Getting Back to Me (Part 1): How CBD and Lion's Mane Helped Me Fight Brain Fog & Anxiety

* (This post was originally published on Hempspired.net in 2019) 

          So, I will admit I was inspired to write this next post after reading someone else’s on Instagram. “Benstoned” a fellow CBD/Cannabis supporter was sharing about the benefits of the mushroom Lion’s Mane and how it’s great for Alzheimer’s. And it sparked something in   me.
          I have recently started taking Lion’s Mane to help with the brain fog and memory loss issues I’ve developed from my long-term use of supplements that I was taking for my anxiety. Now, since taking the Lion’s Mane and vaping on certain brands of CBD, I finally feel like myself again.
          And since I’m all about helping people get #Hempspired, I knew I just had to share my story.
          I’ve always suffered with anxiety issues, but it got really bad when I started working a very high stress job at a printing company about a year and a half ago. I started having panic attacks, would shake uncontrollably and occasionally burst into tears on the job. All extremely unprofessional acts.
          I felt stunted and like a total failure at life.
         Then a nurse practitioner had suggested I try GABA for the anxiety.
         Since most anxiety is caused by a deficiency in GABA and this was something I could easily buy at a health food store without the need of a prescription like Xanax (and I hadn’t fully gotten into CBD yet) I was excited to try it. Anything to give me relief from the torturous anxiety that plagued me and ruined my every day at this job.
         At first the GABA was great. It relieved my anxiety almost as well as the Xanax just not quite as pronounced. And I felt fairly normal, or at least normal enough to where I didn’t feel the intense urge to walk out on the job anymore.
         But as I developed a tolerance to the GABA, I kept increasing my dose to much more than what was recommended. And I suffered the side effects. Brain fog, memory loss, a feeling of being “dumbed down”. It was scary and super embarrassing. I became a complete ditz. But I was too afraid to go without the supplements. The anxiety and stress of my job without it was too great for me.
          After a year, I finally quit that job, but by this point I was in such a bad habit of taking stuff for my anxiety, I was still afraid to give it up. Even at my next couple of jobs, which were all much more laid back and low key, I continued to take the GABA. I think I had PTSD from the stress of the previous job. My body couldn’t adjust. But I knew I had to do something different.
          Finally, in a low stress environment, I cut back on my GABA supplements and started taking CBD instead. But the side effects of brain fog and the inability to retain information was still prevalent. I don’t think it ever took me so long to learn simple tasks in my life. And it was scary!
          I knew I had to find a way to get my mind back. Then I discovered Lion’s Mane. It supposedly has so many benefits, including: Lowers High Cholesterol, Enhances Immune System, Promotes digestion, Protects the liver, Improves Cognitive Function, Reduces fatigue, Reduces depression and anxiety, Anticancer activity, Treats peptic or gastric ulcers, Good for Diabetes, Enhanced Memory And Brain Function, and more.
          Now, I finally feel like myself again.
          Lion’s Mane and CBD have been game changers for me. And if you or someone you know suffers similar issues then I confidently recommend trying them out. This is not official medical advice and I am not a licensed..well, anything. But I can see the positive impact CBD and Lion's Mane have had on me and I will continue to share my experiences for anyone interested in reading them.
          Because life is too short to suffer and settle for mediocrity- especially if there are things out there that can potentially help make your life better. Sometimes it just takes a little trial and error to figure out what works for you. But I want to help you find it. I hope through my writing and sharing my struggles and experiences in life, I can encourage you. Follow me here and on my author website for more.