What Does Research Say About Using CBD for Anxiety?

Jan 07, 2025

Written by Flood SEO

If you’ve been feeling higher levels of anxiety in recent years, you’re not alone. From the stressors of everyday life to current events and political tensions at home and around the world, anxiety is on the rise nationwide. The American Psychiatric Association reported that 43% of adults felt more anxious this year than they did last year, which is a notable increase from 37% last year.

In the search to find natural options for relief, there’s been an uptick in people curious about using CBD for anxiety. CBD is not an approved treatment for anxiety disorders, but emerging research does suggest that it may have potential benefits for stress relief. We’re going to take a look at some of this research and explore how CBD may offer wellness support and a more comfortable state of mind!

The Endocannabinoid System and Anxiety

Your body has an entire system of endocannabinoid molecules, their receptors, and enzymes that break them down: the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Every animal has this fascinating cell-signaling system in place. One of its primary roles is to maintain balance (homeostasis) in your body—including regulating mood, anxiety, and stress responses.

The hormone cortisol (also referred to as the stress hormone) floods our system when we’re under duress. This physiological reaction causes increased heart rate, rapid breathing, dilated pupils, sweating, body shakes, and more.

When your body experiences an imbalance like this, it produces endocannabinoid molecules. The receptors for the endocannabinoids are located in your brain, organs, glands, connective tissues, and immune cells. These endocannabinoids will bind to either your CB1 or CB2 receptors. Once they’ve signaled your receptors to take action, enzymes break down the endocannabinoids.

How are CBD and anxiety connected by your ECS? There are CB1 receptors located in your brain (where your fight or flight response triggers hormone and neurotransmitter imbalances). Unlike THC which binds to them directly, CBD indirectly influences your receptors by increasing your body’s levels of endocannabinoids and inhibiting their degradation. This results in more endocannabinoids actively working to bring your systems back into balance, including those that react to stressors and anxiety.

Something else that is interesting to note is that, in a recent preclinical study, research into the connection between CBD and serotonin levels was explored. The results found that because CBD interacts positively with our serotonin receptors, it may help with stress management in this engagement as well.

What the Research Says About CBD for Anxiety and Stress

Since scientific research on CBD and anxiety is still in the early stages, more clinical trials are necessary to fully understand the intricacies of their relationship. However, what we have seen so far is exciting, and it gives us a lot of hope about the potential scope and impact of CBD research for stress relief.

A study published in 2019 followed participants over the course of several months as they were treated with CBD for anxiety and sleep struggles. The study reported that anxiety scores decreased within the first month for 79.2% of the trial’s participants and remained decreased for the duration of the study.

There have been a number of preclinical trials that have demonstrated how CBD may help reduce stress and anxiety in animals. One such study was published in 2023, where evidence suggests stress relief for dogs who were separated from their owners or during extended car travel.

More anecdotally, increasing numbers of people are reporting that they’re experiencing less anxiety when using CBD regularly. Personal success has led many people to share their experiences with CBD for stress, which has encouraged others to try it as well—especially if they’re interested in more natural forms of support that may have less side effects than prescription medicines.

How CBD Might Help Reduce Anxiety

Reducing anxiety is important for both your mental and physical wellbeing. Sustained high levels of stress can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, depression, and more. Using CBD for relaxation may help reduce your stress levels and lead to a healthier, happier you.

Because CBD interacts positively with serotonin (the neurotransmitter that contributes to mood balance, feelings of happiness, and overall wellbeing), its influence may promote improved mood regulation when you incorporate it into your wellness routine.

Adding a CBD dosage to your daily routine also may support a more well-regulated endocrine response to anxiety. Since your ECS includes receptors on your glands (which are part of your endocrine system), taking CBD for stress may help mitigate the physiological symptoms of anxiety that occur with high cortisol secretion.

Including CBD for stress management into your daily routine is a simple yet effective way to protect and enhance your overall wellbeing. Since CBD may help with relaxation before bed, you’ll also enjoy more restful sleep—which is essential for managing anxiety.

Common CBD Products Used for Anxiety and Stress

CBD products for anxiety and stress come in multiple forms: gummies, edibles, tinctures, and topicals. This makes it easy to find a product that offers you the best all around support and is convenient for your daily routine.

CBD tinctures are a concentrated oil that you can take by sublingual application with a dropper for faster absorption, or it can be added to your favorite beverage.
CBD gummies are an oil infused treat that offer a tasty and convenient way to get your daily dose of CBD.
CBD topicals are creams, lotions, body oils, and salves that you can rub into your skin and provide soothing and hydrating benefits while delivering a dose of CBD.

There’s no single product that is considered the best CBD for anxiety. Any form of CBD will provide vital support for your ECS to help you enjoy a more relaxed and well-balanced life. Some people use a single product that they love, while others use a combination of products for the best personal results.

You might decide that you like CBD tincture drops in your morning tea and CBD gummies in the afternoon for a boost to get you through a stressful day. Or, you might discover that you get the best results managing your stress with a combination of CBD topicals and tinctures. We recommend trying one product at time when you first start using CBD to make sure you can evaluate the results on their own before adding a new product into your routine.

Your personal journey with CBD might be fluid and change over time, and that’s okay! Just be aware that one of the most important things to know about using CBD oil for anxiety is that it takes time to build up in your system and achieve optimal support levels. Also, how much CBD for anxiety you should take for the best results will vary from person to person. It’s best to start with a low dose, track your progress, and make informed decisions based on what you observe.

What to Look for in CBD Products for Anxiety and Stress

Quality does matter when it comes to CBD products; the best quality products will give you the best results. When you start looking for CBD products to relieve stress and anxiety, the purity and potency of the CBD, the manufacturer’s transparency in their sourcing, and the quality of any added ingredients should all be considered.

Every batch of Treadwell Farms’ high-quality CBD oil is quadruple tested by an independent, third-party lab: at harvest, upon extraction, after manufacture, and before bottling. We go even further and test our final products with all of their ingredients.

This process confirms the quality of the cannabinoid and terpene profile; the potency and purity of our CBD oil; and that our products are free from pesticides, heavy metals, and foreign matter. The results of our lab tests are always published on our website for customers to view, so you can have full confidence in Treadwell Farms’ CBD products.

Choose a product that is made with full-spectrum CBD oil. Full-spectrum CBD oil is a whole-plant extract that retains all of the flavonoids and terpenes, as well as small amounts of all of the cannabinoids, found in the hemp. The “entourage effect” purports that the synergistic effect of all of the compounds in the cannabis plant are amplified when working together, providing more significant benefits.

A great example of the entourage effect at work is how some people find that THC-rich products can stimulate feelings of anxiety, but when the THC is paired with full-spectrum CBD they may enjoy a pleasant experience. This is due to the enhanced relaxation benefits of all of the compounds in the plant working together harmoniously.

Check to be sure that the company you purchase CBD products from is transparent about their sourcing and the quality of their ingredients. For the highest-quality CBD, the hemp and other ingredients used to create the products should be sustainably sourced and non-gmo.

Finally, it’s a great idea to consider CBD products that include botanicals and other ingredients that further support stress and anxiety management. In combination with CBD oil, these additional ingredients amplify the efficacy of the CBD for fantastic results. Some examples that we use in our products include Lavender, Frankincense, Cedarwood, Orange, Rosemary, and different varieties of Mint.

We hope you find a greater sense of inner calm with the help of CBD. If you find yourself continuing to struggle, please reach out to your healthcare professional.

About the Author

Jammie Treadwell has co-owned and operated Treadwell Farms since 2019 handling everything from nursery operations to product development. Treadwell and her parents continue her family's Florida farming legacy by intentionally creating natural, small-batch artisanal hemp products trusted and tested with the community in mind.

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