Obsessive-compulsive disorders, commonly called OCD, are a pervasive problem. According to one estimate, more than 1.2% of the American population has been diagnosed with some variant of the condition at some stage in their lives.
Since OCD is an anxiety disorder, it’s no surprise that CBD has been tied to its treatment. Many studies have shown cannabidiol to possess potent anti-anxiety properties, suggesting it may be used to alleviate the symptoms of OCD-like disorders.
We don’t have any targeted studies focusing on CBD’s effects on OCD, but research linking the compound to the disease’s underlying symptoms is vast and sundry.
What Is OCD?
In obsessive-compulsive disorder, you have distressing thoughts that heighten your anxiety levels and result in obsessive and compulsive behaviors.
Even the smallest things can tick off people with OCD. For example, they may brood over a small patch of stain for long periods until it’s cleaned.
This compulsion exacerbates to the point that it starts affecting a person’s daily life, making the accomplishment of simple quotidian tasks a tolling activity. When left untreated, OCD can cause loss of relationships, jobs, and social anxiety, among other problems.
Since the 90s, the incidence of OCD in children has soared, with 1 in 100 children experiencing the condition at some stage in their upbringing. Thus, researchers have cannoned their wits at understanding how this condition affects the human psyche and how one can manage it.
OCD Symptoms
Some common OCD obsessions include:
- discomfort by pollution, sexuality, damage, dirt, and other material and immaterial influences
- repetitive thoughts and obsessions
- over cleaning and washing
- repetitive body movements
- continuous checks
- self-correction
- continuous re-organization
What Are The Causes Of OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorders have similar origins to social anxiety disorders. This makes them hard to diagnose.
However, this much happens due to complications in important neurological pathways. There’s also a genetic component, with close relatives sharing higher susceptibility to the disease.
In most cases, OCD diagnosis and treatment are misdirected and may not yield ideal results. In recent years, researchers have shifted their focus from childhood psychological studies to research-driven clinical evidence.
This is because the scientific community believes that environmental, neurobiological, and cognitive factors may also play a role in the onset of OCD.
Psychologists are also in the process of understanding how childhood traumas and sexual abuse may trigger the condition.
What Do We Know About CBD?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of the many therapeutic compounds we can find in the cannabis plant. It’s different from its other popular family member, THC.
While THC is a psychotropic substance and may cause negative psychological effects, such as euphoria, hallucinations, and delirium, CBD is relatively safe. Most CBD products, especially those sourced from hemp, contain little to no THC and therefore have an excellent safety profile.
Furthermore, CBD is legal in the US. After the 2018 farm bill, CBD was greenlit to sell as a health supplement in most states.
However, you should still check the compound’s legal status in your state before buying any CBD-infused product to stay on the safe side. Some states prohibit the use of CBD.
Can CBD Effects Help with OCD?
Research has shown CBD to have tremendous potential. From alleviating epileptic seizures to managing anxiety and regulating cholesterol to fighting inflammation, CBD is at the heart of so many possible treatments. Since OCD is primarily an anxiety disorder, CBD may help manage its symptoms.
The current OCD treatments are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT and antidepressants. CBD may have applications similar to these therapies. This is because it interacts with the Endocannabinoid system in the body, which is a network of cell-signaling receptors associated with many of the physiological pathways CBT and antidepressants act on.
For instance, cannabidiol and antidepressants like amoxapine may both modulate serotonin levels.
Furthermore, CBD did not report to cause any adverse side effects, unlike conventional medications. The World Health Organization (WHO) published a critical review, verifying that CBD has an excellent safety profile.
However, despite CBD’s scientific promise to treat OCD, most physicians recommend primary OCD treatments.
This is because most of the CBD science is still in its infancy. Existing research is “preclinical” and, therefore, premature and inconclusive. If you want to introduce CBD in your OCD regime, consult your physician beforehand. Ask him about dosage and whether the compound will interact with other medications you’re already taking to treat your OCD.
Tips for Using CBD for OCD
Before you take CBD to manage your OCD symptoms, make sure you consult your doctor first. This will ensure CBD is safe for use in your particular case.
You should especially give your practitioner’s advice credence if you’re on meds that CBD is known to interact with. Consider Any drug that comes with a grapefruit warning
Furthermore, you also want to make sure the CBD dosage you’re taking is effective and safe. CBD dosing varies from one delivery system to another. Your lifestyle choices and preferences may also change the complexion of your usage.
As a general recommendation, CBD oils, tinctures, and edibles are an excellent choice for treating OCD symptoms. You can easily add them to your daily regimen.
Final Thoughts
While CBD is not a cure for CBD, it might help treat its complications. Because CBD interacts with the body’s natural Endocannabinoid system, it can tap into several physiological channels that OCD is known to affect. If you’re experiencing anxiety or compulsive thoughts, the cannabidiol may provide relief, considering the dosing and product selection is on point. It’s best advised to consult your doctor before using CBD for treating any condition, including OCD.
Some studies suggest that CBD may cause some side effects, such as appetite suppression and dry mouth. Epidiolex — the only FDA-approved drug — has also been linked with liver damage. However, many experts suggest this assumption to be based on dubious studies. Nevertheless, it’s better to consult your healthcare provider and make sure CBD is a safe and effective option for you.
