Finding Calm Between Tides : CBD, Mental Health, and Staying Grounded.

At Tidewater Rods, we talk a lot about feel—how a rod loads, how a fly drifts, how a fish eats when everything lines up just right. But there’s another kind of feel that matters just as much, and that’s how your mind feels when the world won’t slow down.

For years, anxiety and depression sat quietly in the background of my life. Some days it was manageable, other days it felt like trying to fish a blown-out tide with no plan. I could be doing something I loved like standing shin-deep in moving water - and still feel that tightness in my chest, that restless hum in my head. If you’ve been there, you know.  It ain't no fun, and can be overwhelming even to the toughest dudes I know.

CBD didn’t “fix” me. But it helped me find a little more balance—and sometimes, that’s everything.

CBD Flower vs. CBD Oil: What’s the Difference?

CBD comes in a lot of forms, but the two I’ve found most effective are CBD flower and CBD oil.  CBD Flower Dry Herb Vaping being the easy win among the two.

- CBD Oil is convenient, discreet, and easy to dose. A dropper under the tongue before bed or on a tough day can take the edge off and help slow racing thoughts.
- CBD Flower, especially when consumed by a dry herb vaporizer, offers a fuller experience because you’re getting the entire cannabinoid and terpene profile of the plant.

That’s where the magic really starts.

Terpenes: The Unsung Heroes

Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in hemp (and in nature everywhere—pine trees, citrus peels, even ocean air). They do more than smell good; they directly influence how CBD feels in your body.

Here are some of the best terpenes for anxiety and stress:
    •    Myrcene – Deeply calming, grounding, and relaxing. Think end-of-day, feet-up, sunset tide.
    •    Linalool – Floral and soothing, commonly associated with relaxation and mood balance.
    •    Beta-Caryophyllene – Unique because it interacts directly with receptors tied to stress and inflammation.
    •    Limonene – Bright, citrusy, and uplifting—great for anxiety that comes with low mood or mental fog.

When you choose a CBD flower rich in these terpenes, you’re not just consuming CBD - you’re dialing in how it works for you. Just like matching a fly to conditions, it’s about intention.

Why I Choose a Dry Herb Vaporizer over CBD Oil or a Joint...

For me, the best way to consume CBD flower is with a dry herb vaporizer.  Links will be below for the ones I use daily.

Here’s why:
    •    It heats the flower without burning it, preserving terpenes which are a major factor in how you will feel.
    •    The effects are fast but smooth.
    •    It’s easier on your lungs than smoking, especially when you're just getting started.
    •    The experience is cleaner, calmer, and more controlled.

Vaporizing CBD has become part of my routine - especially after long days, stressful weeks, or when anxiety starts creeping in for no clear reason. It doesn’t knock me out or numb me. It just quiets the noise enough for me to breathe, reset, and be present.

Sometimes that presence looks like tying flies at the bench. Other times, it’s standing on the bow of my boat at sunset, feeling the rod bend and remembering why I love this life in the first place.

Mental Health Matters - Identifying your symptoms and most importantly, talking about them with friends, family, or licensed professional.

In the fishing world, especially in tough-guy outdoor culture, mental health doesn’t always get the space it deserves. But the truth is, you can love the water, chase fish obsessively, and still struggle inside.

And that’s okay.

Taking care of your mental health is just as important as maintaining your gear, checking the tides, or resting your body. Whether CBD is part of that journey for you or not, what matters is paying attention - to yourself, your limits, and your needs.

For me, CBD has been one more tool in the kit. Not a cure. Not a shortcut. Just something that helps me stay balanced enough to keep showing up - for my family, for my work, my friendships, and the quiet moments that make life worth living.

At Tidewater Rods, we believe in slowing down, feeling more, and doing things with intention - on the water and off it. If CBD helps you find a little more calm between tides, that’s a win in our book.

 - My Experience So Far, And some helpful suggestions to those who want to at least give CBD a try...

I have received absolutely nothing in return for any of these reviews!  Just wanted to spotlight small family farms and maybe help someone out thats struggling with Anxiety/Panic Disorder/Major Depressive Disorder like myself.  Please, I’ve lost so many friends over the last few years to “opting out”.  988 help line is always a far better option.  It gets better, it gets easier… and there is ALWAYS HELP AVAILABLE.  In NO WAY should you take anything in this blog as medical advice, i'm simply sharing the immense benefits I've experienced so far!

 - Small Family Hemp - CBD Farms - From Southern Oregon to Charleston South Carolina.  A spotlight on two amazing farms doing it RIGHT.

- Horn Creek Hemp - Southern Oregon

I’ve found a few 100% family farms that specialize in CBD bud, and damn, it’s been an awesome last few months personally using and reviewing all the endless CBD strains available.  NO, it doesn’t get you “high” per-say… but it will absolutely destroy racing thoughts, Anxiety and Depression - especially when used in a dry herb vaporizer.  I’ve been using Horn Creek Hemps latest crop of Blue Magnolia for the evening wind down and nice relaxing night cap for awesome sleep.  For daytime their Hawaiian Haze gives me incredible focus, quiet mind, and helps the general depression/lack of energy/lack of motivation.  Horn Creek is all outdoor grown and they harvest once a year in the fall.

Blue Magnolia - Absolutely gorgeous buds, sticky and a nice earthy/floral smell.  Immediate onset when used in a dry herb vaporizer as shown.  Excellent for sleep, quieting your thoughts, and just relaxing while watching a movie.  THC level far under the federal level - so completely legal!  Immediate feeling of euphoria and calmness within 2 hits.  Feels like you’ve had a few beers but fully functional.  Body feel is like a warm blanket draped over you.  Immediately pulls me out of my own head and slows my thoughts, resulting in a level of calm that is very pleasant.  A bit sedating so i suggest you plan ahead.  Beautiful big buds with some purple mixed in.  Indica Hybrid.

Hawaiian Haze - Excellent for daytime/social/creative activities without the stimulating effects or anxiety.  Immediate calm but not sedating.  Feels like it replaces my racing mind into a more calm, rational state that drives creativity.  Happy euphoria, the kind of feeling you used to have on Xmas Eve when you were a kid.  IMMEDIATE onset when used with a dry herb vaporizer.  Beautiful bright green buds.  Sativa Hybrid vibe. 

Ive already ordered an Oz of two more strains from Horn Creek Hemp that look to be incredible as well.  Kush Cake and Lazybones.  I’ll review them soon. 

 - Holy City Farms - Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina (Charleston Region)

This is my good old trusty source that always delivers, and the owner Shawn Ransford is extremely helpful and a encyclopedia of knowledge when it comes to CBD Flower.  Holy City Farms is a family run farm that grows strictly indoors, and harvests year round.  They often run specials, so check their site often.  They also offer whats called "Type 2" strains that offer a balance of THC/CBD for more recreational users.  That said, I am very sensitive to THC so I typically stick to their CBD "type 3" collection.  I have three strains that I always keep on hand in the strictly CBD menu - Blueberry, Legendary Platinum OG Diesel, and Panther Kush.  They do an excellent job of describing the effects, and they are spot on!  They also have tons of reviews on each strain that you can read - so no need for a detailed description from me.  Be your own judge!  I highly suggest starting with Legendary Platinum OG Diesel or Blueberry for relaxed evenings and great sleep.  My daytime strain of choice is Panther Kush - a very similar feel to Horn Creek Hemps Hawaiian Haze.

Dry Herb Vaporizers - A guide from someone thats tried just about every device on the market.

Again, I receive no compensation for these reviews - I just don't want to see anyone waste their money on a piece of junk.

- Budget minded workhorse : POTV - LOBO.  Don’t use the capsules.  Just load it up and go.  $159.  I use mine every day.  Basically your typical mid range fly reel.  Think Redington Behemoth, Cheeky Reels.

- The GOAT… Easily the Tinymight2.  Handbuilt in Finland!  I use a custom titanium stem, stainless steel rimmed basket filters, and a stainless steel mouthpiece.  $349 but worth it if you’re looking to extract all the delicious flavors of the terpenes from your CBD buds.  A lifetime purchase/investment, kinda like buying a Tibor fly reel.

Truly hope some of you try the PURE CBD buds/flower route.  It’s been an absolute blessing while going cold turkey on Ativan (Lorazepam) max dose for 13 years!  I’d trade a bud of CBD flower over a Ativan any day!

Stay steady.

Take care of your mind.

Fish often.

Speak up when you don't feel right.

And don’t forget to breathe.

Love You All!

- Jon Lavezzo

If you are struggling and feel like you cant make it another day - Please reach out to your PCP or Mental Health Professional.  Call 988.  They can get you going in the right direction... and if it gets to the point GO TO YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY ROOM.  The world is better with you in it!