CBD for Anxiety and Panic Attacks

A panic attack is an excellent example of the physical stress that anxiety may cause. Your chest tightens up, your breathing becomes shallower, and your heart starts to race. It's a mind-body fight. Your rational mind understands that you're secure and not in danger, but you can’t help feeling like you’re surely dying as your body insists that this one is even worse than the last.

Anti-anxiety medicines that aren't limited by adverse effects are desperately needed. With ongoing studies, researchers are uncovering the medicinal benefits of cannabinoids. Does CBD help anxiety and panic attacks? Or can CBD cause anxiety? In this article, we’ll explain how CBD works to halt panic attacks and ease anxiety.

How to Use CBD for Anxiety, but First, What Exactly is a Panic Attack?

A panic attack is a sudden onset of great terror that is accompanied by a slew of terrifying bodily symptoms that lasts anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes. Panic disorder is defined as a condition in which a person has frequent and unexpected panic attacks. Panic disorder is often associated with phobias. A phobia is an irrational fear of something—usually an object, a scenario, or a location. Although panic attacks can happen without warning and for no apparent reason, a phobia can produce severe sensations of terror, which can lead to a panic attack.

Everyone experiences panic attacks differently. There is a vast list of unpleasant bodily symptoms, with the following being the most common:

• Palpitations of the heart
• Difficulty breathing
• Feeling dizzy and off balance
• Pain and tightness in the chest
• Body trembling or shaking
• Sweating or experiencing chills

A panic attack can mirror the symptoms of a life-threatening emergency, even if your body isn't in danger. Many people describe panic attacks as feeling like they're about to die. Understandably, this is a very unpleasant event. It can set off a self-fulfilling loop of fearing your next panic attack, exacerbating your anxiety on a daily basis.

For more detailed information on anxiety, panic attacks, and panic disorder, including possible causes, click here.

Using CBD Oil for Anxiety and Panic Attacks: What does the Research Say?

The connection between CBD and anxiety is still being studied. The majority of studies on CBD's use in anxiety are still in the early stages. In 2017, Current Neuropharmacology released a review of the data on CBD's effects on panic behavior. Using CBD for anxiety appears to be a beneficial treatment for panic disorder based on existing research, however human clinical trials are urgently needed.

Small electric shocks were used to teach 48 people to link fear with a colored box in one human study. Extinction learning, or the slow decline in responsiveness to a conditioned stimuli, was shown to be increased by 32 mg of CBD, according to researchers. In other words, CBD helped humans lessen conditioned fear reactions, implying that it could aid in the unlearning of phobias and panic triggers.

CBD's effect on the brain has also been studied by scientists. Researchers examined how blood oxygen levels changed after a 600 mg dosage of CBD using a neuroimaging method known as fMRI. The amount of oxygen used by a brain region correlates with its activity. The more active a brain region is, the more oxygen it consumes. To elicit a modest panic reaction, participants were given photos of scared faces. CBD users showed a significant reduction in activity in the amygdala, a brain area. These findings show that CBD may be able to lessen our neurological panic response because the amygdala is crucial for signaling fear.

There's also a lot of evidence on CBD and anxiety, specifically how it can help with social anxiety disorder. Reduced social anxiety symptoms may aid in the prevention of panic attacks brought on by social phobia.

What Form is the Best CBD for Anxiety?

When it comes to utilizing CBD for anxiety and panic attacks, there are numerous product varieties to choose from. CBD is available in tinctures, pills, edibles, vapes, topicals, concentrates, and many other products. This section discusses the most common ways people are using CBD to combat panic attacks.

CBD Oil for Anxiety (Tinctures)

CBD oil drops are by far the most popular product on the market right now. CBD is delivered sublingually in this form, which means the user must slip the necessary quantity beneath the tongue, hold it there for 60 seconds, and then swallow it. CBD will enter your bloodstream through the tiny blood arteries in your mouth, bypassing the liver's first-pass metabolism. The benefits of using CBD oil for anxiety are that effects are noticeable approximately 15–30 minutes after ingestion and persist on average 4-6 hours. If you're anticipating a panic attack and want to prevent it by soothing your nervous system, using CBD oil is a wonderful option.

CBD Capsules or Edibles

Oral administration is used for capsules and consumables (for example, candy). Before being released into the bloodstream, they must travel through the digestive system. As a result, the effects of capsules and edibles may take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes to take effect. The effects, on the other hand, linger longer because of the slow release of CBD. Depending on your metabolism and the dosage of your capsules/gummies, anxiety relief may last 8–10 hours.

CBD Vapes

The most efficient approach to dosing CBD is to utilize a vape pen filled with CBD juice. The user can vaporize CBD vape oil by heating it to the point where it generates CBD-rich vapor. This vapor is inhaled into the lungs, where it enters into the bloodstream via lung tissue. The fastest results are obtained by vaping CBD oil for anxiety. Effects typically appear 5–10 minutes after inhalation. CBD vapes also deliver the largest levels of CBD to your system, with 56 percent of the inhaled substance making its way into your bloodstream. The major drawback to CBD vape pens is their brief duration. Anxiety and stress reduction usually lasts 3–4 hours with this method.

Nano CBD Beverages

Relatively new to the CBD and anxiety world is nano emulsified CBD. When consuming a nano-infused beverage, users begin to experience the benefits of CBD almost instantaneously. Due to the incredibly small size, CBD is immediately absorbed into the mouth and stomach, bypassing any need for digestion time. Not only are effects felt faster, most of the CBD is absorbed rather than wasted. Nano CBD for anxiety is the most bioavailable form of CBD known to date! If you're not familiar with nano CBD yet, check out this wonderful article.

What is the Best CBD for Anxiety Overall?

When you’re experiencing a panic attack, relief can’t come fast enough. The recommended form of CBD for anxiety and panic attacks is either a nano CBD-infused beverage or a CBD vape product. This is due to their ability to provide all the calming effects of CBD almost immediately.

For the highest quality CBD oil on the market today, you’ll need to check out Birch + Fog’s online store. With third-party verifications on each and every product, you can feel confident that you’re receiving effective products that are pure and potent.

What CBD for Anxiety Products does Birch + Fog Recommend?

1 Nano CBD Tropical Green Tea | Now + Then

This nano emulsified CBD distillate green tea from Now + Then provides lightning fast anxiety relief that is powerful enough to stop even the worst panic attacks. Nanotechnology allows for the CBD to be absorbed where it typically isn’t, such as in the mouth and stomach. With full effects felt in a matter of minutes, anxiety and panic attacks don’t stand a chance. Backed by extensive lab testing, large oil droplets are broken down into tiny particles that are able to mix with water and increase bioavailability. Each can contains 25mg of CBD in a delicious and refreshing green tea that is lightly sweetened with real cane sugar, containing only 3 grams of sugar per can. The recommended CBD oil dosage for anxiety is ¼ to ½ can to start and then wait 45 minutes to feel the effects. The dosage may be increased as needed.

Pros:

• 25mg of CBD for anxiety
• Delicious and refreshing
• Full effects felt in minutes

Cons:

• No subscription options available

Highlights:

• Lightning fast relief
• Backed by extensive lab testing
• Real cane sugar

2 Tranquil CBD Vape Cartridge | Cannalier

Our favorite vape for anxiety and panic attacks is this Tranquil CBD Vape Cartridge by Cannalier. Designed specifically to alleviate stress, anxiety, and panic attacks, this vape contains only: full-spectrum CBD oil for anxiety and a unique terpene blend. The terpenes are extracted using a water-based extraction method from only the highest quality, naturally derived plant sources. This vape contains no carrier oils, so you don’t have to worry about any propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin. The recommended CBD oil dosage for anxiety is 2-3 draws up to twice per day to start. Dosage may be adjusted as needed.

Pros:

• Designed specifically for stress, anxiety and panic attacks
• Unique terpene blend
• Only 2 ingredients: Full-spectrum CBD oil for anxiety and terpenes

Cons:

• Does not include pen battery

Highlights:

• Water based extraction method from highest quality plant sources
• No carrier oils
• Effects felt in minutes

CBD and Anxiety: Final Thoughts

Does CBD help anxiety and panic attacks? Absolutely! CBD has been found to be a safe and effective alternative to traditional treatment choices for anxiety, panic attacks and panic disorder, according to current studies. Keep in mind that not everyone will respond the same way to the same product. It may take some time to experiment with different forms and a different CBD dosage for anxiety before you find what works best for you. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, such as CBD. You can find the best CBD for anxiety and depression exclusively at Birch + Fog’s online store. Click here to shop the entire anxiety collection!