Leslie Glass's Blog, page 276
April 15, 2019
7 Times You Should Never Drink Alcohol
From Insider:
Plenty of people enjoy having a drink with dinner or celebrating a special occasion with a round at the bar. Drinking alcohol, however, can have negative consequences for your health and many of those unpleasant effects are amplified if you imbibe at the wrong time. In fact, drinking at certain times can be downright dangerous.
Here are some situations that don’t mix well with alcohol.
Never drink alcohol when you’ve taken medication, including sedatives and painkillers
Alcohol is also a central nervous system depressant. Combining a sedative medication and alcohol can amplify the effects of both, leading a person to feel extremely sleepy, disoriented, and confused. In some cases, the effects can be strong enough to cause seizures, breathing problems, unconsciousness, and death.
Drinking before or after taking common painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can also be dangerous. Alcohol can interact with ibuprofen and other NSAIDs to cause stomach bleeding, and drinking while taking acetaminophen can cause liver damage when done in large amounts.
Because alcohol can cause adverse effects when mixed with many common medications, it’s best to avoid drinking while taking any drug unless you’ve received explicit permission from your healthcare provider.
If you’re trying to get pregnant, alcohol could interfere with your fertility
Alcohol can have a negative impact on your fertility even if you’re not a heavy drinker. In fact, both male and female fertility can be affected by alcohol.
According to Mayo Clinic, people looking to get pregnant should avoid drinking alcohol even before they have conceived. This is in part because a safe level of fetal alcohol exposure hasn’t yet been found. Research has also found that women who consumed at least two drinks a day had an increased risk of infertility.
In people with penises, alcohol consumption has been linked to decreased semen quality and poor sperm motility, i.e. sperm that don’t swim as well.
Avoid drinking when you’re flying
It can be tempting to indulge in a complimentary drink on a long flight, but consuming alcohol in the air can be even more dehydrating than having a drink on the ground.
According to Cleveland Clinic, the low humidity and circulating air in plane cabins can lead to dehydration more quickly than you might experience in a similar length of time on land. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases the amount of fluid that your body expels.
The dry plane air coupled with frequent dashes to the lavatory is a recipe for a hangover, especially since dehydration is one of the key reasons alcohol can make you feel rotten after the initial buzz has faded.
Don’t drink before bed if you want to sleep well
Though a glass of wine before bed may make you sleepy, alcohol can actually contribute to poor sleep quality. According to the National Sleep Foundation, alcohol blocks restorative REM sleep and can interrupt your body’s circadian rhythm, leading you to wake up before you’ve actually had enough rest. And since alcohol is a diuretic, a drink before bed might have you waking up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.
Additionally, research has suggested that female bodies are more susceptible to sleep disruption from alcohol than male bodies. One study found that when both men and women slept after drinking the same amount of alcohol, the female study participants were more restless, got less high-quality REM sleep, and reported being more tired in the morning.
Alcohol can also make conditions such as sleep apnea worse, according to the National Health Service. Those prone to disrupted breathing at night may want to skip that nightcap.
You shouldn’t drive after consuming alcohol, even if you don’t feel drunk
This one should be obvious, but mixing alcohol and driving is a terrible (and illegal) idea. In 2016, the CDC reported that 28% of all traffic-related deaths in the US were linked to alcohol impairment.
Alcohol affects your ability to drive safely by slowing your reaction time, reducing your coordination skills and concentration, decreasing your vision, and impairing your judgment. In the US, a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08 is considered legally impaired for people over 21. However, a BAC of just 0.02 can inhibit your judgment, coordination, and ability to see clearly. A BAC of 0.05 can further reduce your alertness, response rate, and ability to respond to your environment.
Having any amount of alcohol can affect your ability to drive safely and may put lives at risk.
Certain antibiotics don’t mix well with alcohol
You may have heard that drinking alcohol while taking antibiotics will lead to health problems or will even stop your medication from working. Though this isn’t the whole truth, there are some good reasons to hold off on the booze when you taking antibiotics.
According to the UK’s National Health Service, drinking alcohol in moderation is unlikely to cause health problems if you’re taking most common antibiotics. Additionally, combining moderate amounts of alcohol with antibiotics doesn’t reduce the effectiveness of most antibiotics, advised Mayo Clinic.
Drinking alcohol while on certain antibiotics, however, can cause reactions that range from unpleasant to dangerous, including liver damage and high blood pressure. These antibiotics include metronidazole (Flagyl), tinidazole (Tindamax), isoniazid, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (Bactrim), and linezolid (Zyvox).
You may also want to avoid drinking while on antibiotics because alcohol can depress your immune system. Given that antibiotics are taken to help your body fight off infection, drinking while sick can delay your recovery.
If you have depression or anxiety, drinking won’t relieve symptoms long-term
People who struggle with mental health problems such as depression or anxiety should avoid using alcohol to cope with their symptoms, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Though alcohol may help someone feel better or less anxious in the short-term, research has shown that regular alcohol use can actually worsen mood disorders over time.
The link between depression and alcohol isn’t completely understood, but experts do agree that using alcohol to treat a mental health problem isn’t a good idea and can potentially lead to alcohol abuse. The best way to help yourself feel better if you’re struggling with depression or anxiety is to seek the guidance of a mental health professional.
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April 14, 2019
Financial Safety When A Loved One Uses
It’s crucial to have financial safety when your loved one has a problem with drugs, alcohol and behavior addictions like gambling and shopping. Protect your finances and possessions so that you don’t have serious problems down the road.
Any kind of addiction brings on financial difficulties. Drug and alcohol users, shopaholics, gamblers and others with behavior addictions need money all the time to support their drug of choice. Here are some of the ways they use their families to get it.
They may go from one family member to another asking for money
They may take money from wallets and purses that are left unattendedThey may steal valuables from their relatives’ home to sellThey may also scare family members into providing money for themCoercion can be a form of blackmail if family members fear homelessness or worse behaviors if they don’t give money
Families that protect themselves against financial wreckage due to substances or other are the families that fare the best. Here are some tips to follow.
Financial Safety for Valuables
Know what and where your possessions are and monitor them. What to do:
Make a list of your assets and valuables
Know where everything is
Make sure your valuables all have your name on it
Engrave your name on jewelry when you can
Lock valuables away whenever possible
Alert everyone in the family that possessions are watched and monitored
Your Wallet
Does someone who is using drugs have access to your wallet, cash, credit and debit cards? Does cash mysteriously disappear? Cash charged on a credit card costs more, and the credit card holder may be held responsible for the charges. Have you seen charges you don’t recognize on your cards? What to do:
Make sure your wallet or purse is always in a safe place not accessible to abuser
Keep your cash hidden
Keep your credit cards locked up
Check you balances frequently
Financial Safety With Money and Banking
Who is in charge of the family money? Abuse occurs when the one with the addiction problem is in charge of finances. Be aware of your family finances. What kind of bank and investment accounts do you have and where are they? You should have access to bank accounts and safety deposit accounts as well as investment accounts. What to do:
Be sure to have access to all bank accounts
Watch the balance to see if cash is going out
Start keeping some money separate for emergencies
Change passwords often for online banking accounts that you own
Check your safety deposit box if you keep valuables there
If you have an investment advisor alert him/her to potential problems
Other Family Members
Are you aware who is asking for what in your family. Those with addictions that need financing will go from family member to family member with sad stories and sometimes threats. The most vulnerable may well be grandma and grandpa. Is someone in the family stealing from the grandparents or getting them to hand over social security checks? What to do:
Take an inventory of grandparents’ valuables in the home
Monitor what drugs they taking and make sure they are not kept in the open
Ask about investment accounts, bank accounts, debit cards, and other potential sources of cash
Keep in touch with them and other vulnerable family members
Pay special attention to jewelry, guns and other weapons, and tools
Legal Options
Check with your lawyer about your rights and liabilities as a spouse or parent.
The post Financial Safety When A Loved One Uses appeared first on Reach Out Recovery.
April 13, 2019
CDC: Kratom Linked to 100 Overdose Deaths
From Time Kratom, an over-the-counter substance often marketed as a health supplement for pain relief, was found to be a cause of at least 91 overdose deaths in the U.S. between 2016 and 2017, according to a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report published Friday.
The figure is more than double a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimate of 44 known deaths associated with kratom since 2011.
The CDC’s study examined more than 27,000 overdoses in 27 states from July 2016 and December 2017. In seven of the 91 cases in which kratom was determined to be a cause of death, the drug was the only substance to test positive in a toxicology report, though additional substances could not be ruled out.
Kratom use has increased in recent years, according to the CDC.
The kratom plant is grown in Southeast Asia, where it is considered a natural health treatment for common maladies like fevers and coughs.
When consumed, kratom acts as a stimulant and produces opioid-like effects. In the U.S., it’s been touted as an alternative to opioid painkillers and even an effective way to help people overcome opioid addiction. Last year, however, the FDA said kratom contains the same addictive, potentially dangerous chemicals found in opioids.
While kratom is not a scheduled controlled substance, the FDA issued a warning in November 2017 advising consumers not to use the drug due to fears that it could expose users to risks of addiction, abuse and dependence. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has also identified it as a “drug of concern”.
In approximately 80% of the kratom-positive and kratom-involved deaths studied by the CDC, the deceased had a history of substance abuse, with fentanyl and heroin among the most common drugs also consumed.
Last year, kratom was linked to a salmonella outbreak that affected 41 states. A total of 199 people were infected and 50 were hospitalized.
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The 5 Phases Of Compulsive Spending
The 5 phases of compulsive spending take you through the highs of an actual addiction. And if you’re a compulsive spender, you’re not alone on this rollercoaster ride. The 5 phases of compulsive spending are what make it so compelling. It’s not just one moment. It’s the whole process. Donald W. Black, author of A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder, notes that there are 4 phases of compulsive buying: “1) anticipation; 2) preparation; 3) shopping; and 4) spending.” We add a fifth phase, which is remorse. These are stages that are also seen in other addictions (now known as use or process disorders).
5 Phases of Compulsive Spending
Anticipation
This is the stage of the thoughts and feelings, including preoccupation and urges to use. This may begin the process of euphoria. You see commercials on TV, or Facebook ads and start thinking about purchases. You are excited about the possibility of buying something, or everything.
Preparation
This stage is where the compulsive shopper makes plans to go shopping. Here he/she/they think about the process by getting ready to go – dressing, getting money available, and thinking about which stores to go to. You may also spend hours and hours researching items to buy in Ebay, or your favorite online stores. This takes up a lot of your time. The feelings of euphoria heightens at this phase.
Shopping
This is the main event. You have researched the product for hours online, or walked the mall. You may be online and ready to pay.There is often a sense of excitement, fun, gratification. You have a “high,” and even a sense of euphoria that comes with the fulfillment of your “mission” to get something.
Spending
The is the time when the piper has to be paid. This is the follow-up to the main event, paying for the goods/services. This may happen immediately, or it may hit home when the bills come in, every month a little worse than before.
Remorse
While Donald Black incorporates this into phase 4 in his article, we believe that this is a separate phase. Remorse, guilt, shame, depression, anxiety, or other negative thoughts and feelings are a whole phase unto themselves and also takes up a lot of emotional time and energy. Sometimes during this phase, the spender may decide to return the items to the store, give them away, hide them, sell them, or discard them as a way to try to appease the feelings brought on by the compulsion to spend.
11 Spending Triggers That Tempt Us All
Craving to get something just because…
Desire to reward yourself for something (“I did a nice thing for my neighbor so I can treat myself”)
Desire to do something to make yourself look better so you buy clothes, makeup, perfume or cologne
Coping with painful emotions (“I’m stressed about work so ‘retail therapy’ will help me feel better” or “Shopping will help me to get out of this depression”)
Believing that spending, even if compulsive, is better than drinking or drugging
Needing to impress the neighbors/family/friends/coworkers and others with new things
Always wanting something new because the buy-it-now culture values things over everything else
Falling for ads that tell you how much better you will be or perform or feel with the product
Being drawn into online shopping, or TV home-shopping channels
Believing that purchasing something on sale is a bargain so you have to have it
Being made to feel important by salespeople whose sole goal is to get you to buy something
How Is Compulsive Spending Defined
The definition of addiction (Substance Use Disorder or Process Disorder as the basis of this compulsion. “An addiction is an unhealthy relationship with or to a mood-altering, substance, event, person, or thing which has life damaging consequences” (author unknown).
WebMD states that compulsive shopping is: “An obsession with shopping that significantly interferes with the functioning of the individual. The signs are a preoccupation with shopping; anxiety when not shopping; a constant need for a shopping ‘fix’; shopping to excess that results in debt and family or marital discord; and the frequent purchase of items that go unused.”
If you, or someone you know has a problem with compulsive spending, check out Debtors Anonymous or Spenders Anonymous.
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What Is Compulsive Spending
Compulsive spending is not what happens when people indulge for occasions like birthdays, Christmas or other holidays. Problem spending is something that occurs year round. Relentless, buying with no real need or purpose is the reality. If you recognize yourself as someone who “needs” to shop, you are are not alone. In fact, studies find that about 1-10% of the U.S. population suffers from this disorder, with the majority (50-90%) of problem spenders being women.
What Is Compulsive Spending
There are varying definitions of compulsive spending but most include the following symptoms:
A strong desire/urge to shop and spend
Impulsiveness
Buying things that aren’t needed
Getting a high from spending
Consequences for the spending
Process addictions include gambling, eating disorders, sex addictions, and other behavioral addictions.
An addiction is defined as an unhealthy relationship with, or to, a mood-altering substance, event, person, or thing which has life-damaging consequences.
With this definition, we see that there is an unhealthy relationship to spending, a mood-altering event (there is a high associated with the spending), and consequences that cause problems. If you or your loved one meets the criteria from these definitions, then you are looking at a problematic and addictive behavior.
What Causes Compulsive Spending
Like substance addictions, there may be varying causes of this addiction. Some researchers believe there is a biological/genetic component; some feel it is related to a problematic childhood, especially one of deprivation; it may be related to various mental illnesses (as noted above); as a way to feel good about yourself; as a coping skill for difficult emotions; having a strong need for excitement/euphoria; being a materialist (you love things); and the influence of this culture’s focus on buying/spending (materialism) with the media’s glamorization of various products.
16 Warning Signs Of Compulsive Spending
spending to relieve distressing feelings such as depression and anxiety
impulsiveness
feeling “high” when thinking about shopping or when buying things
lying about or hiding the shopping/spending
justifying the behavior to yourself or others
feeling guilt, shame, or anger at yourself after spending
preoccupation regarding shopping
having numerous credit cards – many of which have been maxed out
buying unneeded products or services (such as getting a massage every day)
hiding bills or being the person who does the bills and not showing this to the partner
compulsive watching TV home-shopping channels or looking at products on the internet which can lead to the compulsive spending
fear of losing your car or home because of chronic spending
others tell you they think you have a problem
fighting with family or friends over your spending
stealing/hoarding the goods/seeing the clutter in the home
12 Deadly Consequence Of Compulsive Spending
family secrets by hiding the behaviors and the products
family fights regarding the spending
relational concerns due to not being present or not participating in relationships because of escaping into addictive behaviors
having a house full of clutter
spending significant time thinking, planning, and spending (preoccupation)
financial problems such a maxing out credit cards, poor credit ratings, using up savings, and going into debt
missing work/being preoccupied at work about the next shopping spree
physical health problems such as sleep deprivation or over/undereating due to stress and preoccupation about the spending
emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, guilt, shame, and stress-disorders and not participating in healthy ways to cope with the feelings
intellectual losses by choosing other behaviors instead of learning, reading, having intellectual discussions, etc.
spiritual concerns such as violating own moral/values code; neglecting to participate in healthy spiritual activities such as meditation, prayer, being creative, playing, or being in nature.
While the DSM-V (the bible of diagnoses of mental health and substance use disorders) does not include compulsive spending as a separate addiction (only gambling is listed as a process addiction), many therapists do see this as an addiction. Also, this compulsive behavior may be related to these DSM-V diagnoses: impulse-control disorder, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and some personality disorders.
Please remember that if you or a loved one has this disorder, there are ways to help you, so don’t despair.
If you have a problem with compulsive spending, check out Recovery Guidance for a free and safe resource to find addiction and mental health professionals near you
Also check out Debtors Anonymous
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3 Ways To Start Recovering From Compulsive Spending
If you are a compulsive spender, you know the highs and lows that accompany the 5 phases of spending: anticipation, preparation, shopping, spending, remorse. You also know which phases are the most fun, and which produce the stomach dropping plunge to the pits when payment is due. You love getting things; you spend hours and hours and devote much of your creative energy to your acquisitions. And it’s only getting worse. What can you do?
Why You Need Help To Stop
The reward system of the brain is triggered the same way as substance use disorders and process disorders (also called process addictions) such as sexual addictions, workaholism, exercise addiction, and food disorders. A process addiction doesn’t get better on its own, just as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer and not be ignored and expected to manage themselves.
3 Steps To Start Your Recovery
Ditch the denial and start telling the truth. First be honest with yourself, then talk to loved ones about the problem. They already know. They may already have been hurt. They will welcome solutions.
Get some good information about compulsive spending recovery and shopping and share it with your family. No one heals from an addiction alone
Develop a plan-of-action choosing what you need from the tools below
Your Support Team
Get a financial adviser to make a plant to get out of debt
Seek individual and group therapy as well as family therapy. Cognitive (thought) behavioral (action) therapy is especially useful as it can teach you how to resist urges to spend, or utilize process therapy to delve into your issues at a deeper level. An addiction therapist can focus on your treatment and recovery as well as other mental health or addictive issues.
Seek inpatient treatment if needed.
Seek psychiatric help as there may be medications (such as antidepressants) that can help with the impulsivity.
Talk to your spiritual/religious mentor..
Join the free 12 programs, Spenders Anonymous or Debtors Anonymous. These groups are based on the same 12 Steps as AA and NA for substance use disorders. Besides the actual 12 steps, both groups have excellent resources regarding how to cope with compulsive spending or the debt you have incurred due to the spending.
Get a sponsor, someone who has the same problems but who has been free of the behavior and who has been working the steps. Utilizing the steps can help you or your loved one to get honest, make amends for your behavior, and go beyond the addiction into recovery.
Strategies To Use Every Day
Examine needs vs. wants and shop only for needs. All right, this isn’t easy. You think you need everything.
Use healthy coping skills such as: exercise; do creative activities, especially ones that involve your hands; think about other things; read; journal; meditate, attend book clubs or spiritual meetings; talk to others who understand your addiction; focus on gratitude for what you have; and continue to develop and utilize healthy leisure time.
Practice mindfulness; this can help you to learn how to shop mindfully (you may need to work with a professional regarding this)
Have someone else do the shopping for you or not going shopping alone and shopping with someone who doesn’t have a problem
Develop a shopping list with non-addicts and only buy what’s on the list
When shopping leave credit/debit cards and large amounts of cash at home (only take what you need per the shopping list);
Destroy all credit/debit cards except for one for emergencies.
Never shop when you are angry, sad, depressed, or feeling other feelings which may trigger your compulsion; never shop at stores where you typically overspend
Walk away from an impulse to spend – give yourself time to think about it.
Stay off the internet and TV home-shopping networks.
Don’t shop during holiday “bargains” or other store bargain times; and avoid discount shops, especially ones where you buy in bulk.
Compulsive spending is an addictive process, but one that can be overcome with a healthy recovery plan. And while it is difficult to stop all shopping and spending (unlike drugs and alcohol where the goal is total abstinence), it can be managed. And with such management, you can become healthier in all areas of your life. You don’t have to go it alone. If you need help with your spending or any other addiction, check out Recovery Guidance for a free and safe resource to find addiction and mental health professionals near you.
The post 3 Ways To Start Recovering From Compulsive Spending appeared first on Reach Out Recovery.
April 12, 2019
How To Treat Body Dysmorphic Disorder, According To Experts
If you or a loved one are dealing with body dysmorphic disorder, you may be hesitant to ask for help. It’s common to believe that psychological treatment won’t be the answer to your concerns. In fact, if you have BDD, you may have already sought “treatment” in other ways, such as with an aesthetician, dermatologist, hair stylist, dentist, or cosmetic surgeon, depending on the “flaw” you want addressed.
Body dysmorphic disorder, also called body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition that involves an unhealthy and excessive preoccupation with one’s physical appearance. Usually, people with BDD are preoccupied with one feature, such as the nose, eyes, teeth or mouth, hands, or knees.
While it’s common for people with BDD to seek cosmetic treatment, masking or changing the perceived flaw isn’t an effective treatment option. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) should be the first line of treatment for BDD, Elyse Resch, RDN, an eating disorder therapist and one of the originators of intuitive eating, tells Health. Rather than masking a physical feature, CBT helps people address their underlying thoughts and beliefs about their bodies.
CBT for BDD can also involve exposure techniques that aim to reduce the repetitive behaviors and habits around the physical preoccupation, such as skin picking or hair pulling.
The same kind of treatment can be effective in people with poor body image and eating disorders. For example, as a college senior struggling with body dysmorphia, I underwent many CBT sessions and was given “homework” such as challenging myself to wear shorts to the gym instead of leggings.
The goal of my homework was to make me realize that people were not, in fact, staring at my legs, and that I had developed a false belief—if I wear shorts, everyone will stare at my cellulite and hate me—due to poor self-esteem.
Whether you have distorted body image, an eating disorder, or BDD, the idea is to move from body distrust to body trust, Resch says.
Physical health and safety are the priorities in each one of these conditions. No matter the clinical definition or diagnosis, a distorted sense of self can lead to health complications like nutrient deficiencies, skin conditions, hair loss, fatigue, hormonal complications, and more.
Without trusting one’s body, it will be difficult to halt unhealthy habits like skin picking, purging, or compulsive exercise, Resch says. Ultimately, you must learn to trust and accept that your body is the way it is, and there’s no need to change it.
“No one walks around saying, ‘I’m just gonna work on getting three inches taller,'” Resch says. “We accept that we cannot change our height or the size of our feet. So why can’t we accept our hips or our nose or our hair?”
At-home coping strategies for BDD
While CBT is the most effective course of treatment, there are some things you can do at home if you struggle with your sense of self. Resch recommends the following tactics:
Spend less time on social media, and unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about yourself.
Make a list of things you love about yourself.
When you feel intrusive thoughts creeping up, engage in a hobby you love.
Spend more time doing constructive activities, such as writing, painting or drawing, and taking walks.
Identify triggering events or images, and write down what you feel when you experience these things.
Find a safe person who you can talk to at any time about your feelings.
Additionally, use the many free resources available to you. The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation (BDDF) and the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) are just two helpful resources available online.
The post How To Treat Body Dysmorphic Disorder, According To Experts appeared first on Reach Out Recovery.
My Experience Living With Extreme Anxiety
If I think back to all of the most memorable and joyous moments of my life, my memories are laced with a dark, gripping cloak of anxiety.
Experiences that other people would celebrate, such as graduations, weddings, and promotions, are dreaded milestones for me — not the ferociously sought-after goals that they are for many people.
Sometimes, I think back to try to identify the defining moment that turned me into the anxious, paranoid wreck that I became for so long. I search for clues regarding what led me there. Maybe my mother was withholding, or maybe my father was too strict.
Perhaps those things are true. But my anxiety was always there, slowly bubbling to the surface for a quarter of a century, until it would eventually erupt, pouring into every aspect of my adult life.
As a kid, I would second guess everything that I did. I was told that I was “just shy,” and that I needed to practice doing things I didn’t want to do in order to get used to my shyness.
My mom would make me order food at restaurants and over the phone, in the hope of helping me overcome my irrational fear of interacting with others.
By junior high, I hid myself in class projects and after school programs so that every moment of every day was accounted for, leaving no room for self-doubt to creep in. The adults told me I was ambitious, driven even.
And perhaps they were right, but I see now that it was just my anxiety taking root in the deepest recesses of my personality and worldview.
In college, I continued working tirelessly on class projects and student organizations, using my anxiety as the fuel to my overachieving fire.
I hid behind the guise of being a good student, a good worker, and a good son.
But the dark reality was that if I stopped to rest for a single second, I would spiral out of control. The self-loathing would take over, and panic attacks would consume me. So I filled my time with more work, more activities, and more goals.
I graduated with honors, and at my college graduation ceremony — a collection of medals hanging around my neck — I was meant to lead my class out onto the stage to receive our degrees. The department chairperson gave me simple enough instructions, mostly just detailing the path from the entrance to our seats.
My mentor and friend stood nearby in excited anticipation. She quietly snapped a picture of me and sent it through later that evening.
When I stared at the photo later, I noticed the excited students around me with big smiles and oversized graduation gowns. The department chairperson had a relaxed face; her head slightly tilted as she spoke. As for me?
I stood frozen, my hands tangled in themselves, my fingers twirling the cords and medals hanging over my shoulders. My face was stiff, my eyes laser sharp, my lips set in a firm, straight line, and the muscles in my jaw were protruding ever so slightly.
As I received my instructions with poise, my inner world was in utter chaos. Though I looked confident and powerful on the outside, both my mind and heart were racing. Thoughts of self-doubt and self-hatred compteed for my attention, all but drowning out the real voices around me.
The picture captured a moment of celebration, a quiet moment before one of the most exciting milestones in a young adult’s life. What it didn’t capture was the reality of what was happening on the inside.
The start of my addiction
A few years later, I was working dutifully in my salaried job, filling my days with even more tasks and chores in the hope of escaping the nagging voice that never went quiet.
One night, my anxiety had become so intense that it oozed out into my body, causing my muscles to spasm so tightly that they pulled my rib cage out of place. With every breath, my ribs rubbed against the soft tissue on the inside of my chest, causing extreme pain, and even more anxiety.
Finally, I went to a doctor, desperately searching for relief. He was able to pop my ribs back into place, before prescribing me oxycodone for the pain and Xanax for the anxiety.
“A lot of professionals would frown upon these prescriptions I’m writing you,” he said as he scribbled on his notepad. He looked up at me with a smirk and a twinkle in his eye.
“But you seem like a responsible young man.” He handed me the prescriptions and smiled.
At the time, I clung onto these prescription pills, hoping that they’d finally provide the relief I had never experienced. Little did I know that they would plunge me even further into my dark, tormented reality.
At first, these pills really helped. For the first time in my entire life, I couldn’t be fussed about anything at all. Everything seemed perfectly acceptable, perfectly harmonious. To be honest, I can’t think of any other time in my life, both before and since then, that I’ve ever been so happy.
Naturally, I wanted to feel that way all of the time. So, it became a ritual.
Every night when I returned home after work, I would take some oxycodone and settle down for the evening. Every morning, before heading to work, I’d take a Xanax to prepare myself for the day ahead.
After a few weeks, I began taking double the dose, sprinkling my hits throughout the day.
Within a month, I was taking the pills on a near constant basis, elevating myself to an ethereal reality that seemed to sit just above the reality that everyone else lived in.
I continued this way for a while, unbothered by my detachment from reality, and by my inability to think clearly. I didn’t care because, for the first time in my life, I wasn’t anxious.
The voices that had controlled me for so long were finally silent. For that, I would have continued in this stupor for the rest of my life. Little did I know, I was in the throes of an addiction to two of the three most commonly abused prescription pills. It wasn’t long before my life unraveled.
A few months into my addiction, I was burning through my prescriptions faster than my doctor could write them. I found another doctor to write me an additional prescription, trying my best to re-enact my behavior from the first visit to make sure I secured the second prescription.
I stopped spending time with my friends and family just so I could sit at home, stoned out of my mind and far from my anxiety.
The problem?
As soon as the pills wore off, my anxiety would return in full force, feeding my paranoia and self-hatred in doses that I had never experienced before. As soon as my high disappeared, my demons took hold once more.
Recovery and self-acceptance
I eventually found a third doctor, and I hoped to gain a steady flow of prescription pills that would help me avoid my demons 24/7. This doctor, however, must have recognized the problems under the surface and told me that I should seek help, instead.
“You’re on a dangerous path, you know.” His gentle eyes forced me to make eye contact.
“What do you mean?” I didn’t want him to accuse me of having an addiction, though I was sure that is what he meant.
“Opioids are dangerous. You might want to try working some things out with a therapist or looking for more sustainable treatment methods.” He started putting away his things, tinkering with his little instruments.
“Like what?” I began to sweat, and my heart began to race. I couldn’t imagine going back to a life where my anxiety was free to exist on its own, without the stifling prescription pills.
“Maybe that’s what a therapist could help you find out.” He put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it. “Ask the receptionist for a list of therapists, if you’re interested.” With that, he left the room, and me sitting in it.
I’d like to say that I went straight to a therapist from there, but instead, I went in search of another doctor and another prescription.
It wasn’t until about a year later when I exploded at a work colleague for a small and unimportant reason that I realized it was time to seek more sustainable treatment, just as the doctor had recommended.
I eventually went into an outpatient detox program and got clean from my opioid and Xanax addiction. I attended individual therapy and group therapy, where I learned that exercise, a healthful diet, proper sleep, and meditation are among the best treatment methods for my anxiety disorder.
I immersed myself back in my support network. I spent time with my friends and family who had loyally stood by my side, even when I disappeared into my 2-year high.
And you know what?
The anxiety is still there. I’ll admit that I still crave the high, too.
But, for the first time in my life, I can manage these bubbling feelings. I finally have the tools to mitigate them so that they don’t take over my mind. For the first time in my life, I can actually live my life, rather than claw my way through it.
I finally know what those incessant thoughts of self-doubt are. I finally know how to recognize when the anxiety is tightening its grip on me. I finally know how to stop it all.
My recovery from both anxiety and addiction has been a long and challenging process, and there are still days when I feel like I’d rather be in the warm embrace of a good oxy high than ever deal with mundane life again.
But with therapy and self-care, I’ve learned to enjoy the mundane things and to accept the moments where I don’t enjoy them at all.
After all, anxious thoughts, self-doubt, struggle, and boredom are all a part of the human experience. If we commit ourselves to learn how to incorporate these experiences into our daily life without losing touch with reality, then we can really enjoy life.
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How Marijuana Affects The Body
Marijuana is the dried and ground up or shredded parts of the cannabis plant. Nearly all parts of the plant make up marijuana, including the leaves, stem, flowers, and seeds. As with other medications and procedures, marijuana use can potentially bring both positive and negative effects.
Many of marijuana’s effects are short-term, meaning that they last for only a short period. Other effects are long-term and may not show up immediately.
There is not much research into the effects of secondhand marijuana smoke. It is possible that secondhand smoke exposure may be enough to cause some of the temporary effects, as well as some of the long-term effects, in some people. More research is necessary to examine the effects of secondhand marijuana smoke.
Often, a person will smoke marijuana to feel its effects. However, a person could also:
vape it
cook it into food
use it as part of an oil
brew it with teas
use other topical or oral marijuana products
The following article discusses some of the potential benefits and side effects that marijuana has on the body.
How marijuana affects physical health
Some of the most common effects on physical health from marijuana use include:
a higher likelihood of developing bronchitis, when a person smokes it
more phlegm, when a person smokes it
lung irritation from irritants including some carcinogens, such as accidentally burning the mouth or throat when smoking
a weakened immune system due to the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the main psychoactive chemical in marijuana
pain relief
reduction in vomiting and nausea
faster heart rate by 20–50 beats per minute
red eyes from the increase in blood flow
relief from the symptoms of glaucoma, for short periods
aggravation of existing lung conditions, such as asthma, when a person smokes it
potential interference with tumor growth
interference with fetal development during pregnancy
interference with brain development among teenagers
When people use it medically, marijuana is often useful for the following:
reducing pain associated with certain medical conditions
reducing inflammation
helping with glaucoma
reducing nausea in people undergoing chemotherapy
How marijuana affects psychological health
Some of the most common effects a person may experience include:
increased appetite and thirst
increased or decreased depression symptoms, depending on the user
increased or decreased anxiety symptoms, depending on the user
impaired judgment, making it harder for people to think clearly
problems with memory
the release of dopamine, which causes the feeling of being high
symptoms of withdrawal after long-term use
delayed reactions to stimuli
temporary paranoia and hallucinations
addiction, in some cases
Marijuana has many potential psychological effects, and it is worth noting that this is not a comprehensive list.
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How To Stop Overeating When You’re Anxious
Its true certain foods can help reduce anxiety, but for people who struggle with overeating, it’s best to plan them into the diet rather than eat them impulsively, because out of control eating can increase anxiety much more so than the reduction you might expect from the food itself. Try to move your food decisions from your emotions to your intellect!
Foods and nutrients that may help reduce anxiety include:
Magnesium. Diets low in magnesium have been found to increase anxiety behaviors in mice. Foods rich in magnesium include leafy greens such as spinach and Swiss chard, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.Regular Blood Sugar: Don’t skip meals or you may feel jittery.Omega-3s from fatty fish like wild salmon.Probiotics: For social anxiety in particular.Antioxidants: Anxiety is thought to be correlated with a lower overall anti-oxidant stateBrazil Nuts: Contain Selenium, an antioxidant which may reduce the inflammation associated with uncomfortable moods.Pumpkin Seeds and/or Bananas: Contain potassium, a mineral shown to reduce anxiety in some studies. Pumpkin seeds also contain zinc. Zinc is most concentrated in the body in the regions of the brain associated with mood control. Tumeric: Contains Curcumin, which can reduce the inflammation and oxidative stress associated with mood disorders.Blueberries: Rich in Vitamin C, another antioxidant which can prevent damage to cells which could promote anxiety.
Another important factor to consider is that eating “comfort” and/or junk food to quell your anxiety reinforces your perception that you can’t handle the anxiety itself, which is the opposite of what you want to do to overcome it.
What you want to do instead, is show yourself you’re capable of feeling progressively more emotional discomfort while sticking to your diet. From this perspective, anxiety is an opportunity to grow. You can’t extinguish a behavioral pattern without experiencing that pattern. Feeling anxious, then feeling the “oh my God I’d better eat some junk” impulse, and turning to healthier food and/or activities instead weakens the connection between anxiety and junk so that you’ll have an easier time next time.
Finally, there’s one more paradigm shift you might want to consider when you’re experiencing anxiety, and it stems from a quote by a famous child psychologist. In my 30+ years working with literally more than a thousand patients and coaching clients, not to mention my own relentless soul searching, journaling, and therapy, this quote is my favorite: “The Nightmare We Fear Most Is the One We’ve Already Lived Through” – Donald W. Winnicott
I constantly see people (myself included) obsessing about “What if X happens or Y happens?”, when clearly it’s the pain of what has already happened they are reliving and projecting onto their current circumstances.
“What if my business fails?” — when clearly it’s the instability and insecurity of a previous environment they are reliving.“What if the love of my life leaves me?” – when clearly it’s the pain of having been left in the past resurfacing.“What if I get some horrible illness and lose my mobility and/or independence?” – when clearly it’s the fear of not having fully lived life to date which ails them.
The problem with all this is that it keeps us living in the past, and can create a self-fulfilling prophesy.
If you’re constantly worried about your business failing, you’re draining energy from actually building your business and seeing opportunities right in front of you.If you’re constantly terrified your love will leave you, you’re not fully in the present, connecting with him or her on the deepest level, thereby making it more likely they WILL leave.If you’re constantly worried about illness, you’re sacrificing mental energy which COULD be focused on improving your health and fitness, thereby making you less well than you could be.
What I try to do when I find myself obsessing about any given fear is ask myself “How is this most like what I’ve already been through, and how is it different?” That usually calms me down enough to get me focused again in the present, on improving my life, and pursuing my goals and relationships.
“The nightmare we fear most is the one we’ve already been through.”
Food for thought!
PS – I’m not a licensed dietitian, nutritionist, or M.D. so please consult one to assess specific nutritional deficits in your own diet.
From Psychology Today:
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