For centuries people have been dealing with pain and anxiety, trying to find ways to relieve their symptoms. We're lucky to live in a world where we get to take advantage of numerous medications and anaesthetics - but they still have their disadvantages.

If you have a long-term condition, regularly taking medicines can create side effects and damage the lining of your stomach. People with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety also rely on medication, but antidepressants and benzodiazepines can restrict your ability to enjoy daily life.

CBD is becoming one of the most popular treatments for many painful conditions and anxiety. There are so many benefits of the natural compound, and studies show that vaping CBD can reduce the symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety attacks.

This post will look at how CBD treats anxiety and reveal why vaping could be the perfect solution for your needs.

What Is CBD?

CBD is a natural substance derived from the hemp plant. Unlike THC, it won't make you feel high or stoned - but it does have powerful medicinal properties. CBD works by interacting with the body's endocannabinoid system, which regulates mood, appetite, pain and inflammation.

It's available in many formats, including:

• Oils
• Gummies
• Topical lotions
• Capsules
• Vapes

There are also different concentrations of CBD, with isolated being the purest and full spectrum CBD containing traces of THC.

How Does CBD Help With Anxiety?

Anxiety is much more common than people might think and impacts people of all ages in the UK. According to Champion Health:

• Eight million people suffer from anxiety at one time in the UK
• Every week, six people out of 100 receive an anxiety diagnosis
• 58% of workers experience some form of anxiety regularly
• Females are more likely to experience anxiety than men

The symptoms of anxiety can include:

Restlessness: Being unable to sit still or a lack of concentration. A lot of people with anxiety get jittery and struggle to keep their hands or feet still.

A feeling of being on edge: Anxiety makes you more alert to potential dangers, and people often report consistently being on edge and unable to relax.

Irritability: When you can't relax or unwind, irritability is inevitable, and it's one of anxiety's most prominent side effects.

Difficulty sleeping: Anxiety and insomnia are closely related, and people who can relax and unwind are less likely to struggle with their sleep patterns.

Sweating & Heart palpitations: When anxiety becomes severe, it can quickly turn into panic attacks, where sweating and heart palpitations are standard features.

The statistics and symptoms of anxiety show us that many people experience it, but few actively seek treatment for a doctor.

Anti-anxiety medications can be potent, and people might avoid them due to the side effects, but this is where CBD begins to shine.

The Benefits Of CBD For Anxiety

To understand how CBD helps people with anxiety, we need to look at some of the benefits and the studies that showcase them.

There are so many benefits of CBD for anxiety, including:

Reducing stress: CBD can reduce the cortisol levels in your body, the hormone responsible for making you feel stressed.

Improving sleep quality: One of the most common symptoms of anxiety is difficulty sleeping, but CBD can help you to relax and improve your sleep quality.

Diminishing social anxiety: Social anxiety can make it challenging to meet new people and put yourself in social situations, but CBD can be an excellent coping mechanism.

The public speaking study

In 2018, researchers conducted a study to evaluate the effects of CBD on their nerves. Participants were given varying dosages of CBD and asked to complete a public speaking test. The researchers also had a placebo group to enhance the study's validity, and people were either given 150, 300 or 6oo milligrams of CBD.

While individuals on 150 or 600 milligrams showed no change in their anxiety levels, the participants with 300 milligrams noted that the supplement reduced their nerves and made the experience easier (NCBI).

Anxiety and insomnia

Anxiety is one of the most significant contributors to insomnia, and many people lie in bed at night with worries racing through their heads. Long-term insomnia can disrupt your daily life, reduce concentration and impact your ability to perform tasks.

The Permanente Journal published a study that measured whether taking CBD would reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality with regular usage. The results showed that many participants noted that their anxiety was better, and some were able to get a better night's sleep.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a debilitating condition that usually occurs after a trauma or life event that causes emotional damage. While there are many medicines to treat and manage the symptoms, they can create a host of side effects and should only be utilised in the short term.

A recent extensive review of literature surrounding studies on CBD and PTSD showed that it could be beneficial in reducing some of the symptoms. However, as CBD is relatively new and PTSD is a complicated condition, more research is needed to prove this (Frontiers).

How Do CBD Vapes Work?

One of the best ways to use CBD for anxiety is through vaping because it gives you a healthy dose of the compound and gives your hands something to do.

Individuals with anxiety are more likely to be smokers than people who don't experience mental health issues, and we all know the adverse effects of tobacco.

While there's not enough research to say that vaping is entirely harmless, the NHS recently released a report determining that vaping is 95% safer than smoking.

CBD vapes work similarly to regular e-cigarettes, with the CBD oil being heated and inhaled through the device, offering a fast and effective way to get your daily dose of cannabidiol.

There are plenty of vape products available, but Natural Vapes are one of the most popular for CBD enthusiasts.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this post shows you that there are alternative solutions for anxiety, so you don't have to rely on strong medication or find ways to deal with it alone. CBD continues to grow in popularity, and more and more people are finally benefiting from it.

While we need more research to look in depth at just how CBD helps people with anxiety, it's highly accessible and can help you manage your negative thoughts, to enjoy a happier and more stable life.