Driving can be fun as it allows you to discover fresh sights and explore new places. But driving can cause anxiety and threaten physical and mental safety for some people. Maneuvering through heavy traffic, passing through tunnels, or crossing bridges can trigger panic attacks or anxiety.
Staying calm and collected behind the wheel is crucial to safe driving. But how can you remain relaxed? This is where CBD plays a substantial role. Cannabidiol is a chemical compound that everyone raves about. CBD is used for various reasons, including reducing stress, addressing depression, anxiety, and PSTD, and calming the nerves.
What’s Driving Anxiety
Driving anxiety is an intense phobia or fear of driving a vehicle, especially in unfamiliar territories. When anxious, you may experience symptoms indicative of a panic attack. These symptoms include:
- Feeling faint or lightheadedness
- Dry mouth
- A sudden feeling of fear
- Shortness of breath
- Trembling, increased heartbeat, and sweating
In extreme cases, some people may avoid being in a vehicle or not driving altogether.
Causes of Driving Anxiety
Driving anxiety can be caused by various factors, including:
- Existing anxiety disorder: You may have anxiety disorders, such as phobias, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and separation anxiety. These conditions can lead to you losing driving confidence. You can also become susceptible to driving anxiety when experiencing sudden life changes or extreme stress.
- Past traumatic experiences: If you have past traumatic driving experiences, you may worry that similar scenes may play out again. Driving through bad weather can trigger anxiety again.
- Phobia of road-related death: Driving can make you think of the worst possible scenario- death. It may make you lose confidence in your driving skills or even others driving you.
- Panic attack: People with existing panic attacks may fear that that attack can happen while on the road.
Using CBD for Driving Anxiety
CBD is getting buzz lately and is now stocked in health food stores. And with many health benefits it offers, one of them is addressing driving anxiety.
It reduces Anxiety and Stress Levels
Driving-related anxiety exposes road users to car accidents. Although you may manage anxiety symptoms, it usually doesn’t go away. Sometimes, you may need cognitive behavioral therapy or virtual reality treatment. While these common treatments are ideal, you’ll need to dig deeper into your pockets.
Fortunately, CBD is an affordable and readily available treatment that can help you alleviate anxiety. Cannabidiol affects serotonin, a chemical in the body that plays a vital role. Serotonin is responsible for your digestion, mood, behavior, and mood.
CBD increases serotonin levels to help you fight anxiety while driving. Antidepressants also regulate serotonin levels, and CBD is believed to work similarly to these medications.
You can take 300mg to 600mg of CBD oils or capsules, which you can buy here, to reduce anxiety. You also need to buy from a reliable brand to ensure you’re getting safe products.
It Improves Concentration and Focus
Driver’s focus is usually underestimated, yet it’s a crucial component for smart driving. Lack of focus can lead to unnecessary speed variation, acceleration, and breaking. A distracted driver will likely get into an accident due to impaired thinking. But you can incorporate CBD into your life to remain focused and concentrated on the road.
The hem-derived chemical interacts with the body and affects your nervous system in various ways. It binds with ECS, affecting your emotional state and mood. Serotonin is a neurochemical best known as a mood stabilizer. CBD can also impact dopamine levels, a hormone linked to awareness and memory.
CBD is also a natural solution for stress by reducing cortisol- a stress hormone. Stress can make you lose focus while driving, and addressing it can enhance your concentration. CBD also has a positive impact on insomnia. Sleep deprivation causes lack of focus and concentration, so you can easily see why you need CBD to enhance your driving.
CBD Enhances Relaxation
Emotions can push you to make irrational decisions while driving. This means changing lanes without signaling or accelerating unnecessarily. You’ll make better driving decisions by remaining calm and being aware of the environment.
Anecdotal studies indicate that using CBD can make you calm and relax. CBD breaks down special enzymes in ECS, reducing the deletion of endocannabinoids in the body. As a result, it increases anandamide (the bliss molecule) levels. This makes you feel calm and have a better driving experience.
CBD Calms Shakes
Body shakes, or tremors result from neurological conditions like anxiety, medication use, or Parkinson’s disease. The rapid, rhythmic body movement can affect any part of your body. Although body shakes are not constant, they can affect your driving.
CBD helps alleviate tremors, muscle spasms, and convulsions. It can also lessen multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. Along with its neuroprotective and anticonvulsant properties, CBD may reduce symptoms of body tremors.
Precautions When Using CBD for Driving Anxiety
Although studies suggest that CBD can enhance your driving by alleviating anxiety, there are serious considerations to concern you. Like any other supplement, you may consume more CBD than your body can handle. You may experience unpleasant side effects, including:
- Stomach upset
- Lightheadedness
- General disorientation
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
CBD can also have severe interactions with some medicine. People taking thyroid, heart rhythm, blood thinners, and seizure medications should be careful. Besides, not all CBD products are formulated the same, so you must consult a healthcare provider.
As part of your selection, you may consider some facets like:
- Reading overall ingredients
- The company’s manufacturing process and certification
- Brand’s reputation
- Customer reviews and testimonials
- Unsupported health claims
You can inhale CBD, and take it orally or sublingually. Although there are no dosing guidelines from FDA, you can easily take CBD safely. The doses range between 15mg to 1,000mg. Always start with the lowest amount and increase until you get desired results.
Conclusion
Driving should give you excitement rather than making you feel anxious. But if you experience anxiety, you can use CBD to manage your emotions. It relaxes and calms nerves, enhances your concentration, increases energy, and boosts focus.
