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Since the pandemic, more and more people are talking about and seeking solutions to improve their mental health. One of the most common mental health issues is anxiety. Some people use exercise, a warm bath, soothing music, or medications to treat their anxiety. While we’ve all seen different ideas to manage anxiety, they certainly aren’t one-size fits solutions.
If you are undertaking your mental health journey, it’s helpful to understand the issues and symptoms of your anxiety to select the best course of action.
How Common Are Mental Illnesses?
Mental illnesses are some of the most common diagnoses in the United States today. About one in five Americans will experience mental illness in any given year, and nearly 50% will experience mental illness throughout their lifetime. Thankfully, while diagnoses are common, the stigma around mental health is becoming much less so.
Mental illnesses vary in severity and tend to slide on a spectrum from tolerable to disruptive. For example, anxiety disorders are some of the most common among Americans today, but treatment for such disorders may be more effective than, say, schizophrenia, a less common yet more severe mental illness.
Understanding Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most common behavioral health disorders in the US, affecting nearly 40 million adults. While reactionary feelings of anxiety are normal and beneficial, an anxiety disorder often spawns these feelings in irrational circumstances and draws them out for unnecessary periods of time.
These exaggerated feelings of panic and apprehension are often out of your control and tend to disrupt your day-to-day activities. Some common anxiety disorders include:
Generalized anxiety
Social anxiety
Separation anxiety
Panic disorder
Signs to Seek Professional Help
It’s normal to experience occasional mood swings and a lack of energy and motivation. However, feeling as though you’re consistently drained no matter what you do (even if you don’t technically feel “sad”) is a sign of a mood disorder.
A good benchmark is to gauge your interest in normal activities over two weeks. You may have a mood disorder if you still feel less-than-normal interest in these normal activities accompanied by a lack of energy and focus.
If any of these symptoms apply to you (even if you’re not 100% sure) it may be worth it to talk to a professional about your anxiety.
Using Cannabidiol as a Treatment for Anxiety
Our customer group has shown that finding a customized plan and use of products can help support their concerns. Customers have reported success with both CBD and THC options.
The National Library of Medicine reports, “CBD has a broad pharmacological profile, including interactions with several receptors known to regulate fear and anxiety-related behaviors.” Forbes goes on to report that 51% of U.S. adults that use CDB do so to treat their anxiety.
The FDA has yet to approve specific CBD medications for anxiety, though multiple studies promote CBD use for anxiety treatment. In fact, CBD has been shown to alleviate symptoms of more severe anxiety disorders, such as dissociation and PTSD.
At Biotannica, we have a wide variety of options from water solubles, tinctures, capsules, edibles, drinks, vapes, and topicals to choose from. As nurses, our owners and knowledgeable staff will take the time to help you find the best options for your concerns. Contact us today or stop in for more help.