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

5/25/2026

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        (Reshare of a post from May 2022)

         So, I will admit I was inspired to write this next blog after reading someone else’s post 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 at my company Femmespire Media for more. ​
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Hester Street Fair's CBD Festival and My First Experience With Full Spectrum CBD

5/25/2026

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          ::Reshare of post from Oct. 2018.:: 

        So, last weekend, the boyfriend and I went to the Hester Street Fair’s first ever CBD Festival NYC. I was ecstatic to discover this event. I had visions of networking and mingling with dozens of like-minded CBD lovers, passing out business cards and getting tips on the trade: primarily information of the credit card merchant accounts that seem to be an issue in this industry that’s still left in the “grey area” as far as legally is concerned. Upon my research, I’ve discovered, although CBD and Hemp products are technically legal on the state level to sell, most credit card companies and PayPal are reluctant to work with us because it’s not 100% agreed upon on the Federal level. We are considered “high risk” investments that most companies don’t want to deal with.

             So, I was discouraged. But still optimistic. Which is why I was so excited to get to actually go to an entire festival strictly devoted to selling and promoting CBD products. These are MY people. You lovely folks reading this blog post here, are my people. And we need to stick together.
          But, my anxiety, the very thing that first got me into experimenting with different CBD products and brands, was acting up. Bad. I popped a Xanax on the bus ride down with little effect. So, my visions of social and networking grandeur were dashed. But it was still a fun and enlightening trip.
             An event, consisting of about 15 or so tables full of various CBD/Hemp infused products: vapes, tinctures, isolate powders, blunts, wraps, lotions, soaps, and various delicious but ultimately expensive edibles (my favorite and most tempting to splurge on being the CBD infused Rainbow Cookies and Sangria).
         I was pleasantly surprised to see most vendors having credit card readers. I was unprepared and didn’t bring any cash with me, so I was relieved to discover I could still buy some products with my card. Which I did. I bought a 1000mg Full Spectrum CBD liquid tincture from Hemp Labs NYC. New York City’s first “brick and mortar” dispensary. They were very popular as I had to wait in line for at least 10 minutes to have someone acknowledge me. But after trying the product, I can see why.
              This stuff is legit!
This was my first time ever trying a Full Spectrum CBD product. A product which uses multiple parts of the cannabis plant (although, supposedly still containing less than .3% THC which is the legal amount. But let me tell you, I tried it for the first time the next morning before I went to work and I felt high. Not like “I have the munchies” level of high, but I definitely felt that all too familiar pit in my stomach, dry mouth, and fuzzy eyed feeling I have gotten when I did partake in some not so legal edibles in the past.
       My social anxiety that still plagues me was gone. I was bubbly and friendly and super extroverted, almost like when I drink too much liquor. And on one level that might be cool, but this was definitely NOT the effect I was going for. I bought the Full Spectrum with the hope of relieving my anxiety, while simultaneously helping me with my other issues like my back pain that plagues me daily, my ADHD issues, and my digestive track issues that I developed after getting my gallbladder removed. But not quite.
               The anxiety was gone, but not much else. I felt like I was on what I imagine being on Prozac would feel like. Highly elated, slightly buzzed, and relatively carefree. And if that’s what Full Spectrum CBD is formulated to do, then MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. But I need more than that. And feeling buzzed and fuzzy minded at work is not what I was going for. My boyfriend Adam thinks I much have taken too much, and maybe I did. I had no idea what to expect from the Full Spectrum tincture. But I cringe wondering if anyone could tell I was on something, even if that “something” is technically legal. I’d just be asking for problems by continuing to take that dose on the job.
But I still whole heartedly believe in the benefits of using CBD and will keep trying different products until I find the one or two that help me with all my main issues. It’s not a cheap experiment, but that also gives us more incentive to make our own products that will help people. Which is the ultimate goal.
        Either way, I’m glad we got to go to the festival. Hopefully by next year we at Hempspired will have our products ready to go and will get to have a table set up for ourselves. Until then, I will keep researching and trying new products, experimenting with recipes for CBD products to make and sell, and share my results with all you lovelies here on our website and on our social media pages. And I hope you will share your experiences with us as well. We want to encourage people that there is hope for what ails them. It might take a bit to find the best product for your needs, but CBD and Hemp are some great alternatives.
          Follow us and share your stories on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @hempspired.
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An Intro to My Experience With CBD & the Inspiration Behind the Hempspired Brand.

5/25/2026

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** Reshare of a post originally from 2018...

          I’m determined to find a natural solution to the issues that have put a damper on my life for way too long and finally be the best version of myself possible. And I want to help others live their best, healthiest, happiest lives possible as well. I hope you will follow me on this journey.
In the last four months, I’ve been trying out CBD to help me with my anxiety, mood, ADD, insomnia and digestive track issues. These problems have plagued me for over a decade; ruining jobs, friends, and romantic relationships for as long as I can remember. I finally had enough and was tired of settling for a life of mediocrity and frustration, I had to figure out how to step up my game and be proactive in finding a solution.
          Then in comes CBD. I will elaborate on all this later, but this is the brief summary of my journey into using CBD to try to improve my emotional and physical health.
           The first brand I tried was 420 CBD, a liquid tincture I bought while I was on vacation in Florida. I didn’t notice any difference in my anxiety or mood, which was my main reason for paying the $90 for a 30ml bottle, but within an hour or so I did notice an improvement in my back pain and digestive track issues which I’ve developed ever since having my gallbladder removed back in 2007. Cha-ching! I was excited, but still not completely satisfied with the results.
Then I discovered Johnny Apple CBD out of California. I bought their “Calm” and “Zynergy” Isolate powders as well as their 1000mg liquid tincture. Honestly, I didn’t notice a big difference with the isolate, although I suspect it had more to do with the fact that I was just dabbing a little bit under my tongue rather than vaping it like it seems to be intended. But the first day I tried the tincture was like WOW.
          My boyfriend and I were going to the county fair. A place full of large crowds, rude carnies, and scary rides for someone like me who’s deathly afraid of heights (I have to close my eyes when I’m on an escalator because I’m so afraid I’ll fall off). But boy, let me tell you! The first day on this I felt A-MAZING! Like on Xanax and Prozac combined amazing. I was confident and bold and not afraid of or anxious about anything. I was the best version of myself. I was elated by my new discovery.
I had already been taking too many pills and supplements to try to help me with my issues, so many that I have no doubt I was destroying my organs in the process. I needed to find a healthier alternative. And CBD seemed like the perfect solution.
         When my JACBD ran out I decided to try out some other brands to see if I could find something that would help me with all my issues and not just one or two. Then I read about Full Spectrum CBD by Diamond CBD. But this stuff is basically twice as expensive as the regular stuff because it’s much more concentrated, so I put off buying it. So, I continued to take baby steps into the world of CBD and vaping.
         My first official experience into the Diamond brand was through a 250mg vape cartridge I bought while on vacation in Atlantic City. This location is significant because normally in a casino or bar (which was the main places we were the entire weekend there) my A.D.D. usually acts up insanely bad. From all the lights, sounds and people around me at one time, it would cause me to shut down and ultimately get depressed. But vaping on this Diamond CBD product I was the most clear headed I’ve ever been in my life. I could focus on the details around me and not get overwhelmed. I could concentrate and enjoy myself for once in my life without worrying about anything. And then the next day, when I would usually be having terrible digestive track issues, I didn’t. I felt great. I felt normal. And it was clearly all due to my use of CBD.
         Now, four months later, I still haven’t found that ONE CBD product that has helped me with all my issues simultaneously. But I’m not giving up on the search. During the week of this writing, I’ve decided to finally splurge and officially try the product variation called FULL SPECTRUM CBD, which is claimed to help multiple trouble areas at once: physical and psychological. Which is precisely what I need. So, I will be trying out some of that very soon and sharing my experiences here.
          I’m determined to find a natural solution to the issues that have put a damper on my life for way too long and finally be the best version of myself possible. And I want to help others live their best, healthiest, happiest lives possible as well. I hope you will follow me on this journey.

*** If you have a positive experience with CBD and would like to share them with us here, please do. We at Hempspired look forward to hearing your stories. You are not alone in your struggles and there are healthy, natural ways to improve your life. And we want to help you find them. Follow us here and on Twitter @hempspired for more educational and inspirational content. Happy CBD’ing!
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    Author

    Tiffany Grand is an author, songwriter, playwright, media producer & mental health advocate based out of Upstate New York. A proud holistic/herbal wellness practitioner, she's also the founder of Femmespire Media and passionate about encouraging & empowering people through positive written arts & media. Follow her @TiffanyGMedia and @FemmespireMedia for more positive, life affirming  content. 

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