w
Annual
Avoiding my
ANXIETY ATTACK
THE ‘MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR’ CAN ALSO BE THE MOST STRESSFUL,
ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE PRONE TO ANXIETY, AS LUCY MACKINNON WRITES.
Supermarkets, department stores, even high street
boutiques leave me gasping for air year upon year, when
the Christmas shopping panic sets in. Key word, panic.
For me, there are too many people on a mission, in too
tight a space.
So, I try to do most of my shopping online, but there
are always several things I need to buy in person –
unfortunately.
This year I decided to immerse myself in an experiment
to see if CBD could help me overcome this mountain I’ve
made from a molehill.
I took to the city of Leicester, armed with a CBD vape.
I decided to go against my gut and visit my local shopping
centre there at its peak time between 1 and 3pm on a
Saturday.
“Year upon year, when the
shops get full, I get frightened.”
A Colorado study from earlier this year
found that CBD treatment decreased
stress levels in a group of 72 participants
citing anxiety concerns. The results
showed 79% felt a decrease in anxiety
symptoms after a course of CBD.
Last year, Brazilian researchers
conducted a randomised controlled
public speaking study with 57
participants. The evidence showed that
those administered with 300mg of CBD
before speaking publicly had significantly
reduced anxiety, compared to those in
the placebo group.
Primark, one of the busiest retail outlets at any given time
of the year, was my first pit stop. I went in and made it
about 10 yards before panicking, so I left and puffed some
CBD e-liquid.
I returned a few minutes later with my game face on and I
was pleasantly surprised.
The shop was just as full, the people were just as
determined, but I was a lot more relaxed.
I was still rubbing shoulders with many strangers, but I felt
almost as though I was drifting through the aisles instead
of forcing my way through them.
Although I still felt tense, I didn’t feel terrified, which is an
extreme improvement.
My internal ‘its busy buzzer’ had quietened.
I spent two hours shopping that day, visiting a list of stores
and managed to get my Christmas shopping done, all
without one panic attack – a major accomplishment for
me.
I also had a friend come with me and with CBD in my
system I was actually able to enjoy a proper ‘girls shopping
trip’ for the first time in my adult life.