Can CBD Make You Feel Anxious? Facts Vs. Fiction

The overwhelming majority of people who use CBD for anxiety find it helpful. But like any supplement, it might not work the same for everyone. Read on to understand the science behind CBD and anxiety.

Key Takeaways

• CBD interacts with various receptors in the body that are connected with mood and anxiety.
• Multiple studies on both animals and humans have demonstrated that CBD is effective at reducing anxiety symptoms, including in people with treatment-resistant anxiety disorders.
• Everyone is different, and there’s no guarantee that CBD can reduce symptoms of anxiety.
• For the best results, ensure you purchase high-quality CBD and take the recommended dose.

See Related: 4 Things to Know When Traveling With CBD

Understanding CBD

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a cannabinoid produced by both the cannabis plant and hemp plant. It's been used by humans for thousands of years, and is surging in popularity; almost two-thirds of American adults have tried it at least once.

Why is CBD so popular? Two reasons.

First, CBD can provide numerous health benefits. One of the most common reasons people use CBD is to treat anxiety, for example. CBD can reduce anxiety symptoms, including in treatment-resistant anxiety disorders, which affect almost half of young people with moderate to severe anxiety.

For example, a study from 2022 gave young people with treatment-resistant anxiety CBD for 12 weeks. Patients experienced an average decline in anxiety symptoms of over 40%.

The second reason CBD is so popular is because of its lack of significant side effects or addictive nature. Many medications, including common treatments for generalized anxiety disorder, come with various negative side effects, and patients can become dependent on them. 

But research suggests that CBD has neither of these issues. In fact, one recent study went so far as to conclude that CBD is "unlikely to significantly impair daily functioning or workplace performance."

However, like all substances, CBD can have different effects on different people. But can a compound renowned for treating anxiety symptoms actually cause them?

To understand this, we first need to examine how CBD really works.

How CBD Works

CBD is just one of hundreds of compounds produced by the cannabis plant. Among those compounds, the most well-known is THC. It's the primary psychoactive component of cannabis; that is, the thing that makes you "high."

THC and CBD are both cannabinoids. They interact with a complex system in your body called the endocannabinoid system. Specifically, cannabinoids like THC and CBD are thought to interact with cannabinoid receptors within the endocannabinoid system.

"Interact" is somewhat vague, and that's intentional. Despite extensive research, scientists still aren't totally certain how, exactly, CBD interacts with cannabinoid receptors. It might activate them, or it might block them. 

Regardless of the specific mechanics, CBD's interactions with the endocannabinoid system are very important. This system plays a vital role in regulating all kinds of bodily functions. It's connected to your mood, sleep, immune response, pain sensation, and more.

Additionally, CBD is also thought to interact with other receptors in the body. These include receptors related to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is deeply linked with anxiety.

Is CBD Legal?

Since 2018, CBD has been legal at the federal level in the U.S. However, there's a catch: Only CBD derived from hemp plants with less than 0.3% THC is legal. 

Normal Effects of CBD

As we mentioned, CBD might affect everyone slightly differently. However, years of study (and the anecdotal experiences of millions of users) have left us with a general understanding of what to expect from CBD.

The potential therapeutic benefits of CBD include the following:

• Pain relief
• Improved sleep quality
• Reduced inflammation
• Seizure control
• Anti-nausea

CBD Use and Anxiety Levels

The list of possible benefits goes on. But it's missing one crucial entry: reducing anxiety.

Multiple studies have found that CBD is effective in reducing anxiety symptoms. That includes patients suffering from social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In one 2024 analysis of eight studies, for example, CBD was found to have a significant impact on anxiety. An analysis from 2020 made similar conclusions.

This makes CBD an extremely promising solution for the growing crisis of anxiety. Worldwide, some 8% of adolescents are thought to suffer from some kind of anxiety disorder; worse, about half of those affected do not respond sufficiently to conventional anxiety treatments.

The rates of anxiety disorders are even higher in adults. About one in every five U.S. adults has some kind of anxiety disorder, according to one study. And almost one-third of U.S. adults will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.

Little wonder, then, that almost one-third of U.S. adults regularly use CBD. Anxiety is one of the most commonly cited reasons for people using CBD. 

It's also why we offer all kinds of CBD products, from THC oil with CBD to specialized Sleep and Soothe gummies to help those with anxiety relax.

Can CBD Make You More Anxious?

However, some people find CBD actually exacerbates anxiety symptoms. How can that be? After all, doesn't CBD reduce anxiety? 

Remember, anxiety is an incredibly complex condition. It might seem simple, but the mechanics behind it are extremely complicated and still not totally understood.

As such, all kinds of things can have anxiety-inducing effects. In some cases, the culprit might be your CBD product — but not the CBD itself.

Let us explain.

CBD Dosage

Like any treatment, CBD comes with a recommended dose. We provide recommended doses for all our CBD products, which you can view on the product itself or on our website.

Taking higher doses of CBD than is recommended might put you at risk of developing symptoms of anxiety. This is especially true if you are new to CBD, or are particularly sensitive to it.

Full-Spectrum CBD

Not all CBD products are the same. Remember, CBD is just one of hundreds of compounds produced by the hemp plant.

When all of these compounds are included in CBD oil, the resulting product is called full-spectrum CBD oil. There are various reasons for taking full-spectrum CBD oil. Most important is something called the entourage effect.

The entourage effect describes a remarkable phenomenon whereby other cannabinoids, especially THC, interact with CBD, making it more effective. 

To be clear, the amount of THC in CBD products is legally capped at 0.3%. We verify this by testing all our products at a third-party lab, which you can check by viewing the certificate of analysis for your particular product. 

At these tiny levels, you almost certainly won't sense the THC. 

But if you must have a product with absolutely no THC, you can use broad-spectrum CBD oil. It still has the various cannabinoids from the hemp plant, except for THC. The THC has been completely removed.

Though these cannabinoids have plenty of positive health benefits, it's theoretically possible they could be causing anxiety symptoms. If you think that's the case, you could try pure CBD, which has had all other compounds removed.

Low-Quality CBD Products

The quality of your CBD also matters. Low-quality CBD products, like those produced with one of the various cheaper manufacturing methods, sometimes include various other additives.

These might be intentional, like flavorings. They might be unintentional, like chemical byproducts from the manufacturing process. Either way, they could theoretically cause anxiety symptoms.

How do you avoid these low-quality products? Well, you can start by looking at the ingredients list. It’s best to have limited ingredients, and if you want flavorings, stick to natural ones.

For example, our full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD tinctures contain only a few essential ingredients.

The second thing to consider is the quality of the hemp used. Our hemp is clean and grown in the U.S., ensuring high quality. 

Also important is the manufacturing process. The gold standard is the carbon dioxide method, which is what we use.

Another way to find high-quality products is by checking for a certificate of analysis. That proves the product was tested by an independent laboratory. All our products come with a certificate of analysis, which you can check by scanning the QR code on your product.

In general, it's best to stick with licensed dispensaries when buying CBD products.

Interactions With Other Medications

Because the CBD is processed by the liver, it can interact with other medications. It does this by competing with those other medications in the liver. As a result, your body might have too much or not enough of those other medications, with potentially serious results.

CBD and Anxiety Disorders

All that being said, there's always a chance — however slight — that CBD does make you more anxious. 

After all, it interacts with multiple systems that regulate mood and anxiety. It almost always seems to interact with these systems in a way that reduces anxiety, but it's not impossible for the opposite to happen.

However, there's also another possibility. Is CBD causing increased anxiety symptoms, or is it something else? 

For example, you might have taken CBD for the first time and felt adverse effects related to anxiety. However, the CBD might simply not have been effective at reducing already present symptoms. In other words, it might not have caused the symptoms, but simply failed to stop them.

That's always a possibility. Three-quarters of CBD users say it helps manage anxiety, according to one survey, and almost half of users find it very or extremely helpful. So while most people seem to find CBD helpful, not everyone does.

Anxiety and panic disorders can be debilitating precisely because they are so unpredictable. In fact, it's entirely possible that your nervousness about taking CBD triggered your anxiety!

So while it's important to recognize that CBD might not work, and in extremely rare cases might cause anxiety, it's generally believed to be very effective at reducing anxiety. 

And, to reiterate, research conclusively shows that CBD exhibits few side effects, is not addictive, and is not intoxicating.

In fact, the World Health Organization concluded in one report that "to date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD."

Bonus: What Is THC-M? Understanding This Cannabinoid

Recognizing Anxiety Symptoms

It's important to be able to be able to recognize the symptoms of increased anxiety. This is especially true if you suffer from an anxiety disorder.

Some common symptoms include the following:

• Feeling restless. You might be tense, have trouble concentrating, or sense some kind of impending doom.
• Increased heart rate.
• Hyperventilation, or quick breathing.
• Sweating.
• Trembling or shivering.
• Feeling weak. You might feel exhausted, even though you have little reason to be. (Anxiety is tiring!)
• Trouble sleeping. That includes falling asleep and staying asleep.
• Stomach pain or discomfort.
• Nausea
• Feeling lightheaded or dizzy. You might also feel faint, or actually faint.

Anxiety manifests in different ways depending on the individual and specific situation. Various underlying factors can influence it, from lack of sleep and food to external stressors.

However, the symptoms listed above are generally considered the most common signs of anxiety.

How to Avoid Panic Attacks

Some people use CBD to help manage anxiety and panic attacks. However, if you believe CBD worsens your anxiety, that obviously isn't an option!

If you think a panic attack is approaching, here are some tips to help manage:

• Focus on your breathing. Practice some kind of breathing exercise to keep your breath steady and managed. Try box breathing, for example: breathe in for five seconds, hold for five seconds, release for five seconds, hold for five seconds, and repeat.
• Identify the trigger. Panic attacks are often caused by some kind of external stressor. Is there something in your life making you stressed that you can remedy?
• Get moving. Exercise is crucial for managing chronic anxiety. It helps regulate your mood and releases endorphins that can reduce anxiety.
• Keep eating. When you're anxious, potential stomach issues might prevent you from eating. But that can make your anxiety worse. Make sure you are eating regular, healthy meals.

• Stick to routine. Try not to let life get away from you, if possible.

CBD Oil for Anxiety

If you haven't tried CBD and suffer from anxiety, consider it. Plenty of human studies have demonstrated its ability to reduce the symptoms of anxiety. And it has many other potential health benefits, too.

You can add CBD to your regular diet or take it as needed. Ideally, you would take your dose of CBD up to an hour before you expect to experience anxiety.

Conclusion

CBD is widely used to treat anxiety, including in people who do not respond well to conventional treatments. While we don't totally understand how CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, multiple studies have concluded that it reduces anxiety.

If you think a CBD product worsened your anxiety, make sure it wasn't actually one of the other potential factors we discussed above. And if you're debating whether to give CBD a try, ensure you purchase only high-quality CBD that has been manufactured under strict regulations and tested by a third-party lab.

Keep Reading: Are Edibles Legal in Ohio? What You Need to Know

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Clean Remedies is a woman-owned, independent family business that uses clean and natural hemp extract to create products that are free from harmful chemicals, cruelty-free, and made in the USA, meant to benefit your well-being and meet our own high standards of efficacy. For CBD facts, product discounts, and more, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.