Increasingly, CBD is chosen as a supplement that can improve the overall health of the body. Reaching for CBD oils has a beneficial effect on many levels, both physical and mental. It is known to strengthen immunity, improve sleep condition and help reduce stress.
Can using CBD oil also help fight depression?
This disease is more and more common, so it is worth getting acquainted with the concept itself and carefully monitoring all symptoms in order to seek help at the right moment.
In today’s article we will try to show the dependencies in CBD supplementation and the fight against depression.
What is depression?
WHO, the World Health Organization, states that depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the world. This disease can affect people of all ages and more and more diagnosed cases are recorded every year. Depression is generally speaking – a persistent state of sadness and depression that is not the result of any particular situation.
In diagnosing depression, it is important to separate the temporary malaise that can happen to all of us and the real problem that, if left untreated, can even be life-threatening. Not all depression and sadness caused by a bad day or work problems or those resulting from the hardships of everyday life – will be depression.
Untreated depression can lead to insomnia, induce some somatic symptoms, and even project suicidal thoughts, which are a real threat when ignoring the symptoms of the disease. It is worth emphasizing that not all patients feel sad, sometimes the disease develops slightly differently, and the patients feel apathetic, lack energy to live, which is often connected with declaring the lack of meaning in life.
After all, depression is not only negative feelings of the patient, but also disruptions in everyday life. If untreated, the disease often makes it impossible to work normally, patients are also unable to sleep or cope with their basic duties. These problems can also lead to the deterioration of interpersonal relations – patients often avoid meeting friends because, for example, they are accompanied by a constant feeling of fatigue and apathy, and conversations with other people are overwhelming.
What are the symptoms of depression?
Symptoms of depression may be confused with feeling worse or a difficult period in life. However, you should not ignore any symptoms, and two main criteria are helpful in classifying the disease: depressed mood and difficulties in undertaking various activities and activities that have not caused such problems so far.
Depressed mood may be related to the inability to enjoy events or situations that have so far evoked positive associations and could be felt as joyful. Over time, disturbances in the perception of pleasure can also lead to its complete disappearance. Patients also often struggle with indifference. You can then hear that “they don’t care” or “they don’t care what happens.” Sometimes there is also an unstable mood, an inability to control the mood and sadness, and crying that is difficult to control. Patients are also unable, or this ability is significantly reduced, to control their emotions.
Depression can also be associated with reduced activity in life. People struggling with depression often retreat into the shadows, their actions lead to the abandonment of various activities that they have performed so far, there is also an inability to perform basic activities – including getting out of bed or taking care of hygiene. A symptom of depression can also be a constant feeling of tiredness or anxiety
In the course of diagnosing the disease, patients also complain of depressive thinking, which is associated with a pessimistic evaluation of their own life, be it past or present, loss of self-confidence and persistent thinking about the negative aspects of life. The disease can also manifest itself somatically, the following symptoms are often distinguished: migraines, decreased libido, dry throat, menstrual disorders, lack of appetite or excessive appetite and insomnia or increased need for sleep.
Specialists emphasize that these symptoms must last for at least 2 weeks, and depending on the number and severity of symptoms, the following are distinguished: mild depressive episode, moderate depressive episode and severe depressive episode.
What are the types of depression?
There are several types of depression. Among other things, seasonal depression is distinguished, which is associated with the changing aura and occurs mainly in autumn and winter. Postpartum depression affects the mother after childbirth, then we can talk about her when the “baby blues” lasts more than two weeks, and the state of depression becomes more intense.
Specialists also distinguish atypical depression, which develops in people under 20 years of age, and masked depression when the patient does not experience low mood, but is able to distinguish other mental or somatic symptoms specific to the disease.
Recurrent depression, which lasts a relatively short time, but recurs at regular intervals, and chronic depression, which in turn lasts more than two years, are also worth mentioning.
Who is especially at risk of depression?
Depression is a disease that can affect anyone. However, when trying to answer the question “What are the causes of depression?”, the following factors are distinguished: biological, psychological, and social and cultural.
Biological factors include, but are not limited to, genetic factors as well as changes in brain neurotransmitter levels, addiction, and chronic disease. There is also talk of hormonal disorders including the stress hormone (cortisol) as well as thyroxine and testosterone deficiency in men.
The second category is related to stressful life events and how to deal with them, as well as social and family relationships. The last group concerns the professional, financial and housing situation. Some also talk about family predispositions, as depression may be hereditary, but also related to upbringing in certain conditions.
Depression can occur at any age, but studies show that it most often develops in people aged 35-55. Women, whose risk of developing the disease reaches up to 25%, are more often confronted with the disease. It is suspected that the cause may be the greater emotionality of women, although the effects of hormones that may lead to the development of depression are also indicated.
CBD and depression
CBD oil supplementation for depression can be extremely beneficial. CBD oil supplementation has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. The experiments and studies carried out so far have proven that CBD cannabidiol helps to maintain the proper functioning of 5-HT1A receptors, responsible for the release of serotonin into the body, the dysfunction of which can lead to a persistent negative mood for a long time. CBD also positively influences the activity of the hippocampus in the brain, which is related to controlling emotions.
CBD oil supplementation helps to stimulate the formation of new neurons, thereby increasing the production of neurons in the brain.
CBD oil supplementation can also be beneficial in the fight against anhedonia, which is manifested by a lack of pleasure. CBD helps restore the brain’s reward center to function properly. It is also worth mentioning that the use of CBD oils has a positive effect on sleep, and sleep hygiene in people struggling with depression is often disturbed.
Taking CBD hemp oil for depression is extremely simple, because it can be taken in the form of hemp oil, which is available in our store. Are you wondering where to buy hemp oil of the highest quality and completely safe for the body?
In the Alba HEMP store you can buy CBD hemp oil, both natural and those with the addition of fruity flavor notes. The offer includes Alba Hemp Sunny Orange CBD oil or raspberry Alba HEMP Tranquil Raspberry CBD oil.
However, it should be remembered that the most important step in the treatment of depression should be a visit to a specialist who will be able to map out the treatment path. Do not ignore any symptoms and seek help.
References:
Celia J A Morgan, Emma Page, Carola Schaefer
“Cerebrospinal fluid anandamide levels, cannabis use and psychotic-like symptoms”
Neuropsychopharmacology. 2004 Nov;29
Jason R Clapper, Regina A Mangieri, Daniele Piomelli
“The endocannabinoid system as a target for the treatment of cannabis dependence”
Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Dec 1
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