Social Anxiety Disorder, synonymously known as SAD, is one of the generally known anxiety conditions which may impair one’s social life. Cannabidiol, better called CBD, is a compound found in the cannabis plant, showing solid anxiolytic effects in humans and animals. You have so many varieties to choose from when it comes to the CBD world. This may be exciting for some people, while others would prefer to stick to the most prevalent methods of CBD consumption. There’s no denying that vaping CBD has become one of these methods in recent years. You never know, CBD vape pen could become your preferred method of CBD consumption! This article will let you take a better look at CBD and some of its potential benefits.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, better called CBD, is a chemical compound known as a phytocannabinoid. In the marijuana plant, there are more than a hundred different cannabinoids. Cannabidiol (CBD), Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabinol (CBN), Cannabigerol (CBG) etc., are a few cannabinoids that are currently gaining attention for their medical advantages as alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs. The psychoactive effect or “high” that is famously linked with marijuana is caused by THC. Currently, products with more than 0.3% THC are not legal in most countries. Although CBN was the first phytocannabinoid to be discovered, it is gaining popularity slowly these days for its benefits. CBN is aged THC and is therefore very mildly psychoactive. Cannabigerol is the parent molecule from which the other cannabinoids are synthesized. It is the decarboxylated form of cannabigerol acid.

What is SAD?

SAD, or Social anxiety disorder, generally referred to as social phobia, is a kind of anxiety disorder that may cause extreme fear in social settings. People suffering from this disorder may have trouble meeting new people, talking to people, and being a part of social groups. They have a great fear of being judged or scrutinized by others. Although they may understand that their fears are unreasonable or irrational, they feel powerless to overcome them.

Social anxiety and shyness are two different problems that are poles apart. Shyness is ordinarily short-term and doesn’t cause any disruption to one’s life. Social anxiety is debilitating and persistent. It may affect one’s ability to work and develop close relationships with people outside of their family.

Social engagements may cause the following physical symptoms of SAD. 

• Nausea
• extreme sweating
• shaking or trembling
• difficulty in speaking
• lightheadedness or dizziness  
• increased heart rate

Symptoms of social anxiety may not always occur in all situations. You may have selective or limited anxiety. For example, symptoms may only happen while talking to strangers or eating in front of people. If you have an extreme case of social phobia, the symptoms can occur in all social settings. 

Does CBD help Social Anxiety Disorder?

While researching the relationship between CBD and Social anxiety, the researchers measured the Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) symptoms at the commencement and conclusion of the experiment using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale and the Fear of Negative Evaluation Questionnaire. They found that CBD significantly reduced the anxiety measured in both scales. The results thus indicated that CBD could be a practical option to treat social anxiety.

How does CBD help in alleviating SAD?

The human body includes various receptors that perform different activities, from converting energy into electrical impulses to mediating vision, hearing, taste, touch, and more. Receptors are protein-based chemical structures attached to the cells. They receive signals from different stimuli.

It is assumed that CBD interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors. These receptors are primarily present in the peripheral and central nervous systems. 

The exact way CBD affects CB1 receptors is not known, as more research is required. However, it is believed to alter the serotonin signals.

Serotonin is a crucial hormone that plays an essential role in managing your mental health. If the serotonin levels are low in a person, it is commonly associated with depression. In some cases, not having the required serotonin levels may also cause anxiety.

Although the conventional treatment for low serotonin is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), some people with anxiety may turn to CBD to help with their problems.

CBD dosage for Anxiety.

If you plan on using CBD for anxiety, you should first determine the correct dosage of CBD for you. Experts suggest starting in small doses and then working your way up based on how your body reacts.

Many clinical trials have successfully evaluated the doses for anxiety relief specifically. Some of them suggest taking around 600 milligrams for patients with Social Anxiety. 

Another study that involved hundreds of patients noted a success when doses ranged from 40 milligrams to 300 milligrams a day, additionally supporting the idea that CBD dosage differs immensely, depending on a person’s physiology and symptoms.

Other Benefits of CBD

• In the treatment of Addiction 

CBD may effectively target the high-risk states of relapse by reducing anxiety and stress related to drug use and mediating anti-depressant activity. In addition to that, CBD impacts the brain systems responsible for drug craving behaviors triggered by drug-related stress. However, the effect of CBD differs for various types of Addiction. For example, with opioid Addiction, CBD showed little impact in minimizing withdrawal symptoms in the absence of THC. But in contrast, CBD on its own appeared effective in reducing drug-seeking behaviors in users of methamphetamine, cocaine, and other psychostimulant drugs.

• Aids in blissful sleep by alleviating anxiety.

CBD has an innate ability to cool your nerves and regulate your body, thus helping you achieve a sense of well-being and calmness. As a result, they effectively treat anxiety, hypertension, and other stress-related disorders. CBD can also help you gain confidence while addressing the challenges you face in your life. 

A recent study involving 72 adults with anxiety and poor sleep showed that consuming CBD decreased the anxiety scores of 79% of the people. In 66% of the participants, sleep scores increased, meaning they had less trouble sleeping. These results suggested that CBD decreased sleep difficulties in many of the participants. 

The proteins present in CBD trigger the increase of calming hormones in our bodies. These hormones allow the stressed mind and painful muscles to relax.

Conclusion.

CBD achieved immense fame as a supposed “miracle cure” for a wide variety of health conditions, including anxiety. Although the research on CBD for anxiety seems promising, it’s limited by small samples and a lack of extra knowledge on its long-term effects. More research is needed to determine whether it is an effective and safe treatment. For more information, one can visit cbd news. 

CBD is pretty easy to find and purchase, but one must be aware that it is not well regulated. The amount of CBD and ingredients on the label outside may not always match the contents inside the container. Since its legality is also not clear, you may want to research the laws in your state about its possession and possession.