Public Speaking Can Be Scary for Some

I’m standing at the podium in a room filled by my peers or colleagues and they are all staring at me.  My palms are clammy, my face is heated and getting red, my neck and chest have red blotches and it suddenly feels someone has raised the thermostat as though I was taking a hot yoga class!  I clear my throat to begin to speak and when I open my mouth to begin my presentation, nothing comes out. 

Everyone’s eyes are locked on me waiting for something, anything.  This heightens the sensations I’m experiencing, and I wonder if it’s possible to hit the pause button or simply run away.  Neither of these is an option and I now begin thinking that they are all judging how I look which just makes it even worse.

The Struggle is Real

If you can relate to what I’m describing and that feeling, then you too, understand the stress and fear that can arise from public speaking… and for some people, even just the thought of public speaking!  You may be the foremost authority on the subject matter and more than qualified to present the information, but even if you presented numerous times you struggle with a fear of public speaking.

I have been plagued with this nightmare-like fear of public speaking since childhood.  For me, the fear subsides slowly once I start speaking, but I’ve witnessed the debilitating effect on friends and peers having to struggle through their presentation or public presentation.

Whether it was as a child standing in front of my class to present a project or now as an adult professional presenting to a peer group, it’s always been challenging for me to deal with the stress and panic of public speaking.

Digital Public Speaking is Public Speaking

In this age of COVID and post COVID, it is likely that many situations where people speak in front of a large audience have shifted, or will shift to an online platform. Even though you cannot visually see all attendees in an audience, they are still there and you know it. The concerns about speaking in front of a large audience are still there, albeit in a different format.

Public Speaking is Feared by Many

This fear of public speaking is very real for many people and can be debilitating to the point of having a significant adverse impact on their professional careers.  People that dread the day that they will have to stand up in front of a room full of people and present, often avoid public speaking. Because of this, they are limiting their opportunity to be seen and heard by those that can help advance their careers. 

Some people are responsible for speaking in front of others all the time, and for other people, it’s on occasion.  The one thing they probably all wonder about is whether or not there is something they can do about it.  If you are one of the many that struggle with a fear of public speaking, CBD may be a holistic alternative that you may not have considered.

What is CBD?

CBD, cannabidiol is one of the hundreds of compounds found in the cannabis Sativa (hemp) plant that has been and continues to be studied as natural alternatives to support some health and wellness challenges people face. 

There have been studies on CBD’s effectiveness with stress, discomfort, sleep challenges, and many other issues.  It’s critical to know that research on all of these issues continues and it has not yet been approved by the FDA as a treatment, cure, or preventative for these challenges.

CBD is derived from hemp and is nothing like its cousin, THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol).  The THC content in hemp, in accordance with federal regulations, must remain below 0.3%.  It has no psychoactive effects, unlike THC.  Most importantly, there are studies by reputable organizations including Harvard, The Mayo Clinic, The US National Center for Biotechnology Information, etc. on the potential of CBD to help with stress.

Here are some of those studies should you wish to reference them further:

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-research-needed-into-treating-anxiety-with-cbd/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326553/

How Does CBD Work?

As we will discuss later in this article, within our nervous systems, there is a separate but interwoven network of receptors known as the endocannabinoid system. When we ingest cannabinoids, including CBD, they make their way through our bloodstream to this system then interact with receptors that are located throughout the body.

The ECS system allows CBD and other cannabinoids a connection to neurotransmitters related to stress, focus, and other functions that help to create and maintain homeostasis. Homeostasis is a state in which the body is in complete balance. Heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, and many other important functions are all regulated by the endocannabinoid system.

Research and studies of CBD are relatively recent, and knowledge of CBD is still in its infancy. However, there are mass amounts of scientists and researchers who have dedicated their time and career to deepening the understanding of CBD and all effects that come along with it. It’s important to remember that CBD is not a medication and cannot be prescribed or used to replace any existing prescriptions from a doctor.

How CBD can help Public Speaking

CBD works with the endocannabinoid system and may help reduce stress. It can also alleviate some of the challenges we feel in anticipation of public speaking.  The endocannabinoid system regulates the hormones released as a result of stress. 

When a person takes CBD, it attaches to the cannabinoid receptors and may help reduce some of that stress.  The product and form you choose work in different ways depending on your level of stress.  It’s important to consult with your health care professional to make sure that this is right for you to consider as an alternative. 

If you are feeling fearful before you have to speak publicly, it’s important to consider what type of CBD product you want to take, the amount you should take, and how long before you are going to speak.  Additionally, it’s best if you try it before you need it so you can see how it works for you proactively. The last thing you want is to take a large enough amount of CBD which causes you to become too relaxed.

Pay Attention To Dosage

CBD may ease some of the feelings of stress that can arise in conjunction with public speaking.  It’s very important to understand your body, the amount you need, and how long before you plan on speaking you should take the CBD. 

As I always say, each person is unique, and there is no “one size fits all” approach to what will work best for you.  Some may need to take it only a short time before they present, and others might need to take it an hour before while others might benefit the best if they take CBD the night before. It depends on your body and how it processes the CBD, the method of ingestion you use, and the quality of the company and product you select.

If you have a more serious condition, CBD is likely not the right option for you and may require more serious medication under a physician’s care.  For those that wish to consider this option, we are confident that this may improve your experience, calm your nerves, and allow you to eliminate some of the panic and stress that sets in as you step up to the mic.

The CBD Solution

Although CBD may not be a viable option for everybody, there is still hope. The fear of public speaking is very common for many people even to the point of being phobic. Now that there is an option available that does not entail drinking a bottle of whiskey, a lot of people that need to face this fear at least have the hope for a solution.

What is the Best CBD Product for Public Speaking?

There is no shortage of CBD products on the market for avid CBD users, and there is no wrong or bad choice when it comes to CBD. Millions of adults use CBD on a regular or daily basis because it is a legal and natural way to benefit from cannabinoids without the psychoactive “high” that comes along with THC use.

Some of the most popular formats you can take of CBD include edibles, tinctures, and vaporizers (or vapes). Let’s dive a little deeper into each and discuss the pros and cons of use, and help you see what option the best for you may be.

Edibles

Edibles may be the top most popular CBD product and for very good reason. Edibles allow you to take a full serving of CBD anywhere discreetly and are made to be tasty and enjoyable.

CBD edibles come in all shapes and sizes, and chances are you can find a copycat of your favorite snacks made infused with CBD.

Edibles are a discreet and private way to enjoy the benefits that CBD has to offer, however, it has the longest wait time to feel the effects. Edibles often take from 1-2 hours to fully take effect, so when using edibles to calm public speaking nerves, it takes some planning to feel the effects at the perfect time. With a waiting window of up to 2 hours, it also makes it harder to fine-tune the perfect dose for you and leaves room for accidentally taking too much by prematurely taking more before the full effects have set in.

Tinctures

Tinctures are concentrated CBD in liquid form and can be taken orally or used topically. Tinctures come in a few different classifications for tinctures, including isolate, full-spectrum, and broad-spectrum. There is no bad choice when it comes to tinctures, but one option may seem better for you and your lifestyle than the others. Let’s dive a little deeper:

• Full-spectrum CBD tinctures contain other extracts and cannabinoids, including trace amounts of THC. Even though full spectrum tinctures are not psychoactive (or produce a high), the THC plays an important role in the entourage effect where all minor cannabinoids combine to produce the greatest benefits. There are other compounds found in full-spectrum distillate other than the minor cannabinoids, such as terpenes, flavonoids and other compounds, however, there still needs to be much research into these compounds to fully discover the tertiary compounds which are found in full-spectrum distillate and the benefits they provide. Some brands may claim their full-spectrum CBD is “ultra-clean” but the extraction and distillation methods involved with that basically remove all of the terpenes.
• Broad-Spectrum CBD tinctures are very similar to full-spectrum, however, in the process of the hemp oil extraction, the THC is removed so there is no trace of it in the final product. This is a better option for a CBD user looking to get all the benefits hemp has to offer while wanting to steer clear entirely from THC. With broad-spectrum distillate tinctures, you are still receiving the beneficial effects of the minor cannabinoids except for the THC.
• Isolate CBD tinctures contain the purest form of CBD, containing no other extracts or traces of other cannabinoids or any other ingredients. With isolate CBD, what you see is exactly what you get, and is a great option for a CBD user who just wants CBD purely and simply. Isolate tinctures, however, are the most processed tincture on the market, and have virtually no other beneficial compounds from the hemp plant.

Vaporizers

CBD vaporizers come in a few different forms, from CBD infused vape juice for more seasoned vape users, to disposable vape pens with CBD infused oil cartridges. CBD users who prefer to vape their doses often already enjoy vaping, whether it be nicotine or essential oil-type puff bars. Vaporizing CBD is one of the fastest ways to feel the effects of CBD, getting to your bloodstream faster through your lungs than through your digestive system (edibles) or via your mouth lining (tincture).

So, which of these products is right for you, and right for public speaking? There is no one-size-fits-all perfect product, and the only way to find what fits best into your lifestyle is to try a few options and compare how they work for you. Start with what sounds the most interesting, for example, a foodie might be more inclined to dive into the world of CBD edibles before trying a vaporizer or a tincture, or someone who already uses a vape may be most interested in a CBD infused vape juice. It's all about making the products work for you, there is no wrong answer and no bad choice when it comes to CBD.  As always, we suggest you speak with your health care practitioner before taking CBD to make sure they agree.

Discomfort and Stress Relief with CBD

As we’ve said, CBD is not an FDA-recognized treatment or medication and is not considered a replacement for prescribed medication or healthcare. That being said, many users of CBD have experienced the natural benefits of CBD on their own, and many have attributed relief of stress and discomfort to the use of CBD. If you struggle with discomfort or stress outside of the occasional public speaking stage fright, you may benefit from these relieving benefits as well.

Since CBD is still in its infancy of research, it is important to take users' opinions and personal experiences with a grain of salt, and when in doubt ask the opinion of a physician. Using CBD to aid in pre-presentation jitters may be a great way to start with CBD and make your own journey and feel your own experiences for yourself.

Other Great Benefits of Using CBD

CBD has many all-natural benefits for the human body, including the stress-relieving qualities we’ve already gone through. But what else does CBD hold that could benefit your daily life?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that CBD has qualities that can help you sleep, improve your skincare routine, increase your appetite, relieve nausea, and feel better. As we continue to say, take these claims with a grain of salt because they have not been proven and are not backed by the FDA, however, there are numerous studies that support these claims and shine a bright light on the future of CBD.

CBD is a truly versatile all-natural extract that has the ability to change lives, and as research and studies continue, our knowledge and understanding of it grows daily.

Though you can take too much for your desired effect, you cannot overdose on CBD. There are no known cases of serious injury or harm occurring because someone took too much CBD.

When it comes to skincare, CBD has wellness properties that, when applied topically, leave your skin looking refreshed with a healthy-looking glow. CBD infused lotions and bath salts can give a deeply relaxing spa-like experience, all while actually benefiting the skin from the inside out.

No matter your reason for starting with CBD, such as stage fright before a big presentation, there are seemingly unlimited reasons to continue using CBD products and benefiting from all the natural benefits CBD has to offer.

Versatile Relief, Versatile Benefits

CBD is a vegan-friendly, all-natural, completely legal way to indulge in the benefits that hemp has to offer. There are no psychoactive effects or threat of a hemp hangover.

This fantastic cannabinoid can provide relief from everyday stresses, and packed public presentation jitters, to simply having a hard time winding down at the end of a long day. 

CBD is enjoyed by millions of adults on a daily basis, and studies report that  1 in every 7 American adults uses CBD on a regular basis.

CBD helps to keep you calm, cool, and collected all while giving your skin a healthy glow, and helping you wind down at the end of it all.

CBD is not a medication and cannot be prescribed. You should always seek the advice of a physician before partaking in any CBD products just to ensure it won’t complicate any other healthcare issues you might have going on. Mixing CBD with certain medications might cause unpleasant side effects, so it is best to consult your physician to see if CBD works in your daily regimen before using it. 

Through our knowledge and understanding of CBD is very little compared to what there is to know and understand, the future of CBD is bright and promising, and we hope to deepen our understanding of CBD and its interworking details as time goes on.