CBD for Bipolar: Benefits and Side Effects, Can CBD Really Stabilize My Mood?

CBD For BiPolar

My father is Bipolar.

I remember as a kid, him having the most amazing days. Where he would be so much fun. He would be lively, happy, full of energy. (sometimes, maybe too much energy) And then suddenly he would crash. He would be depressed. Leading to many issues in our family throughout the years that weren’t too positive to say the least.

As an adult now, I experience the same symptoms. Incredible highs and spiralling lows. (Bipolar seems to be genetic.) Searching a little deeper into my father’s past and asking family members about his condition, it came to light that he is Bipolar. Sadly back in the day, very little was known about mental illness. My father never got the help that he needed and even today, he still struggles and uses alcohol to help numb the emotions.

Mental illness is still a stigma today unfortunately. It needs to be normalised so that people can seek out help, instead of suffering in silence.

Depression seems to be the next epidemic. People need to speak up and ask for help.

The great thing though, about living in this century, is that there are so many available options for treatment. Treatment that really works! Bipolar is sadly not curable but it can be treated. Do you know that CBD can be used to help people with Bipolar effectively?

I researched the following and it’s really interesting.

Can your mood with stabilized with CBD?

Yes! Studies have shown that pure CBD oil can stabilize your mood. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system in your body. PubMed shows thats a number of patients with Bipolar(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9692379) found that CBD helped with manic and depressive episodes, even more so than some conventional medicines.

It’s interesting to note that CBD mimics antipsychotics and antidepressants by activating certain receptors in your brain and this helps to alleviate feelings of depression and anxiety. So if you would like to try something natural, give CBD a try. Always first consult your healthcare provider. You would also need to find the right amount of CBD to help you with your moods.

CBD helps calm down racing thoughts

This is something I really struggle with. As a mom to 2 small children, I often worry about them a lot. Sometimes my racing thoughts run through my mind like a freight train and I have to try to stop my obsessive thinking. Luckily, CBD can be used to help calm your mind down. As mentioned earlier CBD targets receptors in the endocannabinoid system, throughout your entire nervous system and this effect in turn helps calm racing thoughts.

What is the best CBD dosage for Bipolar?

Typical doses of CBD for depression and anxiety can range between 10 to 100mg a day, with no negative effects. It would be a good idea to first speak to a natural health care provider who will help you find the exact dosage that you need, instead of self dosing. PubMed ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569602/) also showed that CBD works differently for different people and even animals. Therefore there is no universal dose for people, but rather you need to find which dose works for you.

Will I feel as high as a kite if I take CBD?

No. CBD does not make you feel high because it contains no THC, or very little THC (the stuff that makes you feel high) If you use CBD you will feel calmer, more focused, less depressed, you will sleep better and if you experience any pain, the pain you feel will also diminish. Watch this interesting video on YouTube that explains the difference between CBD and THC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPHT72UwbR0

Beat depression and anxiety with CBD

One of the symptoms of Bipolar, is depression. Studies have shown that CBD definitely helps with feelings of depression and anxiety. CBD interacts positively with serotonin in the brain, and if serotonin levels are balanced this often leads to people feeling happier and more stable. Therefore if you do have Bipolar, CBD can help with feelings of depression. CBD acts in a similar way to antidepressants. (https://cbd-b.be/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2014-Antidepressant-Like-and-Anxiolytic-Like-Effects-of-Cannabidiol.pdf)

Can CBD induce mania?

Cannabis has been shown to induce psychotic and manic episodes. Studies have shown that 70% of people who suffer from Bipolar use cannabis. Dr Subramanyan a psychiatrist who has a private practise in California, shows how Cannabis can be really bad for people with Bipolar.

He mentions that people who often relapse into mania, have recently used Cannabis.

But as mentioned earlier, CBD does not contain THC. Therefore CBD will not cause manic episodes. Rather, more and more people are using CBD to treat their Bipolar symptoms. CBD has the opposite effect of THC.

Use the best brands of CBD to treat Bipolar

If you do decide to use CBD to help with Bipolar symptoms, you need to make sure that you use the best brands on the market.  NuLeaf Naturals offers pure, full spectrum CBD oil. Their CBD oil is 100% organic and non-GMO.

It is also free of preservatives, additives and emulsifiers. NuLeaf Naturals also allow their product to go through third party testing, this ensures that their CBD oil is pure and of an excellent quality. If you find the taste of CBD oil a bit gross, you can always use CBDfx which makes CBD gummies in a berry flavour.

Side Effects of CBD

You might feel the following side effects when taking CBD

  • Lightheadedness

  • Dry Mouth

  • Low Blood pressure

  • Drowsiness

Remember CBD oil can be useful when it comes to treating the symptoms of depression and anxiety. It can help calm racing thoughts and decrease episodes of mania, by keeping your nervous system calm. Always check with your health care provider first though, before stopping any medications that you might be on. If you get the go ahead from your psychiatrist or GP, try CBD oil, it just might be the exact thing you were looking for!