3 Ways CBD May Support your Mental Health
AUTHOR: ZOE HUDSON
I don’t know about you, but the past several years have shown me the importance of making my mental health a priority.
If you’re struggling with constant feelings of stress in your life, you’re not alone– 84% of Americans report feeling stressed every week. Between the stresses of work, family, home, finances, health concerns (hello COVID), and all the other things that we’ve been dealing with, one of the best things we can do to not be overwhelmed is by first making our OWN mental health a priority!
The Good News, and the Great News
The good news is that there are so many tools available to us to help support our mental health. You can read more about some of these tools HERE. The great news is that research is showing that CBD may help play a big role in lowering stress in our bodies, too!
First, let’s have a quick refresher about stress and our mental health.
Why do we get stressed?
The Fight or Flight Response
Our minds are hardwired to protect us from any danger. If a situation feels stressful, we go into a “fight or flight” response. Our body then releases cortisol to help us react better in the face of danger. This is great when our ancestors had to be ready to escape a dangerous situation, or be on high alert so they didn’t become food to a saber tooth tiger, but in our modern world, our bodies still respond with the same level of intensity to things like financial stress or navigating work/life balance (think heart racing, sweaty palms, irritability, feeling out of control).
In today’s world of constant stress, our bodies can spend a lot of time in Fight or Flight mode. And the more time our bodies spend in that mode, the more sensitive we become to stress triggers - setting the stage for us to feel overwhelmed by even the smallest things.
Modern Life is Stressful
Okay, so that was the bad news. Modern life is stressful! We all know that. The good news is that there are more ways than ever to help us manage and even lower our stress!
CBD May Help
One of those many things is CBD. Research has shown that CBD may help keep your body balanced - from physical to mental. If you want to read more about how this works, check out Stress and CBD: Here’s How They Are Connected.
But for those of you that want to get straight to the good part, here are 3 ways that CBD may help support your body in lowering your stress levels - and keeping your mental health on “cloud 9.”
- Less Stress - CBD may help keep your stress hormones stay balanced
- Better Sleep - CBD may help you fall asleep and stay asleep
- Pain Relief - CBD may help lower inflammation - lowering pain overall
Less Stress
Adding CBD into your daily routine may help your body switch off its Fight or Flight response and help you feel more relaxed. CBD helps support our endocrine system by helping the ECS (endocannabinoid system - you can read more about it here) communicate more easily throughout the body. It may also help lower cortisol levels and improve symptoms of stress, such as tension, digestive issues, and anxiety.
Better Sleep
Research shows that CBD may help you not only fall asleep but also stay asleep for longer. By supporting your natural circadian rhythm, CBD may help your body adjust to changes in routine, such as late nights, travel, or jetlag. CBD may also help you get more restorative deep sleep by influencing the hormone adenosine. This sleep hormone helps regulate your inner-body clock and makes you feel tired when you should.
Terpenes also play a huge role in sleep, as they give CBD its distinct effects. It’s why we’ve made our Evening Blend CBD Hemp Extract with hemp extract that has terpenes (such as myrcene) that also promote sleep. We’ve taken that hemp extract and added natural sleep-promoting ingredients like vanilla, chamomile, and lemon balm to create a blend that supports you getting the rest that you deserve!
Pain Relief
Chronic pain can take a toll on your quality of life, and other important areas of your health, such as your sleep, appetite, mood, and well-being. As people are looking for more natural ways to relieve pain, CBD has been getting alot of attention! Studies show that CBD has strong anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Topical CBD is especially helpful in this area, as it can target local receptors to relieve swelling and inflammation. Check out our collection of CBD roll-ons, lotions, and salves that you may use for targeted pain relief and to boost your recovery!
Check In With You
When thinking about your mental health, it’s important to take a holistic approach - looking at all areas of you life - mental, physical, and emotional. While CBD may help support you in your mental health journey, don’t forget to check in with yourself and identify where your stress is coming from. If you’re not sure where to begin, we’ve made a few journal prompts to help you get started: Check-In on YOU!
Take the time to care of yourself! Whether you choose to start a daily gratitude journal, take a walk, spend 5 minutes a day in meditation - remember that it doesn’t have to be complicated!
Enjoy Your CBD
And with more CBD options than ever, adding it into your daily routine is so easy! Whether it’s a few drops of an extract under your tongue, taking two Citrus-C Gummies in the morning, or even a few drops of our Citrus Spice extract in your coffee, there is an easy and enjoyable way to make CBD part of your daily mental health care routine!
As always, it’s best to consult your doctor if you have any questions or concerns, especially if you want to use CBD to support your mental health.
Zoe is a freelance writer passionate about all things cannabis. She’s been writing in the industry since 2020, and her work was featured in publications such as CBD Health & Wellness and Terpenes & Testing.
