Ever since I was in high school, I've struggled with depression and anxiety [1]. And despite being on a cocktail of mood stabilizers and antidepressants, anxiety still rears its ugly head for me at the most inconvenient times. Although flying itself doesn't usually make me anxious — I travel often enough that I don't get the typical travel jitters — I tend to get more anxious when I'm traveling by myself since it's a lot of alone time with my thoughts and no work or exercise to distract me.
On a recent six-hour flight from San Francisco to New York, I started to feel anxious again. I had just started a new job (this very job at POPSUGAR!) and was still reeling from my first week meeting all new people and getting accustomed to the new environment. I was excited to be starting a new adventure, but my anxiety manifested these new feelings as obsessive negative thoughts and catastrophizing situations. That's the thing about anxiety; it takes control of your feelings and holds your positive thoughts hostage.
I had taken my medication as prescribed, but I still couldn't shake my anxiety on the flight. Luckily, fellow POPSUGAR Fitness writer Dominique Astorino gave me some Buddha Teas CBD chamomile tea while I was in SF and since she raved about how much CBD has helped with her anxiety [3], I decided to give it a try. About two hours into the flight, I requested some hot water so I could steep my tea.
Off the bat, the smell of the tea was already comforting and relaxing, thanks to the soothing chamomile. As soon as I sipped it, I felt instantly relieved. About 15 minutes later, I felt an overwhelming sense of calm wash over me. I wasn't sure if it was the CBD or a placebo effect, but it was a welcome reprieve from my intense anxiety. I finished my tea and felt much more at ease for the rest of the flight. I was able to enjoy my book and dial back those overwhelmingly negative thoughts.
I still have a few more packets of Buddha Teas chamomile tea I keep with me on hand in case I need to feel calmer. I'm planning on drinking some more on an upcoming flight, and ordering more tea for situations where I'm feeling particularly anxious or overwhelmed. Although CBD tea was my first foray into using CBD to treat anxiety, I'm planning on talking with my psychiatrist on how to incorporate this natural remedy into my current treatment plan.