BY SHELLY-ANN THOMPSON
Florida-based mom of two, owner of Lioness Graphic Studio and co-founder or CannaCurious, Diana Sanmiguel, says her refuge for 2020 was CBD.
When the coronavirus pandemic hit home, the 39-year-old, fairly recent divorcee, felt like she had to quickly improve her mothering skills.
A self-described warrior-woman, lioness, Diana quickly grounded herself in a sense of peace at the beginning of the lockdown. Also somewhat of a bohemian, she recalls calmly riding the waves of the time, firmly believing that this must end and the world would just have to wait to see what would happen.
But, that bliss soon toppled over as cases kept increasing, contagion seemed out of control and online learning began to feel more taxing. As time went on, Diana realized that being around her children all the time, on top of running her business at home, was more difficult than she anticipated.
“You go from seeing your kids three hours a day – dropping them to school around eight, nine. Picking them up around five, six. Then, spending some time with them before putting them to bed by 8:30. So, I had to adapt from that life of just having them a few hours a day, to being with them 24/7,” she reflects.
Though the kids split their time between her house and their father’s, she admits that balancing more time with them along with the dozens of other responsibilities she has, became intense. Her work-life, for example, had to be regulated to part-time, when the kids were asleep or at their dad’s – something she struggled to accept, considering the financial implications as a single mom.
Plus, as a true lover of life and people, Diana says she also terribly missed time for herself, out with friends. That time, she says, is a critical part of her self-care routine – something she holds of utmost importance.
Diana explains that for self-love and self-preservation, she had to find a new healthy outlet – and it was CBD. To self-soothe and maintain calm, she started vaping the plant regularly.
A nontraditional approach
Societal norms hold mothers with high regard, and for some, especially the older generation, the idea of moms using cannabis or CBD is nothing short of immoral.
But, Diana never feels guilty about using CBD. She knows she is doing something helpful for herself and her children.
As CBD has no psychoactive effects, it was the feeling of not being “high” that drew her to it. She’s happy that CBD’s health benefits are gaining traction, and that the difference between marijuana and CBD are becoming more widely understood.
Also, using CBD fits within her already nontraditional approach to motherhood.
With a seven-year-old son she describes as very emotional, and a four-year old daughter who is the complete opposite, Diana says that, along with CBD, she also practices yoga and meditation to maintain balance and mindfully be in the moment with them. She’s also strongly against spanking, the style of reprimanding she grew up with.
“I teach them about discipline and rules, but I also allow them to be kids,” Diana explains.
While so far she prefers CBD edibles and vaping, she says she’s curious about other products and
possible advantages.
“I’ve tried oil drops. I’ve tried the lotions for back pain. So, it’s just not only about what can make me relax. I am learning about how I can use CBD when I’m dealing with other types of health problems,” Diana shares.
Research backs up new norms for moms
Fortunately, the taboo around CBD is changing as more medical research has been released.
In 2017 the World Health Organization stated in a report that CBD has therapeutic effects in the management of anxiety, muscular tension, restlessness, fatigue and problems in concentration, and the improvement of social interaction.
Mothers using CBD can also take confidence that, in 2020, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that CBD has been proven to reduce stress. Study subjects were observed as having lower behavioral signs of anxiety, the NIDA reported.
The advice to mothers going through anxiety or other forms of parenting-induced stress, and seeking to try CBD, is first to do the research. Hear from other mothers who have used it, how they use it, when they use it and how often they use it. Speak with your doctor for guidance, especially if you have underlying conditions. Read the labels properly as there is a proliferation of unregulated CBD products that have flooded the marketplace.
Diana adds, “Be open. I’ve learned that as mothers, we are the head of the family, and we’re the ones who make everything work. CBD might help you cope with a lot of things that you’re going through – anxiety, stress or just being tired. And it might help you find that balance or calm to deal with everything.”
All in all, 2020 has been Diana’s most difficult year of motherhood. However, she survived the pandemic and is coming out of it an enhanced version of who she was before – even stronger, even calmer, and even more patient than she was before. Thanks to the help of CBD.
