Is COVID-19 lockdown causing stress? CBD may get you off the hook.

With the rapid spread of corona virus across the globe, your daily life may have begun to look different.

Besides, stay-at-home orders may compel you to adapt to a routine that majorly involves self-isolation. Even if you may be handling the situation well, uncertainty caused by the current scenario may result in overall anxiety and stress. However, the good news is that there are various ways for managing COVID-19 related stress. Ans as you may have guessed, CBD is one of those options.

The information in this article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis and does not replace seeing a mental health professional. If you think you are suffering from this disease, consult with a health professional immediately. To find a health professional in the Highbrow network, click here.

Effect of Stress on your Body

Increase in stress hormone, cortisol, prepares your body for fight-or-flight situation. This short-term effect is beneficial for your body as it helps you to fight any danger.

Long-term or constant tension, on the other hand, may have multiple detrimental effect on your body.

Some of them are:

Heart disorders
A weakened immune system
Weight gain
Endocannabinoid imbalance
Depression
Digestive problems
Fatigue
Muscular tension

How CBD can help to Relieve COVID-19 Related Stress:

If you are feeling unsettled, cannabidiol (CBD) may help you in managing stress. With its calming effect, it is a great option for anyone who is stressed or anxious.
Wondering how CBD helps?

Stress, especially in higher intensity, damages your brain and nerve cells.

Cannabidiol molecules boosts the growth of your nerve and brain cells. This triggered generation of new cells keep your brain connected and stimulated, keeping your mind active. CBD thus prevents damage caused to your brain cells by stress.

Besides, stress and anxiety may also alter your thought process and even structure of the brain. By improving the health of your cells, CBD combats effect of CBD on your brain.

Finding it difficult to relate to the process?

Well, imagine that cells help in wiring of your brain. Although not permanent, stress initiates rewiring of your brain by damaging the cells. CBD regenerates the cells and reverse this damage caused by stress.

Furthermore, serotonin – a chemical messenger in your brain – manages your mental health. Lower levels of serotonin are associated with anxiety and depression.

Cannabidiol’s molecules interact with your brain receptors to increase the release of serotonin, reliving anxiety and calming your brain.

Evidence for Benefits of CBD for COVID-19 Related Stress

Before heading towards the scientific understanding behind the benefits, it is better to understand about medical marijuana.

You may have noticed various effects of cannabis, either by trying it or in many movies. It may cause a feeling of “high”, which is different for everyone. This uncertainty is due to different ratios and quantities of phytocannabinoids – active constituents of cannabis.

Higher levels of THC overstimulate your body, while CBD calms you down. Medical marijuana contains CBD without THC, providing healing properties without causing you “high”.

Coming back to the scientific evidence.

Various clinical trials and studies have been carried out to understand the effect of CBD on stress and anxiety.

Some of them suggested the following:

CBD was effective in managing stress symptoms, such as negative memories, nightmares, and insomnia. It can help alone as well as an adjunct to traditional treatment options, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication (Journal of Neuropharmacology).
It prevents anxiety and its symptoms, such as increased heart rate and headache (Frontier Pharmacology).
CBD prevents anxiety while public speaking in patients with social phobia (Neuropsychopharmacology).
Cannabidiol corrects the endocannabinoid imbalance caused by stress and anxiety (Neurotherapeutics).
Antipsychotic effect of CBD makes it useful in people with schizophrenia (Journal of Psychiatric Research).

Other CBD Benefits During COVID-19 Lockdown

So, as you may have seen cannabidiol helps to clear your mind.

But there is much more that CBD may offer. It also helps in managing physical symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Some of the symptoms that it can help to soothe are:

Fatigue
Migraines and headaches
Increased heartbeats
Insomnia
Trouble staying asleep
Body ache
Weakness and shakiness
Nausea and vomiting
Muscle tension

The above symptoms are not directly related to the pandemic, they are manifestation of the mental discomfort. So, you may not relate headaches and tense muscles to the coronavirus, but there is a direct correlation between them.

As it’s not possible to have control over the pandemic, and thus the lockdown may not be over anytime soon, it is essential to find various ways to manage stress. CBD is one of the most effective methods of managing COVID-19 related stress without experiencing side-effects associated with cannabis.

Do You Need CBD to Manage Stress?

Well, not everyone needs it. Your body naturally produces endocannabinoids, which regulate the functioning of the endocannabinoid system.

However, certain factors such as aging, poor diet, and chronic stress alter the production of endocannabinoids. In such cases, CBD may come handy to maintain the ECS ability to run smoothly.

So, if you feel out of balance or have symptoms of stress, CBD can help you to deal with it.

Wrapping it up!

The rapid transmission of coronavirus has caused havoc in minds of many. It is mainly due to the uncertainty and the lockdown order.

Everyone deals with this stress in different ways. It may also be difficult to think clearly when your mind is under pressure. CBD can help by uplifting the mental discomfort. With other coping mechanisms, such as exercise and meditation, cannabidiol can make stress related to COVID-19 and isolation more manageable.