CBD Dosage: How Much CBD for Stress and Anxiety?

According to the National Institute of Health, many studies have shown that CBD can reduce stress and alleviate anxiety symptoms.

How much CBD you should take varies depending on why you’re taking it and the severity of your symptoms. When trying to decide how much CBD to take for stress and anxiety, consider how this calming aid impacts the body and understand the various ways to consume CBD before making a dosage plan that’s right for you.

How CBD Works

CBD is one of over 100 cannabinoids in the cannabis plant that interacts with the endocannabinoid system in your body. This system is a cell-messenger system that sends signals throughout the body for various means of functionality.

The National Library of Medicine has reported that CBD works with the endocannabinoid system to help:

• sleep
• memory
• emotional processing
• immune support
• pain control
• stress and anxiety

Your body naturally makes endocannabinoids that bind to receptors in the system that help it take action and cause an effect. With CBD, the cannabinoid doesn’t quite bind to the receptors (like its cousin, THC, does), but it interacts with them to slow their breakdown and allow them to have a longer-lasting effect. CBD supports the regulation of your body’s homeostasis, the essential state of balance you need to stay healthy. It is non-psychoactive and does not cause intoxicating effects on the body.

How CBD Works for Stress and Anxiety

Taking cannabis for therapeutic benefits is widely practiced. Over the past decade, more people are taking to alternative therapies like CBD for support to avoid prescription drugs with risky side effects. The National Institute of Mental Health reported that over 30% of U.S. adults experience anxiety disorders, making it one of the most prominent mental health conditions in the nation.

After the 2018 Farm Bill opened doors for the legality of hemp-derived products with no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight on the federal level, the normalization of CBD as a treatment for stress and anxiety is on a more serious climb to the top.

CBD and Stress

Trying to manage time, maintain relationships, sustain financial obligations, and show up for your daily responsibilities are all common causes of stress. These types of stressors can lead to restlessness, lack of motivation, fatigue, overwhelm, and, of course, anxiety.

Chronic stress negatively impacts the nervous system, causing damage that results in pain, numbness, and other discomforts. But since CBD interacts with the nervous system through the endocannabinoid system, using CBD products can provide immediate calming effects to relax you. Stress is a common trigger for people who struggle with anxiety. So, supporting your body to relieve stress can also prevent the development of anxiety.

CBD and Anxiety

According to PubMed Central, research shows that CBD interacts with the serotonin receptors in your endocannabinoid system, known as the happy chemical, to regulate its functionality. The same study revealed CBD is good for treating anxiety disorders like:

• generalized anxiety disorder
• panic disorder
• social anxiety disorder

If you struggle with social interactions, public speaking, or other panic-inducing situations, CBD can help. In a 2019 study presented by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 80% of people who were treated with CBD for anxiety experienced improvement within the first month.

CBD and OCD

Compulsive behaviors and intrusive thinking are two common symptoms associated with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), and using cannabis can help ease those symptoms. Cannabis users who have OCD say using the product helped with their compulsions and allowed them to relax their minds. OCD impacts one's ability to sleep, and CBD has been known to increase their ability to rest without triggers.

CBD and PTSD

People with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) have feelings of sadness and anger, experience flashbacks, and can be known to isolate themselves from others due to their distress. Using CBD for PTSD can help users regulate their physical and emotional reactions, improve concentration, increase sleep, calm racing thoughts, and ease aggressive behavior.

How Much CBD to Take for Stress and Anxiety

CBD does not have one serving size for everyone, and with many ways to consume it, choosing the right dose is a bit complex. Taking CBD for stress and anxiety can help reduce symptoms, but the first thing to decide is whether you want a full spectrum CBD product or a broad spectrum CBD product before deciding how much to take.

Full spectrum CBD refers to a CBD product that has other natural extracts in the plant, including no more than 0.3% THC, like nama’s bliss gummies, with 100% hemp-derived THC and CBD, making it the perfect microdosing THC with CBD combo.

Broad spectrum CBD refers to a CBD product that, while does contain other cannabis compounds, is generally THC-free, like nama’s anytime broad spectrum CBD gummies, with 10mg of hemp extract made in accordance with the 2018 Farm Bill.

Once you’re aware of the type of compound in the cannabis plant you’re looking to target, you can begin to explore the different ways to consume CBD to see what dosage will work best for you. Note the importance of checking the label and ingredient panels of the products you buy to ensure you’re aware of what you’re consuming.

Dosing Edibles

Edibles are the most popular way to consume cannabis aside from smoking it, especially if the goal is to use it for its CBD compounds. Edibles can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours to kick in, as they go through a digestive process before hitting the bloodstream.

At a low dose, start with as little as 5mg a day of CBD gummies for uplifting, daytime use. For people experiencing severe stress or anxiety, a high dose could go up to 600mg of CBD throughout the day. Remember, low doses can go a long way. With nama’s vegan CBD gummies, you’re consuming carefully-sourced ingredients that are Farm Bill compliant and are made with American hemp in low doses.

Dosing Oils and Tinctures

Nowadays, you can purchase CBD oils in liquid form to take under the tongue or to ingest in capsule form. These products are known to have higher concentration levels because of the way they’re extracted. A prime example are nama’s extra strength CBD sleep drops, gel caps with lab-tested blended formulas in capsule form to ensure a good night’s sleep.

For cannabis users, one of the best parts about using cannabis in liquid form is because of the rising popularity of cannabis beverages. With nama’s Buzz Drops, you can make the perfect mocktail with just 20mg of CBD.

10 mg of CBD liquid is a good place to start for a low dose. At higher doses, 50 mg of CBD liquid for stress and anxiety is a measurable dose at one time.

Dosing Vaping and Smoking

A low dose of vaping CBD or smoking cannabis flower is 10mg per session. Since CBD does not have to go through a breakdown process when inhaled, it kicks into your body much quicker. However, while the risk factors of consuming CBD are low, inhalation of smoke does cause carcinogens and other toxins to enter the lungs.

As little as 5 to 25mg is sufficient to balance out your mood, though everyday users will say that they consume 300 to 600mg of vape oil daily for more severe conditions.

Dosing Topicals

Did you know you can buy CBD creams and other salves? You can! Topical CBD is being used more as a localized treatment for several conditions. While research is new and ongoing, users have mentioned massaging CBD cream as a therapeutic means of relieving anxiety caused by pain. Topical treatments are the most difficult to dose, so proceed with caution.  

Bonus Tips

1. Always start with the lowest dose possible, and wait a few days before considering increasing your dose. Track the product you take, how much you use, and any effects that occur. Have patience throughout the process and know that not everyone's experiences are the same when it comes to how much CBD to take for stress and anxiety.
2. Know that things like weight, genetics, lifestyle and prior consumption experience are all factors to consider when deciding how much CBD to take for stress and anxiety. Do your research and consider consulting a physician who can give you guidance on what may work best for your body.
3. Try to avoid using more than 1500 mg a day of any cannabis substance to maintain a well-tolerated experience.

Side Effects of CBD for Stress and Anxiety

CBD use carries a very low risk and is generally a well-tolerated substance. The biggest risk in using CBD is not being aware of the reliability of your products and how they may interact with other medications. When choosing the right CBD product for you, you want to be sure your product does not have any unhealthy additives and preservatives. With nama CBD, you’re getting vegan products that are made with real fruit, are gluten-free, non-GMO, and are made with 100% USA hemp.

Other minor side effects of CBD could include:

• nausea
• drowsiness
• fatigue
• dry mouth

Be sure that you’re staying with a dose that feels good for you, as overconsumption of CBD is most associated with some of these side effects.

Is CBD Legal?

Hemp-derived CBD is federally legal as long as it contains no more than 0.3% of THC according to the 2018 Farm Bill. Some states have put restrictions on this federal law, but most states are working in accordance. Cannabis users are choosing nama CBD products because even their Delta 9 THC gummies are made in compliance with this law.

Is CBD or THC Better for Stress and Anxiety?

THC is known to decrease symptoms of anxiety at low doses, whereas CBD can help at all doses they’ve been tested on. CBD plus THC gummies are often the perfect solution, consuming both cannabinoids through a blended formula. Theories such as the entourage effect encourage the idea that using a product that has equal parts of each cannabinoid has many beneficial effects.    

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