My beautifully truculent co-inhabitants of this wondrous planet. Full stop. Take it in and just be that… as individuals… as the collective consciousness… as organisms co-existing on a rock… just be that. Perhaps a dash less truculent but that is, after all, our nature. But come. Come. Take it in. If you’re confused, you’ve obviously not had enough of the spice. Pumpkin. Spice.
Gross. I grow weary of this. Daaaviiiiiiiiiiiiiiiid!
There we are! The beginnings of a new episode! Sorry, pumpkins, I’ve been battling new beginnings and navigating non-existent challenges, but! Soon to be back.
Hello, dear friends and readers! By which, I mostly mean complete strangers. I have for you today another wee issue of Creature Comfort and, as promised, it’s not as dark!
Good day, darlin’s. I just wanted to share this sketch with whomever wanted to look. Life can be a bit of a dick; other people, outside circumstances, and even your own self and decisions can break you. But the more often you put yourself back together, the easier it gets (I certainly heard that from somewhere else, but I’ll second it). And sometimes from the greatest struggle can come the purest joy. I’m not usually one for platitudes, but sometimes it’s okay to buy in.
TL;DR The Creature Comfort series looks at how different our inner voices are, how affecting they are, and how we can work to lessen the negative messages to increase the volume (in both senses!) of the positive ones. Jump to comic.
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Well, hallo there, you spectacular beauties! Welcome to a new, intermittently-dispensed series on navigating the emotional rollercoaster of life with mood and anxiety disorders.
I’m writing this foreword retroactively to when I posted this first wee comic, as I’m now in a much better headspace and can contextualize it. I also want to give a little background on Creature Comfort and their relationship to the main character in the comic series who, spoiler alert, is kind of an avatar for myself.
I’m a creative at heart, for better or worse, whether I’m absolute dog shite or the bee’s most athletic and sprightly of knees. When you’re an old millennial like me, you’ll understand how important your knees are, therefore how wonderful athletic, sprightly knees are.
I sketched and doodled a lot in my teen years before turning primarily to writing as my creative outlet. In early 2020, things took a nosedive as they did for many. After 6-7 months of increasingly worse symptoms, I was finally diagnosed with gastroparesis. I was working 16 hours a day for my regular job, plus another 8-15 a week part-time to afford living where I was. During this, I could barely eat, I’d already lost a significant amount of weight, and I could barely stand without shaking. At one point, I had to go to urgent care for dehydration because I could barely stomach fluids. I lived alone, and my family were all about 700 miles away. My saving grace here were some amazing friends who would come by and check on me and help out and generally be great.
Anyway, I ended up having to quit my job/s and move back home. I was low, and I felt cognitively slow at times. It was hard to express any kind of feelings after that, because I would get so overwhelmed so easily. It was like suddenly I had a speech impediment and the lexical range of a three-year-old. But… you don’t need words to draw.
I began to draw as a form of therapy. I drew what was going on in my head, using a creature to help represent inner conflict. Well, not necessarily conflict. Creature Comfort is the embodiment of those little voices that sometimes pipe up in your head: the little criticisms when you’re feeling low, the cheerleader when you’ve done good, the voice of caution you sometimes don’t listen to (you know that Tinder date, smh), that one voice that sounds a lot like a loved one comforting you. Yeah, you know the ones.
The Creature Comforts series looks at how different those inner voices are, how affecting they are, and how we can work to lessen the negative messages and increase the volume (in both senses!) of the positive ones.
Well, hallo and welcome back, you beautiful convergence of minds on a mission to mostly just miss the next five minutes of dead space. Empty space? Dead air. Radio silence! The state of things these days…what a shitshow. Ammiright? For the past couple of weeks, I’ve thought about writing on a few different “COVID and” topics but one stands out more than the rest. Surprise! It’s mental health.
In the past month alone, how many times have you heard someone bring up the importance of mental health? Obviously, there are many reasons why:
Mental instability/unrest does not a successful quarantine make
Isolation—it’s lonely!
Pandemics stir up fear and uncertainty, taking away any sense of control
According to Psychiatrists Beware! The Impact of COVID-19 and Pandemics on Mental Health, published on March 15, “Although the effects of the coronavirus on mental health have not been systematically studied, it is anticipated that COVID-19 will have rippling effects, especially based on current public reactions. On an individual level, it may differentially exacerbate anxiety and psychosis-like symptoms as well as lead to non-specific mental issues (e.g., mood problems, sleep issues, phobia-like behaviors, panic-like symptoms).” You know, all the fun ones!
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“Downtrodden”
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The Affected
So, what does COVID-19 mean for those of us dealing with our own mental illness(es)? Means you’ve got to put some work in, friend. I think it’s fairly safe to say that a majority of people are not in an ideal situation. You’re either out of work or overworked, living in isolation or stuck in a house with too many people, maybe you don’t have enough supplies or money, your neighbors are playing “Eye of the Tiger” way too loud on repeat and you cannot rise to the challenge again or so help you God… What? Oh, right, yes.
Regardless of what your situation might be, you’re likely going to have to put in more effort than normal (that’s more effort than you normally would, as well as more effort than “normal” people) to stay balanced. According to Managing and Understanding Mental Health Concerns During the COVID-19 Pandemic, “For some, it is or will be critical to seek out professional mental health care, especially for those who are already experiencing mental health issues like substance use disorder, depression, and anxiety. Many therapists are now offering telehealth services, so individuals do not have to leave their homes to receive care.” There are numerous telehealth/teletherapy offerings, so that’s definitely worth looking into.
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The Workforce
For those of you still working, you may be hearing twice the amount of “take care of your mental health” talk, because employers are harping on it. Some of this talk is out of genuine concern. I don’t mind saying that. I’m even confident in saying that. But also, this is business. According to Jason Wingard’s article, Mental Health In The Workplace: Leading In The COVID-19 Context, “Today’s leaders no longer have a choice about whether or not to advocate for mental health. They need to vocally address the issue, describing their own challenges and urging team members to seek help if they, for example, feel hyper-lonely from self-isolation or debilitatingly anxious about the spread of COVID-19.”
Our mental health—and that includes our employers, who are also people who put their pants on one leg at a time (they’re just like us!)—our capacity to use logic, reason, and common sense uninhibited by paranoia, anxiety, self-doubt, compulsive behavior, suspicion, etc., is kind of what helps to keep a business running smoothly. “In fact, the WHO estimates that every $1 invested into ‘treatment for common mental disorders’ will return $4 in improved health and productivity,” explains Wingard.
So, if you’re still working, you might be at one of those jobs where you are a touch overworked just at the moment. Maybe it seems like you can’t take a mental health day. But why does it seem like that? The CDC, the WHO, your employer (probably) are all telling you to take care of your mental health! So why does it feel like you can’t take a mental health day? According to Wingard, “In 2019, a Mental Health America survey of 10,000 workers found that 55% were afraid to take a mental health day because they thought they would be punished.”
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All the people taking mental health days…
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It kind of still feels like that, right? You’re being urged to protect your mental health but maybe the company you work for is understaffed, people are sick. Maybe layoffs are happening and if you take off, you may look expendable. It may seem like you look less than invaluable. We’re in this very uncomfortable position where we’re being told to take care of ourselves, but we’re scared that we’ll lose our livelihood if we try. That’s why I’m going to leave you all with one piece of advice:
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STOP
No, Dave, it’s not any of the song lyrics that would normally follow (although, if I had to choose, it would be to collaborate and listen). Sure, I could make false predictions all day long and whisper sweet nothings into your ear until you got a restraining order, but let’s not go there. I’m trying to earn your trust after all.
My advice is: Just stop. Take a moment to just sit down and regroup. Try letting your thoughts go on autopilot and see what comes to the forefront. If something jumps out, then maybe that’s a problem/desire/tangible thing you can focus on to start getting your thoughts in order, achieving a sense of mental balance. If nothing really pops out more than anything else, that’s okay. Sometimes just taking a moment to stop helps settle the mind. Ultimately, you need to figure out what is best for you. If taking a day off work is going to be more stressful than not, then don’t do it. But if you need a mental health day, don’t be afraid to take it. You are worth taking care of! And, please, if you or anyone you know is or may be contemplating harm to themselves or others, get help immediately.
Hallo, darlings. We’re back at it today with this depression topic re-visitation. On last week’s exciting episode, we covered the relationship between depression, anxiety, and anger, and how they work together in a positive feedback loop to amplify depression. Afterword, not even Dave’s corner cowering could keep us from diving into the somatic symptoms of depression and how pain and depression work together in a… well, a positive feedback loop that can amplify depression. I’m sensing a pattern here. Anyway, on this week’s emotionally unsettling conclusion, we’re finally going to address the social implications of depression and its role in self-worth. *Spoiler alert* We’re looking at another feedback loop.
The reason I wanted to look at anger and pain in relation to depression is to highlight some of the moving pieces working against the depressed. Anger and pain are both negative experiences that one needs to develop proper coping mechanisms for in order to respond appropriately. Let’s look at two different reactions to a scenario:
Scenario: Dave walks into his living room while texting a friend. Attention divided, he stubs his toe.
Reaction one (RO): In the 15 seconds after stubbing his toe:
Dave experiences a burst of pain
On the heels of that burst of pain, Dave experiences anger
Dave’s anger increases as he realizes his toe stubbing was a result of him not paying attention
Because Dave has no one to blame, he feels a bit stupid and embarrassed (regardless of the fact no one is around)
Dave doesn’t like to feel stupid or be embarrassed—it makes him angry
In the midst of the pain and anger, Dave comes to the conclusion that it’s the phone’s fault he wasn’t paying attention
Dave throws his phone
Dave begins to feel embarrassment about his behavior (still no one around)
Dave experiences a decrease in his sense of self-worth
Reaction two (RT): In the 15 seconds after stubbing his toe:
Dave experiences a burst of pain
On the heels of that burst of pain, Dave experiences anger
Having stubbed his toe many times before, Dave realizes the pain will subside quickly, so he should just breathe and ride it out
Dave sits on his couch and continues texting his friend, experiencing no significant changes in mood or sense of self-worth
Obviously, RT is the ideal reaction—the reasonable reaction. If you read RO and thought, “Well, that’s pretty childish,” you’re right! Spot on! Bravo, you! Individuals unable to learn and incorporate proper coping skills when it comes to negative emotions tend to react childishly to things. I think it’s important to point out here that it’s perfectly normal for anyone to have the occasional outburst. Shit happens, you might overreact, but you regroup and move on and that’s that. For someone with depression, it’s not as easy. There’s too much of a cascade effect. One stubbed toe could lead to a multiple-week-long depressive episode. Thankfully, this is an issue that can be eased with behavioral therapy and/or counseling.
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When you get real mad, but you’re still cute as hell.
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Seeking Value from Without
Before we get down to it, I just want to say that you, whoever you are reading this… You have value.
Our sense of self-worth is based on several things but can (for ease and brevity) be narrowed down to two categories: The value we place on ourselves (inside value) and the value others place on us (outside value). Ideally, there would be a balance between the two. For someone with depression, though, more stock is put into outside value. This is why some individuals with depression seek out the company of friends and family during darker times, which can be immensely helpful if the individual is in happy, healthy relationships. On the other hand, self-worth based on outside value can be crippling without those solid, uplifting relationships.
Some individuals relying on outside value, but who lack healthy relationships, tend to exhibit attention-seeking behavior. This is by no means a negative thing—although it can be. Attention seeking behavior can include: positive emotional outbursts, negative emotional outbursts, withdrawing from social situations, acting helpless, being overly helpful, being the center of conversations, and if I list any more we’re going to fall into a larger mental health topic. So, I’ll stop there. Again, these are all pretty normal behaviors when done sparingly, but it becomes problematic when someone exhibits multiple attention-seeking behaviors on a consistent basis. What’s worse is that these attention-seeking behaviors can lead to socially awkward situations, which lead to embarrassment, and… Hey! We’re back to anger! And after anger comes guilt, depression, and a lowered sense of self-worth. And, of course, how you cope (both inwardly and outwardly) with these negative emotions and situations can further devalue that sense of self-worth.
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Do you ever watch water drain and think, “Huh… there’s my self-worth.”
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On a Bigger Scope
**Please keep in mind that the following is a very generalized breakdown of some social implications of depression and a low sense of self-worth. While the below statements may apply to some (and in varying degrees), they won’t to others. To get more specific, we’d need to look at the different types of depression and how they affect different personality types and what’s chemical vs behavioral and on and on. You get the idea.
Building and maintaining relationships is integral to being a reasonably well-adjusted adult. How you relate to and with others helps dictate the type and quality of people who want to be around you. It also plays a major role in your career. The problem is that your sense of self-worth tends to be evident to others, whether overtly or on a more subconscious level. It’s a bit harder to like and want to be around a person who doesn’t particularly like his/herself. Because it takes more energy to be in any kind of relationship with that type of person, they’ll have fewer relationships and, likely, more contentious ones. Additionally, people with a lower sense of self-worth are more vulnerable to manipulative personalities and have a higher likelihood of ending up in long-term abusive relationships. A person relying on outside value has to be real fuckin’ careful about the company they keep, but they also have to balance how much they rely on others.
One of the biggest relationships in most people’s lives is their job. We spend a lot of time and energy there, and it’s one of the most logical places to find outside value, whether it’s from work friends, acquaintances, bosses, clients, customers, vendors, whomever. Again, it’s totally normal to desire or seek out praise and/or notice at work. But it becomes a problem when you rely too heavily on your place of work for outside value because it becomes exhausting for others. Furthermore, exhibiting attention seeking behaviors could hurt your credibility as a professional and disrupt those around you. This need for notice, the need for outside value, could end up lowering the outside value you receive, and then? Well, then you have a lowered sense of self-worth.
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#FeedbackLoopBitches
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It’s a Lot
Over the course of this series, we’ve barely scratched the surface of depression in all its un-glory. If you know someone with depression or are just looking to understand more, I hope this helps. For those of you dealing with depression, reach out for help when you need to. Discover ways to increase inside value. Work with a behavioral health specialist. And, please, if you or anyone you know is or may be contemplating harm to themselves or others, get help immediately.
Hallo, you fantastic beauties. I haven’t written for myself—or for you—in a long while. But here we are! Together again! Now, ahead of National Condom Month, I want to talk about depression. I’ll wait while you investigate whether that’s an actual thing. The condom part, I mean, not depression.
All joking aside, I’ve been wanting to talk about depression again for a while. The problem lies in how to address something so large and weighted with so many layers. I want to talk about depression in terms of self-worth and social implications, but to get there I feel like we need to walk through the various psychosomatic effects of depression, and to get there we need to touch on the relationship between depression, anxiety, and anger …
Well, fuck, let’s give it a try! What say you, Dave? Dave? Dave, why are you cowering in the corner?! Sorry, guys, I think Dave is going to sit this one out. Let’s dive in, shall we? And, don’t worry, darlings, this will be a two-parter.
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But seriously … February is National Condom Month. Suit up.
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The Fanning of the Flame (or if you’re southern: Adding a Little Lighter Fluid)
If you pop back over to my series on Mood and Anxiety Disorders, you’ll notice that depression and anxiety often go together … But anger? I’ve only recently thought about the relationship between anger and depression, but according to Fredric N. Busch’s article, Anger and Depression, “The oversimplified concept of depression as ‘anger directed inwards’ was a commonly held belief over many years in psychiatry.” Though today anger is more often considered a symptom of depression, there is little denying some type of correlation. Busch goes on to discuss defense mechanisms as applied to the anger-depression relationship. These mechanisms include denial, projection, passive aggression, reaction formation, and identification. Since denial, projection, and (everyone’s favorite) passive aggression are pretty familiar terms, I want to cover the other two in more detail:
Reaction formation (as presented by Busch citing Freud): The individual denies their anger and instead increases their efforts to help others. Since the underlying issues causing anger aren’t addressed, feelings of rage intensify and can become directed inward, exacerbating depression.
Identification: The individual links their self-image with someone who is aggressive and has made that person or others feel disempowered, frequently triggering guilty feelings which can exacerbate depression. This mechanism can help the individual with assertiveness, coping with anger, and creating boundaries but also has a lot to do with the idea of perceived power and can lead to abusive and controlling behavior.
While these psychoanalytic mechanisms are dated, more recent studies have also shown a correlation between depression and anger, whether that anger is outwardly expressed or not. According to Depression is More Than Just Sadness: A Case of Excessive Anger and Its Management in Depression: “Previous studies have revealed that patients with anger attacks are significantly more depressed, anxious, and have ideas of hopelessness compared to patients without anger attacks, and they were more likely to meet criteria for [histrionic, narcissistic, borderline, and antisocial] personality disorders in comparison to depressed patients without anger attacks.” The relationship between depression and anger causes a sort of feedback loop wherein anger can lead to depression and depression to anger. And, ultimately—obviously—the Dark Side.
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I mean … Hurray for royalty-free images, but damn…
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Depression: It’s a Pain in the Ass
Fun fact: not only can depression itself be debilitating, it can also lead to major chronic health issues and be a hindrance to rehabilitation and healing. Okay, okay, so it was a not-so-fun fact. According to Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders: Global Health Estimates released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017: “The consequences of [depression and anxiety] disorders in terms of lost health are huge. Depression is ranked by WHO as the single largest contributor to global disability (7.5% of all years lived with disability in 2015); anxiety disorders are ranked 6th (3.4%). Depression is also the major contributor to suicide deaths, which number close to 800,000 per year.” Spoiler alert, the situation hasn’t gotten any better.
Depression can play a role in immune, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal health—among others. According to Depression as a Risk Factor of Organic Diseases: An International Integrative Review, “Depression often predisposes individuals to physical illness and disease.” The review assesses findings from 23 studies that consider depression in relation to various physical illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, anxiety, and asthma. While the review “offers evidence that depression can be a risk factor for physical illness and disease,” even more intriguing is the study of depression-related pain.
Some studies on depression and somatic pain have shown a correlation between the two, although causation proves difficult to identify. In some cases, individuals suffering from depression may experience such issues as low back pain, jaw pain, and acid reflux. While causation is unclear (it’s kind of a “chicken or egg” situation), the Depression as a Risk Factor review states that there is “a strong association […] shown between severe depression and somatization, and the somatic effects of depression were unrelated to organic disease (Aguilar‐Navarro & Avila‐Funes, 2007; Drayer et al. 2005).” If I’m citing something citing something, is that reverse inception? Anyway, the review goes on to say that “depression and pain are independent processes that share a common mechanism that can lead to the onset of each other.” Furthermore, individuals suffering from depression tend to experience a decrease in pain tolerance and increase in origin-less pains.
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I almost said “phantom pain,” but I didn’t want to be disrespectful to the Skywalker family members who can’t do this
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Next Week’s Titillating Adventure
Now that we’ve covered the relationship between anger and depression and the psychosomatic effects caused by the unholy trinity (just assume anxiety is a habitual lurker), we can dive into the self-worth and social implication side next week.
Athletes of every level are familiar with sport-related injuries and pain, regardless of whether it’s a result of competition level intense training or a specific event. And while both sportsmen and their coaches are largely knowledgeable about how to treat pain, the search is on for natural treatment options that can get them back in the game as soon as possible.
Recent years have seen a new and powerful treatment option rise to fame in the sports world in the form of CBD oil, which is non-invasive, entirely natural, and has few side effects. In comparison to traditional pain remedies, CBD is pocket-friendly, easily accessible in every state in the US, and it doesn’t require a prescription or inpatient treatment. It has been clinically proven to be an effective treatment for chronic pain and inflammation and according to personal testimonies it also offers other bonuses like promoting better sleep quality, enhancing focus, and increasing energy levels.
Previously, professional athletes had little choice but to rely on aggressive anti-inflammatory pills or injections to treat swelling and pain occurring as a result of a sports injury. The side effects of these traditional medicines have resulted in many professional careers being destroyed. It is for this reason that more athletes are turning to CBD tincture as a way to naturally combat pain, as well as enhancing their day to day performance. Further research is underway to determine if CBD can eventually be classified as a medicine by the notoriously strict FDA. It has already been cleared for use by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
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How CBD Works to Reduce Sports Injury Pain
A hemp plant contains over 400 beneficial natural chemicals that synergistically work together to improve one’s health—one of the most important being CBD, or cannabinoids. Inflammation that happens as a result of our pain receptors being triggered is effectively reduced by the antioxidant properties that cannabinoids contain, whilst simultaneously interacting with the serotonin and vanilloid receptors that alter our perception of pain. This winning combination has been so effective that athletes who once relied on highly addictive opioid-based painkillers are now opting for a daily dose of CBD tincture.
In addition to helping combat pain and inflammation initial research has revealed that CBD also works as a neuroprotectant, which is invaluable to participants of contact sports, such as boxing or football. It also relaxes muscle spasms, soothes aching muscles, and replenishes muscles post-workout, further adding to its ever-growing appeal as a recommended supplement for athletes.
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CBD Tincture or Topical Balm?
Both CBD tincture and CBD infused balms have their advantages when it comes to treating sports injuries but for maximum effect a combination of the two is best. Taking a sublingual tincture for sports medicine is the quickest and most convenient way of benefitting from CBD and many will argue that it is the fastest way of experiencing the long-term benefits. Topical ointments are perfect for treating localized injuries such as muscle spasm or sprains and strains. CBD balm can be applied liberally as many times as you like. So, for example, if you have knee pain, you can apply a topical CBD lotion or balm to reduce swelling and aid the healing process. Your knee tendon pain should begin to subside as the blood flow increases and the CBD acts to relieve pain. The same would go for your shoulder, rotator cuff, or other ligaments that can be torn or strained during physical activity.
If your pain is severe, a tincture will metabolize quicker than a topical balm and you will experience a greater sense of relief in less time, as well as being able to sleep better despite your injuries.
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Will CBD Tincture Make You Feel High?
Despite thousands of articles already existing clearly stating that CBD oil does not have any kind of psychoactive effects, some athletes are still concerned that it could negatively affect their performance. Rest assured that the opposite is true; not only can it help enhance your determination and stamina, you also won’t have to worry about failing a drug test providing the CBD tincture you are using contains the legal amount of 0.3 percent THC.
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Conclusion
CBD has already marked a turning point for athletes looking to manage pain and recover from injury with natural anti-inflammatory medications. The only issue is that until more research and studies are carried out, we are left wondering about how CBD is best and most effectively used among athletes and how it can be used as a preventive measure for injury and joint-related issues. But the same is true of many new products that emerge in the sports world; we know they are beneficial, but the specifics of how they are beneficial still remain a little vague. The sports world is ever-evolving and new workout fads are coming and going out of fashion faster than ever. One thing we do know is that with CBD tincture making headlines via anecdotal evidence of helping treat fatal illnesses like epilepsy and cancer, it will likely become a mainstream medicine in the future.
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A word of warning for professional athletes: Always make sure that you purchase a CBD tincture from a reputable source, and you request verification of the ingredients by obtaining a lab report. The Anti-Doping Agency has approved the use of CBD oil that contains 0.3 percent THC (as per federal law). If you’re injured, ask your doctor or physical therapist about incorporating CBD for pain relief into your healing process.
Most medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter, come with warnings about mixing with alcohol. This is because both alcohol and medicines alter a person’s brain chemistry and if drugs are mixed with alcohol, it can have an unpredictable effect on the brain and body. The wrong mix of medication and alcohol can be fatal.
The awareness of the dangers of mixing medication and alcohol has led many people to ask if it’s safe to mix CBD and alcohol. The truth is, mixing hemp or CBD oil and alcohol can actually prove helpful for some people in an indirect manner. What’s more, using CBD oil can help a person curb their craving for alcohol, making it an effective treatment for alcoholism for some people.
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CBD and Alcohol
Though more research is needed, like with cannabis, there is some evidence that using CBD and then drinking can result in a lower blood alcohol content. This means you can drink the same amount of alcohol as usual but suffer less of a toxic effect on the body. Some believe CBD reduces the risk for alcohol poisoning—though nobody would suggest you take CBD and then binge drink just for the sake of testing the theory.
One study showed that transdermal CBD patches applied to rodents significantly reduced the brain damage associated with drinking too much alcohol. It could be that CBD protects the brain from the dangers of alcohol, which means it could be safer to enjoy an alcoholic beverage without concern for the long-term effects.
Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean you won’t get drunk, nor does it make it safe to drink and then operate a vehicle, or to drink in large quantities. However, there is evidence that CBD, which comes from the cannabis plant, enhances function after drinking and slows a person’s response time to alcohol. CBD also balances out the reaction to alcohol from a reward standpoint. This means it could prevent someone from developing an addiction to alcohol because they do not experience that exciting rush from drinking.
There is also some evidence that the positive effects of mixing, say, a tincture that contains high CBD and alcohol could extend beyond the brain into other parts of the body. One study showed that CBD protected the livers of mice from exposure to alcohol.
The positive effects—or reduction of negative effects—when mixing alcohol and CBD has led to some savvy bartenders creating CBD-infused cocktails. Though this is illegal in many areas and has yet to catch on so far in any widespread manner, it’s likely that, as more people discover the benefits of CBD oil and other CBD products, more and more businesses will use it to enhance and market their products.
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Using CBD to Treat Alcoholism
Perhaps the most notable link between CBD and alcohol is the potential for the compound to help those with an addiction to alcohol. This is the case whether a person has developed full-blown alcoholism, or they just tend to overdrink but haven’t yet made it to the point of having an addiction. Essentially, CBD can help a person have a healthier relationship with alcohol.
One of the biggest challenges alcoholics face is their withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking. They not only give up the rush alcohol produces in their body, but their body will respond in negative ways. For instance, many people who are heavy drinkers and stop find they develop a tremor. Alcoholics going through withdrawal also tend to experience a general sense of nervousness, insomnia, restlessness, anxiety, nausea, and irritability.
CBD has been shown to ease these symptoms in a variety of situations and could be an effective tool for helping a person kick their addiction to alcohol long-term. Not to mention the cost considerations for treating alcoholism. Many people would benefit from spending time in a long-term care facility to help them deal with their addiction, but these places are often cost-prohibitive. CBD is an affordable option for people who want to break their addiction to alcohol but don’t have the money to invest in an inpatient program.
CBD helps people who are struggling with alcohol and makes it easier to overcome their addiction by supplementing what the body can no longer do properly because of the damage from long-term over-drinking. It also substitutes the feelings produced by drinking. CBD acts as a natural “replenishment” of the body’s depleted supply of endocannabinoids, which are erased over the course of alcohol abuse. It can also reduce cravings for alcohol as a person goes through detox.
CBD can be helpful for getting a person through withdraw and then for helping them avoid the temptation to drink once they’ve kicked their drinking habit.
Unfortunately, the stigma that still surrounds CBD has kept it out of the hands of many people suffering from alcoholism. Too many people assume that using CBD to treat alcoholism is just trading “one drug for another.” Others falsely believe that CBD is even more dangerous than alcohol or that it will produce psychoactive effects and not allow a person to recover from alcoholism in their normal functioning state.
The truth is CBD is not psychoactive. There are a number of misunderstandings and myths out there about CBD and too many people link it to marijuana and THC because it is derived from a similar source. CBD does not get you high or stoned. It does not interfere negatively with your body’s natural ability to perform and, as a matter of fact, many people find it has a positive effect on their performance. People who are not struggling with alcoholism use CBD to help them focus, feel more relaxed, and to meet the demands of everyday life in their optimal condition.
If you are struggling to overcome alcoholism or you’re wondering if CBD can help you approach alcohol consumption in a healthier manner, it might be time to give it a try.
RJ Plant 