CBD is short for cannabidiol.

Never heard of it?

Well, unless you are a medical professional or someone who’s long been suffering from chronic pain or someone whose daily life revolves around drugs and psychedelic, you are not supposed to know what cannabidiol is.

So what is it?

Cannabidiol is a chemical compound found in cannabis. Among the hundreds of compounds, cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the most sought after.

CBD’s benefits

If we make a list of benefits that CBD offers, it’d probably never end. CBD’s positive effects are not limited to bodily healing. It treats a broad range of psychiatric illnesses as well. Here in this article, we are going to discuss how CBD cures psychotic disorders and ensures positive Mental Health.

But before that, let’s take a quick look at the prevalence of mental disorders in the US.

Widespread mental illness

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, every one in five adult Americans suffers from some sort of mental disorder, and everyone in twenty-five Americans suffers from some serious form of mental health issues.

Abilify – an antipsychotic medicine – has been among the best selling US drugs in recent time. The severity of mental illness in the United States can be gauged from these data.

How CBD can help

Research shows CBD is effective in treating bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and even extreme cases of psychosis. Plus, CBD doesn’t have side-effects that most prescription drugs have. CBD, therefore, is a safe alternative to mainstream treatment of mental health disorder that is often not effective.

CBD and mental disorders

Unlike prescription drugs, CBD’s antipsychotic effects are not restricted and one-dimensional. CBD affects multiple areas in the brain and its impact on mental health is quite positive and quite powerful.

Numerous clinical observations have led to the same finding; that CBD binds endocannabinoid receptors in the brain and releases neurotransmitters that act as body’s own antipsychotic agents.

CBD and anandamide

Often dubbed as the “bliss molecule,” anandamide – an endocannabinoid neurotransmitter – fills us with pure and unadulterated joy. It’s the kind of joy that material possession or external validation cannot deliver and only comes from within.

CBD enhances anandamide signaling; it has been observed by scientists. They put CBD to test along with an antipsychotic drug called amisulpride, CBD’s pharmacological profile in terms of side effects far outweighed the prescription drug. Amisulpride may be effective in treating schizophrenia, but infamous for its side effects. CBD, on the other hand, elevates the serum anandamide level without any undesired aftereffect.

CBD and depression

Anxiety and depression have become household names in the US. Billions of dollars are spent every year for their treatment, yet there’s little result and the number of clinically depressed people is steadily on the rise.

Unsurprisingly, CBD can cure depression more efficiently than any big pharma drug. A 2010 study observed “CBD induces antidepressant-like effects comparable to those of Imipramine. These effects of CBD were probably mediated by activation of 5-HT(1A) receptors.”

There you have it. By elevating anandamide level and stimulating serotonin receptor, CBD manages depression and lowers anxiety. It takes only 5-10 mg of CBD every day to keep anxiety under control and liven up the mood.

CBD and insomnia

Sleep deprivation is associated with 9 out of 10 mental disorders. Sleep is a body’s recovery mechanism. A sleep-deprived person gets irritated more easily than a normal person. He also has frequent mood swings and couldn’t keep his temper down. The link between sleep deprivation and declining mental health is well-known. Insomnia is connected to depression and a suit of other psychological issues.

CBD promotes sleep and relaxation. CBD minimizes the degree of brain cell excitation, which helps epilepsy patients. When the brain is relaxed, sleep comes naturally. CBD also reduces sleep apnea by preventing the soft tissue in the breathing airway from relaxing.

REM (rapid eye movement) disorder keeps the muscles active during the REM stage of sleep, resulting in an involuntary reaction to dream sequences and waking up. CBD treats this disorder and ensures sound sleep in the night. Overall, CBD makes the body more calm and relaxed so it drifts into sleep quickly and easily. As the body gets more time to rest, mental health improves.

CBD and PTSD

PTSD stands for a post-traumatic stress disorder. People who experience traumatic events in life are often haunted by memories. It ruins their lives. For PTSD patients, the biggest problem is a constant recurrence of traumatic memories.

Studies have found that CBD, along with two other compounds THC and CBN alleviates PTSD. The endocannabinoid system functions as the regulatory mechanism of mental health. These compounds activate the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system and organic endogens are released that block the reoccurrence of painful memories, help patients avoid numbing and sleep well.

Summing up

CBD brings overall happiness in one’s life. It’s the holistic happiness that spreads through their physical, mental and emotional lives. Overcoming depression and anxiety becomes a lot easy for them.

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