Calm Down! CBD Oil for Anger and Stress
Emotions are part of human life and throughout the course of our lives, we will go through the entire spectrum of feelings. There are some emotions that are directly related to events such as post-traumatic stress disorder and others that seem to pop up from nowhere. Anger and stress are two of the most powerful feelings that we can experience and if one is present, the other will be too.
Stress and anger are often accompanied by underlying anxiety and this is what makes it difficult to find an appropriate treatment. When these three emotions are all present in someone’s life, things can get out of control rather quickly and your quality of life is in jeopardy, especially if you don’t seek treatment. It is easy to overlook the fact that your anger could be a side effect of anxiety, especially if you haven’t been eating or sleeping properly and you may find that even the smallest of issues will suddenly seem like the end of the world is nigh.
Stress shouldn’t be taken lightly as, in severe cases, it can kill you. It causes hypertension, affects your nervous system, and can lead to depression. Furthermore, as there is still a stigma attached to those who seek medical treatment for seemingly minor emotional issues, many people choose to ignore the symptoms of stress and anger and hope that they will go away on their own.
The Effect of Pharmaceuticals on Mental Health Issues
When we feel like we are under a high level of stress or anxiety, there will likely come a point where a friend or colleague will point us in the direction of a physician to help us address our issues. It could be caused by a social anxiety disorder, increased stress levels through work, Post-traumatic stress (PTSD), or even because of chronic pain. And one of the most commonly prescribed treatments for anxiety is a benzodiazepine like Xanax. These pills will treat your symptoms almost immediately, but they are accompanied by a long list of harmful side effects—especially when used for long periods of time. Benzodiazepines are highly addictive and they can cause the following symptoms:
Loss of appetite
How CBD Works for Anger and Stress
The past couple of years have seen the rise of alternative medicines such as CBD products like hemp seed oil, cannabis oil, and medical cannabis becoming increasingly popular. Medical marijuana and hemp oil (and all their derivatives) have been proven for use as an efficient and effective natural treatment for disorders like anxiety, depression, and stress and it is currently a hot topic in the medical industry. This has led to more studies being performed on cannabinoids and its potential therapeutic uses, as well as much more research scheduled to take place in 2019. While CBD oil is relatively new to the medical market, it has been used in ancient traditions for thousands of years to cure illness and provide relief from emotional issues like anger, stress, and anxiety. to
Here are some of the ways that CBD is thought to alleviate the symptoms of anger and stress:
CBD is thought to cause pleasure hormones in the body to be released. These particular hormones are incredibly powerful, as they are responsible for inducing feelings of calm, reducing stress, and eliminating underlying anxiety.
Research has shown us that CBD positively affects the basolateral amygdala receptors that we naturally have in our bodies in order to process most of our sensory information.
The hippocampus is the part of our brain that is basically an emotional control center. CBD interacts with receptors in the hippocampus to stimulate positive emotions and the necessary chemicals to provide us with therapeutic comfort.
A daily dose of CBD oil has been found to reduce cognitive impairment.
CBD has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that help eliminate the effects that stress can have on our heart and arteries.
Another major factor to take into account, when looking at CBD as a viable treatment for emotional disorders, is the effect that CBD has on Serotonin levels in the brain. Science and anecdotal evidence have both demonstrated the positive effect that CBD has on the mood-enhancing chemicals in our brain. It triggers the release of these necessary chemicals and works to ensure that they are balanced in an entirely natural way. As an added bonus, it is not accompanied by an nasty side effects.
CBD Is not Addictive
CBD oil is a cumulative substance, meaning that it builds up in our body and works away behind the scenes. This is why it should be taken as a routine supplement each day, instead of when you are right in the clutches of a panic attack. Good quality CBD oil is extracted and processed in a way that allows it to override the psychoactive effects of THC (another important compound in the cannabis plant—the one that gets you high) this means that you won’t be walking around like a zombie and CBD oil is perfectly safe to take at work and it won’t impair your ability to drive or be productive. One of the primary risks of treating anxiety with traditional pharmaceuticals is an addiction and this, in turn, contributes to even more stress! CBD is completely non-addictive and you can take as much or as little as you like, without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Final Thoughts
While CBD oil is an incredibly powerful natural substance, not all oils are created equal. Before making a purchase, always check that the oil you are looking at is full spectrum and extracted in a chemical-free process. One of the biggest appeals of using CBD oil is the fact that it is completely non-toxic, so making sure that it is as pure as possible is going to be the key to success. It is also not a quick fix and should ideally be taken as part of a balanced diet and combined with exercise, which is also another incredibly effective way of eliminating stress from our lives. Finally, know that it is completely safe to experiment with dosage. What works for one person, might not be effective for another. Therefore, always start by taking a lower dose and increase it until you notice a positive change with regards to your anger and stress.
Does CBD oil help with anger management
Anger has positive and negative effects. While many people view it as a negative emotion because it can cause a whole avalanche of many problems, it may prepare the body for flight and fight, making it a vital survival mechanism. When anger is uncontrolled, it may send one to act without thinking, causing future regrets. Since anger also impairs judgment, there is every need to control it. Even with therapies and conventional medications, some people cannot control anger or manage it when it occurs. As such, you might be like many others wondering whether CBD oil may help with anger. Some studies suggest that taking CBD oil may help one manage pain, anxiety, stress, inflammation, and many other things that give rise to anger, but scientific studies do not support the use of CBD oil for anger management.
What is CBD Oil?
CBD oil is one of the hundreds of active compounds called cannabinoids found in the hemp plant. Like THC, CBD oil has been studied, yet there is much to be known about it since what we know about it is far less than what we do not know. However, studies have fully established that, unlike THC, CBD oil is not psychoactive and does not have the ‘high’ effect linked to THC, which is why CBD oil is marketed to help with just about anything.
What Causes Anger?
Instead of perceiving anger as a bad emotion, it helps to know that it does not come out of nowhere, and often-times, it is an indication of an underlying condition. Stress, depression, anxiety, annoyance, pain, frustration, and irritation are among the many things that cause and exacerbate anger. Still, the economic situations get harder every other day, and stressors increase, subjecting more people to increased bursts of anger. There are many types of anger, including overwhelmed, volatile, judgmental, self-inflicted, chronic, and passive anger. Either of the mentioned conditions interferes with catecholamines (CAs), chemical compounds that control moods and emotions.
What CAs are There, and How Do They Affect Anger Bursts?
Generally, the body has three catecholamines or neurotransmitters that affect anger: dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. The CAs themselves have nothing to do with anger, but having too much or too little of these neurotransmitters affects anger management in one way or another. For instance, dopamine helps with cognitive functions, and it’s right amounts bring about compassion and problem solving. Yet too little or too much of it results in concentration problems and difficulty in focusing. Epinephrine helps with emotions but too little or too much results in hyperactivity and fatigue or low recovery rates.
Can CBD Oil Help With Anger Management?
No scientific studies can claim that taking CBD oil will help a person handle his anger attacks better. This partly stems from the knowledge gap of one study by Steinberg, et al., (2002), but much is yet to be unveiled about this cannabinoid. Besides, CBD oil and hemp were illegal for a long time, and legal issues resulting from many restrictions around the cannabinoid barred studies. CBD oil is not advised for managing anger. However, studies suggest that the human body has a network of receptors, cannabinoids, and enzymes forming the endocannabinoid system, which is claimed to interact with CBD to help manage neuro-challenges, including impulsive anger. In fact, the ECS seems to interact with the CAs discussed above to prevent their excess or low amounts that would result in anger. Even so, more scientific studies are needed to confirm the existence of an endocannabinoid system in the human system and that it has an impact on anger.
Other Reasons Why CBD Oil May Help With Anger Management
Because of the supposed existence of the endocannabinoid system and its interaction with cannabinoids from plants, including CBD oil, CBD oil may have several mechanisms which help with anger management. For instance;
CBD Oil May Help With Pain
This claim is true based on a claim by Piermarini & Viswanath, (2019). One major cause of anger is pain. When one is affected by pain, feelings of frustration may cause anger. One study involving rats noted that using CBD oil gel on male rats with osteoarthritis led to reduced pain markers. As such, it seems that CBD oil may help relieve pain and prevent the anger that would stem from it. Even so, the FDA has not approved CBD oil for any form of pain, nor have scientific studies confirmed that CBD oil products may lead to pain management. This study focused on animals, and we cannot be 100% certain that the same results realized in rats would be translated to human beings.
CBD Oil May Have Some Anti-inflammatory Effects
The other causes of anger are stress, anxiety, and depression, which also sets one into a frustrated state of mind, possibly resulting in anger. Although several factors may cause stress, depression, and anxiety, they may have something to do with inflammation. Yet, one study involving rats indicates that CBD oil may help fight inflammation. With better inflammation control, CBD oil could help control anger. Still, one scientific study by Gallily, et al.,(2018) shows that CBD can help with anti-inflammatory effects.
CBD Oil May Help With Sleep
Lack of sleep for a long time may leave a person tired and easily angered. Yet, people take CBD oil to help them sleep better. It all goes down to the CBD-body interaction. A scientific study by Kuhathasan, et al., (2019). backs up CBD oil for better sleep. However, if CBD oil indeed helps with sleep, it could help manage sleep-related anger.
CBD Oil May Relieve the Body of Pressure Hormones
The other common cause of anger is excess amounts of pressure hormones. These may make the body and brain hyperactive, easily resulting in anger. Still, CBD oil is reported to help relieve the body of pressure hormones, although no scientific studies can attest to this.
Conclusion
Anger may seem like a bad emotion, but it can serve as a survival mechanism when it helps send the body into a flight or fight mode. CBD oil is marketed to help with just about anything, including anger management. However, this blog shows that no scientific studies provide enough evidence to show that CBD oil is effective for anger management. While the cannabinoid may help reduce pain, stress, and inflammation that triggers anger, there is not enough scientific evidence to back up these claims.
References
Gallily, R., Yekhtin, Z., & Hanuš, L. O. (2018). The Anti-Inflammatory Properties Of Terpenoids From Cannabis. Cannabis And Cannabinoid Research, 3(1), 282-290. Kuhathasan, N., Dufort, A., Mackillop, J., Gottschalk, R., Minuzzi, L., & Frey, B. N. (2019). The Use Of Cannabinoids For Sleep: A Critical Review On Clinical Trials. Experimental And Clinical Psychopharmacology, 27(4), 383. Piermarini, C., & Viswanath, O. (2019). CBD As The New Medicine In The Pain Provider’s Armamentarium. Pain And Therapy, 8(1), 157-158. Steinberg, K. L., Roffman, R. A., Carroll, K. M., Kabela, E., Kadden, R., Miller, M., . & Marijuana Treatment Project Research Group. (2002). Tailoring Cannabis Dependence Treatment For A Diverse Population. Addiction, 97, 135-142.
DOES CBD HELP WITH ANGER MANAGEMENT?
Anger is generally said to be a state of mind, but this may erupt due to several underlying reasons like raised stress levels, depression, wrecked career, or anxiety in hip-hop artists. Anger is dangerous at times as it is a basic emotion that may have a proactive response to various situations.
This can also be a fight response for survival. For most of us anger is a short-term state of mind and post an outburst we can continue with our lives normally like everything was good and normal.
The situation may not be the same for others, especially for those suffering from anxiety. In some cases, anger may overtake an individual’s ability to think rationally and may lead to uncontrollably damaging actions. Hence it is very necessary that anger is always kept under control.
CBD is said to be an effective remedy against anger management and before understanding its effects, let us understand why anger issues occur.
What Causes Anger to Turn into a Disorder
Anger disorders differ in brutality, but one can easily recognize when anger issues turn problematic especially because of obvious behavioral variations.
If the incidences and severity of rage variates and starts to interfere with relations, routine at work, cause recurrent trouble with the authorities, and mental health problems start emerging, then it can be measured as a disorder.
Several reasons can lead to these variations arising from financial problems, stress, incitement from a continuous source and even long-lasting pain.
Apart from the external factors that cause anger, doctors also look for chemical disparities. The brain comprises three CAs ( catecholamines ) that are neurotransmitters that regulate the workings of the nervous system like emotions, reasoning, thinking, etc. These CAs are comparable yet each one has specific functions and a surplus or lack in epinephrine, dopamine, and norepinephrine can create anger disorders.
Dopamine
Dopamine regulates emotional replies and is vital for motor control and emotional learning. It controls cognitive working and the observation of change, while it aids in problem solving and compassion.
Low levels of dopamine make it difficult for an individual to think and concentrate. On the other hand, high levels lead to difficulty in processing information in the brain.
Epinephrine
Epinephrine is released in the body in response to excitement, nervousness, anxiety, and tension and initiates the “fight or flight” response in the body.
It further regulates heart rate, sleep and other metabolic functions. High levels of epinephrine cause anxiety, hyperactivity, and adrenal fatigue. Low levels of Epinephrine can lead to depression, continuous adrenal stimulation, lessened levels of the stress hormone- cortisol and dropped recovery rates from ailments.
Norepinephrine
Norepinephrine aids in focus and mood regulation while also enhancing memory and focus. Low levels of Norepinephrine may cause moodiness, anxiety and lack of concentration, while high levels may result in manic reactions like Bipolar Disorder.
In psychology terms there is no documented “anger disorder” but it is known through manic episodes, Intermittent Explosive Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder.
Anger Issues and Their Effects
Anger does not merely affect your mood or relationships. It can also severely affect your health and can make you a house of various stress related diseases like high blood pressure, heart diseases, and a deteriorated immune system.
Mental health illness causing depression and stress can also be a result of anger and may lead to other mental health issues like insomnia. A mixture of symptoms will create a lack of attentiveness, problems at work, and difficulties with relationships.
CBD and Anger Management
Cannabis has been used for generations for medicinal purposes – as a pain-relieving medicine, nausea reducer and even as sleep inducing medicine.
In the mid-1960s, researchers discovered the first cannabinoid in the cannabis plant. Ever since then the research on the benefits of this naturally available medicine is ongoing. The scientists have so far identified more than 80 individual cannabinoids and are investigating them for their possible symptom-reducing and disease-battling abilities.
CBD is a phytocannabinoid extracted from the hemp variety of the cannabis plant and has proven effective for individuals with anxiety or mood swings.
CBD calms the body and mind and does not have any hallucinatory effects like Marijuana, but has antipsychotic effects. Therefore it is advised to use CBD for better coping with your anger issues and mood swings.
There are various forms in which CBD is produced today — vapes, pills, gummies, sprays, tinctures, oils, creams and many more. Every CBD product has its own benefits. However, it is good to consult your doctor before starting to use any of these products.
Anger and The Endocannabinoid System
The endocannabinoid system (ECS), revealed by scientists in 1990, controls all the roles of the body. These comprise how fast our metabolic system works, the absorption of nutrients and sending out the correct amounts of CAs required to control anger and additional emotions.
The ECS also develops its own cannabinoids, with one of them closely relating to CDB. When CBD is absorbed or taken in by the body, the ECS uses the CBD to adjust any chemical disparities.
Two recent studies displayed how CBD pointedly lowered the stress levels in the members as well as improved their cognitive functions. Stress management is what helps in controlling anger and CBD has been proven as an active way to manage stress levels.
CBD’s Effects on Chronic Pain
Prickliness is often instigated by chronic pain. Discomfort or pain in the body is controlled by the chemical known as anandamide (AEA), often associated with THC.
CBD aids in blocking the enzymes that break down AEA, thereby, helping to extend its pain blocking effects. CBD also helps to raise the amount of AEA in the body and helps individuals who may be deficient in the chemical.
CBD Products For Anger Management
As per The Cannabis Radar , CBD tinctures and CBD oils are the most suited products for anger management as they have the quickest acting time and are said to be highly effective for prompt control of an incident where an outburst is forthcoming.
The reason being that they are rapidly absorbed by the blood, particularly if taken sublingually by placing underneath the tongue.
CBD capsules or pills have a slower absorbing time and are more apt for the long-term treatment of rage management since they have long lasting effects. Always favor high-quality CBD products and if uncertain about dosage ask your doctor/physician.
Wrap Up
Anger management can be problematic to normalize without help. Handling the source of anger is necessary and additionally a visit to your psychologist will help you comprehend where it’s sourcing from.
However, irrespective of whether that source is internal or external, select a CBD product from a trusted brand like CBdistillery that best suits you to help with active control of your anger and overcome all the problems that anger puts in the way of work and relations. Use this coupon to get flat 25% off on CBD products.
Rishma Dhaliwal
Rishma Dhaliwal has extensive experience studying and working in the music and media industry. Having written a thesis on how Hip Hop acts as a social movement, she has spent years researching and connecting with artists who use the art form as a tool for bringing a voice to the voiceless. Currently working in TV, Rishma brings her PR and media knowledge to I am Hip Hop and other projects by No Bounds.
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About Rishma Dhaliwal
Rishma Dhaliwal has extensive experience studying and working in the music and media industry. Having written a thesis on how Hip Hop acts as a social movement, she has spent years researching and connecting with artists who use the art form as a tool for bringing a voice to the voiceless. Currently working in TV, Rishma brings her PR and media knowledge to I am Hip Hop and other projects by No Bounds.