I Tried CBD Products To Cure My Anxiety & Depression
After I quit my job to pursue freelance writing, my life began to be in a constant state of uncertainty. With this, came lots of anxiety about my next move and bouts of depression.
I found myself either in bed for hours at a time or being overwhelmed by worrying about things that I could usually push out of my mind. I remember sitting at my computer trying to "get my life together" but instead I'd end up doing deep breathing exercises because I'd be overcome with with fear and panic. It was one of the darkest and scariest moments in my life thus far.
For many reasons, I never opted to seek professional help. I'm not opposed to speaking to a professional or being prescribed medication to help with anxiety and depression, but personally, I decided that wasn't the route that I wanted to take. I felt in my heart that my mental health was something that I could tackle head on so, I made it my mission to make my mental health a priority, starting with anything that I could do at home. If all else failed, then professional help would be the route that I'd have to take.
On my road to self-help, I discovered cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is a component of hemp that has very little to no THC, the substance that causes the "high" feeling that people experience when smoking marijuana. CBD has the medicinal advantages often associated with weed without the high, which may be good for those who experience more anxiety when smoking marijuana.
CBD is becoming a very popular ingredient in beauty because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It's also growing as an at-home remedy for various medical and mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, mood, and insomnia to name a few. CBD is produced and sold in many forms including edibles, body products, and crumbles. Unlike marijuana, which is only legal in 10 states and Washington D.C., CBD is more accessible (legally) in 50 states and can even be purchased online.
During my quest to learn more about CBD and its mental health benefits, I reached out to Extract Labs to educate me more on CBD and to try out some products that could easily be incorporated into my daily routine. As a first-timer, I was recommended 3 different products to try out – tinctures, crumbles, and muscle cream and used them for two months. Here's my experience:
Disclaimer: I was provided free product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions provided herein are my own.
Hemp Tinctures:
Extract Labs
Price: From $40
Thoughts: Hemp Tinctures (CBD Oil with a coconut oil base) was the first of the CBD products that I tried. It's a great starting point if you're looking to get into CBD. I like that it can be used sublingually (under the tongue then swallowed) and topically. It's also said to be safe for pets, though I haven't tested that out myself.
I prefer to use the hemp tinctures sublingually about an hour before bed. From my experience, it slowly relaxes me and helps me calmly fall asleep without having a million things on my mind. For months, I would have so much anxiety before bed, especially after quitting my job to freelance. This would result in me fighting to fall asleep for hours at a time. When I started using Hemp Tinctures before bed, I could almost fall straight asleep and get a good night's rest. At first, I was using the Hemp Tinctures every single night before bed but as my usual sleep anxiety has lessened I've only used it as needed.
CBD Crumbles:
Extract Labs
Price: $50
Thoughts: I was probably most interested in trying out the crumbles. Like most people, I was curious to see how differently it worked from marijuana. To use the CBD crumbles, I had to buy a vape pen that heats up the crumbles in order to inhale the CBD. I purchased one from Cloud Pens for $30 but these can be usually cost about $50 or more. Depending on what you have in mind for a budget, this might be the more expensive option of the CBD products that I've tried.
I reached for my vape pen and the CBD crumbles mainly during the daytime before I began working, and throughout the day as I knocked out freelance assignments. It makes me feel much more relaxed and focused throughout the day. I've noticed that when I do smoke the crumbles, my anxiety about things on my to-do is lessened. I'm way more productive because of it. Compared to the Hemp Tinctures, I think the calming effects of the crumbles don't last as long but it could be due to the dosage as well.
Muscle Cream:
Extract Labs
Price: $50
Thoughts: I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the muscle cream. The first time I used it was on a day I had been on my feet for over 15 hours and my whole body was aching. I rubbed some of this cream on the areas of my body that ached. A few minutes after applying the muscle cream, I felt a tingling sensation. By the time I got in my bed, my muscles were less sore and needless to say, I slept like a baby.
Do I still have those days when anxiety and depression tries to get the best of me? Absolutely – I'm human. A combination of handling life's tough situations better and making self-care a priority has positively affected my mental health – especially since I began incorporating CBD into my self-care routine. I've been in great moods more than anything and been able to be much more productive because of it.
If you are anything like me and are looking for some natural ways to improve your mental health, I would recommend looking into CBD. With so many ways that it can be used, I'm certain that you would find one that works for you.
Featured image by Getty Images.
- I Tried Whoopi Goldberg's Weed Products For Period Pain - xoNecole ›
- I Tried CBD Products To Alleviate My Period Pain - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- 12 All-Natural Ways To Calm Anxiety - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- 6 DIY Holistic Remedies For Period Cramps - xoNecole: Lifestyle, Culture, Love, Wellness ›
- Amazon.com: Hemp Oil Extract Full Spectrum 1000mg 30mL - Pain ... ›
- CBD oil: what is it, what are the health benefits, and is it legal? ›
- 7 Benefits and Uses of CBD Oil (Plus Side Effects) ›
- How Cannabidiol (CBD) Works for Treating Anxiety | Leafly ›
- How Cannabidiol (CBD) Works for Treating Anxiety - CBD ... ›
- From Vaping to Gummies: 3 People Dish on Using CBD for Anxiety ›
- Anxiety Relief Without The High? New Studies On CBD, A Cannabis ›
- 7 Best CBD Oils For Anxiety [Autumn 2018 Update ] ›
- CBD oil and depression/anxiety | Mayo Clinic Connect ›
- CBD oil for anxiety: Research, benefits, and risks ›
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Exclusive: Koryn Hawthorne On Her Miraculous Love Story: ‘I Was Never A Girlfriend’
Gospel singer Koryn Hawthorne has used her voice to let the world know about what God can do, and now the Season 8 finalist of NBC’s The Voice is sharing a miraculous act that led to her engagement.
The Praise This actress shared in an interview with xoNecole that prior to becoming engaged to her partner, Hunter Register, she passed over one particular title on her way to becoming a fiancée.
“I was never a girlfriend,” Hawthorn, 26, tells xoNecole.
“We've known each other since we were kids, so we just kind of always had this distant friendship. We would hit each other up on social media, and [I] slide up under things that he was posting,” she says. “We ended up hanging out together, and when we hung out, it was an instant immediate connection from all fronts. I think we just knew from the first day that I don't want to spend a day apart from you.”
Koryn Hawthorne On Her Miraculous Love Story, New Album, & More
She continued, "And yeah, we probably were boyfriend or girlfriend after — am I delusional? Then we were engaged a few months later.”
The Grammy-nominated singer, who became engaged in November of 2023, went on to share what her experience has been preparing to become a wife, exploring the personal growth, challenges, and emotions experienced throughout the process.
“It's a journey, I'm not gonna lie,” she says. “Relationships, in general, are hard, and whenever you think about marriage, is just different from being boyfriend and girlfriend because if you piss me off, I could just go,” she shared. “But marriage is an actual commitment. It's a partnership. It's a ministry.”
Hawthorne, 26, and Register, 27, were childhood friends growing up in Louisiana and sealed their love during a weekend getaway in New Orleans last fall.
For the gospel star, marriage involves more than lovely-dovey aspects, emphasizing how her relationship has allowed her to grow, mature, and learn valuable lessons through love.
“We were supposed to get married in May, but like for us to be mature enough to be like, ‘You know what? No, let's take the necessary time to make sure that we're fully prepared for this commitment such a beautiful thing,” Hawthorne reflected.
“It's a learning curve for sure, but our preparation for marriage would have been the only thing that brought this out of me. It's hard and it's scary at times, but it's God's purpose and His plan for our lives.”
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Dia DipasupilGetty Images