Congratulations, you made it! You managed to escape the nightmare that was 2020. The year that harassed the world with the tragedy of the COVID-19 pandemic, and redefined terms such as ‘bubbles’, ‘corona’ and ‘tiers’ in the popular consciousness is finally over and we can think about the road to recovery.
However, 2020 was an extremely rough ride for millions of us. Numerous lockdowns left many of us isolated and lonely. Millions of us lost our jobs through businesses having to close as a result of restricted trading. We were often left worrying about our chances of catching Covid, the health of family members or about what the future may hold for our jobs or our kids’ education. To be frank, 2020 left many of us worried, anxious and afraid. This blog takes a look at how CBD can make things easier, if only by a little.
2020 fanned the flames of our anxiety..
Anxiety affects the lives of over 74% of Brits have suffered from stress or anxiety at some point. Given that practically ¾ of the UK population has suffered from anxiety, this means that so many of us struggle to maintain a normal life whilst managing it. Anxiety is the body’s natural reaction to stress, something that we all encounter on a very regular basis. Symptoms of anxiety may include an increased heart rate, fast breathing, sweating, panic, and fatigue.
Anxiety does not always paralyze us. It creates discomfort and causes us to be nervous, which is a natural ‘fight or flight’ response when we are physically and emotionally healthy. However, a build-up of unresolved anxiety over time can manifest in painful physical and emotional problems. If left unchecked, anxiety has been known to develop into debilitating Generalized Anxiety Disorder, an umbrella term for several anxiety-derived conditions. Generalised Anxiety Disorder is akin to always having your fight or flight response switched on, which can lead to panic attacks, excessive worrying, and insomnia. Additionally, extended bouts of anxiety can induce depression and impact our ability to think logically.
Does CBD help to ease anxiety?
The short answer is ‘yes it can’. CBD eases anxiety by interacting with our body’s naturally occurring endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS regulates our internal systems, including the metabolism, circadian rhythms, energy, blood pressure and mood. CBD interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in our ECS. Studies report that the effects of CBD on these receptors is a sensation of increasing and improved calm and relaxation. CBD works to deactivate our fight or flight response. In short, CBD has delivered the exact result anxiety sufferers are looking for in several studies.
2021 – the year when we (hopefully) start sleeping well again…
Unfortunately, where anxiety led in 2020, insomnia and sleep problems followed. As many as 16 million UK adults are suffering from sleepless nights as a third (31%) say they have insomnia. Two thirds (67%) of UK adults suffer from disrupted sleep and nearly a quarter (23%) manage no more than five hours a night. And given that sleep deprivation is a leading contributor to mood changes and personality dips, we’re a grumpy nation as well. To be frank, we’re tired of being of being tired and we’re open to trying new solutions to get a peaceful night’s rest.
Recent studies have shown CBD to be a promising way to achieve a better-quality night’s sleep. Anxiety is often a leading underlying reason why people find themselves counting sheep into the early hours. Even if CBD isn’t a magic bullet answer, it has been shown to significantly improve our ability to catch some zzz’s. A PubMed Central study published in 2019 reviewed whether CBD could improve sleep and or reduce anxiety. The study involved 72 subjects, with 47 experiencing anxiety and 25 experiencing poor sleep. The subjects were each given 25 milligrams (mg) of CBD in capsule form each day. In the first month, 79.2 percent of the patients reported lower anxiety levels and 66.7 percent reported better sleep. If used in conjunction with a complimentary bedtime routine (translation: ‘turn off the mobile phone!’), a few drops of CBD oil before bed may be the key to achieving a recent night’s rest.
CBD improves sleep in two different ways. Firstly, it can improve the speed at which you can fall asleep. Most studies show that CBD oil taken under the tongue before bedtime is the most effective method at inducing sleep faster. Liquids placed under the tongue cross its thin membrane and enter your bloodstream faster than when consumed. The speed with which this happens has played a key part in this method’s popularity. This method also has the best absorption rates for CBD as it bypasses your digestive processes.
Secondly, CBD can increase the length of a sleep cycle, enabling you to not suffer from broken sleep and to rest for longer. CBD taken in edible formats take longer to digest and are absorbed by your body across the duration of its digestion. Consuming CBD before bed (a cup of CBD-infused tea from one of the brands found in our Tea Lovers’ Box is a favourite at Serenity Box Co HQ) enables the CBD to be absorbed across a period of 5 to 7 hours after consumption.
If you have any questions around using CBD to lessen your anxiety, help you to sleep better or anything else CBD-related, please reach out to us via hello@serenityboxco.com.
