Anxiety is the most common mental illness in the U.S.. In fact,it afflicts 40 million adults at or above 18. That totals up to an astounding 18% of the total population. More specifically, social anxiety affects 15 million Americans or 6.8% of the U.S. population. A 2007 ADAA survey found that 36% of sufferers wait 10 years or more before seeking help or treatment.

A little bit about anxiety

Anxiety disorders can develop for several reasons, the most likely ones being genetics, brain chemistry, life experiences, and personality, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). People who suffer from social anxiety have an extreme fear of being judged or scrutinized in social situations. Some people become triggered by certain situations, while others feel anxious in social encounters.

social anxiety
While this fear is irrational, many people feel completely powerless and debilitated in the face of their anxiety. However, they often have no idea what coping mechanisms to use to overcome social anxiety.

Evidence supporting CBD oil for treatment of social anxiety

However, Brazilian researchers found a breakthrough that those with social anxiety have needed. They wanted to see how those with social anxiety would react to cannabidiol (CBD). That’s the active compound found in cannabis which is now infused in products you can buy. CBD accounts for around 40% of the extract from cannabis. Unlike THC, it doesn’t have psychoactive effects on the brain. The researchers asked ten people with a diagnosed Social Anxiety Disorder to participate in the study.

In addition, they used neuroimaging to monitor the amount of blood flow in different parts of the brain as a result of the CBD. They halved the study into two different sessions; in the first, half of the participants received an oral dose of 400 mg of CBD and the other half were given placebos. In the second session, the group that didn’t receive CBD in the first session was treated with cannabidiol, and the other half had placebos this time.

The results of the study confirmed that the cannabidiol reduced the participants’ subjective anxiety significantly. After being treated with CBD, the researchers noted an anti-anxiety, or anxiolytic, effect in the parts of the brain that control emotions. Dr. J. A. Crippa, who led the Brazilian research team, made the following statement.

“These results suggest that CBD reduces anxiety in SAD and that this is related to its effects on activity in limbic and paralimbic brain areas.”

This study’s sample size was too small for doctors to begin treating social anxiety patients with CBD. However, it does offer a lot of promise for the future of social anxiety treatment.

More evidence to connect the dots

In another study that tested the effects of CBD on social anxiety, the researchers gave a simulation public speaking test (SPST) to participants before and after taking CBD and compared the findings. The speaking test basically aims to provoke a response in the individual being tested similar to one they would give if they were giving a public speech. The findings showed that the individuals treated with CBD significantly decreased anxiety, while the placebo group had much higher levels of anxiety, cognitive impairment, and discomfort. Even more promising, the findings showed that just a single dose of CBD can significantly reduce social anxiety and improve cognitive functions and speech delivery.

Because of the improvements in the speaker’s performances, the audience also showed increased participation and alertness. Those who were given CBD before delivering speeches had an overall more successful and productive performance than those who did not take any CBD. The CBD not only eliminated the most debilitating symptom of social anxiety, fear of public speaking. But it also virtually wiped out the negative self-talk and degrading thoughts that most sufferers of social anxiety experience. Many of them reported much higher levels of self-confidence. Plus, the expressed that they did not feel trapped by their own minds when giving their speeches.

Final thoughts: CBD oil is worth a try for your social anxiety

If you do suffer from social anxiety, some vape shops carry cbd oil and cbd topicals. Therefore, you don’t have to wait for doctors to prescribe it as a treatment option. They can ship CBD products to all 50 states in the U.S. because they do not contain THC. Thus, European companies import them legally. Social anxiety does not have to cripple you or your life anymore. That’s because CBD is becoming more widely available all across the world. These studies show, once again, the incredible benefits of cannabis as a therapeutic plant capable of healing various ailments.