CBD Oil For Childhood Behavior And Mood Disorders Like Aggression, Depression, And Anxiety

CBD Tinctures Health Benefits For Stuttering, Tourette Syndrome And Ticks, Dementia And Alzheimer’s In The Elderly

While having fewer responsibilities than adulthood, childhood is no walk in the park. Children are constantly learning and adapting to the world around them with fluctuating hormones and limited understanding of emotional intelligence. In some cases, a child may also have developmental or congenital impairments that can add further stress to coping with everyday life as a child. CBD tinctures might just be able to help children manage their moods and behaviors safely and without side effects. Let’s take a look at how CBD can help with childhood aggression, depression, and anxiety.

What is Aggression In Children?

Childhood aggression can present itself in a number of ways. The most common signs of childhood aggression include:

  • Frequent loss of temper or a high intensity anger
  • Extreme irritability
  • Impulsivity and the inability to remain focused
  • Frustration
  • Physical attacks and fights with other children or adults
  • Frequent disruption
  • An argumentative or sullen attitude 
  • Poor performance in school 
  • Inability to participate in organized activities (events, sports, etc)
  • Difficulty in social situations and making friends
  • Challenges parental authority and refusal to follow rules
  • Denial of responsibility for misbehavior

All children will present with these behaviors at one time or another. Suffering from childhood aggression means displaying many of these behaviors frequently and in all different contexts, meaning at school, at home, with friends or other family, etc. 

Why Is My Child Aggressive?

There are several reasons why a child may present with this type of behavior. Here are some of the most common:

Fear

Children are vulnerable and at the mercy of adults in many ways. Like adults, they have a fight or flight response and sometimes that means that fear can produce aggressive behaviors. Lashing out is a natural response to fear, whether physical or emotional based. This type of aggression is typically fairly mild in terms of being easily treated by using coping strategies and recognizing triggers. 

Trouble at home

Children are not capable of processing stress the same way adults can. They don’t possess the language or the acumen to vocalize their stressors or worries. When a child is experiencing difficulty in the home, whether it’s sibling rivalry that has gone too far, divorce, or moving to a new home or city, they can experience a multitude of worries, discomfort and fear. 

Learning Disabilities

Children spend the majority of time at school and learning. A child who suffers from a learning disability, especially one that has not yet been diagnosed, can feel an immense amount of frustration with zero understanding of why they’re struggling. This frustration can become physical aggression easily. 

Neurological Disorders

Neurological disorders are an abnormality in the central nervous system, the brain, or the muscle cells. In children, they can be congenital (for example, spina bifida), or acquired through trauma (for example, traumatic brain injury). If you suspect a neurological disorder, please seek immediate medical help from a specialist.

Behavioral Disorders and Mood Disorders

 Behavioral disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or  oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or depression, can predispose children to aggression as they are unable to control their impulses and can become increasingly frustrated by getting reprimanded for behavior they don’t feel responsible for, or feelings they don’t understand.

Trauma

Experiencing emotional trauma can be a major factor in childhood aggression. With an increase in fear, anxiety, and depression, there is a high likelihood of the manifestation of physical violence.

Modeled Behavior

Children will model the behavior they see. Limiting exposure to violence, both real and fictional, is important in order to minimize aggression in children, particularly if they are prone to aggression as a result of any of the reasons listed above.

How can CBD Help Treat My Child’s Aggression?

Current Research Outlook

Research regarding CBD and children is still mainly limited to seizure disorders, however there are some promising new studies that suggest that CBD can lower aggression. Scientists are even conducting studies using synthetic CBD in order to test the effects it has on children with severe autism. The goal isn’t to cure autism, rather to see how effective CBD is at reducing or managing the symptoms of severe autism that can greatly impact the quality of life such as aggression, self-harm, and hyperactivity. 

Up and Coming Research

Because CBD is now legalized, the floodgates have opened to research possibilities. Scientists are now beginning to look at the effects of CBD (and THC as well to a point) on specific behaviors and moods. Preliminary research has shown a reduction in aggression without affecting locomotor behavior, meaning no neurological impairment and the subjects can move freely without being altered by the CBD. The research is only beginning but the results suggest there’s a possibility that CBD can be used to reduce aggression in children regardless of the trigger. Research already shows that CBD can reduce brain inflammation and even help protect the brain against injury and degeneration through a process called neurogenesis. Additionally, with CBD’s effect on serotonin and anademine, children who suffer from aggression as a result of stress, anxiety, or depression, can find relief with the addition of a CBD tincture to their health regimen.  

CBD Oil Tincture For Children With Anxiety

Just like adults, children can suffer from anxiety and experience a decreased quality of life as a result. Thankfully, CBD tinctures can be an easy method of delivering CBD to provide natural relief for anxiety, even in children.

What Does Childhood Anxiety Look Like?

Anxiety in children can be more challenging to diagnose or recognize as it often presents differently from adults. Some symptoms to be mindful of that may indicate your child is suffering from anxiety include:

  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Inability to sleep or remain asleep (having bad dreams)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Increased irritability or outbursts
  • Constant worry or negative thoughts
  • Frequent toileting
  • Frequent fidgeting or restlessness
  • Constant crying
  • Clingy behavior
  • Complaints of tummy aches and feeling unwell

If your child presents with the symptoms, it is likely they are suffering from anxiety. A doctor should always provide a diagnosis in order to rule out any other underlying causes. 

How Can CBD Tinctures Provide Relief For Childhood Anxiety?

CBD has the incredible effect of reducing hyperactivity in the amygdala, the center of the brain responsible for fight or flight. When we are experiencing anxiety, our brain is sending signals throughout our body in an attempt to ensure we can escape the danger. When we experience this process frequently, we end up with chronic anxiety, or generalized anxiety disorder. Adding CBD tincture to your child’s health plan can be beneficial to treat their stress and anxiety

CBD Oil Tincture for Children with Depression

What does Childhood Depression Look Like?

Diagnosing depression in children can be difficult as childhood is a tumultuous time psychologically and the symptoms of depression will often be explained as normal emotional and psychological development. Your child might be suffering from depression if they exhibit some of the following symptoms or behaviors:

  • Increased irritability or anger
  • A feeling of hopelessness, worthlessness, or guilt
  • Continuous feeling of sadness
  • Withdrawal from social activities like sports, school outings, or friend playdates
  • Low energy and lethargy, even during activities at home, with friends, in school, etc.
  • Increased sensitivity to rejection or failure
  • Sudden increased or decreased appetite
  • Sleeplessness or oversleeping
  • Increased crying or outbursts
  • Complaints of tummy aches or headaches that don’t improve with treatment
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Thoughts of death or suicide

Just like with anxiety, it is important to seek medical advice to diagnose depression in children. A major hallmark of depression as opposed to just acute feelings of frustration or sadness is that your child will be withdrawn or sad or low-energy in all areas of life, for example at school, home, and with friends. 

How can CBD Tinctures Provide Relief for Childhood Depression?

When we’re depressed, our brain isn’t releasing chemicals like serotonin as a reward when we’re experiencing pleasant experiences. This is what causes us to lose interest in things we would otherwise love. CBD regulates our endocannabinoid system and can help us return to homeostasis by increasing the production of chemicals like serotonin. By adding a CBD tincture to your child’s health routine, you can help alleviate some of the negative symptoms that come with depression with fewer side effects than common prescription antidepressants. Just like with any treatment, always discuss adding treatment options with your pediatrician as CBD can interact with some medications.  

Final Thoughts

CBD can be a very safe and effective way to treat childhood aggression, depression and anxiety. Before using CBD tinctures on your child, always consult a doctor to ensure it will not interact with any medication your child is currently taking. The known side effects of CBD include:

  • Dry Mouth
  • Low Blood Pressure
  • Light-Headedness
  • Drowsiness

Compared to modern antipsychotics and antidepressants, it is obvious why parents and pediatricians are starting to turn toward CBD as a treatment option. Before you purchase your CBD tincture, please check out our CBD Buyer’s Guide to ensure you know what to look for when buying a CBD tincture

**If you or anyone you know is suffering from thoughts of suicide, please get help: National Youth Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-yourself/youth/ **

CBD Oil Tinctures From Pregnancy To Breastfeeding

CBD Oil Tinctures From Pregnancy To Breastfeeding

Everyone has an opinion on children; when to have them, how to raise them, what to feed them… It can be overwhelming sifting through the information online, in books, and through podcasts and settling on a method that works best for you. Adding to this is the new legislation and research on CBD and its mainstream coverage. Is CBD safe during pregnancy? How about during breastfeeding? Let’s break it down and see what the science says.

Why Use CBD Oil Tinctures While Pregnant?

Pregnancy is not an easy process for the body to go through. While the body changes to accommodate baby, there are some unpleasant side effects such as: 

Not every pregnancy will present with these symptoms, however the majority of pregnancies will experience at least one or more throughout the course of nine months Treating these symptoms can be difficult at the best of times, however due to the connection s via the umbilical cord, treating illnesses and symptoms such as these during a pregnancy poses a much higher risk. It is important to keep in mind that anything consumed or absorbed into the body will also reach the foetus, including medication. 

Lovers of CBD are quick to draw the connection between CBD use and symptoms of pregnancy. There is plenty of data to suggest CBD’s effectiveness for treating nausea, vomiting, insomnia, anxiety and other mood disorders, as well as inflammation and pain. Not only do CBD tinctures provide relief from these side effects, it does so with minimal to no side effects of its own. This would appear to be a naturally great fit for pregnancy symptoms, however there is one small problem: Scientific research has been so greatly hindered by the governmental policies that rose mostly out of racism and xenophobia that there is very little research on the use of CBD and pregnancy because it was illegal for so long.

Is CBD Safe During Pregnancy?

This is where things get complicated. There is plenty of research and anecdotal data to support the safe use of CBD for a large variety of illnesses and diseases. To date, there is no research to conclude that ingesting or using CBD is unsafe, even in large doses. That being said, there is also no long-term research completed on pregnancy and CBD. It’s not surprising that so little research has been done to date. Not only has CBD and THC been classified as an illegal substance, meaning doctors and researchers have historically been unable to secure funding to research it, it is also difficult to obtain permission from ethics boards to test on pregnant populations without sufficient backing research that demonstrates the safety of the substance. 

Additionally, pregnancy is such a varied process that it can be exceptionally difficult to determine if something is working or not as a result. Just like each person’s endocannabinoid system is uniquely theirs, so too is their pregnancy. So while CBD may be shown to work for one person’s stress, for example, it may not be working on another’s due to other variables that make it difficult to measure whether it’s the CBD not working or something else interfering with its efficacy.

Lastly, in order for a substance to be measured for efficacy as a medical supplement, long-term studies need to be conducted to truly understand the results and safety of the substance. Unfortunately, while pregnancy is a common condition, there isn’t enough interest from the scientific field at the moment to spend the amount of money required to engage in a long-term scientific study. Currently, the majority of research funds are being explored with regards to CBD and mood disorders such as anxiety, depression, and mental illness, as well as diseases like dementia, seizures, and multiple sclerosis. While these studies will help build research showing how safe CBD is for non-pregnant populations, they will still lack specific data on pregnant people. 

Should I Use It Then?

Using anything during pregnancy really is a personal choice that should be discussed between you and your doctor. There is absolutely no evidence that CBD poses any threat during pregnancy, however due to the lack of solid clinical evidence (for reasons described above) proving it is safe, some physicians may choose to err on the side of caution. CBD can be an excellent choice in order to avoid more worrisome pharmaceuticals to treat common pregnancy ailments, providing that it is of high quality and properly sourced. With this in mind, always ensure you are purchasing CBD tinctures from a company that provides third-party testing and follows the USFDA regulations. For an in-depth look at how to best choose a CBD tincture, check out this CBD Tincture Buyer’s Guide. One additional tip on purchasing CBD while pregnant: Be sure to only purchase CBD isolate and not CBD full-spectrum. CBD Isolates are free from the cannabinoid THC, the chemical responsible for making you high. There is research to support that THC during pregnancy is harmful and should be avoided. 

Can I Use CBD Tinctures While Breastfeeding? 

Just like with the umbilical cord, anything consumed post-pregnancy can be transmitted to the baby via breastmilk. Breastfeeding is a popular option for feeding babies as it passes all of the nutrients, immunities, and proteins directly to the child. FOr this reason, it is important for those who are breastfeeding to remain cautious about their medication, alcohol consumption, etc. Cannabinoids are a natural occurrence in breastmilk, regardless of the ingestion of CBD. Because our bodies naturally produce them through the endocannabinoid system, they are an integral part of child development. Just like with pregnancy, there is no research to demonstrate any harm will come to your baby if you ingest CBD. THC, however, should once again be avoided as it has been linked to significant childhood developmental delays. Also important to note is that consuming CBD is not a new or modern habit. CBD has existed for centuries and has long been part of other cultures where it is less taboo than in North America. So while there is little clinical data on breastfeeding and CBD use, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to support the claims that it remains safe, providing that it is free from THC. 

Another benefit of CBD tincture use postpartum is the effects it can have to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, which can peak after birth. Postpartum depression is a serious disorder and if you feel you are suffering from the symptoms, please reach out to your doctor immediately to seek help. You can also discuss the use of CBD with your doctor as part of a treatment plan as the side effects are minimal, especially considering those of the common antidepressants/ SSRIs that are available pharmaceutically. 

As mentioned above, the most important thing to consider is the brand and quality of CBD you purchase. Always make sure you’re buying from a trusted source with third-party testing and talk to your doctor about your use. This will ensure there are no reactions with any current medication you are taking and that you and baby remain happy and healthy.

Final Thoughts on Early Childhood and CBD Use

Although the clinical research falls short on CBD and pregnancy, there is still plenty of anecdotal and adjacent research that demonstrates CBD can be safe and effective as treatment for many ailments, including those that are suffered during pregnancy. There is a long history of using CBD’s healing properties throughout pregnancies and no evidence that it is harmful. It is a personal choice whether you wish to use CBD tinctures or other products throughout your pregnancy and breastfeeding. Regardless of what you choose, always speak to your doctor so that they are aware of your decisions and can monitor your health.