Anger is a complex emotion. Many things can cause it, and it can either be a severe problem that impacts your ability to function or a slight nuisance that crops up every now and then.
But the question is, how do you manage anger?
There’s the traditional advice and treatments. Then there’s CBD; a natural, hemp-derived cannabinoid with a variety of benefits.
In this article, we’ll explore whether CBD can help with anger, how it works, and how to use it.
TAKEAWAYS:
- CBD can help with anger by indirectly increasing the concentration of serotonin in your body. Serotonin is a hormone that boosts your mood and reduces negative emotions.
- CBD can also help with anger by addressing major underlying causes, such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
- CBD should not be used in lieu of professional treatment for anger. Rather, it should complement other methods.
What is CBD?
CBD (cannabidiol) is a cannabinoid that’s naturally found in the hemp plant. It’s one of 100+ cannabinoids that naturally occur in hemp, and it has a variety of potential benefits for pain, anxiety, sleep, and more.
No in-depth research has been done that investigates the use of CBD for anger issues. However, anecdotal evidence and research on using CBD for related problems suggest that it may also be effective for managing anger.
What Causes Anger and Irritability?
Anger has a variety of potential causes.
It can stem from other emotions, such as fear, grief, loneliness, stress, anxiety, guilt, sadness, or frustration.
However, anger can also be caused by larger conditions, such as depression, bipolar disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, alcoholism, and OCD.
If the anger you’re experiencing is a result of a larger problem, it’s often necessary to see a psychiatrist so they’re able to assess your situation and recommend or provide treatment.
But if your anger is a byproduct of other temporary, negative emotions, CBD may be able to provide support until things get better.
Stress, for example, is a part of life — and sometimes it causes us to boil over. In these situations, using natural remedies can be very beneficial.
Can CBD Help With Anger?
Though CBD has been researched for anxiety, stress, and other related disorders, there isn’t much research on CBD for anger issues in humans.
But there are some studies demonstrating that CBD has the potential to help with anger.
One study done on mice found that CBD decreased aggressive behaviors stemming from social isolation.
The study concluded that CBD “may be therapeutically useful to treat aggressive behaviors that are usually associated with psychiatric disorders.”
There is also evidence that CBD can help with anger based on its interactions with the neurotransmitter serotonin.
However, the lion’s share of research showing CBD helps with anger isn’t focused on anger at all, but rather on issues that can cause anger, like depression, stress, and anxiety.
CBD & Serotonin
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of happiness and well-being. A normal level of serotonin is associated with normal emotions. A lack of serotonin is associated with depression, anxiety, and aggression.
Research shows that CBD may mimic the effects of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a class of antidepressant medications) by inhibiting — interfering with — certain enzymes that process serotonin in your body.
By this mechanism, CBD may indirectly increase serotonin concentrations, therefore bettering your mood and staving off feelings of anger.
CBD for Depression-Induced Anger
Depression is a major cause of feeling angry, both towards yourself and others. This link is most commonly seen in men, but it can happen to anyone.
Research shows CBD has antidepressant properties. Because of this, it may be able to help with anger if it’s depression-induced.
But let’s look at the evidence.
One survey asked 2,409 CBD users about their use of hemp products. 62% of those surveyed were using CBD for medical conditions, and depression was among the top three.
Only 4.3% of the participants didn’t have good results with CBD, and 36% even reported that CBD was helpful by itself.
Coupled with the research suggesting CBD has antidepressant properties, this survey offers strong anecdotal evidence that CBD is beneficial for depression, and therefore, beneficial for anger management.
CBD for Stress-Induced Anger
Stress is another cause of anger, and for obvious reasons. A reasonable amount of stress is inevitable in life, and it’s sometimes necessary — but too much can make you feel overwhelmed and backed into a corner.
Thankfully, CBD has been found to be useful for stress management, and there are even clinical trials to prove it. One trial, which involved 232 participants (some who received CBD and others who did not) showed CBD to be effective at reducing stress response.
Participants even reported that CBD was just as effective as comparable pharmaceutical medicines.
Generally, our customers find that CBD helps them relax mentally when they’re feeling stressed or worried. CBD can’t fix the root causes of stress, but it can make it more manageable until things get better — and it can help you avoid the urge to feel angry as a result.
No more nasty pharmaceuticals. Discover our CBD oils, edibles, drinks, softgels, and more. Lab-tested and backed by 100s of reviews.
CBD for Anxiety-Induced Anger
Anger can be a manifestation of anxiety or uncertainty. It’s natural — it’s often easier to feel angry than to be open and honest with others about what’s actually troubling us.
Since CBD can help with anxiety, it can also help with anger that has roots in anxiety.
There is both scientific and anecdotal evidence suggesting that CBD may reduce anxiety.
One review concluded that CBD is a promising treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
CBD for Anger: How it Works
CBD works by acting on your endocannabinoid system (ECS), a transmitter system in your body that has a hand in regulating emotions, learning, sleep, and a long list of other vital functions.
Your ECS’s ultimate goal is to keep your body and mind in a state of balance — a state of normal health and emotion.
The ECS typically functions on its own. However, when things become imbalanced due to external stressors, your ECS needs a bit of help to do its job — this is where supplementing with CBD and other cannabinoids can be beneficial.
There are two main types of receptors in your ECS: CB1 and CB2. But surprisingly, CBD doesn’t interact heavily with either receptor. Rather, research suggests that CBD acts on a variety of bodily systems (within and outside of the ECS), and is therefore able to deliver a wide range of benefits.
Through its interactions with the ECS, CBD promotes feelings of calm and relaxation and helps stabilize your mind against negative emotions like anger.
How to Use CBD for Anger: Dosage & Method
To maintain a balanced mood, we recommend starting with a low-strength dosage of CBD. You can use this formula to calculate your precise dosage:
Low strength: (0.1) x (your body weight in pounds) = your dosage in mg
For example, if you’re 150 lbs., you’d start by taking 15mg of CBD each day to promote a calm and relaxed mood. Once you get a feel for the effects of CBD, you can alter this dosage as needed.
We use a formula, rather than giving general recommendations, because the amount of CBD you’ll need depends on how much you weigh.
How to Take CBD for Anger
There are a variety of ways you can take CBD for anger:
- CBD oil – CBD oil consists of hemp extract and carrier oil. CBD oil is taken under the tongue and is absorbed into the blood vessels in the mouth, rather than being swallowed. The effects of CBD oil can be felt in just 10-15 minutes.
- CBD Edibles and CBD Drinks– CBD edibles and drinks provide a great-tasting way to get the benefits of CBD. However, since they have to be digested, it can take roughly 1 hour to begin feeling the effects.
- CBD Softgels – Softgel capsules are CBD oil enclosed in a gel capsule (think Advil). They provide a quick, tasteless way to take CBD. They are digested, like edibles, so you’ll feel the effects in about 1 hour.
- Smokables and vapes — Smoking CBD-rich flower or inhaling it through a vape are two additional ways you can take CBD. Although they come with a health downside, smokables and vapes deliver effects in just 10-15 minutes, since the CBD in them is absorbed through the lungs.
Conclusion: Can CBD Help With Anger?
Depending on the cause of your anger, CBD may be able to help. It can improve the function of serotonin in your body, and it has been shown to be effective at addressing stress, anxiety, and depression.
However, CBD is not a substitute for professional treatment if you’re dealing with chronic anger issues, or anger as a result of a larger underlying problem. Still, in these cases, CBD may be able to supplement other treatment strategies.
Our best advice? Give CBD a try and see how it works for you. Or if you’re already receiving treatment, speak to your therapist about using CBD — it may be able to help you.
CBD for Anger: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions we get asked about using CBD for anger.
Does CBD reduce aggression?
Yes, CBD has the potential to be able to reduce aggression. One study on mice found that CBD reduced anger and aggression caused by social isolation. Currently, studies on the efficacy of CBD for aggression in humans are lacking. Despite this, there is strong anecdotal evidence that CBD can help with aggression.
How much CBD oil to take for anger management?
For anger, start with a low-strength dosage of CBD, which can be calculated using this formula:
(0.1) x (your body weight in pounds) = your CBD dosage in mg.
Using a weight-based formula allows you to tailor your dosage size to what your body needs while keeping a certain ratio in mind.
Is CBD a good mood enhancer?
CBD may be able to help improve your mood. CBD can promote calm and relaxation, although it won’t get you high or induce intense euphoria or relaxation as THC does.
