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Does weed help with anxiety or cause it? (Article)

Alcohol & Drug Addiction Support / by sunnyWriting4806

September 12th, 2023

...See more “Cannabis affects virtually every neural connection in the brain, even more so than stimulants such as cocaine and opioids, said Judy Grisel, a professor of psychology at Bucknell University and the author of “Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction.” This, in turn, means cannabis can cause a wide array of reactions, depending on the person, she said. “It’s going to turn up the volume on everything,” Grisel said, which is why food tastes better and music sounds better to some people when they’re high. Many people swear by the calming effect of weed, but Grisel said there doesn’t seem to be a “molecular reason” why THC would alleviate someone’s feelings of anxiety or stress. Instead, people may feel a calming or relaxing effect because the drug can enhance how you’re already feeling. If you’re using cannabis on “a nice, sunny breezy day,” Grisel said, then the weed is going to enhance the mellow, relaxing ambiance. This also means that for those who are feeling anxious, cannabis may make them more sensitive to stress or prone to paranoia.” My Takeaways: * Cannabis, particularly THC can have various effects depending on the person who uses it. Generally it has an amplifying effect, making your current emotions stronger and more “realer” than before. * Many people report a calming effect that helps them sleep and slow down the world around it, while others report it makes them more excited, anxious and eager to get things done. The effect researchers find varies on many things: how the drug is taken, the age, the physical and emotive state of the person. * In general taking THC chronically can lead to anxiety-like effects especially for those of younger ages. THC at the end of the day alters your brain chemistry so it's important to be aware of the changes and tolerance addiction can cause. Full article is here! [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/05/03/weed-anxiety-cannabis/] #Cannabis #Anxiety #Addiction How does cannabis affect your mind?

Married couples who merge finances may be happier, stay together longer (article)

Relationship Stress / by sunnyWriting4806

May 6th, 2023

...See more “Prior research suggests a correlation that couples who merge finances tend to be happier than those who do not. But this is the first research to show a causal relationship -- that married couples who have joint bank accounts not only have better relationships, but they fight less over money and feel better about how household finances are handled. "When we surveyed people of varying relationship lengths, those who had merged accounts reported higher levels of communality within their marriage compared to people with separate accounts, or even those who partially merged their finances," said Jenny Olson, assistant professor of marketing at Kelley. "They frequently told us they felt more like they were 'in this together.' "This is the best evidence that we have to date for a question that shapes couples' futures; and the fact that we observe these meaningful shifts over two years, I think it's a pretty powerful testament to the benefits of merging. On average, merging should warrant a conversation with your partner, given the effects that we're seeing here."” My Takeaways: * Married couples who manage a joint finance account may be happier in the long-term. They also find that having a joint bank account may lead to less fights over money overall and better handling of family/house finances. * A joint bank account may be one of the ways one shows an external sign of commitment during marriage, merging finances as a way to show the other person “we’re in this together”. * Of course this does mean a potential divorce or separation down the line may be more difficult, but most marriages are gone without that thought in the first place. In general a conversation talking about how finances will be handled in a marriage is important to have before entering into such agreement in the first place. Full article is here! [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230504111937.htm] #Relationships #Marriage #Finances What do you think about joint finances for married couples?

What causes your brain to procrastinate and how to face it (Article)

Work & Career / by sunnyWriting4806

May 10th, 2023

...See more “A 2022 study in the journal Nature Communications suggests that a root of procrastination may lie in a cognitive bias — we believe that doing tasks will somehow be easier in the future. “You know it’s going to stink in the future just as much as it’s going to stink doing it now, but internally you just can’t help yourself,” said Samuel McClure, professor of psychology and cognitive neuroscientist at Arizona State University. “It’s a fascinating phenomenon — that myopia you can’t escape — even though if you just stop and think about it, it’s ludicrous.” There is individual variation, but “procrastination is a tendency that we all encounter in our life in different domains, or at different time points in our lives,” said Raphaël Le Bouc, a neurologist at the Paris Brain Institute and author of the study. “But the true cognitive mechanisms behind it are not really known. And this might be a reason why it’s difficult to overcome this tendency.”” My Takeaways: * According to a Nature Communications study, people have a tendency to procrastinate due to a belief that the task at hand will become easier the later time moves on. * Of course if you really think about this notion it sounds silly. But researchers find that these kinds of justifications are often made almost subconsciously as we go about our day. Ever find yourself saying “I’ll do it tomorrow”? It may be a manifestation of a belief that tomorrow will be a better day to work, or your mind will be better prepared to tackle the task at hand. * In reality, this isn’t the case. Realizing this may be the key to avoid procrastination and putting things off for later. Full article is here! [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/01/05/procrastination-help-brain-tasks/] #Procrastination #WorkStress #Studying What are some ways we can counter procrastination?

Discrimination at Work Can Increase Your Risk of High Blood Pressure (article)

Work & Career / by sunnyWriting4806

May 9th, 2023

...See more “Discrimination in the workplace is an issue that affects people across industries and walks of life. Back in 2020, Glassdoor reported that 61% of employees in the United States have either experienced or seen discrimination tied to one’s race, age, gender, or LGBTQIA+ identity at work. This pervasive presence of workplace discrimination in American life can move from the office to other aspects of one’s life. The buildup of stress, anxiety, and depression from discriminatory practices experienced at one’s job can have wide-ranging effects on overall health, and one recent studyTrusted Source published in the Journal of the American Heart Association shows that people who felt discrimination at work faced increased high blood pressureTrusted Source risk. Experts say the new research not only offers a window into how the way we’re treated at work can affect our health but also sheds a spotlight on the changes some companies may need to make to ensure workers’ overall well-being is prioritized.” My Takeaways: * Workplace discrimination can lead to significantly poorer health outcomes including in this study an increase in stress, anxiety and depression symptoms. Additionally, work stress in general can cause high blood pressure as well. * Workplace discrimination is defined as any unfair treatment a person receives through their racial, ethnic, sexual or gender identity. Additionally disabilities and other medical conditions can be discriminated against as well. * Being discriminated against and especially in a situation where an employee feels powerless to do anything can exacerbate poorer health outcomes. So it remains vital that we recognize and address these in our work environments. Full article is here! [https://www.healthline.com/health-news/discrimination-at-work-can-increase-your-risk-of-high-blood-pressure] #WorkStress #Health #Discrimination What are some ways we can counter workplace discrimination?

Regular Exercise May Boost Recovery for People with Substance Use Disorders (article)

Alcohol & Drug Addiction Support / by sunnyWriting4806

May 9th, 2023

...See more “Of these studies, 21 explored the influence of exercise on stopping or reducing participants’ substance use. The results were significant: 75% of these studies saw a decrease or total cessation in substance use among those who engaged in physical activity. Furthermore, 12 studies noted that participants experienced lower levels of depression after exercising. The researchers also saw that some participants in the analyzed studies reported improved sleep. Would positive outcomes have been even greater if participants exercised more frequently or at a higher intensity? “We don’t have the data to answer that,” said Piché. “However, if I extrapolate, we can assume that each person has a different therapeutic pathway and that their ‘optimal’ dose will therefore be different, too.” Ultimately, she continued, “Physical activity [is] a simple way to empower [those with SUD] to take charge of their health and improve it.”” My Takeaways: * Exercise was shown to help in assisting with quitting substance use. It may be a factor of your mind taking more control over your health in general or an actual physical change of your body making it more resilient to needing the particular substance effects or the withdrawal symptoms. * Either way, participants who engaged in exercise while trying to cease substance use were found to have significantly lower levels of depression and even better amounts of sleep overall. * It’s a powerful but simple supplemental tool for getting over substance abuse. Full article is here! [https://www.healthline.com/health-news/exercise-substance-use-disorder#A-look-at-the-benefits-of-exercise-on-substance-use] #Exercise #SUD #Health What are your favorite exercises to do?

How alcohol consumption contributes to chronic pain (article)

Alcohol & Drug Addiction Support / by sunnyWriting4806

May 9th, 2023

...See more “Alcohol use disorder (AUD), which encompasses the conditions commonly called alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence and alcohol addiction, affects 29.5 million people in the U.S. according to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Over time, AUD can trigger the development of numerous chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, liver disease and some cancers. Among the many impacts of long-term alcohol consumption is pain: more than half of people with AUD experience persistent pain of some type. This includes alcoholic neuropathy, which is nerve damage that causes chronic pain and other symptoms. Studies have also found that AUD is associated with changes in how the brain processes pain signals, as well as changes to how immune system activation occurs. In turn, this pain can lead to increased alcohol consumption. Moreover, during withdrawal, people with AUD can experience allodynia, in which a harmless stimulus is perceived as painful. When Roberto's group then measured levels of inflammatory proteins in the animals, they discovered that while inflammation pathways were elevated in both dependent and non-dependent animals, specific molecules were only increased in dependent mice. This indicates that different molecular mechanisms may drive the two types of pain. It also suggests which inflammatory proteins may be useful as drug targets to combat alcohol-related pain.” My Takeaways: * Alcohol consumption dependence and withdrawal can be associated with chronic pain and there may be specific changes to the pathways that may be causing this pain versus any other kinds of pain from other conditions/drug abuse. * Alcohol is an inhibitory drug and increased amounts of it on a chronic basis can alter our neurochemistry to induce chronic pain including inducing allodynia which is an increased threshold to what we think is pain. Suffers of withdrawal can think a regularly normal stimulus may be painful to them. * Of course this affects mood as well, if you’re constantly more in pain and find yourself more sensitive to stimulus you may be more apt to be frustrated and angry as well. In general levels of inflammatory proteins were found elevated in mice who were exposed to alcohol use. Full article is here! [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230421195030.htm] #Alcohol #Dependence #Pain What are some ways that can help prevent alcohol abuse?

Your Guide to Understanding and Managing Workplace Stress (Article)

Work & Career / by sunnyWriting4806

May 4th, 2023

...See more “Managing stress in the workplace may seem like just a task for employees, but the reality is that reducing work-related stress requires a comprehensive approach that involves both employees and their employers. In one small study from 2018, researchers explored the work stress prevention needs of roughly 15 employees and supervisors from different occupations. According to the study, some of the possible stress prevention measures included things like adequate staff, appropriate workload, frequent breaks, and open communication, among others. However, sometimes it’s not feasible for someone to wait for workplace changes to alleviate their work stress ― especially in industries that are more stress-prone, like healthcare and customer service. So, here are some potential tools you can use as an employee to help you manage your workplace stress: * Mindfulness: Research shows that engaging in mindful activities like meditation can help reduce stress and job strain and improve overall well-being. * Movement: Any type of exercise is beneficial for stress, but research suggestsTrusted Source that mindful exercises like yoga can help significantly reduce work-related stress. * Therapy: Therapy with a trained mental health professional can help you learn different coping strategies to better manage your stress levels at work. * Connection: If you’re feeling stressed or burned out at work, reach out to your manager and let them know how it’s affecting you. There may also be employee resource groups set up to help reduce stress in your company culture. While there are many different approaches that you can take to help lower your work-related stress, it’s not always easy to take that first step. If you’re concerned that the stress from your job is having an impact on your quality of life, reach out to your doctor to discuss the next steps.” My Takeaways: * Workplace stress is affected by a complex interplay between work environment and also the personal experience one receives when working. A great environment can certainly help but the subjective perspective of the worker is important as well. * The article states that some personal things we can do to avoid burnout is practicing mindfulness, finding ways to move around the office/workplace, connecting with fellow workers and managers, and therapy if needed. * In the past, workplace stress was seen more as a natural part of work, something one should “get-over”. But more and more we see that workplace stress is a very real phenomenon and can cause companies losses and workers health problems. Therefore it’s important to address these topics to create a healthy workplace environment and educated employees who are able to work their best without burnout. Full article is here! [https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/workplace-stress#managing-stress] #WorkStress #Burnout #Stress What are some ways you prevent work-related burnout?

(Habits) No magic number for time it takes to form habits (article)

Healthy Living / by sunnyWriting4806

April 26th, 2023

...See more “The same study also looked at how long it takes health care workers to get in the habit of washing their hands: an average of a few weeks. "There is no magic number for habit formation," says Anastasia Buyalskaya (PhD '21), now an assistant professor of marketing at HEC Paris. Other authors of the study, which appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, include Caltech's Colin Camerer, Robert Kirby Professor of Behavioral Economics and director and leadership chair of the T&C Chen Center for Social and Decision Neuroscience, and researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania. Xiaomin Li (MS '17, PhD '21), formerly a graduate student and postdoctoral scholar at Caltech, is also an author. "You may have heard that it takes about 21 days to form a habit, but that estimate was not based on any science," Camerer says. "Our works supports the idea that the speed of habit formation differs according to the behavior in question and a variety of other factors."” My Takeaways: * Habits take 21 days to form. Or goes the old saying. Turns out the popular “life-hack” was based on more so anecdotal and not scientifically backed evidence. New research shows that habit building varies significantly from person to person and activity to activity. * For example a simple enjoyable task of eating chocolate after every dinner is a very easy habit to form. It gives pleasure immediately and it's relatively easy to do. However the habit of eating 10 stalks of broccoli may be much harder to do given broccoli (at least for most of us) does not have as much of an appealing taste as chocolate. Eating 10 stalks per day can be quite burdensome. * However, habits can be made. Perhaps restructuring our ideas of certain activities can help us promote habit building sooner. Portraying broccoli as something that helps your health and then physically feeling that health benefit later down the line can help us establish that habit! Full article is here! [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230412131136.htm] #Hobbies #Habits #Time What are your tips to building a habit?

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