What you should know about CBD and OCD

Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory shows textbook symptoms of OCD and really helps people understand the problem. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurring and unwanted thoughts that cause people to compulsively engage in certain behaviors. Obsessive-compulsive disorder can vary greatly from person to person and can affect people to varying degrees. Those diagnosed with OCD find these patterns and compulsions extremely stressful and disruptive in their everyday lives. Can CBD help these people manage their disorder?

People with OCD who turn to CBD for relief typically explore self-medication and seek treatments that are less invasive than antidepressants and therapy. It is important to know that even if someone experiences relief from consuming CBD, the cannabinoid is not a substitute for other medications.

Although there are not many studies looking at CBD’s possibilities in treating anxiety disorders, it is an option worth exploring, especially given that current medications and therapies have low cure rates. The limited research and anecdotal evidence on CBD and OCD suggests that the compound may relieve symptoms or provide complementary treatment with some effectiveness, largely thanks to the compound’s anxiolytic and antipsychotic properties.

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A 2019 review published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research explains that the body’s endocannabinoid system plays an important role in regulating neurotransmitters, which is why it is effective in treating common anxiety and certain epileptic disorders.

“Although preliminary, available clinical data suggest that cannabinoids influence OCD-related processes, influence anxiety symptoms, enhance anxiety suppression, and reduce certain repetitive behaviors,” the review states. “So far, there are only case reports that describe in detail how cannabinoids specifically affect OCD symptoms, although the reported effects are promising. Further testing is required.”

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Although there is not enough research and data to draw firm conclusions or treatment options, the existing studies on animals and humans suggest that CBD has an impact on people’s emotions. Based on this knowledge alone, CBD is worth exploring as it offers a more natural and less invasive method of treating mental illness.