Do you drink alcohol a little more than you feel you should or want? Have you tried to stop time and again, but can’t seem to make it stick?
Unfortunately, the withdrawal symptoms from quitting alcohol can still be significant, even if you aren’t a heavy drinker. The body begins to crave the sensations alcohol gives it, especially around the time of day that the person usually drinks. If those cravings are satiated, it can cause one to feel anxious, moody, and even have trouble sleeping.
Taking CBD gummies could be helpful to kicking this bad habit once and for all. While CBD isn’t a cure-all, it has been shown to help reduce cravings, feelings of anxiety, and pain signals, which may make improve the success of getting through the withdrawal period. However, it’s important to know when a medical detox and rehabilitation program is necessary to safely stop a heavy drinking habit. If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor first.
In this article, we’ll touch on how CBD works, how to use CBD gummies to stop drinking, and why full-spectrum CBD is the best choice.
What is CBD?
Most cannabidiol, or CBD, is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, which produces a wealth of cannabinoids (natural compounds with beneficial properties). There are over a hundred known cannabinoids, each of which has its own unique construction and quality.
Our body naturally produces these chemical compounds, known as endocannabinoids, to regulate different functions in the body. These include mood, metabolism, sleep, appetite, pain, and more. What’s remarkable is that the human endocannabinoid system (ECS) is compatible with the phytocannabinoids produced by plants, such as CBD.
By supplementing the body’s natural supply of endocannabinoids with CBD, it may help mitigate cravings, feel more focused, and get better sleep.
Is CBD Legal?
Yes, CBD is federally legal as long as it contains less than 0.3% THC.
The legality of cannabis depends on the level of THC in the plant. THC is the psychoactive component in marijuana, making it a regulated substance. In the United States, Cannabis sativa plants containing less than 0.3% THC are considered industrial hemp, and therefore legal according to the Federal government.
Yummy CBD products are sourced from organically grown industrial hemp, making them completely legal to purchase and use. To boost the efficacy of the CBD, they contain the full spectrum of cannabinoids, including trace amounts of THC. However, this amount isn’t enough to make you high, just improve your overall experience.
How To Use CBD Gummies to Stop Drinking
Many people fail to stop drinking because they quit abruptly and without support, leaving them vulnerable to cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Others replace one bad habit with another, trading alcohol for nicotine or sugar, for example.
CBD has very little potential for abuse or dependence. This makes CBD gummies a potential valuable addition to one’s recovery plan. Not only can they help you relax, but they may also alleviate some of the symptoms associated with withdrawl, making it easier to resist cravings and stay on the wagon.
If you’re planning to use CBD gummies to stop drinking, be aware that simply taking gummies isn’t enough. Rehabilitation is a step-by-step process, so it’s important that you get off on the right foot.
Recognize You Have a Problem
Addiction is not a character flaw, but it is a problem. To quit drinking, a person has to first recognize that they have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol and commit to positive change.
Try to identify the reasons you began drinking in the first place: a stressful job, an unhappy relationship, a troubled home life, or social anxiety may all lead people to cope with alcohol.
As you stop drinking, these other issues won’t magically go away, so you will want to figure out other health solutions and coping methods for them. The good news is that with each positive choice, you’ll be more equipped to find productive ways to build a healthier, happier life.
Build a Support Team
No single person is an island, and you’ll need people around you to offer support and hold you accountable during the recovery process. Your team can include friends, family, neighbors, and even support groups and forums.
A support team doesn’t have to be centered around recovery either. Joining a club or class can occupy time you used to spend drinking, and help you meet new people, thus growing your network of support.
One very helpful tip is to try to limit contact with friends you usually drink with, or find ways to spend time with them that don’t involve alcohol. If certain settings, situations, or people make you crave a drink, don’t be afraid to leave early or cancel entirely.
Determine If Your Alcohol Use Requires Medical Detox
Quitting cold turkey is not only unpleasant but it can also be downright dangerous. Depending on your alcohol use, you might require a medical detox to withdraw safely. However, this shouldn’t intimidate you.
Quality detox programs are designed to make the withdrawal process as safe and seamless as possible, so you can continue your recovery with confidence. You might benefit from medical detox if you experience (or think you might experience) the following after quitting:
- High blood pressure
- Body tremors
- Fever or delirium
- Hallucinations
- Confusion
- Seizures
Keep a Record For Future References
It can be very helpful to have some record of your experiences. It doesn’t have to be a detailed recording of everything. At a minimum, try journaling your symptoms: what are they, when are they the worst, what seems to help?
This record can be helpful to you as you improve your recovery plan as you move forward. For example, if you find that your symptoms are worse around certain times, you could then plan ahead and take your gummies beforehand to help nip cravings.
Try CBD Gummies
Once you feel confident in your rehabilitation plan, if you decide to incorporate CBD gummies as a supplement, keep in mind that it can take some time to find a dose and routine that works for you. (Tip: Record your results taking the gummies and try them at different times.) Disclaimer: CBD products are not a cureall and are not intended to treat or cure anything. Always consult with your doctor if you have any concerns about your health or an existing medical condition.
Yummy CBD offers two types of CBD gummies, for both day and night. Taking gummies in the morning or throughout the day may help stabilize your body and mood, while taking them around bedtime may help you fall asleep without a nightcap.
CBD gummies take a bit longer to take effect than CBD oils, since they have to be digested by the body. But, this process can ease the CBD into your system instead of delivering it all at once. If you’ve never taken CBD gummies before, be sure to start small and slowly increase the amount you take if needed. This is easier with gummies than CBD oil since each piece contains the same amount of CBD.
In no time at all, you’ll likely find a CBD schedule that provides the most effective benefits.
The Science Behind Withdrawl
One of the hardest parts about quitting is the withdrawal.
When a person first stops drinking, their body does not reward them for resisting cravings, it punishes them. This is the nature of addiction; their body has learned to live with the alcohol, and now it must learn to live without.
Withdrawal symptoms can be persistent, wearing down one’s resolve and making cravings more intense. Common symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Moodiness
- Unexplained pain
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Shaky, clammy hands
If you were craving a drink before, these unpleasant symptoms can make it seem irresistible. It might seem hard to believe that anything could provide relief.
Some people find that full-spectrum CBD helps take the edge off better than a drink, allowing themto redirect their focus. Cannabidiol is a powerful compound that is quickly gaining traction in the mainstream. It has natural anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties, soothing frayed nerves and helping reduce discomfort.
Anxiety and Moodiness
Anxiety is a nebulous feeling, and you might not even realize you’re anxious until you find yourself lost in thought, clenching your teeth or gripping the steering wheel. Anxiety might manifest as persistent cravings, recurring thoughts, heightened awareness, or a general unease.
You also might experience mood swings and irritability, making it difficult to get through the day. As stress levels rise, cravings and withdrawal symptoms can also intensify, only making them miserable.
One of the most common uses for CBD is for stress and anxiety. Research shows that it has the potential to increase serotonin levels, reducing feelings of anxiety and depression. For this reaso, taking CBD gummies may help keep you level throughout the day. Plus, they are convenient enough to take on-the-go.
Insomnia
Many people are dependent on alcohol to relax and fall asleep, and can find that skipping their evening drink makes it difficult or impossible to unwind. Even if they manage to fall asleep, they might find themselves waking repeatedly through the night. Restless sleep provides little relief, and can make one feel twice as fatigued in the morning.
To make matters worse, the longer one goes without deep, healing sleep, the worse their withdrawal symptoms may become. Yummy CBD sleep gummies contain a natural sleep aid (melatonin) along with full-spectrum CBD, so they can help you drift off peacefully and wake up refreshed.
Pain
Many people find themselves taken off guard by how painful withdrawal is, and pain has a negative effect on every aspect of one’s wellbeing. It can make it difficult to get up in the morning, focus on work, enjoy activities, relax, and fall asleep at night. Pain also puts you in a bad mood, only deepening feelings of depression and irritability.
In research studies as well as in clinical practice, CBD has been used to help address chronic pain caused by cancer, fibromyalgia, and more. While it probably won’t eliminate all the pain, it has been found very helpful in relaxing the body, easing feelings of pain, and reducing how many of these signals register in the brain.
Why is Full Spectrum CBD Best?
If you plan on using CBD gummies to stop drinking, consider going with full-spectrum CBD products, instead of broad-spectrum or isolate.
Full-spectrum CBD uses every part of the hemp plant and includes a full course of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Each of these has a unique chemical composition and a slightly different effect on the body. When you take a full-spectrum CBD gummy, all of these compounds come together to create the entourage effect.
The entourage effect enhances your overall experience, with each compound interacting and boosting the efficacy of the others. This means full-spectrum gummies are more effective and long-lasting than broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate.
That’s not all. When you opt for full-spectrum CBD, you’re getting more than the entourage effect. Certain cannabinoids have specific benefits, sometimes more so than CBD in isolation.
For example, cannabinol (CBN) is known to modulate how the body responds to stress, cannabigerol (CBG) has the potential to alleviate pain and increase motivation, and cannabichromene (CBC) plays a part in protecting and regenerating the brain.
Your CBD Gummy Options
Yummy CBD has two types of gummies. Each type contains a designated amount of CBD per gummy, and one version also includes a small amount of melatonin. Many people like to have both types of gummies on hand, so they can take them as needed.
Reclaim Full Spectrum CBD Gummies contain 24mg of CBD per gummy. These are ideal to keep close at hand. They can be taken one at a time or a couple together if needed. You may find that the urge to drink can be circumvented by chewing a gummy several times a day.
Renew Full Spectrum Sleep CBD Gummies also contain 24mg of CBD, plus 3mg micro active melatonin. This formulation is designed to help you unwind before bed, which is when many people struggle with withdrawal symptoms and the urge to drink. The CBD and melatonin work synergistically to naturally relax the body and mind, helping you drift off to sleep.
Both types of gummies come in a delicious mix of fruit flavors, including grape, watermelon, green apple, and pineapple. Each pouch contains 30 gummies. Make sure to keep your CBD gummies somewhere safe and secure where children and pets cannot find them.
When you chose to try CBD gummies to stop drinking, we recommend you begin with a single gummy at a time whenever you have the urge to drink or when your withdrawal symptoms are strongest, and note down how much difference it makes. Make adjustments as needed and remember that it may take a few weeks to find the right CBD dose for you.
Want more information about how to choose what CBD product to start with? Read our Buyer’s Guide. Then visit our SHOP page to pick up your first batch of CBD gummies!