CBD for Coronavirus Anxiety: Can it Really Help?

It’s common we all have felt anxious at some point in our lives. When we encounter a stressful event like a job interview, a medical test, or an examination, we experience sweaty palms and increased heartbeats. You can consider these as some of the most common symptoms of stress and anxiety. What if there is a disaster or a viral outbreak like the novel Coronavirus? People show more severe reactions as they become panic and anxious about the situation. In this article, we are going to discuss about CBD for Coronavirus anxiety. Can it help reduce our panic and anxiety caused by the 2019 novel Coronavirus pandemic?

The Coronavirus pandemic in December 2019 initiated in Wuhan China has led to a financial crisis and collapsed the medical sector all across the world. The growing number of infected people has become a headache. It is also causing damage to industries including the tourism, transportation, and sports industry. Closure of popular events and the ongoing economic turmoil brings in uncertainty about the future.

It is time you should care more about the wellbeing of yourself and others in your life. To get relief using natural resources we often use vitamins and supplements. Cannabis and CBD are also becoming popular as a healthcare supplement product all across the USA as it is now legal to use in almost 50 states. Studies and anecdotal evidence show that CBD products can be a great companion for those who are suffering from anxiety and stress which leads to mental illness in the long run. Let’s explore whether CBD products can help you during this Coronavirus pandemic.

Benefits of Cannabis and CBD Products

CBD also known as Cannabidiol is one of the many cannabinoids like THC. We usually find them in Cannabis Sativa plants. Recently, CBD products have drawn the attention of the medical community because of its potential health benefits.

Cannabis Sativa plant produces more than a hundred cannabinoids. We call them phytocannabinoids. The human body on the other hand produces its own cannabinoids which we know as endocannabinoids. Each organism has its own endocannabinoid system shortly known as ECS. Phytocannabinoids can stimulate the receptors in the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is liable for various physiological functions including appetite, sleep, mood, and memory. The primary objective of the endocannabinoid system is to keep the body in homeostasis or in balance.

CBD indirectly affects the endocannabinoid system. Cannabidiol does not have an affinity for our body receptors. But it may restrain (FAAH) Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase. Inhibition like this causes the increased production of endocannabinoids such as anandamide. Anandamide is important for neural generation. CBD products can also help alleviate the adverse effects of THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is another cannabinoid like CBD. We also find them in the cannabis plant. But it is psychoactive. THC is responsible for making the user feel high.

After the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD and CBD products became legal in the United States. In the UK, CBD is considered a legal substance. However, CBD is considered illicit in many other countries around the world.

Why COVID-19 Makes You Panic

To represent the SARS CoV-2 also known as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus outbreak, the media often use the term coronavirus which is a bit inaccurate. Coronavirus covers a large group of viruses that are responsible for respiratory infections. SARS, MERS, COVID-19 are some of the diseases caused by these viruses. Coronavirus is not new to us as it was discovered in the 1960s. The rate of death caused by MERS-CoV in 2015 was 34.5% which exceeds the death rate caused by the recent nCOV-2 outbreak. Here are some of the reasons why the latest outbreak of Coronavirus caused panic and anxiety among people:

1. Symptoms are not clear

The unclear symptoms a COVID-19 patient shows are one of the many reasons why COVID-19 has become so frightening. Infected people often suffer from:

• A sore throat
• Dry cough and sneezes
• Mild to severe fever
• Feeling shortness of breath
• Lungs infection aka pneumonia
• Feeling tired and fatigue
• Loss of smell and taste

Symptoms are confusing as coughing can be caused by allergy and the common cold. For some people, the symptoms can be severe. In other cases, people show mild to moderate symptoms. Some even do not show any signs and symptoms at all. Which makes it really difficult for medical professionals to separate infected people from uninfected ones.

2. Spreads Rapidly

So far we know, the 2019 novel Coronavirus aka SARS nCov-2 is very contagious. It spread globally within a very short span of time. So it is evident that the virus transfers from human to human. According to the latest findings, it is now known, airborne droplets while coughing and sneezing transmit the virus from one person to another. You can also get it from touching your face after touching a contaminated surface. From initial exposure, it may take 2-14 days for the symptoms to appear. The days prior to showing symptoms are called the incubation period of the virus. Since you may not develop any symptoms, not-knowingly you can spread the virus. According to the Chinese Scientists, you can be tested positive for COVID-19 within a period of 37 days of the initial exposure.

3. Acute Health Consequences

Aside from all other health consequences, in some cases, patients may develop pneumonia. The worst thing that can happen is that the patients may develop acute respiratory distress syndrome. Most of the patients who die of COVID-19 already suffer from various other health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart diseases. People aging 70 or above are at great risk since they already suffer from preexisting health conditions.

4. Rapid Spread of Rumors

The social media was bombarded with tons of false news regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. This unusual influx of misinformation was considered as an infodemic. Fake news spread faster via messengers, social and mainstream media. False notions tend to attract more attention and cause damage. Social media companies along with the World Health Organization have started fighting against those misleading information. At the top of search results, Google initiated an SOS alert where the information on the virus provided by the WHO is displayed. The World Health Organization has already disproved some common myth busters on its website.

5. Global Economic Turmoil

The first measure taken to prevent the COVID-19 virus from spreading was complete lockdown. It caused damage to businesses all around the world. The coronavirus pandemic is challenging the economy and may become more difficult to handle in the near future, experts suggest.

The USA government declared Economic Stimulus Relief from April 2020 to support its citizens fight the economic impact of Coronavirus. The UK government has provided advice to the employers and businesses by issuing guidance about the Coronavirus. People who were sent to unpaid leave will receive 80% of their salaries.

Maintaining social distance and working from home may help slow down the spread of the virus. While COVID-19 caused discomfort and stress to some people, it became a blessing to the introverts. There is no unnecessary traveling, no parties, no handshaking, sounds familiar? Yes, these are some of the many things introverts love. According to a headline from The Babylon Bee, church introverts commended God for the Coronavirus as the greeting time was canceled. It seems like introverts were cautious about the Coronavirus outbreak in advance and they are ready to fight the further challenges even after the pandemic is over.

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a reason for stress to many people. Apprehension about the virus may cause panic. Fighting your stress can make you stronger and energetic to hold out against any circumstances around you. 

CBD for Coronavirus Anxiety: Can it help reduce Coronavirus Panic?

To make you a well-informed consumer of CBD products, we will discuss how you can use CBD for Coronavirus anxiety. Before we embark on that let’s know how our body deals with Anxiety. Aside from symptoms like sweating and increased heartbeat, stress and anxiety may affect our brain. It also adapts to our emotions. Our body releases Cortisol, a hormone related to stress and anxiety when we get frightened. It keeps releasing more Cortisol, in case, the situation continues.

Our brain makes changes to tackle the overload caused by this uncontrolled hormone release. Changes like these have an impact on the structure and chemistry of the brain. Some regions in the brain become hyperactive and some others shrink. Neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and endocannabinoids change along with the changes in receptors. Cannabidiol can bind with CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain and thus helps manage these changes caused by our brain as a response to panic and anxiety.

CBD can be a great companion to those who are suffering from many anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders like social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, general anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder can be treated using the right dosage of CBD products.

CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system and can help relieve anxiety in many ways. By facilitating the neural activity, CBD can quiet the signals that are responsible for stress in particular parts of the brain. The HPA axis controls the production of glucocorticoids that are responsible for lessening the stress response.

CBD for Coronavirus Anxiety: What we know so far?

Researchers from Hungary in 2014 found that cannabinoid receptors in our brain can bind with endocannabinoids and thus regulate our stress response. Another research later in 2018 from the USA showed phytocannabinoids as CBD can also bind with our brain receptors. CBD has shown promises to reduce anxiety and anxiety-related disorders.

According to a study conducted in 2019, 25mg CBD for three months reduced anxiety in subjects in 80% cases. However, some patients reported that using CBD oil for anxiety worsened their condition. Results from different studies suggest that CBD is a bidirectional medicine. Furthermore, it can cause adverse effects at different doses.

Health conditions like chronic pain and inflammation can cause anxiety too. CBD has anti-inflammatory properties which may help in relieving inflammation. CBD also helps to alleviate inflammation on oxidative stress. This type of activity makes CBD products a promising alternative for chronic pain like oncological pain, which does not respond to standard medications.

It is important to remember that most of the studies were conducted on animals or a small group of people. To know better, how CBD can help with anxiety, more studies and research are required, especially on human subjects.

CBD for Coronavirus Anxiety: How to choose the right CBD products?

Numerous CBD products available in the market can make you overwhelmed. And finding the right CBD product may feel even more confusing. Here’s how to know if the CBD product you are going to buy is appropriate for your particular health condition:

• Choose the right type: If you are seeking an option, you have to know what you exactly need. If you are suffering from anxiety you must want something that can give you instant relief. In that case, CBD tinctures or CBD oil can help you a lot. You can take any other forms of CBD products available in the market. But CBD products like gummies or capsules take some time to start working in your body. They have to pass through the inevitable digestive process. As a result of this, the bioavailability is lower.
• Find the right dosage: There is no universal dosage for any CBD product. The dosage depends on your weight, body chemistry, bioavailability, etc. Before trying CBD products, consult with your doctor. They may help find the right dosage for you. Or you can use online tools to calculate the right dosage.
• Beware of the bidirectional effect of CBD: CBD shows bidirectional effect. High dosage of CBD products can lead to overstimulation of the endocannabinoids and it may result in worsening the situation. A higher dosage of CBD may cause sleepiness and immoderate relaxation, while a low dose of CBD may help experience wakefulness or alertness.
• Adjust the dosage: The best way to start using any CBD product is to start with a very low dose. Then monitor how CBD affects you and then increase the dosage gradually. This will help you avoid the unwanted adverse reactions CBD may cause. There is no one best dosage for CBD. Different people may need different dosages and it depends on many things including your weight, metabolism, biochemistry. Check our guide on CBD dosage.
• Quality is your first priority: Quality matters, especially when you are purchasing a CBD product. Your experience with CBD depends on the quality of the product you are going to use. There are many things you can use to justify the quality of the product you are buying. Try to know the extraction process, the CO2 extraction process gives you the purest CBD oil. Find out if your product has a certificate of analysis or COA. A COA verifies the authenticity of a particular CBD product through 3rd party lab test results. These are some of the primary steps you can take to verify the quality. Always avoid brands that fail to ensure such information.
• Ensure regular consumption: It is known that CBD products take some time to start working in the body. While you can use CBD products for relieving anxiety as an on-demand alternative, a preventative dose with regular consumption can help keep the endocannabinoid system in balance. CBD may not show difference instantly. Furthermore, you have to be patient enough to wait until you experience improvements. Give it some time and your body will get used to it.
• Contraindication to consider: Recently the Food Standard Agency advised that CBD should not be used by pregnant and breastfeeding women. People who are taking other medications should be aware of potential drug interactions. The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products, and the Environment suggests that a healthy adult should take no more than 70mg of CBD within 24 hours. They also suggest that higher amounts of CBD may lead to health consequences like liver toxicity. It is recommended you talk to your doctor before trying any CBD products.

CBD Vape for Anxiety: Is it an Option?

Besides the shortages of masks and hand sanitizers, the demand for cannabis, weed, and vape has increased during this Coronavirus pandemic. The primary reason for the increased demand is that people are told to stay at home. As a result, people stocking up as many things as they can. On the other hand, people are looking for an easy way to fight against anxiety and stress caused by COVID-19.

A few puffs of CBD vape or smoking weed can help them relax. But smoking or vaping can not be the option to help manage your anxiety, especially during this Coronavirus pandemic. Respiratory complications may become worse if you smoke or vape. The hot vapor created by the vape pen may hurt your lungs and may make it unable to fight against infection.

However, experts also suggest not to use CBD vape or weed to find a way out to relaxation, especially during a respiratory disease. CBD vape liquids bought from unregulated sources may contain THC and other toxins which may reduce the ability of lungs to combat infection. We recommend you switch from vaping or smoking weed to other forms of CBD products like gummies, capsules, or tinctures during the coronavirus pandemic.

What Else Can You Do?

Fear and worries surrounding the coronavirus pandemic can be overwhelming. Here’s a list of things you can do to strengthen your emotion and fight anxiety:

• Take a break from social media. Fake news and false notions shared by the communities may make you emotionally more susceptible to the pandemic.
• Stay informed. Don’t take all the information you get on social and mainstream media literally. Judge them and try to know information from authentic sources.
• It is important to take care of your mental and physical health during this time of COVID-19. The most important thing you can do is to stay healthy, both mentally and physically. Try to use this time of quarantine as a time to practice self-discipline. Do meditation, practice deep breathing. Maybe you can go for a walk with your dog in your yard. Do anything that calms your mind.
• Stay in touch with other people in your life. Loneliness brings frustration. You can use video calls on messengers to connect with loved ones.
• If your anxiety does not go away, seek professional help.

Here are some practical steps you can take to avoid the risk of catching and spreading the novel Coronavirus:

• Staying home can be the first measure that you can take to avoid getting the virus or spreading it.
• Use soap or sanitizer to disinfect your hand often.
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose, eyes unnecessarily. Remember, you can catch the virus through your eyes, nose, and mouth. So avoiding to touch your face unnecessarily can be a help in preventing the virus from catching you.
• Cover your face while coughing or sneezing. Airborne droplets from your mouth can spread the virus to others. It is recommended you wear a face mask while outside.
• Avoid handshaking and sharing your stuff with others.

It is time to become more responsible. The best thing you can do during this Coronavirus pandemic is to take precautionary steps to avoid getting the virus. Do not stay on high alert all the time and you will be able to avoid Coronavirus panic and anxiety. It’s really important to stay energized and well informed about the latest updates.