Stress and anger can physically harm your body.
That's because they cause the release of various hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can have long-term health effects. These include:
- High blood pressure
- Heart failure
- Weak bones
- Diabetes
- Cataracts
So if life has you feeling stressed and angry, it's important to find healthy ways to manage your emotions.
Research suggests that CBD may be one of those solutions. Let's take a deeper look at CBD for stress and anger management.
Does CBD take away stress?
Yes, CBD may help reduce stress and anxiety, as well as improve mood. Several studies have found that CBD alleviates feelings of stress by acting on the body’s endocannabinoid system.
For example, this systematic review published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association looked at 6 randomized control trials on CBD and anxiety. It concluded that CBD helps with stress and anxiety, especially in patients with:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Posttraumatic stress syndrome
Keep in mind that a systematic review is considered to be superior to most other types of studies, as it combines data from numerous clinical trials. Therefore, it provides a more comprehensive view of the effects of CBD on stress.
Interestingly, CBD's stress-reducing effect might be because people expect it to work. This study published in Psychopharmacology suggests that CBD's effects on stress may be more psychological than physical.
In the study, researchers gave CBD-free hemp seed oil to 43 adults. Out of these, some were incorrectly informed that they were receiving CBD.
The researchers found that those who thought they were taking CBD experienced a significant reduction in anxiety and stress, compared to the others.
When you couple this with the fact that we also have studies that do not support CBD’s efficacy for stress, it shows that much more research is needed to understand CBD’s exact effects on stress.
Nonetheless, the evidence does suggest that it may be useful for reducing stress and there's no harm in trying it out.
What kind of CBD is best for stress?
The best CBD product for stress is one that has a high oral bioavailability and can be taken easily.
Oral bioavailability means that more of the product is absorbed into your bloodstream and reaches its target site, resulting in a greater effect.
For example, Imaginal's Everyday Softgels contain CBD nanoparticles that boost absorption, allowing more of the CBD to be taken in and used by your body.
This can help you experience the effects faster and more intensely compared to other delivery methods.
These soft gels also come with a measured dosage and are easy to take — all you have to do is swallow them with water. You don’t have to worry about measuring out the oil or trying to get the correct dosage each time.
Does CBD reduce aggression?
Yes, CBD can help reduce aggression. However, we don't have as much evidence for CBD's effects on aggression as we do for its effects on stress.
This review published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry mentions that CBD may be a good option for treating agitation in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Agitation refers to an increase in aggression, pacing, and restlessness.
Another study published by researchers at the University of São Paulo found that CBD reduces aggression by acting on serotonin and CB1 receptors.
However, this study was performed in mice, so further research is needed to understand how these results apply to humans.
Similarly, we also have evidence that CBD can reduce aggressiveness towards humans in dogs, as demonstrated by this study in Scientific Reports.
The difference in aggressive behavior towards humans at different times (T0 = before the start of the experiment and T2 = 45 days from the start of the experiment) for dogs treated with CBD (group A) and dogs in the control group (receiving olive oil as a placebo).
Overall, we have some evidence that CBD can help reduce aggression, but more research is needed on human subjects.
What medications should not be taken with CBD?
CBD can interact with the following list of psychiatric drugs:
- Benzodiazepines, which are often used to reduce anxiety
- Propranolol, which is used in some anxiety patients to reduce palpitations
- Escitalopram, which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat a wide range of psychiatric disorders (including generalized anxiety disorder and depression)
CBD can decrease or increase the level of these medications in your body, so it is important to consult with your doctor before using a CBD product to make sure it won’t interfere with any of your current medications.
Also, keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive, and there is a wide range of other, non-psychiatric medications that can also interact with CBD.
Will CBD oil show up on a drug test?
No, CBD oil will not show up on a drug test. Drug tests are looking for THC and its metabolites, which cannot be found in CBD oil.
However, if the CBD oil contains a high THC content, then it may show up on the test results and you may fail employer drug testing.
Therefore, it is important to make sure that you buy CBD oil from a reputable source with accurate product labels.
FAQs
Does CBD calm anxiety immediately?
You may experience an immediate calming effect with CBD. However, this varies from person to person.
For example, people who have a firm belief in the efficacy of CBD may find that they immediately experience a calming sensation after taking it. Others may need to take higher doses or use it for a longer period before they feel the calming effects.
How do you relieve severe stress?
It's important to seek professional help if you are dealing with severe stress. Trying to manage it on your own — for example by using CBD products — can be difficult and may lead to further problems.
How much CBD should I take to relieve stress?
Research studies on CBD and stress have used a wide range of dosages, from 6 mg to 400 mg.
This means that the optimal dose may vary between patients. To find the best dose for you, try starting with a lower amount and slowly increasing it until you find the one that works best for you.
It's also important to talk to your doctor before taking CBD, especially if you're already taking medications.
