How bad is anxiety?

Nervousness is the most common mental disorder in the world, affecting over 30% of adults globally. It is a common and natural response to stress or danger, and in many situations, it serves as a helpful mechanism to heighten awareness and facilitate problem-solving. However, when anxiety becomes persistent, overwhelming, or disproportionate to the situation, it can develop into an anxiety disorder, which is a serious mental health condition.

Experiencing anxiety disorders might lead to long-term health issues like diabetes, stomach ulcers, and heart problems. A survey in 2023 found that nearly one third of adults reported feeling anxious or depressed. This shows that a significant number of people are dealing with these feelings.

Globally, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness. Around 301 million people, which is about 4% of the world's population, have anxiety disorders.

Before we proceed, it is important to distinguish between normal anxiety and anxiety disorders. Normal anxiety is a natural reaction that helps us deal with stress or challenges. It's like a built-in alarm system in our bodies, known as "fight-or-flight." This kind of anxiety is useful because it helps us respond to real threats and handle tough situations. It's temporary, meaning it usually goes away once the stressful situation is over. The intensity of normal anxiety is proportional to the situation, and sometimes, it can even make us more focused and alert.

Anxiety disorders, on the other hand, are different. They involve too much worry, fear, or anxiety that goes beyond what's normal. Unlike normal anxiety, these feelings are excessive and stick around for a long time, often six months or more. Anxiety disorders can really get in the way of our daily lives, affecting how we do things, our relationships, and our overall well-being. People with anxiety disorders might react strongly even to things that aren't really that threatening. There are different types of anxiety disorders, like generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias.

What are the causes of anxiety disorders?

The causes of anxiety disorders are complex and can involve a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Here's a breakdown of these potential causes:

• Genetics: Like depression, anxiety disorders can be caused by genetics. If close family members, such as parents or siblings, have an anxiety disorder, it may increase the likelihood of someone developing it. It's like inheriting certain traits from your family that might contribute to how your body and mind respond to stress.
• Brain Chemistry: Imbalances in neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) such as serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are associated with anxiety disorders. These imbalances can affect how the brain regulates mood and stress. These neurotransmitters as messengers that help your brain communicate. When there's an imbalance, it can impact how you feel.
• Environmental Factors: Certain life experiences or traumatic events, especially during childhood, can contribute to the development of anxiety disorders. These may include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, as well as major life changes or stressors. These environmental factors shape how you respond to stress. Difficult experiences, especially in childhood, can have a lasting impact.
• Personality and Temperament: Some individuals may have a temperament or personality traits that make them more prone to anxiety. For example, being shy, perfectionistic, or having a tendency to be easily startled.
• Medical Conditions: Medical conditions like chronic illnesses or hormonal imbalances, can contribute to anxiety disorders. For example, thyroid disorders or heart conditions.
• Substance Use or Withdrawal: Substance abuse or withdrawal from certain drugs and medications can trigger or worsen anxiety disorders. Using substances or suddenly stopping them can affect the way your brain functions and contribute to anxiety.

What does research say about CBD for anxiousness?

Several research studies have reported the possible therapeutic effects of CBD for reducing anxiousness especially in laboratory models. Information from a 2019 study shows that CBD provides its therapeutic benefits by interacting with the endocannabinoid system or the ECS. The ECS is known as the universal balancing system in the body. You can read our previous article on the ECS. It plays critical roles in balancing life processes and making sure every process is working according to plan and design. CBD and the ECS works to restore our natural balance and this has proven very effective at assisting people with different conditions, not just nervousness.

Researchers suggest the anxiolytic (reducing anxiousness) effect of CBD may take place in the following ways.

1. Targeting endocannabinoid receptors

Our body has something called the endocannabinoid system, which is like a network that helps control important functions in our body, such as how our nerves work, our heart, and our brain. It's like the control center for things like memory, appetite, sleep, fertility, and mood. Mood is especially important, and a 2019 study suggest that CBD interacts with something called the 5-HT1a receptor, which is linked to serotonin.

Serotonin is a special hormone that makes us feel good. It helps keep our mood stable, makes us feel happy, and gives us a sense of well-being. When serotonin levels are low, it can lead to problems like depression and anxiousness. That's why many medications for depression and anxiousness work by increasing serotonin levels. So, CBD seems to have a connection with this "feel-good" hormone and might help with mood-related issues.

2. Activating neural receptors

Clinical trials on the use of CBD for anxiousness suggest it may produce its anxiolytic effect by interacting with receptors in the brain. It does this by interacting with specific receptors called 5-HT1a and CB1 receptors. Think of these receptors as tiny switches in your brain. CBD turns on the CB1 receptors in a part of the brain called the amygdala. When these switches are on, it helps decrease anxiousness. Note that CBD does not directly affect anxiousness, depression and other mental conditions but it stimulates our bodies to release the right chemicals that helps our body to maintain balance.

Other possible ways CBD may support the reduction of anxiousness

1. Anxiolytic Effects: this describes the anxiousness-reducing nature of CBD via the two mechanisms discussed above. Note that CBD is a regulator. It either activates or deactivates certain receptors depending on need. In the case of anxiousness, CBD will activate neuronal receptors to reduce signs of stress or other factors that can lead to anxiousness.
2. Neurotransmitter Modulation: CBD may influence the activity of neurotransmitters like serotonin as reported by some researchers. These receptors are responsible for mood regulation, and stress management. By targeting these receptors our bodies will be well equipped to manage stress and reduce the possibility of mood swings.
3. Stress Reduction: CBD may play significant roles in managing stress which is often a contributing factor to anxiousness-disorders. The calming effect of CBD can help people relax and even enjoy good sleep.
4. Sleep Improvement: your mental health is as good as your quality of sleep. A poor sleep will produce poor mental health and vice versa. Several individuals have attested to the sleep-promoting effect of CBD and other cannabinoids. This can be very useful for people who are battling nervousness or any other nervousness-related challenge.

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Sources

Shannon S, Lewis N, Lee H, Hughes S. Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. Perm J. 2019;23:18-041. doi: 10.7812/TPP/18-041. PMID: 30624194; PMCID: PMC6326553.

Blessing EM, Steenkamp MM, Manzanares J, Marmar CR. Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics. 2015 Oct;12(4):825-36. doi: 10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1. PMID: 26341731; PMCID: PMC4604171.