The Struggle with Anxiety: A Personal Journey
I’ll start by saying that I’ve grappled with anxiety for well over 10 years. It’s been challenging, debilitating, and generally unpleasant most of the time. As a certified clinical nutritionist, I’ve employed various strategies in my journey to reduce, manage, and attempt to eradicate this feeling of persistent worry. Today, I want to talk about Cannabidiol (CBD) – a natural remedy for anxiety that I became acquainted with about a year ago.
Understanding Myself and Anxiety
For over a decade, I’ve lived with anxiety, a feeling hinged on worry that frequently took a toll on my life. Looking back now, it’s striking to realize that my struggle with anxiety stretched back to my childhood. However, I refuse to define myself as an anxious person. Instead, I consider myself someone who has experienced anxiety. These are two very different concepts.
Undeniably, anxiety is an issue our society must attend to urgently. Through my discussions on this platform, I’ve highlighted the various contributing factors to anxiety. Our erroneous belief that anxiety is innately a part of our makeup needs to be dispelled. Notably, several measures and lifestyle modifications can significantly reduce anxiety levels.
My Experience with CBD Oil
For the last year, I’ve used CBD oil to manage my anxiety. In simple terms, CBD oil works by lessening our body’s ‘fight or flight’ response, also known as anxiety. Our bodies operate through two interconnected systems known as the sympathetic nervous system (responsible for the ‘fight or flight’ response) and the parasympathetic nervous system (which promotes ‘rest and digestion’). A balance between these two functions is crucial for our general well-being.
Fight or Flight Mode: What is it?
Most people associate the ‘fight or flight’ mode with emotional stress. However, exposure to environmental stressors can result in a similar response. Whether it’s due to lack of sleep, an overdose of exercise, or exposure to toxins, our bodies may harbor stress and trigger the fight or flight mode.
Subsequently, blood flow to essential organs such as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and reproductive organs subsidizes. As your body redirects blood to the heart, muscles, and brain to ‘fight or flight’, you might begin to feel anxious.
Healing through CBD Oil
In order to mitigate the impact of the syndrome, you need to shift your body from ‘fight or flight’ mode to ‘rest and digest’ mode, a state in which your body optimally heals. In this state, your body restores blood flow to essential organs, promoting your overall well-being.
My First Encounter with CBD Oil
Around a year and a half ago, I found myself in a tight spot. I was feeling anxious, working excessively, sleeping less, and even struggling with bloating due to the limited blood flow to my GI tract. It was then I decided to put CBD oil to the test.
In the beginning, I used more than the recommended dosage due to the severity of my anxiety. I ingested four pumps in the morning and two or three at night based on my stress levels. On particularly stressful days, I would also take a midday dose.
Life with CBD Oil: Here’s what changed
Unlike prescribed medication, CBD oil does not dull your responses. You stay mentally sharp. CBD oil simply aids in alleviating the impact of ‘fight or flight’, making you better equipped to handle stress.
Over time, and with gradual changes in my lifestyle habits, my anxiety levels began to drop. I stopped over-exercising, modified my diet, and focused on attaining happiness. Now, a year later, I only use CBD oil at night, typically two pumps.
The Verdict on CBD Oil
I’m frequently asked if I would ever stop using CBD oil, and truthfully, I’m not sure yet. As of now, I will continue to use it due to the many benefits it presents. Along with improved sleep, regular meditation, and investing in healthy relationships, CBD oil has substantially aided in combating my anxiety.
I do want to stress that CBD oil is not a definitive cure for anxiety but a substantial helper, as long as your usage is consistent rather than sporadic. It serves to supplement your fight against anxiety rather than acting as a makeshift aspirin.
Finally, though not yet supported by scientific evidence, my personal experience leads me to speculate that CBD oil could benefit individuals with fertility issues. It may help to restore our bodies’ balance and drive more blood flow to our reproductive organs – potentially assisting in fertility.
Conclusion
This road to recovery and self-discovery continues for me, and I hope that sharing my journey with CBD oil resonates with you. It is crucial to recognize that overcoming anxiety is a process, not an overnight miracle, and what works for one person may not work for another. Nonetheless, by sharing our stories, we can begin to eliminate the stigma associated with discussing mental health and collectively work towards a healthier, happier world. If you want to delve more into my anti-anxiety routine or other methods I use to manage anxiety, leave a comment below, and I would be more than happy to share.
