I suffer with depression, can CBD help me?

Experiences of using of CBD for depression are mainly subjective and each person may react to the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) differently. Also, at this point with limited research, CBD should not replace medical therapy.

It's also worth reading the vast number of testimonials on forums like Reddit and Quora with a critical eye and remembering that these are subjective.

Nevertheless, these are are our impressions from the information on forums - it's a mixed bag:

• Some users state that CBD has helped them with depression. The effect is mostly described as mild. It is often assumed that CBD should be particularly effective for panic attacks and anxiety.
• In some cases, THC is perceived as more effective against depression than CBD.
• Other sufferers felt that CBD had hardly helped with depression, but it is often pointed out that CBD had a pleasantly relaxing effect.

Anyone can suffer from depression and the sad news is a lot of people do. Worldwide. And the figures are rising sharply. Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year.

It is often reported that women are affected by depression about more than men. These findings are often unhelpful however, as research also shows, for example, that 3 times as many men die by suicide than women. It is important to recognise that societal expections can result in people - of all genders - feeling unable to talk about depression due to traditional gender roles.

In England, 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) in any given week.

In 2016, 3.3 in 100 people were reported to be suffering from depression

The overall number of people with mental health problems has not changed significantly in recent years, but worries about things like money, jobs and benefits can make it harder for people to cope.

This, unfortunately, will only be exacerbated in the current economic climate.

The number of people who self-harm or have suicidal thoughts is also increasing.

The number of antidepressants being used has also been increasing steadily for years. It is estimated that around 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression. According to the WHO, depression or mood disorders will be the second most common disease worldwide in 2020.

What are the causes of depression?

The causes of depression are complex and depend on individual circumstances. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that there is no panacea for depression. The same must also be said for CBD - this is not a cure for depression, but may be able to help alleviate some of the symptoms and feelings.

It is believed that the potential benefits of CBD for depression are related to its positive effect on the brain’s serotonin receptors.

Low serotonin levels are believed to be connected to depression. CBD doesn’t necessarily boost serotonin levels, but it may affect how your brain’s chemical receptors respond to the serotonin that’s already in your system. We go into quite a bit of detail on how CBD works in the human body here.

A 2014 animal study found that CBD’s effect on these receptors in the brain produced both antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects.

Serotonin deficiency is not the sole cause

Many people believe that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the body. In particular, the lack of serotonin or noradrenaline is often blamed in this context.

This is not entirely wrong, but it doesn't reflect the full picture. That's because these messenger substances are only part of the whole system. Depression often also has causes that can be found in the person's individual circumstances.

In fact, there are a number of psychosocial and neurobiological factors known in science that can cause or promote depression:

• Genetic factors (inheritance)
• Hormonal disorders
• Imbalance of messenger substances in the brain
• Social isolation
• Chronic stress or overload
• Specific life events, losses
• Traumatic experiences
• Physical illness or physical pain, including chronic pain
• Other emotional disorders

The spread of psychotropic drugs is particularly strong in the US. In 2013, a total of 16.7% of 242 million adults in the United States reported using psychiatric drugs, according to the American Medical Association's (JAMA Internal Medicine)

Overall, 12% of American adults reported taking antidepressants. 8.3% took anti-anxiety medication, tranquilizers or sleeping pills, 1.6% took antipsychotics.

Interestingly, large differences in race and ethnicity were found.

The largest group of psychotropic drug users are white Americans. 20.8% of this group stated that they had consumed psychotropic drugs in 2013.

The body's own cannabinoids (not all cannabinoids come from cannabis or even externally to the human body) are used throughout the brain and body to regulate body functions. Memory, appetite, inflammation are controlled by these, for example.

The effects of CBD on the endocannabinoid system are quite complex and have not yet been fully researched.

However, in animal experiments with mice, CBD was able to increase the anandamide level in the hippocampus, which in turn stimulated neuron growth. In other words, new nerve cells could be formed in the hippocampus.

According to our research, there are currently no CBD oils or other products only for depression. However, when people look to use CBD for depression, CBD oils are the most common product.

Overall, CBD could be taken as a dietary supplement, food, and/or medication for depression:

• CBD oils
• CBD capsules
• CBD crystals
• CBD liquids
• CBD gummy bears, sweets, teas and other foods such as chocolate

There is no one way to dose CBD generally and the same is true when using CBD to help alleviate symptoms of depression. With oils, for example, it really depends on the amount of CBD that the CBD oil contains and also on your personal condition.

And of course how severe your symptoms are. Everyone reacts differently to CBD oil. Just as many people’s experience of depression differs.

Many sufferers recommend starting with the dosage of the CBD oil very low and checking how you feel about it. After a few weeks, the dosage can be gradually increased.

Should I take CBD Oil in the morning or at night?

There is no ideal time to take CBD, however it is better if you take the CBD at the same time every day, for consistency. Some users who have experienced the side effect of drowsiness reported they prefer to take the CBD at night time, others reported feeling more awake, and take their CBD in the morning.

It takes time and patience for the symptoms of depression to be relieved. The brain has to reposition itself, and positive thinking and behaviour patterns have to be learned or adapted.

Even neurologically, there is no immediate improvement. Even powerful antidepressants can take time to support rewiring the brain. CBD cannot be an emergency aid for depression.

However, as described in this article, there are interesting indications that CBD could help alleviate depression, especially as part of a long-term recovery plan.