How Stress Can Affect Your Body

The Mental Health Foundation, a UK-based organization, conducted the largest known study of stress levels in the UK in 2018. The study followed 4,619 participants. It says, “In the past year, 74% of people have felt so stressed they have been overwhelmed or unable to cope.” Other studies and surveys confirm the idea that stress is a common burden among people across the world.

The American Psychological Association presented data examining the impact of stress on Americans and reported “29% skipped a meal due to stress” and “44% reported lying awake at night.” Stress has been shown to cause stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal flare ups, and headaches. Consistent stress has the potential to cause more serious health issues down the road. Some research even shows stress being linked to certain kinds of cancers and cardiac arrest.

What are some common ways that people combat stress?

It is interesting to look at the different ways people cope with stress. Many people turn to unhealthy habits like overeating, sleeping too much or sleeping too little, isolating themselves socially from loved ones, or even spending excessively. These are common habits stressed out people fall into.

The above mentioned habits are not healthy ways to cope with stressful feelings. There are healthier methods of coping like taking a break from screen time, getting caught up on your “to-do” list, and cooking a healthy meal.

Another simple way to combat stress through exercise. Exercise is a great way to fight stressful feelings. If you already exercise, using a CBD topical at the end of your workout can both soothe inflamed muscles and promote relaxation in the body. CBD topicals work with our skin’s endocannabinoid system to provide anti-inflammatory benefits to our bodies.

The Mayo Clinic says, “Virtually any form of exercise, from aerobics to yoga, can act as a stress reliever. If you're not an athlete or even if you're out of shape, you can still make a little exercise go a long way toward stress management.”

CBD and Stress Management

According to a cross-section study exploring CBD users, anxiety and depression were among the top three reasons to use CBD. Like we briefly mentioned above, our body hosts a system unknown to many called the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system contains receptors that extend to various points of our body. CBD, scientifically known as cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid that interacts with these receptors to return our body to homeostasis. Our endocannabinoid receptors are located throughout our body in places like our immune system, the brain stem, and various organs. If these points of our body are compromised, cannabinoids like CBD can help repair them.

The primary role of a cannabinoid is to locate points of concern and restore those areas with its therapeutic properties. If our body is stressed, the idea is that the cannabinoid will locate the stress and work with our endocannabinoid receptors at the point of stress and help strengthen that area.

The anecdotal and scientific findings of CBD as a potential stress reliever provide good reason to explore and study CBD as a treatment for stress. The easiest way to incorporate CBD into your life is by adding it to something you already do and allowing yourself to build a consistent routine. Don’t force yourself to adopt a supplement routine if that is not something you already do.

As with any other supplement, consult your doctor prior to using CBD.