anxiety disorders before the age of 21 and women are 60% more likely to be diagnosed.
Rates appear to be higher in the United States and Europe. Anxiety rates are on the rise for pets as well as they too have an endocannabinoid system. Fortunately, CBD oil for dogs with anxiety is showing considerable improvement in the calmness of their beloved furry companions, as reported by many dog owners.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a feeling of unease marked by worrying and fear. These feelings are perfectly normal in stressful situations, such as tests or job interviews; however, those with anxiety disorder find themselves in this state regularly, with or without external causes.
Anxiety is a normal thing to experience. It used to be a valuable survival tool against environmental threats when we were exposed to the elements as hunter-gatherers. But with the nature of modern society, this reaction rarely has a legitimate use (aside from being in physical danger).
Unfortunately, we have not evolved to mitigate our ancient responses in the 21st century. This means that chronic anxiety runs rampant as a well-known mental illness. Anxiety disorder can occur for many reasons, including:
- Events in our life
- Genetics
- Personality/character
- Brain chemistry
Variations of Anxiety
There are several variations of anxiety, of which the most common ones probably are:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
- Panic Disorder (PD)
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Agoraphobia
- Specific Phobias
Physical symptoms of Anxiety
Some of the physical effects you might get as a result of anxiety are:
- Headache
- Increased heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Shaking
CBD helps with pain relief, along with many other therapeutic uses. Studies and anecdotal reports indicate that as little as a single dose of CBD can drastically reduce social anxiety.
Besides, CBD affects related symptoms, such as cognitive impairment, difficulties in speech delivery, and frantic, anticipatory speech.
At iDWeeds, we make it easy to find the right CBD product. Our carefully selected CBD brands all include a lab test certificate with the exact concentration and cannabinoid profile.
CBD Effects on Anxiety
Due to the mood-balancing functions of our endocannabinoid system, many patients report a reduction of their anxiety symptoms after their first dose of CBD. Studies also show that anxiety continues to decrease over time with regular CBD use. We have gathered below some published tests and studies on anxiety.
Anxiety, however, is only the tip of the iceberg. We now know that CBD also relieves pain, nausea, insomnia, and even helps reduce seizures in patients with severe epilepsy. Roadblocks caused by the legality of cannabis made it difficult for researchers to study CBD.
This harmed world health, as we are now heavily dependent on expensive, dangerous pharmaceuticals.
Laboratory and Clinical Studies
In 2010, the British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP) published the results of a CBD anxiety test. It proved that patients treated with CBD oil for anxiety experienced less stress and – by default – fewer symptoms of social anxiety disorder (SAD).
The patients reported feeling better after taking hemp oil. Most notably, brain scans showed that CBD changed the way the patients’ brains responded to anxiety. The regions of the brain linked to anxiety showed changes in blood flow.
In 2011, Neuropsychopharmacology[3] published the results of tests with CBD, showing that speakers using CBD experienced fewer symptoms of social anxiety disorder when faced with public speaking.
In 2014, the Institute of Psychiatry of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro[4] performed another test on animals. They proved that cannabidiol had antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects on these creatures.
Furthermore, in 2015, the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics[5] reviewed the potential of CBD as a treatment for anxiety-related disorders. They concluded that cannabidiol reduces multiple anxiety disorders such as SAD (social anxiety disorder), GAD (general anxiety disorder), OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and PD (Panic Disorder).
Finally, the Cannabinoid Research Institute[6], directed by Philip Robson, MD, published a 2016 case study on the effectiveness of CBD oil for pediatric anxiety and insomnia related to PTSD. The outcome of this case study was that CBD significantly reduced the child’s anxiety and insomnia due to post-traumatic stress disorder.
CBD oil dosage for anxiety
Start With a Low Dosage – Increase as Needed
The recommended starting point for mild anxiety and stress is 30 mg of CBD hemp oil per day, split into two doses.
Patients should monitor their symptoms and increase intake by 10 mg every four days. Put the drops under the tongue, hold them for 60 seconds and then swallow. Follow through with a glass of water.
Alternatively, pills might be your preferred consumption of CBD. In this case, take 1 to 3 water-soluble CBD capsules daily. Look at the mg/capsule indication and determine your dosage.
Starting with a High Dosage to Calm Down First
Some patients take up to 100 mg per day for severe anxiety. If low dosages don’t work, it’s perfectly safe to start with a higher dose if needed. After experiencing relief, you can gradually reduce the dosage to a comfortable level.
Years of research on this topic show that there is no fatal overdose level[7]. Science proved CBD to be non-toxic, even at extreme doses of 1500 mg per day[8].
There are basically no CBD side effects, nor is there a single recorded cannabis overdose in human history.
Once you have determined your starting dose, it can still be a challenge to figure out how many drops you need to take, due to confusing packaging instructions. If you use our hemp drops calculator, you can quickly determine the number of required drops.
We would not advise tetrahydrocannabinol oil use for anxiety, yet you are free to experiment. THC is, however, rather effective in cancer treatment when combined with CBD. For further information on THC, please refer to our article about Rick Simpson Oil dosage for cancer treatment.
Success stories from anxiety patients
We have carefully collected CBD testimonials for this particular condition to serve as proof and inspiration to others. Do not hesitate to record your own experience and share it with us so we can add it to this list and help thousands of more patients.
Overview of Scientific Studies and Reports
For further reading, feel free to check out the studies below.
Scientific Research Studies on CBD and Anxiety
- 2004 – Effects due to cannabidiol (CBD) on regional cerebral blood flow
- 2010 – Medical marijuana( CBD) and the mind
- 2010 – Cannabidiol also Reduces the Anxiety from Public Speaking
- 2011 – The anxiolytic-like effects due to cannabidiol
- 2011 – Effects due to cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder
- 2012 – Cannabinoid-related agents in the treatment of anxiety disorders
- 2012 – Cannabidiol as an anxiolytic drug
- 2013 – The anxiolytic effect due to cannabidiol on chronically stressed mice
- 2013 – Plant-based medicines for anxiety disorders, part 2
- 2014 – Stress-induced anxiety and behavioral reversal through endocannabinoid augmentation
- 2014 – Antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects of cannabidiol
- 2015 – Cannabidiol maybe a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders
- 2016 – A Systematic Review of Plant-Derived Natural Compounds for Anxiety Disorders
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