Winter’s sometimes tough, right? The days are dark, cold and wet and we miss sunny and vibrant days on the beach. Because of the change of seasons, many people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, during the winter months. In this blog post, we'll explore how CBD can be used as a natural remedy for the stress and anxiety experienced when you’re SAD and the potential benefits it may have.
What is SAD?
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s tied to the changing of the seasons and is more common in the winter months. SAD is higher in people who live further away from the equator due to the lower levels of sunshine during the day and is more common in people with a family history of depression or women.
It can cause you to feel down, unmotivated, and unable to enjoy activities that you once did. It’s important to recognise the signs and symptoms of SAD, as well as how to effectively manage the stress and anxiety that comes hand-in-hand with it.
Time to get nerdy…the science behind stress and anxiety
As mental health issues become more mainstream, it's important to understand the scientific background of stress and anxiety. These two mental health issues are closely linked, and understanding their biological, environmental, and psychological triggers can help us to better manage them.
Anxiety is a feeling of fear, worry, and unease that can range from mild to severe and can affect day-to-day life. Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, and it is a normal reaction to stressful situations. However, for some people, anxiety can become so severe that it can interfere with their ability to live a normal life.
Stress is one of the most common issues that people struggle with in today's world. With the hustle and bustle of life and the constant pull of technology, it can be hard to find ways to effectively manage stress. However, there is a natural remedy that has been garnering more attention in recent years for its potential to reduce stress and anxiety: CBD.
How can CBD help with stress and anxiety?
CBD has gained popularity as a natural treatment for a variety of illnesses, including stress and anxiety. According to a recent Forbes Health Survey, 51% of US adults take CBD solely to relieve anxiety symptoms. Even though many people experience an improvement in their symptoms, there is still a lot to learn about how CBD positively affects both of these conditions.
That being said, there have been several studies that have found positive impacts on these conditions from CBD products In 2011, a small group of participants with SAD taking CBD and healthy control patients underwent a simulated public speaking test (SPST), which is commonly used to test anxiety. The trial found that CBD significantly reduced the discomfort and anxiety symptoms of those with SAD, compared to the control group. The reduced anxiety levels were found to be comparable to the participants without SAD.
Another study was taken in 2019, where participants were given much lower doses of CBD than most existing research - from 25 to 75mg per day. This test was specifically developed due to the high prices of large daily doses of CBD. It was found that this lower dose was very effective in treating generalised anxiety and improving sleep quality.
So, how can I add CBD to my daily routine?
The popularity of CBD has exploded in the past few years and with it, the availability and variety of CBD products from oils to ointments, gummies to drinks, there’s a CBD product for everyone!
CBD drinks, like INTUNE, are an easy and delicious way to introduce CDB into your daily routine. INTUNE CBD drinks can be consumed throughout the day, whether at your desk or on the dancefloor! We’ve been careful to create a great-tasting drink that features a balanced, lifestyle dose of water-soluble CBD, which will give you feelings of focus, balance or clarity - all grounding benefits in moments of anxiety or stress.
Is CBD safe for mental health use?
Yes! While THC, the illicit component of hemp, might make you high, CBD promotes feelings of balance and focus. Our CBD drinks contain 10mg of CBD per can, which is entirely legal in the UK. The maximum recommended daily CBD intake in the UK is 70mg. Since each of our cans contains 10mg of premium CBD, exceeding this daily limit is pretty difficult! When kept within this healthy range, INTUNE CBD drinks can be combined with other CBD products. We always advise looking for high-quality and traceable CBD products in order to get the best benefits from them.
WHO has judged CBD 100% safe. In the UK it’s going through regulation with the Food Standards Agency (FSA), although some companies like ours have permission to trade.
With more research being done every day, we look forward to learning more about the many benefits of CBD, including those relating to anxiety, stress and other mental health conditions.
Resources
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https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/seasonal-affective-disorder#:~:text=Low%20levels%20of%20vitamin%20D,than%20vitamin%20D%20for%20SAD.
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/
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https://www.forbes.com/health/body/cbd-for-anxiety/#:~:text=Research%20supports%20this%20benefit%2C%20with,U.S.%20adults%20conducted%20by%20OnePoll.