What is anxiety?
First of all, it is important to know that anxiety is not a disease in its own right, but an emotion that can lead to the onset of certain diseases. Anxiety includes different clinical entities, of which there are six
- Generalized anxiety disorder ( GAD )
- Panic disorder ;
- Social anxiety disorder ;
- Phobia;
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder;
- Post-traumatic stress disorder.
All of these clinical entities vary from patient to patient and it is important to know the origin of the disorder in order to combat the anxiety associated with it. In the majority of cases, the anxiety, or at least the causes of the anxiety, arise in childhood and remain present as a trauma
Anxiety can cause several health consequences for the individual, depending on the frequency of occurrence, the person's daily life, and risk factors
- Accelerated heart rate
- Difficulty breathing
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Dizziness
- Tense muscles.
The consequences are not only physical, but also mental, as the individual may experience worry, obsession, constant fear and many others.
It is also very important to differentiate between two concepts of anxiety, which are one-year prevalence and lifetime prevalence. Prevalence is a measure of the health status of a certain population. This measurement then allows the construction of reliable and valid statistics for scientific research and to bring a better understanding of this disorder
According to the High Authority of Health, in a population of 18 to 65 years old, the prevalence of anxiety over one year corresponds to 15% and the prevalence over the whole life is 21%. This refers to anxiety in general, but it should be noted that each entity of this disorder has its own statistics. We will look at the prevalence and definition of each disorder in the following section
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder is a very disabling disorder that affects 2.1% of French people over a one-year prevalence and 6% over a lifetime prevalence. This disorder is considered as "exaggerated" because the affected individual will worry in a not very recommended and not very normal way for everything and anything
For example, the individual will worry about finances, relationships, the future, and many other common problems, but in a disproportionate way. This will result in the individual's life being crippled and cause long term health concerns.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Otherwise known as "OCD", this disorder is characterized by repetitive rituals, such as checking several times a day if a door has been closed, cleaning several times a day, counting steps or even more surprisingly, counting words
But the individual may also ask themselves excessive questions like "am I so-and-so?" or whatever, and this can cause great concern for questioning and perception of reality because they live in a world full of uncertainties
When we say that people suffering from OCD, live in a world full of uncertainties, it means that the cause of their disorder is none other than a problematic questioning or an idea causing this anxiety. For example, the person may have a terrible fear of catching this or that disease, as well as committing an act that is dangerous to society, even though there is no reason for them to do so. This is why they have OCD, because it helps them to distract themselves from these ideas and limit the anxiety they feel
In France, the prevalence over one year and over a lifetime is about 0.7%
Panic disorder
The prevalence of this disorder in France is 1.2% over one year and 3% over a lifetime. This disorder is quite characteristic because of its surprise effect, since it appears without any particular reason. Therefore, the anxiety peak will be reached in a few minutes before dissipating in about an hour
This causes a real handicap for the affected persons, because they cannot prevent this panic attack since it can occur at any time and in any place, which can prevent the social development of the individual.
Phobia
Phobias are present in all of us, but there are two main types of phobias. The first is the phobia that is characterized by the vision of a material, animal or event that frightens us. The prevalence of phobia in general reaches 4.7% over one year and 11.2% over a lifetime. The most common one, you know it and you are surely victims of it, is agoraphobia which contains a prevalence of 0.6% over one year and 1.2% over a lifetime, although it can reach 7% at certain times
The second phobia is social phobia and it is triggered when one has to meet new people, attend a public event, or have a meal with many people. The prevalence of this phobia is 1. 7% over one year and 4. 7% over a lifetime
Post-traumatic stress disorder
This disorder is characterized by a violent and often brief physical or psychological episode that does not go away with time. This disorder is very disabling for people suffering from it because they can see again in their head the images of the responsible event during banal situations, like in the car if the person has suffered a road accident.
A person suffering from this disorder will then have difficulty sleeping, have anxiety attacks, and feel that they no longer want to live. Sometimes, he or she may take refuge in alcohol or drugs. A psychological follow-up is then essential
The prevalence in France is 2.2% over one year and 3.9% over a lifetime.
In most cases, these disorders occur during particular events or during traumas during childhood, and it is important to understand how they work, the frequency of appearance according to the disorders and if it is possible. We will see together the different causes of these anxiety disorders and what the signs are
The signs of anxiety
Depending on the case, the signs will be different from one person to another, but some signs are the same for everyone and show that anxiety is present and has been for years. For example, the anxiety, or at least what you think is the cause, will occupy all your thoughts during the crisis.
Then, depending on the person, a feeling of fear and great concern will come over your whole body. Victims of these seizures may feel as if they are not themselves anymore and seem very worried about a disaster that seems imminent. This can lead to problems with social integration as the person is not calm and is very irritable, making dialogue almost impossible. In some cases where the crisis lasts for several hours or days, sleep disturbances occur, which makes it even more difficult to integrate socially because the lack of sleep also makes the person more irritable. Adding this to the crisis and its consequences, the individual is thus very handicapped in his daily life
But in the body of these people, when they are in an anxious process, it prepares to face a danger and thus puts all its senses on alert. The adrenaline starts to rise and the several physical signs may appear
- Shaking
- Shortness of breath
- A dry mouth
- An accelerated heart rate, palpitations
- Nausea, diarrhea may appear
- Headaches, dizziness
- Feeling of clammy hands with the appearance of sweat
- A feeling of a lump in the throat
- A feeling of generalized weakness
These are the main physical signs of anxiety disorders, but we can also find mental disorders, such as memory loss, difficulty concentrating and speaking. Of course, all these signals vary from one person to another and it is important to keep a diary, as for migraine sufferers, in order to spot all the warning or consequential signals.
Anxiety attacks and the number of people affected can vary from country to country. For example, in a country where life is not difficult and few problems are encountered, anxiety will not be as developed as in a country where life is very complicated. In the United States, about 18% of the population adults experienced an anxiety disorder in a year.
But what are the causes of these anxiety disorders? We will see this together
The causes of anxiety
It is important to know that the causes of these anxiety disorders vary greatly from one person to another. It is therefore essential to understand with help or alone, what are the causes of these disorders in order to treat them and improve the daily life of people suffering
First of all, anxiety is not linked to a single cause, but to several environmental, psychological or biological factors. Each person has his or her own history and experience based on childhood, education, or life choices. By this, we must understand that the majority of risk factors are related to certain situations or events experienced, heard, or even exercised
Among these risk factors, we can find events in the professional environment, such as an abusive dismissal, or discrimination from colleagues, or the boss. Emotional events are also risk factors if a trauma is experienced, as well as in the family environment, where more chaotic events can be experienced, heard or exercised. These events cause a lot of stress, which increases anxiety.
Anxiety does not stop with these risk factors, however, as certain illnesses can cause it, which is known as secondary anxiety. The diseases responsible are usually hyperthyroidism, depression, psychosis or bipolar disorder
But in the brain, another element comes into play. Researchers know that biological factors and a genetic background are responsible for the imbalance of neuromediators, which are present in the brain and are used to provide information. This means that if a person has a family member who suffers from anxiety, then he or she is likely to suffer from it as well, in other words, anxiety can be hereditary
When the anxiety is too great, the person may suffer from various symptoms or life changes, such as sleep disorders, alcohol and drug abuse to get rid of the drive. But long-term risks are also possible, such as high blood pressure, increased risk of heart disease, cancer or diabetes
So how can we fight anxiety? Besides specific medications with several side effects, seeing someone can help, but another solution exists. This solution is called CBD, and is very promising in this fight against oneself. We will see together its action on anxiety and the improvement of daily life linked to its consumption
How can CBD fight anxiety?
Some medications are currently available for people suffering from anxiety, but they sometimes have very disabling side effects. Some people may then turn to gentler methods with no or very few side effects
CBD can help these people depending on the cause of the anxiety. Of course, it will not solve the real reason for your anxiety, which is usually related to childhood and often due to trauma. But it will help you avoid the effects of anxiety and prevent your body and brain from going into a panic attack
It has been known for years that CBD helps reduce anxiety and there are still several studies going on, but the way it works has only recently been discovered
When a person consumes CBD, it will then interact with our natural endocannabinoid system and bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors. But when the molecule binds to CB1 receptors, it will interact with 5-HT1A receptors, which is a subtype of the serotonin receptor. This hormone plays a major role in mood and its change, anxiety, and is considered the happiness hormone in common parlance.
This hormone is 95% produced in the gut and then travels to the brain to finish its construction, but is "reabsorbed" once its action is complete, which then prevents the subject from experiencing the joy obtained before.
In a 2016 studyA team of Spanish researchers has developed a trial on rats to demonstrate the action of CBD against anxiety. This study showed that CBD played a blocking role towards the reabsorption of serotonin, which means that this hormone lasts longer and does not stop performing its positive action during this time. The final conclusion of the study is as follows:
"Our results indicate that CBD may represent a novel, rapid antidepressant drug, via enhancement of cortical serotonergic and glutamate signaling via a 5-HT1A receptor-dependent mechanism."
But that's not all, since other older studies have also demonstrated this beneficial action In 2011For example, a team of Brazilian researchers administered CBD to 24 people suffering from social anxiety. The study showed that a large number of people had an improvement of their condition and their disorder after the administration of CBD.
Another study, conducted in 2013 in the UK and taking place on 48 volunteers, showed that CBD could help overcome these fears and reduce or even extinguish anxiety related to these fears.
But there are other interactions of CBD towards anxiety that we will look at together.
CBD and the hippocampus
No, we are not talking about the marine animal, but about a region of the brain that plays a major role in memory and spatial navigation (finding one's way in space, moving around...). In people suffering from anxiety and daily stress, studies have been conducted and have shown that these people have a hippocampus smaller than normal
Following this, it was understood that anxiety could decrease with the regeneration of neurons in the hippocampus. In comparison, a study on rodents showed that continuous use of CBD over the long term resulted in faster regeneration of neurons
This study shows that the behavior would be similar in humans who consume CBD over the long term. This could significantly improve their daily life and their perception of life
CBD and panic disorders
We have all been confronted in our lives with a situation in which we panic and we do not know what to do or how to react. In nature, this happens every day with prey and predators, but humans can also be confronted with this situation
Researchers have looked at this issue and have studied animals that were put in a situation where they would experience this panic disorder. For example, rodents were confronted with their predators and the result was natural, as they experienced panic disorder and all the complications that come with it
Once they were given CBD, the animals were tested again and this time the disorder was no longer present and they also appeared more relaxed, as if they were not aware of the danger, when in fact they were
This study is very interesting because it helps to demonstrate that CBD can combat anxiety and limit the feeling of danger
Why CBD and not THC?
It is known that CBD and THC are the two main molecules of cannabis and that they are particularly different on health. Containing almost identical molecular properties, they are however not the same and CBD could even fight against THC and its effects
CBD is not psychotropic, unlike THC, which causes a "high" in the consumer. When consuming cannabis, CBD and THC will bind to the different receptors of the endocannabinoid system that are present throughout the body and thus, these molecules will be able to perform their actions
If we do not take into account the THC during the studies mentioned above, it is for a very simple reason, because this molecule can cause periods of anxiety during its consumption. Indeed, the sensations provided by it can lead the consumer in an anxiety attack and depression, especially during a bad trip.
CBD is also known to limit the effects of THC on our health by fighting it within our body. This leads to the conclusion that CBD is the more interesting of the two molecules, even if in some countries the THC level is not 0.2% but 1% or more, because in small doses it seems to have beneficial effects on health. In recreational cannabis, the THC level is well over 10% depending on the flowers or resins
How to find the right dose of CBD?
It is important to know that each person will react differently when taking a CBD product. Although this molecule has no side effects, it is very important to talk to a doctor before consuming it in order to discuss with him the best solution for your health and sometimes even the mode of consumption
It is also possible that when you have consumed CBD, you may experience fatigue, or nausea and dizziness. Although these side effects are rare, they are not to be excluded, but rest assured, it will be impossible for you to overdose on CBD
To be able to dose CBD in order to feel positive effects and enjoy a better daily life, there are different solutions and several experiments to perform at home.
Consuming CBD in low doses
This mode of consumption could be used depending on your anxiety, whether it is temporary, or if it occurs when you are exposed to the situation that causes this anxiety
Thus, your consumption will be occasional and not daily, which will change your consumption pattern. Indeed, if you choose this option, you will be able to consume cBD flowers in infusionor vapourize CBD thanks to the e-liquids available in our shop.
There is no need to consume a lot of CBD during such and such an event, because an average of 25mg of CBD is enough to feel all the beneficial effects.
Consume CBD in medium doses
If your anxiety attacks turn out to be more frequent, such as OCD or panic attacks that are triggered with or without factors, then you will need to consume more CBD and therefore, more regularly
This will change your consumption pattern and frequency of use. For example, you can opt for for CBD oil taking 2 drops, three times a day, using the sublingual method. That is, you place your drops under your tongue and wait 30 to 90 seconds before swallowing. This method allows the CBD to be projected into the mucous membranes and therefore directly into the bloodstream
It is possible to consume CBD in e-liquids or infusions, but it will obviously be necessary to increase the frequency of consumption and the percentage of CBD present in the product
Consuming CBD in high doses
If your anxiety disorders are very present on a daily basis and are also triggered every day, you can then choose different modes of consumption to meet your needs. It is important to remember that in most cases, 25 mg of daily CBD can be enough to relieve your ailments and improve your daily life
You can then consume CBD with the strongest percentages present in our shop, such as 30% CBD oil. However, the higher the percentage of CBD, the less you will need to consume!
For a 30% oil, it will be possible to consume it only once a day in order not to feel tired or dizzy because of a too big consumption
A dosage according to your weight and age
There is a trick that can make your life easier in order to properly dose your consumption of CBD. To do this, you need to know your age and weight and especially what is the desired use of CBD by yourself
As said above, an average of 25 mg of CBD is generally necessary to be able to fill the aches and pains and no longer feel symptoms of anxiety. This can vary according to your desires, but for example, for an oil with 5% CBD, you can consume two drops of CBD three times a day and then see, after a few days, if this dosage suits you
If it is too strong, you can then remove a drop each time you consume it and if it is not enough, add a drop
CBD, a major asset
In addition to the benefits on anxiety, CBD plays a major role in the balance of your body. In particular, it helps regulate blood pressure, which can be caused in the long term by anxiety
It is a true miracle molecule, if one may say so, because it has more benefits than side effects, which are almost nonexistent. However, you will have to make sure that you eat properly and practice regular physical activity in order to maintain a healthy and adequate life balance and prevent certain diseases
Don't forget that CBD is not a medicine, even if it is used as such in some countries, it should be considered as a food supplement, alongside a balanced diet. You will also need to seek advice from your doctor to determine what treatment to take, and whether CBD will be effective for your condition.
