Since this month is Mental Health Awareness, the ongoing effort to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and mental health conditions by sharing personal experiences and supporting those who may struggle and suffer in silence.
This can help with having real conversations and destigmatise the concerns that many of us face daily such as stress, anxiety, depression as well as body issues. This is a time for reflection and to be kind to others but also to ourselves!
With times changing constantly, there is this unsteady feeling of not knowing what's to come in the incredibly scary future. However, supporting one another and being kind symbolises the efforts of the community which has a positive impact on our mental and emotional wellbeing.
One of the most common components used in managing or aiding mental health conditions would be CBD. This article is going to be highlighting the benefits and how that can help as a remedy for mental health issues. CBD has made such a massive impact on how we've adapted its use, whether medically or through other means. CBD is short for cannabinoid, it's non-psychoactive compounds are extracted from the hemp plant and then used in oils, drinks, gummies, etc. There can be a negative assumption where some are fairly hesitant to use CBD because of the association that it comes from the same plant THC originates from. THC produces a high feeling and CBD does not. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system that is responsible for keeping the body in balance, such as our body functions when we sleep or get stressed.
Mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression are on the rise worldwide driven by the instability of the world and the after-effects of COVID-19 and how that impacted them. DSM is a global science-based company that estimated that there were 5-10% of people suffered from anxiety-related disorders which impacted the quality of their life and meaning within their society. There is such an expansive amount of research which supports the use of CBD as it is safe and legal to consume because the compound itself aids concentration and focus. This supports the hippocampus which is important for processing healthy emotions and storing memories, which means that CBD can boost well-being and helps with maintaining a healthy emotional state.
Anxiety
Anxiety itself is quite a prevalent mental health issue for quite a lot of people on a day-to-day basis whether it be social interaction, relationships with others, sleeping and eating habits, fatigue and lack of concentration. The use of CBD can help with reducing stress and anxiety symptoms, the ability to calm is the most popular effect and the reason why its use is so widespread.
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder can be categorised as a debilitating condition. There are symptoms which can bring about intrusive thoughts, nightmares and sleep difficulties which lead people to suffer from poor mental health as a result. When incorporating CBD products into their lifestyle it can help with sleep and relaxation which can reduce the symptoms of the condition.
Sleeping Difficulties
Lack of sleep can start to impact an individual's mental state. Insomnia is also considered as a symptom. When using CBD it can create a calming effect which in turn makes it easier to experience sedation and somnolence. Insomnia results from an overactive stress reaction that's spilling into a rest time when we're not trying to process conscious trauma.
Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders around which affects millions of people worldwide. The condition can tend to be treated by medication and therapy however the use of CBD exhibited an anti-anxiety and antidepressant effect. When having depression there are links to low serotonin levels, CBD-reduced mechanical allodynia and decreased anxiety-like behaviour.