Written by Pharmacist Sultan Dajani from Dragonfly CBD – www.dragonflycbd.com

Anxiety is on the rise in the UK as new real-world research^[1] commissioned by Dragonfly CBD – www.dragonflycbd.com – the brains behind the evidence-backed seed-to-shelf CBD range of oils and skincare solutions – has found that 47% of those questioned admit they feel pressured, especially to be perfect. What’s also worrying is that 48% of people feel more stressed and anxious than they did a year ago.

Anxiety can affect everybody. From sudden stressful situations to ongoing worries. The NHS notes that anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear that can be mild or severe^[2]. Symptoms of anxiety can manifest themselves in many ways and include for example:^[3]

• Feeling restless or on edge
• Being irritable
• Getting tired easily
• Having difficulty concentrating or feeling your mind goes blank
• Having difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep
• Having tense muscles

The research data from Dragonfly CBD revealed further the extent to which feelings of stress and anxiety affect people – with almost a quarter (24%) of respondents had felt stressed three to five times a month, while 23% have been stressed more than 10 times in one month.

Pharmacist Sultan Dajani from www.dragonflycbd.com  notes: “In addition to the symptoms of anxiety noted above, they can also start to manifest themselves from a physical perspective such as suffering aches and pains, headaches, exhaustion, muscle tension, racing heart, high blood pressure and stomach upset.”

Causes

“People can sometimes pinpoint what is driving their anxiety, but all too often anxiety can turn into constant worry, known as generalised anxiety disorder (GAD),” adds Sultan Dajani.

Sultan Dajani notes further: “This is where no one situation is causing the anxiety, but rather a combination of factors that drives the symptoms of anxiety, keeping the person feeling on edge or restless for long periods.

“The Dragonfly CBD research revealed that work, finances, and post-pandemic living with still the fear of Covid-19 are key challenges driving stress and worry.

“Anxiety symptoms are also at the core of other forms of anxiety conditions such as panic disorder, social anxiety, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder. This is why it is so important to get help and manage anxiety when it hits.”

CBD & Anxiety: What’s the proof

“There’s growing scientific evidence that CBD helps to deal with stress and anxiety.  Reviews of scientific evidence, from both human studies and pre-clinical models, have reported that taking CBD like Dragonfly CBD helps to: 

• Reduce anxiety and stress, even after clinical conditions which promote feelings of fear or anxiety^[4] 
• Fight feelings of depression and disordered mood, while having an overall risk-benefit profile^[5] 

“Data from laboratory studies also reveal that CBD has anti-anxiety effects and may help to regulate learned fear by reducing its expression^[6], with beneficial effects on emotions^[7].  Plus other laboratory studies, CBD has been shown to reduce conditioned fear^[8] and anxiety.^{[9],[10],[11],[12]}

“As a result using a good quality seed to shelf CBD oil and here, I recommend Dragonfly CBD, has been shown to help ease stress and anxiety and it’s easy to add a few drops of Dragonfly CBD into your daily routine.”

How Does CBD Work?

Sultan Dajani continues: “Studies show that CBD interacts with a number of receptors. Pre-clinical studies have shown an antidepressant effect of CBD ^{[13],[14],[15],[16]}with researchers speculating that this also works through the 5-HT1-A receptor^[17],[18]

“In terms of stress, CBD seems to specifically target the cardiovascular response to stress (e.g. lowering blood pressure and heart rate)^[19]. Clinical trials reveal benefits for CBD under conditions of stress. In a trial that tested people with pre-existing anxiety before and after a public speaking test, those who took CBD significantly reduced their anxiety levels and discomfort.  In contrast, the placebo group showed higher anxiety, cognitive impairment, and discomfort^[20].”

How Much To Take?

Sultan Dajani notes further: “There are several ways to take CBD oil but drops under the tongue (sublingually) help to maximise absorption. I get asked a lot about how many CBD drops people should take and as a result, I always recommend people start with three or four CBD Oil drops two to three times daily. It can be taken daily or when a person is experiencing periods of stress, anxiety, or interrupted sleep. 

“CBD is safe at higher doses, but it is best not to exceed a daily dose of 70mg. The dosage will also depend on the strength of the CBD being taken. A natural product like Dragonfly CBD is a good step to managing periods of anxiety and I have many customers who ‘swear by it’.”

5 Hacks To Help Manage Anxiety From Sultan Dajani At www.dragonflycbd.com 

1. Feed your body & brain:  Make sure you are following a healthy balanced diet, with plenty of fruit and vegetables. In addition, eating a portion (140g) of oily fish each week (e.g. sardines, salmon, mackerel) will provide you with a good source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA)
2. Talk: Share your thoughts with family and friends as often talking about concerns can help to alleviate the concern. If you feel unable to talk to family or friends, consider a counselor who can provide you with tools to manage anxiety. If your anxiety is prolonged, visit your GP
3. Try to relax: While going through periods of anxiety relaxing is easier said than done. Identify two or three things that help reduce your anxiety from reading a book to taking a walk. Though you may not feel like it at the time, when you are feeling anxious turn to one of your trusted coping methods, even if only for 5 or 10 minutes
4. Dragonfly CBD oil: Using a good quality seed to shelf CBD oil like Dragonfly CBD which is borne out of nature has been shown to improve stress and anxiety and it’s easy to add a few drops of Dragonfly CBD into your daily routine
5. Sleep: Often the time when thoughts start to race, bedtime can be fraught, impacting sleep. Where you sleep matters so try and keep the bedroom for sleep only so your brain starts to associate the bedroom with slumber time. Make your bedroom a room you look forward to sleeping and relaxing in. Pay attention to the temperature of the room, keeping it cool and not too hot, and if the light than comes in consider some blinds or curtains that will keep the room dark. 

www.dragonflycbd.com

^[1] Perspectus Global, 1000 consumers polled; Winter 2022

^[2] www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/mental-health/anxiety

^[3] www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/mental-health/anxiety

^[4] Shannon S, Lewis N, Lee H, Hughes S. Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. Perm J. 2019; 23:18-041. https://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30624194 

^[5]Wright M, Di Ciano P, Brands B. Use of Cannabidiol for the Treatment of Anxiety: A Short Synthesis of Pre-Clinical and Clinical Evidence. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2020 Sep 2;5(3):191- 196. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32923656/ 

^[6] Papagianni EP, Stevenson CW. Cannabinoid Regulation of Fear and Anxiety: an Update. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2019 Apr 27;21(6):38. https://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31030284 

^[7] Lee JLC, Bertoglio LJ, Guimarães FS, Stevenson CW. Cannabidiol regulation of emotion and emotional memory processing: relevance for treating anxiety-related and substance abuse disorders. Br J Pharmacol. 2017 Oct;174(19):3242-3256. https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28268256 

^[8] Lemos JI, Resstel LB, Guimarães FS. Involvement of the prelimbic prefrontal cortex on cannabidiol-induced attenuation of contextual conditioned fear in rats. Behav Brain Res. 2010 Feb 11;207(1):105-11 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19800921 

^[9] Moreira FA, Aguiar DC, Guimarães FS. Anxiolytic-like effect of cannabidiol in the rat Vogel conflict test. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2006 Dec 30;30(8):1466-71. https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16876926 

^[10] de Mello Schier AR, de Oliveira Ribeiro NP, Coutinho DS, Machado S, Arias-Carrión O, Crippa JA, Zuardi AW, Nardi AE, Silva AC. Antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects of cannabidiol: a chemical compound of Cannabis sativa. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2014;13(6):953-60. https:// pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24923339/ 

^[11] Almeida V, Levin R, Peres FF, Niigaki ST, Calzavara MB, Zuardi AW, Hallak JE, Crippa JA, Abílio VC. Cannabidiol exhibits anxiolytic but not antipsychotic property evaluated in the social interaction test. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2013 Mar 5; 41:30-5. https://pubmed. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23127569/ 

^[12] Marinho AL, Vila-Verde C, Fogaça MV, Guimarães FS. Effects of intra-infralimbic prefrontal cortex injections of cannabidiol in the modulation of emotional behaviors in rats: contribution of 5HT₁A receptors and stressful experiences. Behav Brain Res. 2015 Jun 1; 286:49-56 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/25701682/ 

^[13] El-Alfy AT, Ivey K, Robinson K, Ahmed S, Radwan M, Slade D, Khan I, ElSohly M, Ross S. Antidepressant-like effect of delta9- tetrahydrocannabinol and other cannabinoids isolated from Cannabis sativa L. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2010 Jun;95(4):434-42. https://pubmed.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/20332000/ 

^[14] Shoval G, Shbiro L, Hershkovitz L, Hazut N, Zalsman G, Mechoulam R, Weller A. Prohedonic Effect of Cannabidiol in a Rat Model of Depression. Neuropsychobiology. 2016;73(2):123-9. https:// pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27010632/

^[15] Linge R, Jiménez-Sánchez L, Campa L, Pilar-Cuéllar F, Vidal R, Pazos A, Adell A, Díaz Á. Cannabidiol induces rapid-acting antidepressant-like effects and enhances cortical 5-HT/glutamate neurotransmission: role of 5-HT1A receptors. Neuropharmacology. 2016 Apr; 103:16-26 https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26711860 

^[16] Sartim AG, Guimarães FS, Joca SR. Antidepressant-like effect of cannabidiol injection into the ventral medial prefrontal cortex-Possible involvement of 5-HT1A and CB1 receptors. Behav Brain Res. 2016 Apr 15; 303:218-27 https://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26801828 

^[17] Linge R, Jiménez-Sánchez L, Campa L, Pilar-Cuéllar F, Vidal R, Pazos A, Adell A, Díaz Á. Cannabidiol induces rapid-acting antidepressant-like effects and enhances cortical 5-HT/glutamate neurotransmission: role of 5-HT1A receptors. Neuropharmacology. 2016 Apr; 103:16-26 https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26711860 

^[18] Sartim AG, Guimarães FS, Joca SR. Antidepressant-like effect of cannabidiol injection into the ventral medial prefrontal cortex-Possible involvement of 5-HT1A and CB1 receptors. Behav Brain Res. 2016 Apr 15; 303:218-27. https://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26801828 

^[19] Stanciu CN, Brunette MF, Teja N, Budney AJ. Evidence for Use of Cannabinoids in Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, and PTSD: A Systematic Review. Psychiatr Serv. 2021 Apr 1;72(4):429-436 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/33530732/ 

^[20] Bergamaschi MM, Queiroz RH, Chagas MH, de Oliveira DC, De Martinis BS, Kapczinski F, Quevedo J, Roesler R, Schröder N, Nardi AE, Martín-Santos R, Hallak JE, Zuardi AW, Crippa JA. Cannabidiol reduces the anxiety induced by simulated public speaking in treatment-naïve social phobia patients. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011 May;36(6):1219-26. 

^[21] CBD in the UK: Towards a responsible, innovative, and high-quality cannabidiol industry; authored by Blair Gibbs, Dr Andrew Yates, Jon Liebling