5 Women Tell Us Exactly How They Use CBD For Anxiety
by Steffi Victorioso
Between taking care of our finances, staying healthy, and never setting foot outside again, we are more anxious than ever. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 40 million adults in America suffer from anxiety, not counting people who haven’t reported their anxiety (or don’t know they have it). So it comes as no surprise that the number of natural anxiety remedies has exploded in the past few years. Everybody is looking for ways to curb their stress and anxiety without resorting to pharmaceuticals (not that there’s anything wrong with prescribed anxiety meds). And as we’re all trying to remain calm amidst the sea of our currently terrifying news cycles, remedies that work to curb unnecessary panic and spiraling are top of mind.
Is CBD An Effective Anxiety Treatment?
Clinical trials on CBD for anxiety are ongoing. However, there have been studies that support anecdotal evidence of CBD’s therapeutic effects on anxiety. A study done in 2010 found that CBD reduces social anxiety, while in 2011, a study done on patients with social anxiety disorder found that “CBD significantly reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment, and discomfort” brought on by public speaking. A 2015 analysis found that CBD reduces anxiety behavior in disorders including generalized anxiety, panic disorders, PTSD, obsessive compulsive disorder, and social anxiety. And in 2019, a study on anxiety and sleep concluded that “CBD displays promise as a tool for reducing anxiety.” Though these studies do show promise, they all suggest that more clinical trials should be performed to confirm CBD’s efficacy.
So I Think I Want To Try It. What Now?
If you do decide to try CBD for your anxiety, first, we recommend speaking with your doctor about any possible drug interactions. Though CBD has an excellent safety profile, is generally tolerated better than other psychiatric meds, and has no evidence of public health related problems, some side effects have been reported.
Second, it’s important to be diligent and do research into what you’re buying and where you’re buying it from. Because the FDA doesn’t regulate non-prescription CBD products, it can be difficult to determine the quality and amount of CBD or other ingredients are in that product. (Epidiolex is the only FDA-approved CBD product.) Check that it comes from a reputable brand and has been tested by an independent third-party lab. Every CBD brand’s test results should be accessible through their website.
If you’re wondering where to buy CBD, you’re in luck. Hemp-derived CBD is now federally legal in all 50 states, and it’s becoming a lot more accessible. But because state laws on cannabis may vary, you may not be able to find CBD at a store or dispensary near you. If that’s the case, go online. Most CBD brands and several online retailers will ship to all 50 states.
For your first time, start with a low dose - possibly around 10mg of CBD or less - and see how well it works for you, then adjust accordingly. If you decide to take it daily, you might experience an increase in CBD tolerance. The time it takes to feel the effects of CBD varies depending on the method of delivery. Oils and tinctures taken sublingually will start to take effect anywhere from 15-30 minutes. With edibles (food or capsules), it could take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour or longer to feel the full effects. If you’re using a topical for pain or skin conditions, the time required to take effect will vary depending on the concentration and other active ingredients.
In case you’re wondering what to expect, we spoke with five women about their experiences taking CBD for their anxiety.
katie
Occupation: Photographer
Conditions Treated With CBD: Anxiety, panic attacks, pain management.
What I Take: “I used to take these gummies [20mg CBD per gummy], but now I use 1000mg CBD oil tincture. As soon as I feel the anxiety building up, I take one 1ml dropper [33mg CBD per 1ml dropper] under my tongue for about 30 seconds.”
“I started taking CBD for my anxiety and panic attacks because my sister told me I should try it. The first time she gave it to me, I noticed a difference. It was when I felt a panic attack coming on. And when that happens to me, there’s not much you can do but just surrender to it or take hardcore meds that basically knock you out for a few hours and then make you feel like shit when you wake up all hungover from it. After about 20 minutes of her giving me CBD, I felt a wave of calm come over me. I was like, ‘Wow, is this really happening?’ Now I use it any time I start to feel an attack coming on to nip it in the bud, and it works. It makes a huge difference in my life.”
debbie
Occupation: Yoga Instructor
Conditions Treated With CBD: Stress and anxiety.
What I Take: “Tincture of 1000mg CBD [33mg CBD per dropper]. Half of a dropper straight or if I mix it in with food, then I’ll do more. It’s from a brand called Social. I get it from a dispensary here in Los Angeles, but you can order online or check their site for where they’re sold.”
“Everyone thinks yoga instructors are all Zen 100% of the time, but we suffer from the same anxieties and fears that everyone else does. As a yoga instructor, I know the power of meditation and natural remedies, but there are times when meditation just isn’t enough and that’s when I use CBD oil. Some of my students turned me onto it. It has this calming effect that nothing else does. It’s like, you take it, and you feel like you’re turning down the volume on your anxiety. But at the same time, it doesn’t make you groggy. Within 15 minutes I’m good to go and zero side effects.”
Jennifer
Occupation: Graphic Designer
Conditions Treated With CBD: Social anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia.
What I Take: “A few puffs of a CBD pre-rolled joint if I can’t sleep [50mg CBD per preroll]. One full dropper of a 250mg tincture [8mg CBD per 1ml dropper] sublingual before I go out to any kind of social situation. If I’m feeling super anxious, maybe an extra dropper or two.”
“I have social anxiety, so basically I’m an extreme introvert to the nth degree. I really hate going out in public, and when I do, I always feel uncomfortable and anxious. What’s worse is the fear that I have before I have to go out. I’ve suffered from panic attacks just from thinking about being in social situations. For years I avoided going out with friends as much as possible, and I lost a lot of friends because of it. And it’s not like you can take a Xanax and go out drinking with your friends. You’ll just get tired and want to go to sleep. I’ve also avoided networking situations, so I know I’ve missed out on a lot of work opportunities. But after reading so much about CBD, I thought I’d try it - no expectations. The first time I tried it, I actually felt calm and relaxed. With CBD, I can go out with my friends and not have that nervous, anxious feeling while I’m out. I usually will take it before I start getting ready for an outing or a meeting and it has really helped get rid of those panicky feelings I get before I go out. I feel more confident now and not anxious, insecure, and panicked. Total life changer.”
Demetria
Occupation: Retail Management
Conditions Treated With CBD: Anxiety, stress, and pain management.
What I Take: “A mixture of topical, edibles and smoking a pre-rolled joint. The balm that I use for pain is 500mg CBD, and the mints and edibles are 100mg CBD [5mg CBD each].”
“I’ve had anxiety and panic attacks for longer than I can remember. I’ve been placed on different meds by doctors but hated the way they made me feel. A couple of years ago I decided that I wouldn’t let my anxiety cripple me from traveling any longer. In order to not have a panic attack on the plane, which I have done in the past, I decided my best option would be to take something to knock me out. This would cause me to be down for the entire first day of my trip and groggy on the second day. Earlier this year my boyfriend suggested trying a CBD edible that a friend had given him before we got on our plane, and I was instantly hooked. I was afraid the first time I tried it, I thought it would get me high or make me feel sick. Instead I felt super mellow and calm.”
Cynthia
Occupation: Law Enforcement
Conditions Treated With CBD: Pain management (muscle soreness) and PTSD (flashbacks, anxiety, insomnia).
What I Take: “Topical, tincture, and edibles. I started out with just droplets of 300mg tincture because I was scared to try it at first, but when I used a full dropper [10mg CBD per 1ml dropper] I felt great. I mix it in food now. But if I've had a very bad day then I eat one of the 750mg gummy worms [25mg CBD per gummy]. I usually get mine through Groupon because it’s a good bit cheaper. It’s annoying to have to buy on Groupon and go to the company page because sometimes there’s issues at checkout, but it’s worth the slight inconvenience.”
“I take CBD for my PTSD to help with flashbacks, anxiety, insomnia. As a preteen and teen I looked to drugs to hide and cover up the pain. Marijuana worked with suppressing the nightmares but that couldn't last after I got clean. In college, doctors prescribed medications that made me lose all sense of reality, and I had no emotions at all so I stopped those. There's no medication that I've taken that's helped with the nightmares and flashbacks. I might get a couple nights of peace, but on CBD, there's no fear, no waking up in the middle of the night, nothing.
I still have healthy emotions when taking CBD, unlike [with] the other medications. I tried countless ways but nothing has worked like CBD. I'm not afraid to fall asleep when I take it. I'm not afraid of every sound when I take it. I can actually enjoy fireworks now. And I have a very healthy relationship - expecting a baby in July, actually. I found the confidence to go back to school, despite focus issues, to reinvent myself. I could workout more with less pain. I could sleep. I could do 5Ks again and be in crowds. I love CBD! I even give it to my dogs because of how much it helped me. I've noticed if the dose is too low I'll get headaches from it, but that's been an easy fix and the only problem I've had. It doesn't even compare to other treatments.”
Steffi Victorioso is an LA-based food and lifestyle writer/photographer currently thinking about what to eat. You can find more of her articles here.
