CBD for Depression

Depression is more than just a feeling of deep sadness — depression is a serious mental condition that affects about 3.8% of the population, or approximately 280 million people in the world. While general feelings of sadness are a symptom of a depressive disorder, it’s more than that.

People with a depressive disorder experience feelings of not just sadness, but ‘emptiness’ and a lack of joy or interest, even in things they used to enjoy. They can feel moody, irritable, hopeless, and tired, and have a lack of appetite, sleep, and concentration. These symptoms can make life very hard for people with depression, as it can affect all aspects of a person’s life, from work to relationships.

One of the most common ways to treat depression is with prescribed antidepressants and pharmaceuticals, as well as psychotherapy. But CBD is quickly becoming an effective alternative treatment for depression.

In fact, CBD for depression has shown considerable promise as a natural treatment for depression. While more research still needs to be done about the CBD effects on brain and CBD for depression and mood, it can be safe to say that CBD can help manage the symptoms of depression better than most!

Symptoms of Depression

There are many types of depressive disorders, all of which may have different symptoms, but the most common symptoms of any depressive disorder include:

• Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and despair
• A feeling of ‘emptiness’ or hollowness
• Feelings of guilt and self-loathing
• Feelings of isolation and loneliness
• Sudden changes in mood and personality
• Loss of interest and pleasure in activities and hobbies
• Apathy or lack of emotional response
• Irritability and short-temperedness
• Fatigue and low energy
• Anxiety
• Insomnia and restlessness
• Lack of appetite
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Physical aches and pains
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory problems
• Indecisiveness
• Thoughts of self-harm and suicide

A depressive disorder is usually diagnosed when these symptoms persist for at least two weeks. Some people even report having symptoms for years before they decided to get diagnosed or treated. You can have days when these symptoms become the most apparent, called ‘depressive episodes’, followed by days when these symptoms disappear or subside, and still be diagnosed with depression.

It’s important to note how long these depressive episodes last or how often they occur, as they can be vital in determining what type of depressive disorder you have. For example, in the case of bipolar disorder, another common mood disorder, you may be experiencing depressive episodes followed by ‘manic episodes’, or episodes with increased euphoria, energy, and activity.

These symptoms of depression can go from mild to severe, sometimes depending on the type of depressive disorder you may have, and they can be extremely disruptive to everyday life. They can cause problems at home, work, school, or in personal relationships. As such, finding a way to manage these symptoms and treat depression is important for anyone experiencing it.

Depression can affect anyone of any age and gender, from children to the elderly, although women are more likely to develop depression than men. It affects a significant portion of the population; around 1 out of 6 adults in the US, or more than 16%, will experience depression at least once in their lives, while 7% develop depression every year. But in reality, there could be many more people with undiagnosed and untreated depression than these estimates predict.

Causes of Depression

What causes depression is a much trickier question to answer. In truth, researchers aren’t sure what exactly causes depression. But they have identified several key factors that could lead to an individual developing depression, namely:

• Brain chemistry: One of the most common explanations for why a person develops depression could be due to a chemical imbalance in their brain. Usually, when a person has depression, they may have less serotonin in their brain than they should normally have.
• Genetics: If your family has a history of depression, you may be three times more likely to develop depression as well, although there has been evidence of people developing depression even without a known family history of it. The flip side can also be true — it’s possible for people with a known family history of depression to not develop depression themselves.
• Medical conditions or poor physical health: People with chronic illnesses are more likely to develop depression than most due to the nature and stress of their condition. Poor physical health and diet, as well as lack of exercise, may also contribute to depression. Physical and mental health can actually affect each other significantly!
• Alcohol and drug use: Recreational alcohol and drug use may alleviate the heaviness for a while, but it can actually worsen your depression in the long run, as well as lead to addiction, dependence, and substance abuse.
• Medications: Certain medications may have depression as a listed or possible side effect.
• Other mental health conditions: Many mental health conditions are linked to one another and may trigger each other. For example, if you have an anxiety disorder, the likelihood of developing depression alongside it is very high.
• External factors: Difficult external situations, such as the death of a loved one, financial troubles, relationship problems, abuse or mistreatment, isolation from loved ones, lack of connection or support, poor or unhealthy environments, major or unexpected life changes, and many other stressful external events can lead to long-term depression. While it’s normal to feel grief or depression after difficult or traumatic experiences, it’s usually the lack of healthy coping mechanisms, self-care, and support from others that brings about the onset of clinical depression.

Types of Depressive Disorders

According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition, or DSM-5, depressive disorders can usually be classified into the following:

• Major depressive disorder, or clinical depression, is the most severe form of depression. People are diagnosed with major depressive disorder when five or more symptoms have lasted for at least two weeks or longer and for every day or nearly every day of the week.
• Persistent depressive disorder is less severe than major depressive disorder and is characterized by mild to moderate symptoms on most days for a period of two years or more.
• Seasonal affective disorder, or seasonal depression, is triggered by a change in seasons and usually begins during the fall and winter before abating in the warmer months of spring and summer.
• Bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, is characterized by periods of extreme ‘manic’ episodes full of euphoric highs and increased energy, basically the opposite of depression, before being followed by an extremely low depressive episode with symptoms similar to major depressive disorder.
• Psychotic depression has the same symptoms as major depressive disorder but is accompanied by psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, and extreme paranoia.
• Prenatal and postpartum depression are both associated with pregnancy. Prenatal depression occurs during pregnancy, while postpartum occurs within four weeks after giving birth.
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, occurs in women who experience depression at the start of their period, along with irritability, mood swings, fatigue, anxiety, and changes in sleep and appetite. This can occur simultaneously with symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS.
• Atypical depression is different from other depressive disorders because of its “atypical” set of symptoms, which include oversleeping, an increased appetite, weight gain, feelings of being weighed down, and rejection sensitivity. In addition to that, people with atypical depression may see their mood temporarily lifted when they experience a positive change or event, whereas people with major depressive disorder may not see a change in their mood even after something good happens to them.

Treatments for Depression

Thankfully, depression is one of the most treatable mental health conditions today. Depressive disorders are usually diagnosed by a psychiatrist or mental health professional who may also prescribe treatments and medications. Common treatments for depression include:

• Medication: One of the most common ways to treat depression is with antidepressant medication prescribed by a mental health professional. This is usually prescribed if depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Some of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and atypical antidepressants.
• Psychotherapy: Other than medication, psychotherapy is seen as one of the most commonly prescribed and one of the most effective treatments for depression. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, involves talking with a mental health professional, usually a licensed therapist or psychologist, who can help you identify unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors and then help you change them. There are many different types of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy.
• Brain stimulation therapy: Brain stimulation therapy is usually reserved for people who don’t respond to antidepressants, are unable to take them, or have severe symptoms with a high risk of suicide. As the name suggests, this treatment involves directly stimulating the brain using various methods, such as electrical currents and magnetic waves.
• Self-care: Sometimes, even just a little self-care can go a long way in managing even the worst symptoms of depression if you don’t have immediate access to medications or psychotherapy. This can include “treating yourself” (in moderation!) to things and activities you enjoy, keeping up a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly, avoiding turning to alcohol and drugs, and seeking help from or spending time with family and friends. Self-care can also include changing your mental outlook and how you talk to yourself internally. It can help to be kinder to yourself in your thoughts, talking yourself out of bad habits or coping mechanisms, acknowledging your own growth and accomplishments no matter how small, and focusing on the positive aspects of your life.

Natural Remedies for Depression: CBD

Medication and psychotherapy, especially in combination with each other, have been shown to be highly effective in dealing with depression, but they don’t work for everybody. Antidepressants may have adverse side effects (depending on the type), may interact with other drugs and medications you’re taking, or just don’t work for some people.

The same can be said of psychotherapy, depending on the type of therapy or even the matchup between the patient and the therapist. Finding the right medication and the right therapist can also be a challenge in itself and can involve a long and possibly costly process of trial and error before you find the perfect fit.

If you’re finding that medication and/or psychotherapy aren’t for you, then CBD oil for depression could be an effective alternative treatment for depression!

Unlike antidepressants, which usually take months of continued use to be completely effective, CBD takes quicker to take effect. They also don’t alter your brain as much as antidepressants do, if you’re worried about that, and provide the same benefits with less risk or side effects. CBD oil for depression has shown significant promise as a natural treatment for depression and in self-managing its symptoms.

If antidepressants just aren’t your thing, you can even take CBD alongside therapy — with the permission of your mental health care provider, of course! What if you’re already taking medications, or going to therapy, but want to try CBD? CBD for depression and mood may be able to enhance your treatment and help you relieve its symptoms! Think of it as another pair of helping hands, holding you up so you can stand better on your own two feet.

It should be noted, however, that if you’ve been prescribed antidepressants by a psychiatrist or mental health professional, you shouldn’t be stopping antidepressant use, even if it’s only for a day or two, or you risk experiencing withdrawal symptoms. If you want to discontinue taking your antidepressants for any reason, you should speak with your doctor first before anything else.

It’s also not advisable at this moment to take CBD and antidepressants together without first consulting a trusted mental health professional, so it’s best to speak with your doctor before you try CBD with antidepressants, or as an alternative to them.

Does CBD Help With Depression?

Now to the important question — does CBD help with depression, really? The answer to this is a resounding, yes!

CBD is known for its ability to help people relax, uplift their mood, and relieve stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, and pain. When it comes to CBD and depression, CBD can aid in coping with many of the symptoms of depressive disorders, such as anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, mood swings, physical pain or discomfort, and cognitive dysfunction, among other things.

How does it do it, you ask? You see, most CBD products are made of a specific combination of cannabinoids derived from the cannabis or hemp plant. CBD itself, or cannabidiol, is just one of many cannabinoids found in the hemp plant. CBD products may have just one cannabinoid (usually just CBD or CBD isolate) or many.

When consumed, these cannabinoids interact with our endocannabinoid system, or ECS, which is a complex network of cellular receptors found in our body. When cannabinoids influence our ECS, they regulate a bunch of different biological functions, including our mood, sleep regulation, stress response, pain management, and cognition. This is how CBD delivers all its famed benefits directly to us!

Now if you’re new to CBD, you’re probably wondering if CBD products will make you ‘high’. The short answer to that is, no, they won’t. The longer answer is, CBD products just don’t have enough of the cannabinoid, THC, to create that psychoactive ‘high’ that cannabis is well known for. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the cannabinoid that induces that psychoactive effect. Yes, CBD products can contain THC. Some may even have only THC. But legally, only a trace amount of 0.3% of THC is allowed in CBD products, which isn’t enough to get you ‘high’.

While you might think it a good thing to not have THC in your CBD, a little bit of THC could actually be better for you! Having more than one cannabinoid in your CBD products could bring about what’s called an ‘entourage effect’. This suggests that you get amplified benefits and effectivity from having many or even all cannabinoids working synergystically together. So if you see a little bit of THC in your CBD oil, don’t fret! It could be just that little boost you need!

Try CBD for Depression and Mood

CBD for depression is an excellent holistic treatment for depression and we’ve got the best selection of CBD for mood swings to help you manage those symptoms and boost your mood.

• Breathe Broad Spectrum (Stress Blend): Broad Spectrum CBD for Stress and Anxiety is made for calming the mind and encouraging internal peace and tranquility. This is a THC-free formula, if you’d rather not have that in your system, but contains a heaping dose of CBC, or cannabichromene, a cannabinoid known for its mood-elevating and focus-enhancing effects. It’s the perfect blend designed to help you find peace and comfort in even the lowest of days!
• Summit Full Spectrum (CBD + CBG): Summit CBD Oil with CBG, meanwhile, is ideal if you want to try having that full entourage effect. With full spectrum CBD oil for depression, you can have both an entourage effect and the most effective and potent support yet for symptoms of depression. The spotlight ingredient of this formula is CBG, or cannabigerol, which has a host of benefits that are just made for people with anxiety and depression. CBG can increase levels of andamide, also called the ‘bliss moluecule’, which in turn increases dopamine levels, or the ‘happy hormone’. Take that, chemical imbalance! It also encourages sleep and regulates your circadian rhythm, stimulates the appetite, acts as a neuroprotectant, and balances your mood. It’s our most excellent CBD for depression and mood swings!
• Cosmos Delta 9 THC Gummies – 5mg THC + 25mg CBD: Wild Theory Cosmos Delta 9 THC Gummies – 25mg CBD + 5mg THC Gummies are the perfect little treat for anytime you start feeling a bit down. If you don’t like the taste of CBD oil or just prefer something small and sweet, these CBD gummies work for any occasion and any place! Enjoy amazing support and relief from physical pain, anxiety, insomnia, and stress. With some added THC, you also have a powerful boost to your mood, mental outlook, and clarity to bring you overall balance and harmony. If giving yourself a sweet little treat helps to brighten your day, now you can take it to the next level with these CBD and THC gummies!
• Strata CBD + THC Tincture – Unflavored: If you want to be able to mix your CBD oil with your favorite drink or recipe, now you can with Wild Theory CBD Strata Full Spectrum CBD THC Oil – 2.5mg THC + 25mg CBD! This CBD oil for depression is completely unflavored so you won’t find even a hint of that strong, earthy CBD taste. Achieve ultimate support and peace of mind with this winning formula of CBD and Delta 9 THC — one of the strongest and safest forms of THC out there! It uplifts your mood, encourages deep sleep and relaxation, soothes aches and pains, calms racing and anxious thoughts, and stabilizes your mind, all with minimal risk and side effects.

Boost your Mood with CBD for Depression!

Depression can be hard and scary to deal with alone. But with the support of your loved ones, the help of a professional, and of course, the powerful supportive elements of CBD, you could be on your way to a better, more well-adjusted you! CBD as a potential alternative treatment for depression still remains an area of further study, but there’s no denying the potent benefits and indisputable promise of CBD as one of the natural remedies for depression and its symptoms.

Be sure to check for any or all of the above CBD products in your favorite CBD-friendly health shop.