Anxious? There’s a CBD for That

The new normal should be an introvert’s dream. Working from home, unleashing creativity through projects, and social distancing sound like a perfect week (or month), but as the economy becomes more unstable and the future becomes more uncertain, it’s difficult to enjoy the alone time.

Stressful thoughts creep in, scratching at the positive exterior and threatening to send my already anxiety-riddled brain into a spiral. Worries about loved ones, money and the possibility of rising crime rates compound with incessant news and questions from friends.

In addition to mounting anxieties about the state of the world, a sense of hopelessness pervades my daily thoughts and it can be tough to get off the couch and remember to be a human. Between working from home, scrolling through minute-by-minute news updates, and binge-watching pandemic movies, it’s tough to get away from my screen and out of my own head.

For those times, Mother Mary Jane comes to me, speaking words of wisdom: Don’t forget to take CBD.

CBD Drops for Anxiety

I mix a tincture of Naked Leaf CBD Daily Drops ($49, 450mg CBD per bottle) into a cup of herbal tea and take deep breaths, waiting for my gut to absorb and disperse those healing properties. 

I feel my jaw unclench and my shoulders relax. My neck eases and my whole body seems to exhale. It’s not that my worries disappear. They’re still very much alive, but I’m better equipped to deal with them. They form an orderly line and take a number, patiently waiting their turn to be front-and-center in my mind so that I can find solutions and execute accordingly.

I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder last year, but I’ve been this way for as long as I can remember. I was always a nervous child, and now as an adult I overthink and imagine the worst-case-scenario. Normal life is stressful, especially when battling anxiety. A pandemic? Thank the gods for CBD.

With CBD, my anxiety is manageable, but not gone. Unlike some pharmaceuticals, I don’t feel like a zombie or an empty shell of myself. It keeps me clear and organized as opposed to lost in a fog. It allows me to take on the emotional weight that comes with living through an epidemic.

Because CBD has been shown to mimic the effects of serotonin, it can serve as an anti-anxiety medication as well as an antidepressant. It binds to the 5-HT1A receptors in the brain, giving the user more energy and positive focus without other side effects such as insomnia, weight gain, or headaches that can come from pharmaceuticals. Unlike most of these medications, CBD doesn’t need weeks to build up in your system in order for you to feel the effects.

CBD Chocolates

I also love Lulu’s CBD artisan chocolate bars ($80, 80mg CBD/bar). They’re raw, vegan, and contain 80mg CBD. The squares are individually dosed so you always know how much to ingest at a time.

CBD Soda

Also, I’ve traded in nightcaps for Present CBD Water ($30, 6-pack, 20mg/can). It’s organic, made in Colorado, and packs 20 mg of USDA Organic full spectrum distillate cleanly extracted from USDA Certified Organic hemp. Plus, it looks just as good in a wine glass.

Although proper dosage does take some trial-and-error, using CBD by itself or in conjunction with your already prescribed antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication could make a world of difference in day-to-day life. If you’re currently taking medication, check with your doctor via virtual appointment before self-medicating with CBD.

And remember: stay home.