Mood disorders are rarely considered a physiological condition, let alone an illness or disorder. Most people (even those who suffer most severely) tend to attribute their erratic emotional fluctuations to a dysfunctional state of mind rather than to a specific chemical or hormonal imbalance.
However, the fact is that mood swings are most often caused by neurochemical irregularities in specific areas of the brain, most often in the limbic system (hypothalamus, hippocampus and amygdala). This region of the brain is responsible for regulating emotional states such as stress, anxiety and depression.
And, of course, like any other functional network of the central nervous system, endocannabinoids and their receptors have been found in abundance in the limbic system. This suggests that cannabinoids like CBD are very likely to play a central regulatory role in establishing and maintaining emotional health at the chemical level.
Studies have shown that neuronal tissue endocannabinoids (cannabinoids located in the hippocampus and amygdala) are directly responsible for the release and regulation of monoamine neurotransmitters, which are key players in the regulation of mood and emotional well-being.
In this article, we will discuss some of these specific studies, examine the exact causes of the underlying effects of emotional stress, and explain why the’CBD oil for mood disorders is fast becoming the preferred method of treatment for both doctors and patients.
Mood disorders: What are they and what causes them?
While some mood swings may be due to more transient problems such as acute stress or even hypoglycemia, others are caused by an underlying physiological/chemical condition in the form of hormonal irregularity or neurochemical imbalance.
Although the full chemical spectrum of mood regulation is not fully understood, it is known that changes in emotion and mood are regulated in large part by the’serotonin's neuromodulatory action and dopamine. Irregularities in either (or both) of these chemicals can cause wild and unpredictable changes in cognitive behavior, the behavior of our pleasure/reward system and overall emotional response.
What causes these serotonin and dopamine irregularities?
Specific disorders such as bipolar disorder, cyclothymic disorder (which is similar to bipolar disorder but less severe) and major depressive disorder are known to involve neurotransmitter dysfunction. Similarly, it is widely accepted that hormonal irregularities cause chemical imbalances in the brain, which can lead directly to the erratic emotional fluctuation of mood swings (this phenomenon is generally more common in adolescents and pregnant or menopausal women).
Substance abuse (drugs and alcohol) has been directly linked to radical mood changes caused by neurochemical imbalances.
Other factors such as stress, changes in diet and sleep, as well as illnesses like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), epilepsy and autism, can lead to drastic mood changes.
Finally, certain drugs such as antidepressants, appetite suppressants and anxiolytics are known to affect serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain.
In terms of identifying the difference between benign mood changes and those caused by chemical imbalances, it is generally suggested that frequent emotional movements, ranging from extreme joy to extreme depression, indicate a neural imbalance.
These fluctuating emotions can give rise to feelings of happiness so intense that individuals can't control things like excessive spending, creative urgency and even sexual drive. Similarly, feelings of depression can often be so intense that people contemplate self-harm or even suicide.
In addition, unpredictable behavior lasting several days in a row and mood swings that significantly disrupt daily life are most often a sign of a chemical imbalance that requires treatment or medical attention.
Living with mood disorders
Erratic and unpredictable mood fluctuations can naturally have a detrimental effect on everyday life. In the most severe cases, these emotional changes can easily prevent a person from working, concentrating, maintaining healthy relationships, or even eating, sleeping or getting out of bed in the morning.
Simple minor annoyances can derail a person's mental state to the point of manic emotional episodes, and intense feelings of euphoria and depression can be (and often are) experienced almost simultaneously within the same day, or even within the same hour.
Furthermore, problem-solving and the ability to cope with everyday situations become virtually impossible, with the full emotional spectrum obscuring any potential ability to formulate or implement a cognitive process.
Living with mood disorders or bipolar disorder can be totally and utterly debilitating. Most people who experience it become willing to use whatever means necessary to receive effective, positive treatment.
Conventional methods of treating mood disorders
Radical mood swings can often be dealt with by simple lifestyle modifications. Things as basic as improving diet, sleep patterns and overall sleep quality can have a dramatic impact on emotional health. They should be the first method of treatment before any dependence on medication.
However, in cases of significant neurochemical imbalances caused by one of the above-mentioned pathologies, lifestyle changes are often not enough to induce positive effects on mood regulation. In such circumstances, doctors and psychiatrists often end up resorting to prescription drugs to restore appropriate neurochemical levels in the brain.
Some of the drugs used are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), with brand names such as Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil. Although moderately effective, these drugs are known to produce very different responses from person to person, as well as very dangerous side effects that can include severe depression and suicidal thoughts.
CBD for mood disorders: A natural 100% way to correct a neurochemical imbalance?
As mentioned in the introduction, serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain are directly controlled and regulated by endocannabinoids within the endocannabinoid system of the central nervous system. Several studies, including a recent publication (2011) in the medical journal Neuropharmacology, have shown this to be the case.
Does this mean that mood swings caused by chemical imbalance are a direct byproduct of simple endocannabinoid deficiencies, and can be managed with natural 100% drugs like CBD oil?
Although there is not enough direct evidence to state this definitively, it seems increasingly likely that this is the case. Several studies and clinical trials, including publications in Current Neuropharmacology and the Journal of Neuroscience, have reaffirmed the role of the endocannabinoid network in establishing and maintaining mental health and emotional well-being, as well as acting as central regulators of our moods and emotions.
The endocannabinoid system (SEC) is an innate network (naturally present in the human body) of cannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors. The endocannabinoid system plays dozens of roles in whole-body homeostasis, from hormone release in the thyroid gland to neuronal communication in the central nervous system, to insulin production in pancreatic islet cells.
Under normal circumstances, these natural cannabinoids (such as anandamide) interact with natural cannabinoid receptors (such as CB-1 and CB-2 receptors) to establish a full range of homeostatic regulation and internal cellular equilibrium.
So, in the event of a deficiency in the ECS, a number of bodily or neurological functions can become completely unbalanced. In these cases, natural cannabis compounds like CBD can help restore and rebuild the proper cell-to-cell interactions that exist within the endogenous cannabinoid/receptor network.
Why CBD?
After THC, CBD is generally the second most abundant cannabinoid in the cannabis plant. However, it is quickly preferred to THC by patients because it has no intoxicating components, i.e. it won't get you high.
Products such as CBD oil (as well as edibles, topicals and even CBD-rich flowers) contain all the beneficial properties of cannabis, without producing the stereotypical euphoria usually associated with the drug.
The vast majority of quality CBD products come from hemp, which contains less than 0.3 % THC by volume. Although hemp and marijuana come from the same Cannabis sativa L species, they differ significantly in their active cannabinoid content.
The essential: CBD for mood disorders
Given the flood of scientific evidence published in respected medical and academic journals, it has become clear that taking CBD for mood swings could be an option for this disabling neuronal disorder.
For those considering CBD for mood disorders, know that we've selected the most effective CBD oils and the most reputable CBD products. As always, be sure to do your own research and know that CBD and other cannabinoids do not have the same effect on every individual.