My name is Shelby, and I am one of many lives impacted by CBD. CBD allows me to live a normal life, have a job that I love, and not allow my illnesses to define me. CBD can help with many medical illnesses such as epilepsy, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain.
At the age of 19, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor called a ganglioglioma, a type of brain tumor that occurs when a single cell in the brain divides into several more cells and forms a tumor. A ganglioglioma is a rare type of tumor, it actually only makes up about 1% of all brain tumors! They are typically benign, as was mine, but about 10% transform to malignant tumors. At the time I was diagnosed, I was about to begin my junior year of college, studying neuroscience and psychology. I had learned a lot about seizures, and thought that I might have been having them. After a brain scan, there it was. Because of the seizures, I was no longer able to drive, and was spending up to $40 a day going to and from work, which I needed to do to help afford anti-convulsants and medical bills. Even after brain surgery to remove the tumor, I was still having seizures and needed to remain on medication.
My body had a really hard time with the pharmaceuticals, and I was already on 4 medications when I was put on anti-convulsants for depression, anxiety, and PTSD. They had to put me on even more meds for all of them to be effective, and before I knew it I was taking over 10 pills a day. The side effects were miserable. I was nauseous all the time which sometimes caused me to miss class, I had a hard time concentrating which made studying almost impossible at times, I slurred my words, and had short-term memory loss. The medications were having too much of a negative impact on my life and I had enough. I had used cannabis recreationally and knew it helped whenever I had a hangover, but that was about it. The further into the community I got, I started to learn about CBD. I decided to try it, after all, nothing else was working and I was still having seizures. I had tried several different CBD products, however, it wasn’t until I discovered Extract Labs that my life had been saved.
With the help of Extract Labs high quality full-spectrum CBD products, I was able to take myself off of every singe medication I was on. It has been over a year that I have had a seizure, and I know I wouldn’t be able to say that if I wasn’t using Extract’s products on a daily basis. Since I’ve started using Extract, I’ve started to evolve into a healthier lifestyle. I use it when I meditate to help calm my mind and feel at peace. I use it for yoga and exercise to relax my muscles. It helps me recenter myself when I’m feeling anxious or overwhelmed, and helps cheer me up during depression episodes. I am endlessly grateful for this medicine.
Did you know that your body has an endocannabinoid system? Just like you have a nervous system, a respiratory system, etc, you also have an endocannabinoid system. This means that you have cannabinoid receptors naturally occurring in your body. This system is crucial for helping your body sustain homeostasis, which works like a thermostat for your body, helping aid your body’s health and balance. For those who benefit from cannabis, it is possible their endocannabinoid system wasn’t functioning correctly. Fortunately, CBD and THC connect with cannabinoid receptors in your body on a molecular level. Your endocannabinoid system starts to regulate itself by adding the right doses of these cannabinoids to your body consistently. These cannabinoids work directly with other receptors in your body, too. For example, CBD activates serotonin receptors in your brain, which is why it can be used for anxiety. When it comes to CBD consumption, I have personally found it is most effective when using multiple ways of consumption, such as tinctures, concentrates, and topicals. The way you consume CBD can play a role in the amount that is absorbed into your body, as well as the effectiveness of it, so it is important to use multiple methods of consumption to feel optimal effects.
Through communication and education I believe we can normalize this plant, which would change the lives of many. CBD has changed my life and I have watched it improve others as well. My dog even uses Extract’s CBD daily! If you haven’t tried CBD yet, hopefully this was the push you needed, and if you have tried CBD, try introducing it to someone else you know who could benefit from it!
Author: @the_rolling_stoner
