A Beginner's Guide to CBD
What is CBD and where can I get it?
Disclaimer: Although I have personal and professional experience in the mental health field, I am not a licensed mental health professional. The information contained in this article is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only. The contents of this article are not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any disorder.
(Note: The links mentioned in the article may be affiliate links. If you buy any products through these links, it does not increase your costs. On the other hand, it gives you discounts, and I also earn a little commission.)
I've always had anxiety since I was a young child. Throughout this time, I developed coping strategies to manage my stress best.
Unfortunately, I developed maladaptive coping strategies that were harmful to me. Ultimately, I focused on reducing my anxiety by running away, hiding, and isolating myself from others.
Of course, running from your problems is never the answer. When I get in those moments when my anxiety is far too much, I will run right to my bad habits.
The older I got, the harder it was for me to manage my anxiety completely. One day, while in the throes of severe anxiety, I decided to research some remedies for fear.
The first thing that popped up on the list was CBD. At this point, CBD wasn't well known.
CBD comes from cannabis plants but does not contain any psychoactive properties. Meaning, if you take CBD, you will not get high or experience any psychoactive effects.
I have found CBD to be such a great help with my anxiety that I use it daily. I began taking CBD regularly, and I began to see positive benefits.
I was less anxious, more relaxed, and better able to handle myself in stressful times.
Finding CBD helpful is such a beneficial thing. So how exactly does CBD work?
CBD can be found anywhere — gas stations, malls, and even grocery stores. But just because the bottle reads 'CBD' does not mean it is safe to use.
With that being said, there can be a lot of unsafe CBD products floating around. There needs to be accountability from the company and transparency in ingredients.
You wouldn't eat from a restaurant if they didn't disclose what they put in the food — the same goes for CBD.
At this point, CBD is not regulated by any third-party agency. This means that CBD manufacturers can essentially sell you garbage or something potentially harmful.
It's essential to get quality CBD from a reputable seller.
How does CBD work?
Cannabidiol or CBD works by activating our endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is one of the most important physiological systems within the human body. In total, there are 113 known cannabinoids that interact with our endocannabinoid system.
CBD comes from the Cannabis sativa plant, but it does not contain Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).THC is the compound of marijuana that makes you high. If you are only taking CBD, you are avoiding THC and that high altogether.
Since CBD is not psychoactive, nor does it contain THC — then you won't need to worry about testing positive on a drug test.
There are many receptors that are far more complex than what is listed in this article. If you would like to learn more, I encourage you to visit: https://www.projectcbd.org/science/how-cbd-works
I've found the most significant benefit is for sleep time use. I take some before I go to bed to help me relax.
CBD can affect anxiety and a plethora of other ailments. Although CBD may ease the symptoms of a disorder, it does not treat that disorder. Treatment for any disorder should be under the supervision of a licensed medical professional.
CBD can be a helpful aid in seeking comfort from any pain, anxiety, or discomfort. Before starting any CBD product, be sure to check with your doctor that CBD is safe for you to use. Each person is different and may experience other side effects.
How can I take CBD?
Although there may not be much known about the potential side effects of sub-par CBD, it is essential to know where to get quality CBD.
For this post, I've partnered with Pinnacle Hemp to share their quality CBD products that you can purchase. If you feel this might be beneficial to you, know CBD can be taken in various ways — there's a method that fits everyone.
Pinnacle Hemp is a CBD company that supports quality within its products.
Below are all the various ways you can take in CBD. Pinnacle Hemp offers a wide variety of choices for using CBD. The titles are linked to Pinnacle Hemp if you want to check out more of their products!
Edibles
CBD can be put into just about anything. It is trendy to see gummies of all kinds, chocolates, and honey infused with CBD. Typically, I like to take edibles as it lasts.
Again, there is no high; you are left feeling chilled out — that's the best way I can describe it.
Tincture/Oil
Tinctures are one of the easiest ways (aside from edibles and salves) to take in CBD. Tinctures come in a small little dropper bottle that is highly concentrated CBD. Meaning, you will get straight CBD that you can put under your tongue.
I always carry a small bottle with me wherever I go, just in case I need it. I've typically found CBD helpful on long car rides, exam time, or when I can expect myself to be stressed.
Bath and body
Using bath and body products with CBD is an easy way for beginners to dip their toes in. As with edibles and tinctures, salve's are a great way to take CBD in. CBD salve can come in many different types of scents and sizes. I love having a container of CBD salve with me for some lower back pain relief. It feels nice to rub CBD onto your skin, especially if you are worried about ingesting CBD.
Vaping
Vaping is one of the most popular forms of CBD consumption that I have seen. Although it is easy and convenient, there are health risks associated with vaping. But if you feel this might be a good option for you, there are plenty to choose from.
There is a wide variety of CBD out there to try, but making sure you go to a reputable company is the key. Anyone can say that a product has CBD, but does it?
Stick around, as I will be going more in-depth into the various ways you can use CBD — but in greater detail! Over the next few months, I will be posting more CBD content.
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