Approximately 2.8 percent of adults in the U.S. were diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the last year. And 4.4 percent of adults are likely to experience bipolar disorder at some point during their lives.
If you have bipolar disorder and have tried other treatment options to no avail, you might want to consider giving CBD (or cannabidiol) oil a try. You may also want to recommend it to a friend or loved one who has bipolar disorder.
Read on to learn some important facts about the benefits of CBD oil for bipolar disorder.
What Is CBD Oil?
CBD is a compound that is found in the cannabis plant. It’s a non-psychoactive compound, meaning that it will not get you “high” when you consume it.
Over the last few years, researchers have discovered a variety of benefits of CBD oil. They have found it can be used to help sufferers of everything from epilepsy and seizure disorders to asthma.
CBD oil is typically made by combining CBD that has been extracted from the cannabis sativa plant with a carrier oil like coconut oil, olive oil, or MCT oil. Sometimes, the oil is also flavored with essential oils.
Things to Know about CBD Oil for Bipolar Disorder
The following are eight essential facts that people with bipolar disorder need to know about using CBD oil to manage their symptoms.
1. CBD Promotes Stable Mood Levels
The results of one federally funded study found that CBD can dramatically improve and stabilize mood in people with bipolar disorder.
All 133 participants in the study experienced consistent energy and mood levels after consuming 100 milligrams of CBD each day for several weeks.
The researchers also had the participants take neurological tests at the end of the study.The results of those tests showed that the participants experienced improvements in their attention, executive functioning, verbal fluency, and logical-memory recall after they consumed CBD on a daily basis.
2. CBD Balances Hormones and Neurotransmitters
Another study also showed that regular CBD consumption also helped reduce symptoms of depression. It did this by influencing the body’s levels of cortical serotonin and glutamate.
CBD also influences the 5-HT1A receptors. These are serotonin receptors that are involved in the mechanism of action of a variety of antipsychotic, antidepressant, and anxiolytic medications.
The study also found that CBD could reduce the symptoms of psychosis in patients with bipolar disorder and other psychiatric disorders.
3. CBD Has Neuroprotective Properties
CBD also has neuroprotective properties. These neuroprotective properties include shielding the cells of the brain from oxidative stress and damage caused by free radicals.
Many researchers believe that this damage can contribute to the development of bipolar disorder.
4. CBD Can Help Relieve Stress
Many people also find that regular CBD consumption can help them manage their stress. Stress is an underlying factor in anxiety disorders, and it can also exacerbate the symptoms of other mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder.
Stressful situations — job losses, breakups, financial strain, etc. — cause a variety of physiological changes in the body. They cause changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and the production of cortisol and other hormones. All of these changes throw the body out of balance and can trigger manic episodes.
CBD helps with stress management by working with the body’s endocannabinoid system to balance hormones and promote feelings of calmness.
5. CBD Can Promote Better Sleep
Poor sleep can also lead to mood imbalances, impaired cognitive function, and make bipolar disorder (and other psychiatric disorders) worse. This is because sleep deprivation is a form of stress on the body, and it can throw off hormone levels and other physiological processes.
CBD improves sleep in the same way that it helps with stress management. It works with the endocannabinoid system to promote relaxation and balance the hormones that are responsible for regulating sleep and wakefulness.
6. CBD Can Help You Navigate Your Triggers
Because CBD helps with stress management, people who use it regularly often feel more grounded and in control of situations in their lives.
These feelings of control help them create space between stressful situation and their reactions. This, in turn, can help people with bipolar disorder identify and navigate their triggers to reduce the impact they have on the mood.
7. CBD Has Antipsychotic Properties
CBD also has a variety of antipsychotic properties. Its effects on the body are similar to the effects that many popular antipsychotic drugs have.
Some people with bipolar disorder worry about using cannabis and cannabis-infused products. This concern stems from some research that indicates cannabis can trigger psychotic episodes.
If you’re part of this group and are worried about the effects of cannabis, keep in mind that it is only THC, another cannabinoid, that has been shown to trigger psychosis. CBD, on the other hand, appears to mitigate the potentially negative effects of THC.
If you’re using CBD oil or a strain of cannabis with a high CBD content, the chances of it making your symptoms worse are very slim.
8. CBD Comes with Minimal Side Effects
Finally, CBD provides effects similar to other antipsychotic drugs, but it does not come with the unpleasant side effects associated with these traditional drugs.
Some of the most common side effects associated with antipsychotic drugs include:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Weight gain
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Vomiting
- Restlessness
- Low blood pressure
- Blurred vision
- Seizures
- Uncontrollable movements like tremors and tics
- Low white blood cell count and decreased immune system function
Long-term use of these medications can also cause people to develop a condition known as tardive dyskinesia. This condition triggers involuntary muscle movements, typically around the mouth.
CBD, on the other hand, does not come with any side effects, with the exception of drowsiness when it’s consumed in large doses.
Try CBD Oil Today
As you can see, there are many reasons to consider using CBD oil for bipolar disorder.
If you’re interested in trying it out today, be sure to buy high-quality CBD oil from a reputable source like our online shop.
Visit it today to find CBD oil, CBD capsules, CBD edibles, and a variety of other beneficial CBD products.
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