November 06, 2023

Anxiety Much? Discover the Natural Path to Calm with CBD

What is Anxiety

According to American Psychologial Association, “Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure. People with anxiety disorders usually have recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns. They may avoid certain situations out of worry. They may also have physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, dizziness, or a rapid heartbeat.” (American Psychological Association, n.d.)

If you or a loved one has ever had anxiety, you know how crippling it can be when anxious thoughts or anxiety creeps into your day or week. Individuals dealing with anxiety have one of two choices, succumb to living with anxiety or choosing to seek medicine to help manage it. And you may wonder, how many people deal with anxiety and which choice do they make? Well, an estimated 31.1% of US adults experience anxiety at some point in their lives and if you weren’t aware that anxiety affects roughly 1/3 of adults then you are now. (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.) If that percentage doesn’t shock you, then the amount of individuals seeking anti-anxiety medication may surprise you. In 2020 prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications, rose 10.2% in the US to 9.7 million in March 2020 from 8.8 million in March 2019 (Peterson, 2020)

Clearly anxiety is a problem for around a third of American adults and almost 10 million adults are choosing to take prescription medication. But there is a population, those that choose a more natural or holistic approach to health that have been suffering in silence until recent years. For those seeking alternative natural solutions or for those that medication isn't enough, we now have a solution to help, and that is CBD. CBD comes from the Hemp plant and this plant has over 50,000 uses for it and one of those is helping reduce anxiety.

How CBD can help to reduce anxiety

The Hemp plant has at least 113 cannabinoids and CBD (cannabidiol), is the second most prevalent active ingredient in the plant. (Peter Grinspoon, 2021) In a 2019 study, research found 300-600 mg of CBD significantly reduced anxiety symptoms in 57 adult males. (Neville, 18) It is believed that CBD may help reduce anxiety by interacting with the body's endocannabinoid system and influencing mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin. It can also ease physical symptoms of anxiety like a racing heart and muscle tension, possibly by acting on specific receptors. Additionally, CBD's anti-inflammatory properties may reduce the impact of chronic inflammation, which is often linked to anxiety and depression. Furthermore, it can help manage stress by affecting the release of stress hormones. In a 2020 study, researchers evaluated the effectiveness of CBD on 397 adults in New Zealand. The participants had various ailments, including non-cancer pain, cancer-related symptoms, neurological symptoms and mental health. After 3 weeks of receiving CBD treatment all groups reported improvement in their overall quality of life and for those that were being treated for anxiety or depression they reported improvements in their ability to perform daily functions and it reduced their pain and anxiety and/or depression symptoms (Medical News Today, 2023). It is important to note that every person is different and the effectiveness of CBD can vary, and it's essential to consult a healthcare professional if you have other medical conditions or are taking medications.

In writing this blog post I wanted to ensure that we not only shared the research behind the effectiveness of CBD in treating anxiety, but I also wanted to introduce you to one of our clients. I wanted you to hear her story so that you can see how CBD has impacted her life and ability to carry on daily tasks. We are so thankful for Natalie and her vulnerability in sharing her story with all of us.

Client Testimony

"Anxiety and worry became my “normal” at a very young age, woman holding cbd oil tincture

but I eventually learned to cope fairly well…for a while.

When I had our daughter, my old tricks weren’t cutting it. EXTREMELY frustrating and discouraging, to say the least. For the past 5.5 years, irritability, panic attacks, and overwhelming worry increased over time and had become my new normal again. I tried different supplements, tried new behavioral techniques-- all the things-- with little improvement.

When I was given a sample of Righteous Hemp CBD gummies, I was skeptical because I had tried other brands before with no real results. At the same time, I was desperate for this CBD to be different because I was out of ideas and needed relief.

Thank God, truly, THIS CBD HELPED! Having that tight, heaviness in my chest and racing thoughts melt away felt almost unbelievable to me. Fast forward about one month, and now I have all the gummies, a CBD tincture, and an oil roller in my arsenal! I love how I can mix and match to fit what I’m feeling any given day and know these products will bring me relief every time. I can’t count how many people I’ve told about these products!" - Natalie Dos Santos

CBD Oil vs CBD Gummies

When it comes to taking CBD can it can be used in various ways, but when it comes to consuming orally and for the assistance of anxiety or depression there are two popular choices – CBD Oil vs CBD Gummies. So the question now begs which method should you choose? When you go to compare these two forms there are some key differences in how they are administered, absorption, the onset of effects, and dosage control. To make it simple let’s check out the chart below:

	CBD Oil	CBD Gummies
BENEFITS	FAST ACTING & CUSTOM DOSING	LONG LASTING & EXACT DOSING
ADMINISTRATION	Taken Sublingually - drop oil under the tongue & hold for a minute or two before swallowing.	Consumed Orally - like regular candy, and they come in pre-dosed portions.
ABSORPTION	Absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth, which allows for faster absorption into the bloodstream.	Absorbed through the digestive system, which takes longer to reach the bloodstream.
ONSET OF EFFECTS	RAPID: CBD oil generally has a quicker onset of effects, typically within 15-30 minutes.	DELAYED: CBD gummies have a slower onset of effects compared to CBD oil, typically within 30 minutes to 2 hours.
DOSAGE CONTROL	PRECISE: Measuring the dosage with a dropper allows for more precise control over how much CBD you consume.	PRE-DOSED: Gummies come in pre-measured doses, making it easy to know how much CBD you're consuming.

Ultimately, the choice between CBD oil and gummies depends on your personal preferences and the specific effects you're looking for. If you want fast-acting relief and the ability to customize your dosage, CBD oil may be preferable. On the other hand, if you prefer a more convenient and discreet option with a pleasant taste, CBD gummies might be the better choice.

If you or a loved one is suffering from anxiety, please share with them the benefits of CBD as we want to help get them the relief they need. Our prayer is that if you are battling anxiety that you will give CBD a try. At Righteous Hemp Co, you are more than just a number to us, we want to see you, we want to know you and we want to hear your story so that we can pray over you and celebrate your wins.

If you have any questions about which product to choose or any recommendations please reach out to us at support@righteoushemp.com.

References

(n.d.). Retrieved from National Institute of Mental Health: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder#:~:text=An%20estimated%2031.1%25%20of%20U.S.,some%20time%20in%20their%20lives.

(n.d.). Retrieved from American Pyschologial Association: https://www.apa.org/topics/anxiety#:~:text=Anxiety%20is%20an%20emotion%20characterized,recurring%20intrusive%20thoughts%20or%20concerns.

Neville, L. (18, October 2023). Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-to-use-cbd-for-anxiety#how-to-use

Peter Grinspoon, M. (2021, September 2021). Retrieved from Harvard Health Publishing: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476

Peterson, A. (2020, March 25). Retrieved from Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/more-people-are-taking-drugs-for-anxiety-and-insomnia-and-doctors-are-worried-11590411600

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-to-use-cbd-for-anxiety#summary

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