Our bodies contain an incredible network of receptors that optimise balance, including sleep, stress and anxiety - these receptors form part of your ECS (endocannabinoid system).
There are two types of cannabinoid receptors found in the body, CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are located all around the body, including the brain; they manage everything from stress and mood to memories and movement. When CBD enters the body, it attaches to receptors helping you feel less anxious, less stressed and ‘more balanced’. Check out our blog What Does CBD Do for more on what CBD does and how it works.
The growing legalisation of medical cannabis in the USA has prompted many scientists to carry our studies into the various therapeutic uses of CBD.
According to a 2015 review, CBD interacts with the CB1 receptor, a serotonin receptor and other receptors in the brain that regulate fear and other anxiety-induced behaviours. The authors of the review found preclinical and clinical evidence that established CBD as an effective anxiety disorder treatment for social anxiety disorder, PTSD as well as a number of other anxiety disorders.
A 2011 research study analysed the effects of CBD on people with social anxiety disorder. Participants were given 400mg of CBD or a placebo in a double-blind trial, and overall those who were given the CBD showed a reduced level of anxiety.
More recent studies have shown that CBD may help with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), for example having nightmares leading to poor quality sleep. Current therapies have shown to be ineffective and have some unpleasant side effects. Since the discovery of the ECS system in emotional memory processing, CBD as a therapy has gained significant attention, highlighting the potential of CBD as a treatment.
Serotonin (our happiness hormone) is sometimes lower in those who have anxiety and is conventionally treated with SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) that is only available by prescription. Some people with anxiety are able to manage their condition with CBD instead of an SSRI, however before changing treatment it’s important to talk to your doctor first.
How to take CBD oil for social anxiety?
CBD is a personal experience, there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to dose and regularity, similar to how caffeine and alcohol affect everyone differently. Some start their day with a few drops of CBD oil to help with the anxiety of the daily grind and others take CBD throughout the day or as an evening unwind and relax ritual.
Letting CBD oil absorb under your tongue rather than subjecting it to the digestive tract preserves more of the CBD and you’ll feel the results faster. At TRIP, we recommend starting with a lower CBD dose (15-30mg per serve), note down how you’re feeling and build on top of that.
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