What is a Panic Attack?

Before we can dive into this subject, we need to define what a panic attack is, at the chemical level. How does your body tell your brain to panic, and why? The brain is being overloaded with triggers and it responds likewise. The brain overreacts and this causes a snowball reaction that gets bigger and bigger with great speed. Many people experience panic attack onset in a matter of moments and, while they are told this is all in their head, it really isn’t, and this article will explain why.

When the body is triggered by emotions, the brain receives these impulses via the neural network that is your body’s network of nerves. The central nervous system is spread throughout the body like a super-highway. That highways sends signals back and forth every second that you are alive, even in your sleep. Subconscious thoughts, thoughts you are not aware of, can play a part in your emotions and the signals that your brain is receiving at any given time.

Panic attacks are not pleasant, and the symptoms and feelings associated with them are very real. The brain perceives it all as real, therefore you feel it and experience intense discomfort to the point that physical symptoms can become apparent.

 

Potential Symptoms of Panic Attacks:

• Increased heart rate
• Perspiration
• Respiratory distress or interruption
• Shaking
• Dizziness
• Numbness
• Sense of impending doom
• Overly obsessing about death or fear of dying
• Hot flashes
• Chills
• Throat constriction, sensation of choking or being choked
• Feeling out of control

 

While this is not a complete list, it does represent what most people having a panic attack go through. Some people have symptoms that mimic heart attacks, back pain, sharp stabs anywhere in the body, inability to swallow, and even getting upset to the point of vomiting.

As you may well-imagine, this is not just uncomfortable, it can be extremely dangerous. Imagine driving down the highway, with your children in the car, and having a panic attack triggered by traffic. Becoming dizzy while driving can put you, your children, and anyone else on the road with you, in danger. Those who suffer an incident like this can take hours to calm back down because the incident itself causes further anxiety.

One of the most prescribed drugs in America is Xanax. This medication is prescribed for people to be able to calm down. Those on similar drugs have often been prescribed them due to panic attacks. Sadly, one of the side-effects of these drugs can be panic attacks. These drugs can interact with other medications and cause some of the symptoms that might trigger a panic attack in some individuals.

 

Enter CBD

CBD (cannabidiol) is a compound that is extracted from the hemp plant. It contains no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is a psychoactive compound also found in the hemp plant and in marijuana. Yes, hemp and marijuana are related to each other, but they are not the same plant.

The hemp that CBD is extracted from for marketing as CBD oil and CBD products to the public is called ‘industrial hemp’ and it is purposely grown to have less THC in it. When the CBD is extracted from the plant, most of the THC is left behind, except for a trace amount. By regulation, only .03% of THC can be present in CBD products sold on the market today.

Why is any of this important? Because CBD, when separated, maintains much of the same medicinal qualities that people have known marijuana to be good for, without the high. You cannot get stoned from using CBD. In fact, you shouldn’t fail a drug test either. It would take a large amount of CBD in your system due to the traces that are in CBD. You’d need to consume mass quantities of it. So, while it isn’t impossible, it isn’t likely either.

CBD is extracted from the hemp plant by one of a few different methods. One such method is to place the mashed plants into a container, pump it full of carbon-dioxide (CO2) and then pull the CO2 out of the container. The CBD molecules bind to the CO2 molecules. CO2 is simply a by-product of breathing, so it is completely harmless. There are not any additives in CBD oil labeled as ‘pure’ and you want to make sure that you purchase oils that are pure, and from farms that are inspected and preferably organic. This just simply ensures that you are getting a good, carefully made, and responsibly farmed product.

 

How Does CBD Work?

The human body has a system within it that is called the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and it is just like any other system in your body. It works with cannabinoids. The human body is fashioned in a way to use cannabis.

This system is fantastic because it seems to regulate the flow of things, so to speak. We’ve already covered what happens to cause panic attacks. The ECS uses cannabinoids, specifically CBD, to slow down, inhibit, and even stop the delivery of multiple unnecessary messages, the same way it slows and halts pain signals. Cannabinoids work in your body to block messages being sent to the brain that are repeated frequently or with intensity. It works like a back-up system that stops you from sending multiple emails to the same recipient.

When the brain is bombarded with multiple negative thoughts or fear triggers, the response is to go into panic. The more messages the brain gets, the more likely it turns into a panic attack that becomes out of control and causes the physical symptoms that are listed above. The brain overreacts because it is receiving multiple signals and essentially gets overloaded.

CBD steps into the pathway of the neural network highway and stops the signals, like a crossing guard with a little stop sign. When the signals don’t reach the brain, nothing happens to trigger the panic and/or anxiety in the first place. This is life changing for millions of people.

Far more extensive research needs to take place so that more products and medications can be developed that work naturally with the body, using CBD. A great deal of research has already been done so that we can understand what we already know at this point.  CBD is being used for its perfection at stopping the neurons from reaching the brain when necessary. Those who suffer from mental conditions such as bipolar and depression are getting much relief. People in pain can function more normally because of the pain messages not being sent to the brain constantly. There is so much to credit CBD with that most people find it all hard to believe. It’s true though.

CBD products won’t cure you. It’s important to understand that it isn’t a cure for conditions, auto-immune disorders and diseases. It can enhance your ability to enjoy your life and coexist with your conditions with far more control and happiness. People who have suffered in pain with fibromyalgia are finding that CBD oil alleviates their symptoms and lets them get out of bed and participate in life again, for example.

 

Why CBD Over Prescription Medications?

Prescription medications all carry some label that warns of side-effects. Sometimes the list of side-effects sounds far worse than the condition for which you are taking them. In fact, many long-term effects of prescription medications aren’t well-known until the public has been taking them for years and suddenly everyone is getting sick. What could be worse than to take a medication for anxiety or depression, only to find that it has made you diabetic? It’s happened.

Medications can cause severe reactions in some people, from eyes that swell to hives. Medications can cause brittle teeth, which won’t seem like a big deal at all until you are out having dinner and a took breaks off while eating tacos at your favorite Mexican restaurant.

Worse scenarios include having liver and kidney disease as a result of medications that ended-up being far more harmful than you were promised. No one wants that. People are searching for more natural remedies when they can find them. Not all natural remedies work. Ask people who use cinnamon to ward off fleas on their dog instead of using flea drops from the veterinarian. They have fleas in their houses.

You must do some homework and not accept everything at face-value. Ask reliable sources and read scientific papers. Learn about your condition and don’t always take what your doctor says as the bottom line. If you’ve ever had to live with a chronic condition, then you know that you often must be your own advocate in your care. Ultimately, it is up to you to be healthy and to care for yourself.

 

Reasons to choose CBD:

• All natural
• Vegan friendly
• No serious side-effect (possible to have initial diarrhea or headache)
• No long-term disadvantages
• Multiple ways of taking your doses, from sprays to capsules, infusions, and drops
• Cannot overdose
• Safe for children
• Safe for pets
• Don’t need a prescription
• Legal in most cities and in all states
• Multiple health benefits as a supplement alone
• The body is designed to use it

This is a simple, partial list. CBD has been called “the Cinderella drug” but it is not a miracle. It’s just a simple, plant-based remedy that has been around since the dawn of time as far as we can tell. There is evidence of hemp plant fibers in potter that is at least 6,000 years old. There is evidence of Chinese herbalists using hemp to combat illness going back as far as 3,000 years. It’s been used far longer than any modern-day medication, so we’d know if it was dangerous by now. It isn’t.

 

CBD Research

The National Institute of Drug abuse published findings on their website, located here. This site discusses findings and goes into detail on the possible uses of CBD for issues including:

• Anti-seizure
• Neuro-protective and anti-inflammatory benefits
• Analgesic
• Anti-tumor effects
• Anti-psychotic affects
• Treatment of substance abuse, including alcohol

There are citations to many sources at this webpage that give you plenty of reading material for any questions that you may have regarding CBD. This is scientific research, with the paperwork and data to substantiate their findings.

Far more research is needed. The iceberg is just being scraped when it comes to CBD uses and potential. While it may not cure cancer now, it is possible that researchers will find way to use it for finding a cure in the future. CBD has so much potential that we simply cannot stand back and let people misunderstand. We must advocate for the research and for the right to continue using these products because they are nothing but enhancing for our lives. Even as a simple supplement, CBD oil is potentially one of the best ways to ward off cancer that we know right now. This is deserving of far more research dollars and respect in society.

Getting CBD – Where and How

Obtaining CBD oil is relatively simple. Again, do some research. Learn what you are looking for that suits you. A short glossary of terms:

Hemp oil

Made from only the seeds of the hemp plant. Weaker concentration of CBD but suitable for many people to use as a supplement or for issues that are minor.

Full-spectrum CBD oil

Made from the entire plant, not specific parts. This gives a more potent oil overall because it uses the oil from the entire plant, guaranteeing that the best CBD is also extracted, along with the weaker concentrations. This results in a more uniform concentration overall.

Pure CBD oil

Means that it has been grown and cared for in a way that no additional chemicals have been introduced via the soil or the process of extraction.

Hemp hearts

This is the meaty insides of the hemp plant seeds. These have lower concentrations of CBD but are tasty and can be eaten. Add them to shakes, salads, home made granolas, etc. Like pine nuts or shelled sunflower seeds.

Tinctures of CBD

Thicker and often come in flavors. Syrup-like in consistency. Add these to cocktails to create a flavorful drink that also relaxes. Use as a syrup to add flavor to coffee, shakes, oatmeal, baked goods and anything else that you might imagine.

CBD Coffees

Infusions of CBD oil added to coffee beans and packages so that you can drink a coffee in the morning that has CBD in it already.

 

This is just a few of the things you will read about or hear about. Knowing a little of the lingo will help you as you learn. People who use CBD and shop owners who sell CBD products are always more than willing to talk about them. CBD users are calm and friendly because they use CBD.

Many refer to CBD as a life enhancement. While you can’t get stoned from it, you can certainly become calmed from it. If you’ve been suffering with any sort of social anxiety disorder, depression, panic attacks, agoraphobia or other type of psychological disorder, then you know what a great relief you could gain from being calmer and less worried about everything.

CBD has helped many people reclaim their lives. Don’t sit back and watch life pass you by anymore. Take a part in it and find out how good it feels to be a part of the crowd again. Start using CBD as soon as you feel ready and you’ve purchased some. You’ll find it at retailers online with a simple search. You may also find it for sale in local shops. If you enjoy supporting your local merchants, you may find that using CBD helps you go out into your community and support those people more often.

If you are a parent and you are hoping to treat a child with anxiety, sleep or mood disorder, you will be happy to find out that CBD has shown no ill side-effects when used with children. CBD can be purchased as candies, even sugar-free candies exist. Vaping oils are made to use specifically with vaping pens, and they come in many different flavors. Using drops directly under the tongue is possible, or you can try CBD infused fruit drinks, baked goods and more. Try a CBD coffee creamer that is flavored in mocha to start your day, give your child a candy to help them do better with anxiety at school. The family that takes CBD together stays calmer together. Being calm helps to make your life more productive and happier. No matter how you’d like to take your CBD, there is a way for you.

It’s harder to be happy when you fight negative thoughts and feelings that you can’t control. When you feel like you are out of control, things get worse. Those feelings continue to spiral until you aren’t even leaving the house much anymore. Don’t let that happen to you. CBD might be just the thing you need to take control of your life again. You will never know until you try it, and it is perfectly legal and safe to do so. The research says it works. You are the only one who can decide whether to try it or not. Weigh your options and make the choice that is best for you.

 

 

Sources:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4157067/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2900742
• http://haleighshope.co/blog/17-compelling-studies-cbd-2017/