Does CBD Help With Social Anxiety? What the Studies Show
A few small studies suggest CBD may ease social anxiety, but results are mixed and no CBD product is FDA-approved for anxiety. Here's the honest evidence.
- Evidence
- Limited
- Sources
- 9 linked
- Sponsored
- No ✓
- Checked
- Nov 2026
Maybe a little, but evidence is limited. A few small studies found less anxiety during a simulated speech, a larger 2022 trial found no benefit, and no CBD product is FDA-approved for anxiety.
CBD may ease social anxiety a little in some people, but the evidence is thin: a handful of small studies, mostly single doses in a lab, with mixed results. No CBD product is FDA-approved for social anxiety or any anxiety disorder. Proven treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and certain prescription medicines have far stronger support.
- The best-known study, from 2011, gave 12 people with social anxiety disorder a single dose of CBD before a simulated public speech. They reported less anxiety than a placebo group.
- Other small trials point the same way, but a 2022 randomized trial found CBD did not improve the results of exposure therapy.
- Study doses were large, pharmaceutical-grade and given under supervision. They are not a guide for store-bought products.
- The FDA has approved only one CBD drug, Epidiolex, and it is for seizures, not anxiety.
- CBD can cause drowsiness and interact with other medicines, including some used for anxiety.
What is social anxiety disorder?
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes social anxiety disorder as an intense fear of being watched or judged by others in social or performance situations. The fear can feel uncontrollable and get in the way of work, school and relationships.
Common signs include blushing, sweating, trembling or a racing heart around other people, worrying about being judged, avoiding social situations, and replaying conversations afterward. NIMH notes it usually starts in childhood or the teen years. It is different from ordinary shyness because it limits daily life.
Does CBD help with social anxiety? What the studies found
CBD (cannabidiol) is a compound from the cannabis plant that does not cause a high. If you are new to it, start with what is CBD? Researchers have tested it for social anxiety in only a few small trials. Here is what they found.
| Study | Who took part | What was tested | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bergamaschi et al., Neuropsychopharmacology, 2011 | 24 adults with social anxiety disorder (12 CBD, 12 placebo) plus 12 healthy controls | One 600 mg oral dose before a simulated public speaking test | CBD group reported less anxiety, less discomfort and fewer negative self-statements during the speech than the placebo group |
| Crippa et al., Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2011 | 10 adults with social anxiety disorder | One 400 mg dose vs placebo, with brain imaging | Less self-reported anxiety and changes in blood flow in brain areas linked to emotion |
| Masataka, Frontiers in Psychology, 2019 | 37 Japanese 18- and 19-year-olds with social anxiety (17 CBD, 20 placebo) | CBD oil daily for 4 weeks | Anxiety scores fell more with CBD on two questionnaires |
| Kwee et al., European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2022 | 80 adults with social anxiety or panic disorder who had not responded to earlier treatment | CBD or placebo before each of 8 exposure therapy sessions | No difference in outcomes between CBD and placebo |
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) sums it up this way: a small amount of evidence suggests cannabinoids might help reduce anxiety, and in one study people with social anxiety had less anxiety during a simulated public speaking test after CBD than after a placebo. That is a long way from proof.
Why is the evidence still weak?
Positive headlines often skip the details. These are the main limits researchers themselves point out:
- Tiny groups. The 2011 speech study had just 12 people per group. Small studies can produce results that do not hold up in larger ones.
- One dose, one day. Most trials looked at a single dose in a lab. They tell us little about taking CBD every day for months.
- Mixed results. The largest trial so far, with 80 patients, found that adding CBD to exposure therapy did not help.
- Odd dose pattern. In a 2019 study of 57 healthy men doing a public speaking test, 300 mg reduced anxiety, but 150 mg and 600 mg did not differ from placebo. The authors called this an “inverted U-shaped” curve. More was not better.
- Lab-grade CBD. Trials use purified CBD with known content. Store products often do not match their labels.
The authors of the 2011 study called their own work preliminary and asked for larger, longer trials. That has not changed much since.
Does it matter that study doses were so high?
Yes. The studies above used single doses of 300 to 600 mg of purified CBD, given under medical supervision. Those amounts are reported here only to explain the research. They are not a recommendation, and there is no established CBD dose for social anxiety.
Product quality is a second problem. In a 2017 JAMA study of 84 CBD products sold online, only about 31% were accurately labeled for CBD, and THC was found in 18 of them. THC is the compound in marijuana that causes a high, and it can make anxiety worse for some people. If you want to know whether a product could affect you that way, read does CBD get you high?
Tip: If you and your doctor decide to try CBD, ask the seller for a batch-specific lab report (certificate of analysis, or COA) that shows CBD and THC content. Once you know the strength, our CBD dosage calculator turns the amount you chose into drops or mL. It does not choose an amount for you.
What are the side effects and risks?
The FDA lists several possible side effects of CBD: changes in alertness (most often sleepiness), stomach upset such as diarrhea or decreased appetite, and mood changes such as irritability and agitation. The FDA also says CBD “can cause liver injury” and “can affect how other drugs you are taking work, potentially causing serious side effects.”
Sleepiness is worth thinking about if you plan to take CBD before a meeting, presentation or drive. See does CBD make you tired? for more. Appetite changes are covered in does CBD increase appetite?
NCCIH adds that CBD may cause psychotic effects or problems with thinking in people who also regularly use THC.
Important: Do not stop or swap any anxiety medicine for CBD without talking to your prescriber. The FDA warns that combining CBD with alcohol or other sedating drugs raises the risk of sleepiness and injury. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
What treatments work for social anxiety?
NIMH describes several treatments with solid evidence behind them:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): NIMH calls CBT the “gold standard” of psychotherapy for social anxiety. It teaches new ways of thinking, behaving and handling social situations.
- Exposure therapy: a type of CBT that helps you face feared situations step by step, so you can start doing things you have been avoiding.
- Antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs): these can reduce symptoms, though they may take several weeks to work.
- Beta-blockers: these can help control physical symptoms of anxiety and are often used for performance anxiety, such as giving a speech.
The right choice depends on the person, and many people use therapy, medicine or both. CBD is not a replacement for any of these.
How should you talk to a doctor about CBD for anxiety?
NCCIH advises against using cannabis products to put off seeing a healthcare provider about a medical problem. If you are curious about CBD, bring it up openly. These steps can help:
- Describe your symptoms. Explain which situations trigger your anxiety and how much they affect your life. A diagnosis opens the door to treatments that are known to work.
- List everything you take. Include prescription drugs, supplements and alcohol use, since CBD can interact with other substances.
- Show the product. Bring the label and the lab report so your doctor or pharmacist can see the CBD and THC content.
- Agree on a plan. Decide together whether CBD makes sense, what amount to use and what side effects to watch for, including liver problems.
- Keep proven care going. Continue therapy or medicine you already use unless your provider changes it.
Want to know how we judge studies like these? Read our editorial policy.
Frequently asked questions
Is CBD FDA-approved for social anxiety?
No. The FDA has approved only one CBD drug, Epidiolex, for seizures linked to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome and tuberous sclerosis complex. No CBD product is approved for anxiety.
Can I take CBD before a presentation?
Some small lab studies tested CBD before a simulated speech, but results do not prove it will help you, and CBD can cause sleepiness. Talk to a doctor first, especially if you take other medicines.
Does CBD work better than therapy for social anxiety?
There is no good evidence for that. CBT and exposure therapy have much stronger research support, and a 2022 trial found CBD did not improve the results of exposure therapy.
Can CBD make anxiety worse?
The FDA lists mood changes such as irritability and agitation as possible side effects. Products that contain THC, including mislabeled ones, may also cause anxiety in some people.
Is CBD safe to combine with anxiety medication?
Not without medical advice. The FDA warns CBD can change how other drugs work, and combining it with sedating drugs raises the risk of drowsiness and injury.
Sources
- Neuropsychopharmacology (via PMC) — Bergamaschi et al., Cannabidiol Reduces the Anxiety Induced by Simulated Public Speaking in Treatment-Naïve Social Phobia Patients (2011)
- Journal of Psychopharmacology (PubMed) — Crippa et al., Neural Basis of Anxiolytic Effects of Cannabidiol in Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder (2011)
- Frontiers in Psychology (via PMC) — Masataka, Anxiolytic Effects of Repeated Cannabidiol Treatment in Teenagers With Social Anxiety Disorders (2019)
- European Neuropsychopharmacology (PubMed) — Kwee et al., Cannabidiol Enhancement of Exposure Therapy in Treatment Refractory Patients (2022)
- Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry (via PMC) — Linares et al., Cannabidiol Presents an Inverted U-Shaped Dose-Response Curve in a Simulated Public Speaking Test (2019)
- NIMH — Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just Shyness
- NCCIH — Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know
- FDA — What You Need to Know About Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-Derived Compounds, Including CBD
- JAMA (via PMC) — Bonn-Miller et al., Labeling Accuracy of Cannabidiol Extracts Sold Online (2017)
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