Going through the menopause is a challenging time for any woman.
As well as causing hot flushes, irregular periods and sleep disturbances, the fluctuation of hormones in your body can make you feel anxious, stressed and/or depressed.
However, there’s a way that you can significantly reduce these anxiety symptoms to make going through the menopause more manageable in your day-to-day life.
Spoiler alert: it involves consuming CBD.
What Are the Symptoms of Menopause Anxiety?
First things first, let’s go back to basics.
Hands up if you’re between the ages of 45 and 55, currently going through the menopause and utterly perplexed at why you’re suddenly feeling anxious when you used to be so laid-back and carefree? If so, it’s important to understand that this is perfectly natural.
After all, your body will be experiencing a rapid decline of oestrogen and progesterone levels. And it’s these two key hormones that can cause recurring anxiety symptoms, such as:
- Panic attacks
- Heart palpitations
- Sweating
- Chills
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Muscle tension
- Fatigue
You might even find that your anxiety is severe enough to start impacting your everyday life.
CBD for Anxiety
There’s some research to suggest that taking CBD for menopause anxiety can be effective in reducing symptoms.
In fact, a 2018 study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders concluded that CBD lessened perceptions of depression, stress and anxiety in both men and women.
How Does CBD Work?
CBD affects the endocannabinoid system, which is a collection of cell receptors called cannabinoid receptors that reside in the brain, other organs and certain tissues in the body.
It’s this system that has an active role in menopause —and cannabis and CBD is known to disrupt the way it works. In other words, CBD can directly impact the effects of menopause on your body.
It all started when a 2010 study in mice discovered that CBD works similarly to antidepressant medications in the brain, reducing symptoms of depression. This suggested that CBD could also be used to stabilise mood swings in menopausal women.
Fast forward to the present. CBD has recently become more widely available from health shops and pharmacies after many people have noticed results for a range of medical conditions, including epilepsy.
How to Take CBD for Menopause Anxiety
There are many types of CBD available. Having said that, the most common type of CBD for menopause anxiety is in oil form.
You can take CBD oil by putting 1-3 drops directly under your tongue or by taking a capsule containing the oil.
Many women prefer to take a capsule due to the taste of the liquid form.
The Takeaway
Thanks to the rise and fall of hormones that your body has to deal with during the menopause, it’s common to experience a variety of anxiety symptoms.
According to Medical News Today, taking CBD for menopause anxiety has become a popular alternative treatment — and one that many people are finding effective.
