Hello,
I am a 41 year old woman, generally pretty healthy but I’m dealing with a few hard years in terms of hard times financially. I work 2 stressful jobs, and I have a family I have to support. My go-to for unwinding is wine – I usually have a few at the end of the day to separate work from home life and keep myself together.
Some of my friends seem to be doing well with CBD, but everything I’ve tried doesn’t really seem to do anything. Is this worth looking at, or am I just someone that is immune?
Hello,
Thanks for the question. These are hard times, and it’s great that you’re working hard to make ends meet and to support your family. Many people don’t know when to reach out for help; I hope that serves as a silver lining for you – even in tough times, you’ve still go the presence of mind to ask for help!
Yours is a very common question. With CBD being sold at gas stations, malls, and all manner of convenience stores now, it seems like a giant fad, and many people tell me that they don’t find relief that they seem to hear about for others . I hope this general answer is useful – if you want more specific guidance or support, please reach out.
CBD shares many of the same properties as THC, in terms of its ability to help with counteracting inflammation and promote muscle (and tension) relaxation, but Medicine is not just about the substances that we take, it’s also about the individual taking them. Some people respond well to CBD, because of the way that they are built and the ways in which they live their lives (think: exercise routines, sleep hygiene, nutrition, other medicines, stress levels, etc). Others don’t respond as well to CBD, again either because of their genetics and biological makeup or because of their environment. The same variety of responses also happens with THC and the other components in cannabis, some people respond quickly and easily while others may not.
Here are 3 common mistakes when exploring CBD:
- Be consistent with a trial. Not following through with a regimen of CBD on a regular, consistent basis is very common, and a difficult approach to achieve success. If it was going to work, it’s very unlikely going to take only one dose or even one week’s worth of consistent dosing. The body is a very complicated circus of interconnected systems. Introducing one new clown (CBD) may not even get noticed. But, if that same actor is playing over a week or two, it’s easier to observe the impact.
- Take enough CBD. The industry of retailers who sell CBD seem to have rallied behind recommended doses that are inconsistent with what the medical literature suggests. In most cases, the products or stores suggest doses that are very small (1-5mg, up to 10 or 20mg). These doses may be right for some individuals, but they may not be right for most everyone else. Understanding what dose of CBD is right for you is an individual journey and discovery, and often takes time, careful consideration of your own goals, and may benefit from a disciplined approach to figuring out what is best for you. This is where supervision/oversight can be helpful. Connecting with a coach or friend (or knowledgable healthcare provider) can help you keep track of results, understand what you can improve, and make suggestions.
- Mix CBD with a healthy lifestyle. Don’t assume that CBD is magic. While more and more people are finding benefit from cannabis-based therapies, the results that they are happy with (and may seem simple to them) may not have occurred with the snap of a finger, or only because of the CBD. As with anything health related, if you are managing one problem really well but ignoring other health concerns, even if the focus of an effort improves, the areas where you’re not so careful will eventually cause trouble too. Cannabinoid therapies are rarely effective on their own. The people who tend to see the most consistent, impressive success are the ones who combine the cannabinoids with healthy sleep, hygiene, nutrition, and physical and mental exercise too. For some, this means a renewed focus on some of the missing pieces of healthcare that have been disregarded or ignored, and for some, this means a new dedication to new sources of joy and relief that can help augment the effects of CBD. Each of us is unique and has a different set of puzzle pieces that needs alignment.
I hope this is a helpful response – if you’d like to speak more about your personal questions or stumbling blocks, please feel free to comment here, or reach out to my team to connect: care@CEDclinic.com
Thanks!
