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.
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I've always had a love-hate relationship with wigs. Sometimes, I struggle to get them to lay flat and don't get me started with the bonding glue process. So when it comes to wearing wigs, I like to keep it nice and breezy around this b--- (word to Katt Williams), especially in the summertime.
That's why I jumped at the chance to try these three versatile wigs from Luvme Hair. Each one offers a unique look and is surprisingly low maintenance, which aligns perfectly with my philosophy that wearing wigs should make life easier. Let’s dive into the three styles below.
Headband Wig
Courtesy
This was the first wig I tried on, and I instantly fell in love with it. So much so that it took me weeks to even consider trying the other two. I’m partial to colored hair, especially blonds, browns, and reds, so I was skeptical about the jet black hair. However, I think the color, combined with the curl pattern, worked surprisingly well for me.
One of the things I really liked about this wig was that I didn’t have to braid my hair down first. I could simply throw it over a low ponytail, which is the epitome of a low-maintenance style. The headband has combs inside and velcro on the ends, ensuring a secure fit.
Half Wig
Courtesy
I had never worn a half wig before, so I faced some challenges. I cornrowed the bottom half of my hair where the wig would sit, but I believe this made it more difficult to use the combs. It might just be me though. I straightened the top part of my hair to blend it with the wig, which looked cute for about five minutes.
Firstly, I have a brown/blonde color mix on the ends of my hair, and the half wig is black. So, I had to hide some of the color (I didn’t have time to dye the wig). Secondly, straightening my hair myself is always a hassle because it never lasts long. Add to that the summer humidity, and you get a hot mess. Despite all this, I managed to get some cute pictures before things got out of control, and that’s all that matters, right?
Would I consider this a low-maintenance hair style? Yes and no. I think it’s unrealistic for me during the summer, especially since I enjoy summer activities. However, when the weather cools down, I’ll definitely rock it, dyed, of course.
Bob
Courtesy
Now, this is the wig I was nervous about. I never had a bob and I didn't think I would like it. But once I put bobiana on, my mind instantly changed. I finally understood why the gworls rave about the bob so much. It was giving boss. It was giving grown woman. It was giving the bob means business. Iykyk. It was the ultimate statement.
I will say when I first put it on, one side of my wig just would not lay flat. It took some trial and error, but I finally managed to get it to look good. With the bob, I highly recommend braiding your hair down first as small as you can so it can lay as flat as possible. I really liked the ash blonde color, which is perfect for summer. The length also makes it a great low-maintenance style for the season, so you don't have to worry about the hair making your neck sweaty.
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