Obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, affects 1 in 40 American adults, or about 2.3% of the population. Often there is a genetic component, meaning that those with first-degree family members with OCD are at a greater risk of developing it.
Most people have likely heard the term before, but not everyone knows what it truly means. People may joke that they “have OCD” when they like their room or home to be in a certain order, ignoring the fact that the condition is often debilitating. Some people with OCD have trouble functioning in the workplace or in their personal life.
While there are many ways to treat OCD, many people are opting for CBD oil for anxiety. This way, they can bypass the drugs that make them feel out of it and use a natural remedy.
Read on for more information on how CBD can help treat obsessive compulsive disorder.
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
When defining what obsessive compulsive disorder is, we should first discuss what it is not.
While it is often portrayed on film or television as manifesting as someone wanting to keep things clean and in order, the reality is much less “cute,” and much less functional.
Instead, OCD manifests differently for each person. It may manifest in someone wanting to keep their space tidy, but it is not for the sake of tidiness or respect for their home. Instead, it is due to debilitating anxiety that if they do not keep their space tidy, something horrible will happen to them.
Those with OCD will develop rituals that they must do to ensure that something bad doesn’t happen to them. For example, they may feel as though they have to touch their doorknob 10 times when they leave the house; otherwise, they will die in a car accident.
Obsession and Compulsion
OCD is comprised of obsession and compulsions, which is where the name comes from. For example, if someone is obsessed with keeping clean or is afraid of germs, this may be categorized as an obsession. A compulsion is the ritual that they engage in to help mitigate their obsession. An obsession may also be characterized as intrusive thoughts.
For instance, if someone is afraid of catching a virus that causes them to get very ill or even die, they may become obsessed with handwashing. Or, they may become obsessed with something not related to it, like brushing their hair precisely 40 times on each side of their head.
The ritual and what they’re trying to circumvent in their thinking are not always related. Often, they’re not at all.
The individual with OCD more often than not knows that their rituals or fears are not rational. However, knowing that they’re not rational doesn’t simply stop them from continuing.
Instead, they must often undergo a treatment that helps them cope that includes therapy and medication. For some people, instead of medication, they find that CBD oil helps ease their suffering without the side effects that come with psychiatric medication.
Taking CBD Oil for Anxiety
OCD, at its root, is severe anxiety. Some people may find that the more anxious they become, the more they rely on the coping mechanisms of OCD.
CBD oil has been proven as an effective tool for individuals with severe anxiety, often rooting from things like trauma or other life events. And CBD oil can help individuals who are suffering from severe PTSD, especially those who are unable to sleep due to the disorder.
CBD oil may be able to help those with depression and anxiety, as it may be able to help individuals find a level of calm and relax a little bit.
While using CBD oil for anxiety is still being studied, current research shows that it is beneficial for a huge number of people. Anecdotal evidence also shows that many people feel their lives have been changed by it.
For many individuals, this can be a total lifesaver, especially if they find that psychiatric medication makes them feel groggy or “out of it.” While CBD oil can have side effects, they’re more often than not much less noticeable.
One of the great things about CBD oil is that it is all-natural, meaning everything in it is a derivative of plants and is without unnatural or man-made ingredients.
CBD Oil as a Tool for OCD Treatment
CBD for anxiety and OCD is typically only one tool in an arsenal of treatment that may be used to help curb your OCD. For the majority of people, attending regular therapy sessions to help get to the root of the issue and confront it is also extremely helpful. A therapist may also be able to help you figure out how to combat intrusive thoughts by countering them with different or countering thoughts.
As such, CBD oil won’t be the only thing you’ll use to help combat the demon that is OCD, but it can be one item that helps tremendously.
Using CBD Oil as an OCD Treatment
Throughout this article, we’ve discussed some of the benefits of CBD oil for anxiety and using it to help with obsessive compulsive disorder, and how some individuals might find it helpful. While it has not been studied to help with obsessive thoughts specifically, it can help with the underlying anxiety that may be a huge contributor.
For more information on CBD oil, check out our FAQ section, which gives a comprehensive view of CBD oil and its benefits.
