As England starts to move into Plan A Covid restrictions, it can be natural to feel nervous about returning there. Could CBD help with that social anxiety?
As restrictions lift in different parts of England and Ireland, it can feel unnerving to suddenly not wear a mask or be in a crowded room.
This is a new form of social anxiety that we may not have had to deal with before Covid. It is usually an overwhelming fear of social situations like meeting new people or speaking in front of a crowd. In extreme cases, it may mean a person cannot leave the house.
Here are some tips for helping with social anxiety
1- CBD on the go
The great thing about CBD is that it can be easily added to your daily routine. CBD gummies, edibles, and vapes are all very discreet options that can be popped into a bag without anyone needing to know what they are.
Anxiety attacks can happen quickly with no warning. Some of the early signs of a panic attack include sweating, shaking, an increasing sense of danger or fear, and a pounding heart rate. If panic attacks are part of your anxiety, then it is worth looking at which CBD options can work the fastest.
Vaping is a quick way to get a dose of CBD into your system if you are about to have a panic attack.
CBD is instantly absorbed into the system through the tissue of the lungs.
But is there any science into how CBD may help?
CBD interacts with the receptors in the brain, potentially sending signals to the neurotransmitter serotonin. However, much research remains to understand how the two interact.
Serotonin is the neurotransmitter responsible for your mental health, and lower levels are associated with anxiety.
A study examining the effect of CBD on people with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) found that it may help to reduce anxiety.
SAD is a social disorder where people can feel panic at the thought of social settings. This may now apply to being in crowded places or not wearing a mask around others due to COVID-19. The participants in this study were given 400 mg of CBD or a placebo. Those in the group given the CBD recorded lower levels of anxiety.
2- Slow it down
Meditation and yoga can be great for helping with anxiety.
Yoga may help with anxiety by reducing stress hormones such as cortisol in the body. It teaches practitioners to be mindful and encourages relaxation through gentle stretching and breathwork. There are many ways to introduce aromatherapy and CBD into a yoga session. Oils and tinctures can help relax the body, while topicals can soothe sore muscles post-session.
Meditation offers a similar approach to anxiety by helping to encourage mindfulness. CBD or aromatherapy can help lift a meditation session by infusing the room with terpenes. There are also a few CBD candles on the market that do the same with cannabinoids. Some can even be used as warm massage oil after you are finished. Just make sure to let the candle cool for a bit first.
3- Aromatherapy and terpenes
Terpenes are compounds found in plants that give plants their unique scent. For example, if you have ever smelled fresh pine needles, that is the terpene pinene.
Brands are becoming more aware of the health benefits of different terpenes and adding them to CBD products. This means it is easy to shop for CBD blends for a particular problem, such as sleep or anxiety. While oils or tinctures may be the appropriate choice for incorporating certain terpenes into your daily routine, other options include vapes or candles.
Aromatherapy oils added to pressure points on our bodies that we can smell are also effective.
Here are some of the most common:
- Limonene is found in citrus fruits like lemon
- Linalool found in lavender
- Alpha-pinene, which is found in pine needles or rosemary
Here are some of the best pressure points for anxiety:
- The wrist
- The midpoint between your eyebrows is called Yin Tang in acupuncture.
- The upper part of the ear, which in aromatherapy is called the heavenly gate.
- The shoulder well, which is located at the base of the neck
4 – Patches
It can be challenging to remember to take your daily dose of CBD.
Patches are a really easy way to get a constant release of the cannabinoid throughout the day and night without having to top it up. They can be applied anywhere in the body. Some patches are waterproof, so they can even be worn in the shower or swimming pool.
CBD is absorbed through the skin, although it’s unclear how much we take in. It can be a less precise dosing method compared to CBD oil, which may have a graduated dropper so the amounts can be measured.
5 – Using a topical for massage
We carry a lot of stress in our bodies, which can result in physical pain. If you have ever felt stiffness in your shoulder muscles, that may be from tensing them due to stress or anxiety. Lower back pain may also be the same.
Even if you don’t have a partner to help with a massage, there are still ways to add a CBD topical to your skincare routine. There are many different options, from massage oil to gels or roll-ons.
Applying CBD to some of the pressure points above in deep circular motions may help release tension, especially in our shoulders and backs. A warm bath with a bath bomb, oil, or salts may also help relax the muscles. We breathe in the botanicals released into the air simultaneously, so researching different terpenes for relaxation is worth exploring. Adding a few drops of CBD or aromatherapy oil to the bath may help.
If you aren’t feeling like a massage or a bath, gentle stretching exercises can also help. We also tend to hold stress in our hands and feet, so remember to include those.
Disclaimer: https://cannabishealthnews.co.uk/2022/01/28/can-cbd-help-with-social-anxiety21
