Tag Archives: serotonin

The Benefits Of CBD Oil On Anxiety And Depression

Life certainly has its challenges. Stress can arise from work, friends, and relationships — daily life can feel overwhelming at times. When you suffer from anxiety or depression (or both), living a happy, stress-free life can sometimes feel nearly impossible.

Perhaps you’re looking for a natural way to take the edge off. There are pharmaceutical anti-anxiety and anti-depression medications out there, but long-term use can be negative on the body and many benzodiazepines contain addictive qualities that you might want to avoid.

Instead of pills, consider using an alternative and natural method. Recreational cannabidioil, better known as CBD oil, is one of over 100 chemical compounds known cannabinoids found in the cannabis or marijuana plant.

CBD does not contain Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive component found in the plant (so it doesn’t make you high), and research has found that it can be calming and alleviate symptoms of stress and anxiety.

The socially conscious cannabis brand Blissed is a company that believes in offering the authentic cannabis experience to individuals who need a break. It’s based entirely on the power of wellness and community, and they’re committed to giving 10% of all profits to organizations and causes that make a positive impact on society.

The company products using cannabis, including those made from CBD oil, as well as 1:1 oils for those looking to ease into using THC.

Take a look at how using CBD oil recreationally can help reduce your anxiety symptoms.

What Exactly Is CBD Oil?

CBD is the second most prevalent of the active ingredients in the cannabis plant. It’s an essential component of medical marijuana, however, it’s derived directly from the hemp plant, which is a cousin of the actual marijuana plant. While CBD is a component of marijuana, it doesn’t produce a “high” feeling on its own.

According to a recent study conducted by the World Health Organization, humans don’t show signs of negative effects or dependence when using CBD oil. To date, there has been no evidence of public health-related issues associated with the use of pure CBD.

Relief from Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression are common mental health disorders that can feel debilitating. We all have various stressors in our lives, and we all handle things differently. Sometimes we just want a little reprieve — a pause where we can sit down at the end of a long day, chill out, and show ourselves some love and compassion.

Of course, there are pharmaceutical drugs to take but these are often not a sustainable long-term method. There can be harmful side effects such as drowsiness, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, addiction, and more.

CBD oil has shown strong promise as a treatment for both depression and anxiety, leading many who live with these afflictions to become interested in this natural approach to coping with anxiety and depression.

It amps up dopamine and serotonin levels naturally, so you can enjoy feeling good without having to worry about the comedown as you would from other types of chemical drugs or alcohol.

A study from 2010 concluded that CBD oil could reduce the symptoms of social anxiety disorders (SADs). Brain scans of participants revealed changes in blood flow to the area of the brain that are linked to feelings of anxiety.

In this particular study, CBD oil made participants feel significantly better and it also changed the way their brands responded to anxiety.

At the end of a long day, what could be better than putting your feet up, opening up Netflix, and unwinding with a little CBD oil?

Treat yourself to a blissful, relaxing evening and look into how CBD oil could benefit your life today.

Touching Is Our First Form Of Communication

Looks familiar? Uh huh. This image is reworked from the original LP Invisible Touch by Genesis on Virgin Records. CP

 

The moment we become parents we use our sense of touch to communicate with our brand new baby.  I will never forget that first moment in my each of my babies lives, when they started to experience and explore the world completely independently of me.  The first thing I did was reach out to my newborn and without exchanging a single sound, we were instantly familiar to each other.

The research that outlines the benefits of touch and infant massage is extensive.  Any expert will go on and on about how there is a fancy chemical reaction going on in my brain (central nervous system) that releases a feel-good hormone (serotonin) that counters stress hormones (cortisol) and that is why I feel that connection with my newborn.  What I actually experience in those first moments of my child’s new life is nothing short of magical.

This is not meant to imitate the many hundreds of articles that are already out there that outline the benefits of Pediatric Massage Therapy, but there is a little Massage Therapist inside me that cannot encourage you enough to explore it.   Children ages 0-99 can benefit from Registered Massage Therapy, but in the mean time treatment can start at home or even heart beats after birth.

 

Just a few of the types of baby massages. image: yogawiz.com
Just a few of the types of baby massages. image: yogawiz.com

 

 

After spending much time looking for a nursery rhyme that could incorporate a meaningful massage into its singsong format, I decided to write my own for you to try:

Bedtime Butterfly Kisses

Belinda the beautiful butterfly was bouncing on a breeze

Gracefully she glided to give my shoulder a squeeze

“How do you do?” Belinda sung so sweet.

“May I rest here while my heart slows a beat?”

She stopped but a moment before she began to explore

Hugging my arm she looked way down to the floor.

Three times she wandered from shoulder to finger

But I liked her so I indulged, and hoped she would linger.

Perched in my hand, she started stroking my palm

It tickled before I realized it made me feel calm.

She drew circles and hearts with her nose on my skin

Before she giggled and climbed back up to my chin.

With a fluttering kiss to my cheek she gently rubbed my head

And then softly she whispered, “Baby, time for bed.”

Though my eyelids are heavy I try to protest

To forget Belinda when I wake I’d deeply regret

Belinda’s wings push the air across my sleepy face

Like angel kisses made out of the most delicate lace

“Rest well little one,” She sings, “And think not of sorrow.

If you go to sleep now I can come back tomorrow.”

You can be creative and pretend your own hand is a butterfly.  I used an inexpensive IKEA  (Gulleplutt .99$ CP) finger puppet. Don’t let you imagination stop there.  As your child grows out of silly rhymes consider getting creative and making an imaginary pizza on your kiddo’s back, belly or palm. What about planting a garden and watching it grow?

I can give you more research that indicates why it is important to perform these treatments at the same time each day, in a calm space with a warm blanket and yadda yadda, but experience has taught me that even when my son or daughter is in middle of their wildest meltdown behavioral state; a nurturing touch with loving intent is the only cure. For the Silo, Jenny Tansley.

Jenny Tansley