CBD and Your Mental Health

A growing body of research supports the idea that CBD can help our health and wellbeing, and many studies are looking at mental health benefits in particular. While there is still more research that needs to be done, the initial results look highly promising for CBD as a treatment for a variety of mental health issues.

Sleep

Sleep has a profound impact on our overall health, and people with mental health conditions are more likely to have sleep difficulties. Insomnia is a common symptom of a number of mental health conditions, including depression, PTSD, anxiety, and a variety of neurological disorders.

One promising potential application for CBD is for the treatment of sleep disorders. In a recent literature review, researchers found that CBD could potentially help with several symptoms of insomnia and sleep apnea, including difficulty falling asleep and daytime sleepiness.

Research suggests that CBD may also help you stay asleep longer — one study from the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that CBD increased total sleep time in rats, and a clinical trial found similar results in human participants.

The exact reason CBD appears to be an effective sleep aid is not yet known, but some theorize that it is because of CBD’s efficacy in helping ease pain and anxiety. People who experience chronic pain or anxiety often struggle to fall asleep, and by easing these symptoms, it may result in falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer.

Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions in the U.S., affecting roughly 20% of the population. Given how prevalent anxiety is and how debilitating it can be, many people are looking for treatment to help them better manage their daily stressors. Many traditional pharmaceutical options come with a variety of side effects that most people would like to avoid. As more research has been done on CBD for its anti-anxiety properties, many individuals with anxiety disorders are looking to CBD for help.

The current body of research on CBD supports its efficacy for several different anxiety disorders. One review found that CBD could be beneficial for individuals with panic disorder, a mental health condition characterized by sudden, unexpected, recurrent panic attacks. Another study found that CBD reduced the anxiety of public speaking in individuals with social phobia. CBD has also been shown to be potentially beneficial for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Given the promise of this research, it’s understandable why many people with anxiety have added CBD to their routine.

Depression

Depression is another extremely common mental health condition in the U.S., impacting approximately 17.3 million adults. Many antidepressants on the market show limited efficacy, come with unfortunate side effects, and may lead to dependency. Fortunately, a growing body of research supports the idea that CBD may be effective for treating depression.

Animal studies have been the predominant strategy for researching CBD thus far, and the results look promising for translation into clinical trials. One 2014 review found that CBD appears to act as an antidepressant. Another 2018 review demonstrated that several studies showed promising results for CBD to reduce stress and depressive symptoms. Even better, these effects seemed to work without directly activating the endocannabinoid receptors, which could mean that there is less risk of CBD becoming addictive.

If you’re looking for additional ways to support your mental health, talk to your doctor about adding a CBD product into your routine. Whether you’re looking for a topical CBD salve or a softgel to add to your wellness plan, we offer a variety at Medimorphic. Shop today to learn more about our products.