CBD & Me - Finding Calm With Cannabis
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Some products featured were gifted in exchange for my review. All opinions expressed are my own.Anxiety is not unfamiliar to me. In fact, I’ve known it most of my life; but only learned its name at age 13 when I received my diagnosis. For years I tried to rid myself of it, like it was something I could overcome or forget about like a long-lost memory. Instead, it haunted me, and I struggled even more.
So I decided to make peace with it. Now I think of it like running into an ex-lover; painful and uncomfortable when you cross paths, but it’s not the end of the world.
You’re probably wondering, “But how do you cope after all these years?”. Surely I have a handle on it by now, right?
I do… most of the time. It’s largely thanks to my nightly dose of Effexor, but also from years of practice with panic attacks, unfortunately. I’ve taken every episode as a learning experience. That’s not just identifying my triggers, but finding my comforts, setting boundaries, and asking for help (that’s still a big one I struggle with).
But when that’s not enough? A little CBD does the trick.
Why CBD?
For the unfamiliar, CBD is short for Cannabidiol. This is the non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in marijuana. All that fancy weed talk means it won’t get you ‘high’, but it can help relieve several ailments (anxiety relief being just the tip of the iceberg).
I was skeptical to try cannabis as an anxiety treatment for a long time. Mainly because of all those anti-drug campaigns from my youth. There was also the joint I puffed on (see also “hacked up a lung”) in college that was the source of a pretty horrific panic attack. The mere idea seemed counter-intuitive to my dilemma, though this was before I learned that CBD is non-intoxicating. While my interest was piqued for some time, it was only after hearing rave reviews from my blogger pal & fellow anxiety warrior, Bri, that I decided to give CBD a shot.
If I feel that my medication and regular coping strategies aren’t enough to quell my anxious thoughts, I’ll pop an edible to help soothe myself. As it starts to work, my body feels the effects first. I feel the overall tense, clenched up feeling that comes with my anxiety starts to melt away. And once my body is calm, it’s easier for me to calm my mind. I can focus on my breathing, I can think clearer, and begin to climb down from the mountainous feelings that arose.
While it’s not something I heavily rely on, it’s certainly made my mental health that much more manageable. Plus through a little exploratory shopping, I’ve also found it to be quite effective at aiding my occasional insomnia, and relieving pain (specifically around that time of the month).
My Favourite CBD Products
A soothing assortment of CBD goodies, from my friends at My Supply Co.
Clockwise from top: Sunnyside Botanicals Bath Soak - Orange Spice Blend, Sunnyside Botanicals CBD Isolate Sleep Tincture, Delush The Magic Stick,
Twisted Extracts CBD Cara-Melts, Delush Sweet Heart Bath Bomb - Sweet Mandarin,
MOTA CBD Gummy Bears, MOTA 1:5 Indica Blue Sour Raspberry Soda Bottles.
I purchase all my CBD goodies through My Supply Co; a Canadian online dispensary which specializes in high quality cannabis goods. They also have a selection of medicinal mushroom products, though micro dosing is not something I’ve personally explored. If you’re unsure where to start, their Cannabis Dosage Guide is incredibly helpful at breaking it all down. Or shoot one of the MSC reps a message, and they’ll be happy to help you find the right product.
I love this online retailer so much, I recently became one of their MSC Insiders. That means y’all get 15% off your order when you use my affiliate code, DOLLANDDYE!
Edibles aren’t scary (especially when they’re this cute)!
Product featured: MOTA CBD Gummy Bears
Edibles
MOTA Gummies
Having tried a few different edibles, all with gnarly aftertastes, I was absolutely delighted when I discovered MOTA. These taste SO ridiculously good, I have to remind myself they’re ‘medicinal’ so I don’t devour the entire bag. Because they are formulated with just CBD, they are great for beginner & expert cannabis users alike, because the dosage can be customized to best suit your tolerance level (though they do have options some with THC). To give you a better idea, I started out by trying half a Blue Raspberry Soda Bottle, and now I can handle up to two gummies in a night. You truly can’t go wrong with any MOTA gummies, but I’m personally a big fan of the Sour Squares & Vegan Gummy Bears!
Twisted Extracts Cara-Melts
These are probably the most beginner-friendly edible I’ve come across, because they clock in at only 10mg of CBD per candy. I like to pop one of these if I feel mild discomfort or a tinge of anxiety creeping in, and they always give me the sweet relief I need. The creamy, smooth taste is fantastic, too!
*They also carry these candies with the option of just THC-only (Indica or Sativa), & 1:1 CBD/THC blends, depending on your cannabis comfort level.
Tinctures
Sunnyside Botanicals CBD Isolate Sleep Tincture
While I’ve only tried this twice, I felt inclined to include it in this round-up because I’m truly blown away at how well it’s worked! It allows me to calm my senses enough to allow me peacefully drift off, and I don’t wake up feeling ‘hungover’ or excessively drowsy, like I have with other sleep aids.
While I’m not a huge fan of the herby-mint flavour, it’s certainly not a deterrent by any means. I can handle holding the oil under my tongue for the required 30 seconds, though I have heard of some folks mixing it into their mug of bedtime tea as an alternative.
Need to calm more than an anxious mind? CBD has helped me with insomnia, and muscle aches too. Plus it comes in many forms like tinctures and topicals, so you can find the product best suited to your personal needs.
Products featured from left: Sunnyside Botanicals CBD Isolate Sleep Tincture, Delush The Magic Stick
Topicals
Delush The Magic Stick
The name of this product is incredibly fitting, because it is truly magical!! This ‘Liger Balm’ contains of blend of not only CBD, but arnica & menthol, so you’ll feel the tingling & soothing effects seconds after applying. I’ve used this for all kinds of muscle aches, from menstrual cramps to post-vaccine soreness, and it always gives me the relief I need. If you’re looking for an easy way to dip your toes into the world of CBD, I cannot recommend this enough!
Sunnyside Botanicals Bath Soak - Orange Spice Blend
If you’re a fan of aromatherapy for relaxation, this soothing blend of orange spice will be a sensory delight! I was pleasantly surprised by these bath salts when I saw they created frothy bubbles in my tub. Grab a good book, light a few candles, and get ready to soak up all the good vibes.
Delush Sweet Heart Bath Bombs
I knew Delush wouldn’t let me down, given how much I love their Magic Stick, and I definitely have heart-eyes for these fizzy delights! These Sweet Hearts are great option if you regularly retreat to the bathtub to unwind. Plus who doesn’t love a bath bomb?! They come in 3 different scents, too!