How Does It Work and How To Use It

Using cannabinoids for mental health issues is nothing new. Over the years, scientists have discovered that molecules such as CBD could positively impact those with depression, anxiety, PTSD, panic disorder, and more. What’s changed is that the number of studies on CBD for depression and anxiety has exploded—and with it, the people giving it a try for the first time. Here’s what we know about using CBD for depression in 2025, and how you can make it work for you. 

A Primer On The Effects of CBD For Mental Health

If you look into the benefits of CBD, you’ll find that they’re incredibly wide-ranging: it can help with back pain, insomnia, arthritis, muscle aches, seizures, panic attacks, and the list goes on. 

The main reason behind these wide-ranging effects is that CBD gives a boost to the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a bodily system with receptors all over the human brain and body. When that system is “boosted”, it runs in a much more balanced way. As a result, it’s not just physical health but also mental health that is positively impacted. 

In a 2018 review of studies, scientists summarized the effects of CBD for mental health CBD for mental health that have been discovered over the years. As it turns out, studies have found CBD to be helpful to relieve symptoms of:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Social Anxiety
• PTSD
• Bipolar Disorder
• Psychotic Disorders
• Sleep Disorders

The use of CBD and other cannabinoids in psychiatry has a long future ahead. But for now, let’s take a closer look at what research tells us about using CBD for depression. 

CBD For Depression: What The Research Shows 

Over the past 5 years, the number of studies on the effects of using CBD for depression and anxiety has increased dramatically. Where we mainly had pre-clinical trials conducted on mice or rats, we now have double-blind studies with dozens of human subjects. And while there isn’t exactly enough research to conclude that CBD is an antidepressant, these studies show that cannabinoids have a lot of potential for depression patients. 

Medical Cannabis And Depression

Isolating individual cannabis molecules is a fairly recent phenomenon. The use of the whole cannabis plant, on the other hand, dates back thousands of years. 

Our very distant ancestors first noticed that consuming cannabis produced a feeling of euphoria and brought on a more positive attitude. Research backs that up, showing that cannabis can alleviate feelings of hopelessness in depressed people. 

Today, a lot of medical cannabis research focuses on isolating molecules and asking, what are the effects of taking pure CBD, pure THC, or pure CBG? That kind of research has shown us that even non-intoxicating, THC-free cannabinoid extracts can have a powerful impact on mental health. 

CBD and Serotonin

A 2018 study conducted on lab mice revealed that CBD worked as an effective, fast-acting antidepressant. There have been other similar studies, all showing that CBD could improve symptoms of depression such as low mood, lack of motivation, irregular sleep, and more.

One of the most popular hypotheses as to why CBD has antidepressant effects is that it could improve our brain’s ability to process serotonin. Serotonin molecules play a major role in regulating our mood and letting us feel well and happy. This is particularly relevant for depressed people, who tend to have much lower levels of serotonin. 

CBD and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety go hand in hand. Feelings of anxiety typically increase the intensity of depressive feelings. Conversely, relieving anxiety can do wonders for depressive symptoms.

By being a powerful anti-anxiety drug (as these studies showed), CBD could help people with depression feel better overall. 

CBD and Sleep

People with depression are likely to suffer from irregular sleeping patterns and even insomnia. They might struggle to fall asleep at night while feeling sleepy throughout the day. Because sleep deprivation can take such a toll on your mood, making sure to get adequate sleep is incredibly important for those with depression. 

Here too, CBD can help. Studies have found that CBD could be used for sleep disorders. It makes it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Even more impressive, it can deepen sleep so that it’s more restorative. 

How to Use CBD for Depression and Anxiety

As research shows, taking CBD for depression can work on a number of levels:

• By helping the brain to process and effectively use serotonin
• By relieving anxiety
• By improving sleep quality

Because depression is such a complex condition, using CBD alone may not be enough. Psychiatrists and psychologists generally agree that the best way to cure depression is with a range of different tools such as talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, lifestyle changes, exercise, and sometimes supplements or medication. 

Using CBD as one of these tools could hurry up your progress and improve your overall sense of wellbeing. Here’s how to start: 

Choose the right product(s)

Quality matters. If you want to see results from using CBD for depression and anxiety, choose lab-tested, organic products made with all-natural ingredients. In addition, go for products that have higher rates of bioavailability such as vapes, topical CBD, or sublingual drops—they will give you more value for your money. 

Work on finding your ideal dose

The dose of CBD that you need to take to see results is a very personal thing. Our endocannabinoid systems are all different, as are our natural levels of endocannabinoids. With that in mind, the best advice we can give is to start with a relatively low dose (10mg/day) and keep increasing it by 10mg every week until you’ve found what works for you.

Be consistent

The effects of CBD for depression and anxiety can be profound, but they don’t typically happen overnight. Make sure to take CBD regularly for at least a couple of weeks before evaluating how well it is working for you. Consistency is key! 

How long does it take for CBD to help depression? 

CBD has a way of building up in your system which means it works better the longer you take it. That being said, many people report finding relief from depressive symptoms within the first 2 weeks of taking CBD. We recommend giving CBD at least a full month to show its effects.

Final Words

Cannabinoids like CBD have incredible potential when it comes to helping with mental health problems like depression and anxiety. We’re still at the beginning of a long research journey and Renact is glad to be part of it.

At Renact, we design all-natural pure cannabinoids extracts that are targeted at specific conditions: Sleep or Anxiety. Both of these products can be used to relieve symptoms of depression and improve overall mood and wellbeing. Try our easy-to-use vapes by ordering your first starter kit today!