Let’s be honest, everything is messed up since Covid-19 hit us with its merciless grip. Day is night, night is day, our jobs are on the line and social distancing is a necessary drag. We know it’s a virus, we know how transmissible it is, and we now know what we need to do to prevent the spread. But what can we do about the stress that comes with it?
We are going through something we’ve never experienced before and the lack of control is frightening. Covid-19 doesn’t discriminate based on age, gender, race or status. While we are helpless in many regards, one important thing we can control is our commitment to our mental health and physical wellbeing during difficult times.
One very important factor that helps us fight Covid-19 is our immune system. While many people are worried about physical health affecting their body’s defenses, there are other aspects that influence our natural resistance. Stress, anxiety, insomnia and depression are serious matters that can lower our immune system and make us vulnerable.
As panic takes over at a collective and individual scale, it is critical to remain calm. When anxiety grips us, our brains release hormones that put us in the ‘fight or flight’ mode. All that stress adds up. It takes away the body’s resources to sustain crucial processes such as our immune system.
One way to reduce stress and prevent it from causing further problems to our immune system is using CBD. This hemp-derived natural remedy is an immune system modulator, which means that it acts as a thermostat. It can turn the level of activity down or up, depending on what our body needs. CBD also has pain-relieving, sleep-inducing, and anti-inflammatory properties which all help to reduce stress, bringing your immune system up.
We are emotional beings that crave human connection, and social distancing is such a terrible thing to deal with. We are now living in a time where we are afraid to hug our loved ones. All this stress and pressure causes anxiety, while the lack of human connection might leave us sad and depressed. Boosting your immune system comes secondary to CBD’s primary function: to calm us down and give us a sense of peace. You feel the fog that’s been surrounding you is finally lifting. And many things are hiding in the fog: loneliness, anxiety, fear for ourselves, our friends and family. The fear for our jobs, the longing for human connection and the overall joy of being alive.
Insomnia also seems like an acute problem these days, as our schedules have changed dramatically. Even if you work from home, the flexibility in your schedule harms your daily routine of waking up at the same hour, having regular meals and consuming your energy. You might find it hard to fall asleep or get good, uninterrupted sleep. CBD can help with waking up recharged and ready for the next day. Bad sleep only leaves you tired and even more stressed, which is further breaking down your immune system when you need it most.
CBD is a natural ally in relieving anxiety and it might be that we need it now more than ever. You may find it in many forms, from tinctures to chewing gum and edibles. One of the most popular forms of taking CBD is by vaping it, but given the aggression of Covid-19 on your lungs, it is best to keep away from it for a while. Even if you do not have any symptoms, such as coughing, it is best to protect your lungs as much as possible these days.
Instead, use tinctures, gummies, mints or topicals. CBD gummies or capsules help with insomnia when taken before going to sleep, as they calm your mind and body down. Even though they take the longest to activate as they go through your stomach, gummies and capsules also last the longest, up to 8 hours. This is essential in helping you not only fall asleep but stay asleep throughout the night.
If you need something that acts fast, tinctures work best as they are absorbed in our body in just 15 minutes. Shake the bottle well, then pour the desired amount under the tongue using the dropper. Hold it there for 60-90 seconds before swallowing. Edibles are easy to take during the day, along with a snack or just on their own. While they take longer to be absorbed, the effect also lasts longer. If you want to keep track of how much CBD you use, here’s a handy Weekly Dosage Journal.
We are in Uncharted Territory right now. There are so many things we cannot control, such as the spread of Coronavirus in the world, when a cure will be available, whether others follow the rules of social distancing or how long this whole ordeal will last. What we can control though is our attitude towards this crisis as well as our emotions. Instead of denying the stress and anxiety we feel these days, let’s find a way to acknowledge it and then find our relief.
