Posts in category: Dating Tips, Guide and Advice

Positivity-boosting compliments are genuine expressions of regard, admiration, praise, or respect that can improve someone’s mood and help you feel more connected to them. They tend to work best when they are personalized, specific, genuine, and highlight someone’s effort, character, or presence. Examples include “You always make every day brighter,” or “I really admire how you handle challenges.”

Why Positivity-Boosting Compliments Feel So Great

Receiving a compliment feels great. The health and happiness benefits of the compliment giver are also well-documented. One study also found that practicing kindness toward others can be beneficial for individuals at risk of mental health problems.

Compliments really are one of the easiest two-way streets available to spread happiness around you and increase your own. The more you compliment, the better you feel. We know it can feel awkward sometimes to dish out a compliment—and to receive one—but the more practice you get, the more natural it will feel.

Here are a hundred ready-made compliments to try out for yourself. Such compliments can work for almost any situation, whether you compliment a friend, colleague, or loved one.

Ways to Compliment Someone’s Positivity

These compliments focus on the joy, fun, and positive outlook a person brings. It’s not easy to stay positive all the time, so it’s important to let someone know when they have a positive impact on you and those around them:

• Your smile is contagious.
• I bet you can make even the crankiest babies smile.
• You have the best laugh.
• You light up the room.
• You have a great sense of humor.
• If you were a cartoon character, you’d be the one that gets bluebirds to sing on your shoulders.
• You’re like sunshine on a rainy day.
• You bring out the best in other people.
• There’s just something about you that shines.
• Colors seem brighter when you’re around.
• You always know how to have fun.
• Jokes are funnier when you tell them.
• You’re the best at finding silver linings.
• You always know what to say to make me feel better.
• Being around you is like a happy little vacation.
• You’re more fun than bubble wrap.
• You’re like a breath of fresh air.
• You’re someone’s reason to smile.
• You’re the only person who can always make me laugh.

Compliments That Highlight Personal Traits

These compliments acknowledge different qualities a person exhibits. We are often very self-conscious about different aspects of our lives and worried about how others perceive us. Compliments along these lines can go a long way to making someone feel a bit more comfortable in their own skin:

• You have impeccable manners.
• I like your style.
• You’re strong.
• Is that your picture next to “charming” in the dictionary?
• Your kindness is a balm to all who encounter it.
• You are brave.
• You are beautiful on the inside and outside.
• You have the courage of your convictions.
• You’re a great listener.
• Hipsters are probably jealous of how cool you are.
• There are so many different things that make you really interesting.
• You’re inspiring.
• You’re so thoughtful.
• When you make up your mind, nothing stands in your way.
• You seem to really know who you are.

Compliments for Intelligence, Creativity, and Resourcefulness

These compliments show that you appreciate a person’s abilities. When we work hard at something, it’s nice to be recognized for it, right? That doesn’t always have to come in the form of major accolades or tangible rewards—sometimes a pointed observation or compliment will do the trick:

• You’re a smart cookie.
• Your perspective is refreshing.
• How do you know so much about everything?
• When you say, “I meant to do that,” I actually believe you.
• You have the best ideas.
• You’re always learning new things and trying to better yourself. That’s awesome.
• If someone based an Internet meme on you, it would have impeccable grammar.
• You could survive a zombie apocalypse.
• When you make a mistake, you fix it.
• You’re great at figuring stuff out.
• Your creative potential seems limitless.
• I bet you do crossword puzzles in ink.
• You have a good head on your shoulders.
• Everyone gets knocked down sometimes; only people like you get back up again and keep going.

Compliments That Celebrate Accomplishments

It is often good to compliment a specific action or achievement, especially when you know someone has worked hard to get where they are. This kind of positive reinforcement can be hugely motivating:

• I am so proud of you, and I hope you are too!
• You are making a difference.
• You deserve all the credit you’re getting.
• You’re a great example to others.
• Actions speak louder than words, and yours tell an incredible story.

Compliments That Strengthen Personal Relationships

How do you compliment a friend? Sometimes it can be tough to actually verbalize what someone means to you in a way that won’t sound too cheesy. Try using these compliments that focus on how your friend relates to others.

• You’re an awesome friend.
• You’re more helpful than you realize.
• Hanging out with you is always a good time.
• You always seem to know what others need.
• Being around you makes everything better.
• You should be thanked more often.
• The world is better because you’re in it.
• It’s great to know that you’ve got my back.
• You always know just what to say.
• Your friends are lucky to have you in their lives.
• Any team should be grateful to have you on it.
• There’s a reason people are drawn to you.
• The way you treasure your loved ones is incredible.
• You’re a gift to those around you.

Thoughtful Compliments About Appearance

These compliments can be problematic, as complimenting appearance can come across as flirting, and so they should be avoided in many business and social contexts.

If you do use appearance-based comments, know your audience. Make sure it is the right situation, appropriate for your relationship with the person, and not something that will make them feel uncomfortable:

• You have been glowing lately.
• You look great today.
• Your eyes are breathtaking.
• How is it that you can make any outfit work for you?
• That color is perfect on you.
• Is that a new perfume? It smells great.
• Your smile lights up the room.
• Your confidence is infectious.
• Have you been working out?
• Your hair looks stunning.
• Your voice is magnificent.
• I wish I had your nose.
• You’re irresistible when you blush.
• Has anyone ever told you that you have great posture?

Complimenting a Romantic Interest

If you want to compliment someone you are interested in romantically or sexually, be polite, recognize the contexts in which such compliments are appropriate, and pay attention to the tone of voice and body language. Respect the other person’s boundaries if your compliments seem unwelcome.

Rather than focusing on aspects of their physical body, consider complimenting something like their style, talents, or behaviors. For example, you might say something like:

• I absolutely love that shirt. It really brings out the color of your eyes.
• Your hair looks so great today.
• You have such a great sense of style.
• You have such a great personality.
• I really enjoy talking to you.

If you want to compliment someone you are in a relationship with, you might mention how they make you feel, how much you enjoy seeing them each day, or how creative and talented they are.

Compliments That Recognize the Whole Person

These compliments may be a little too general. As with complimenting appearance, consider whether they are appropriate or may be bordering on flirtatious:

• I appreciate you.
• You are perfect just the way you are.
• You are enough.
• On a scale from 1 to 10, you’re an 11.
• You’ve got all the right moves.
• Everything would be better if more people were like you.
• You are an incredible human.
• You’re wonderful.
• You’re one of a kind.
• Whoever raised you deserves a medal for a job well done.
• Time spent with you is always worth it.
• In high school, I bet you were voted “Best, period.”
• If you were a scented candle, you’d be the rare one that actually smells like what it’s supposed to.
• There’s ordinary, and then there’s you.
• You’re even better than a unicorn because you’re real.
• You’re really something special.

How to Give a Positivity-Boosting Compliment

• Practice: Start complimenting and find out for yourself how great it makes you feel.
• Personalize it: If you pick any of these, be sure to personalize it so it truly reflects what you appreciate about the person you are complimenting.
• Consider their response: If someone deflects your compliments or responds awkwardly, consider what their response might reveal about them. In some cases, they may feel uncomfortable with the attention, or they may simply not know how to accept a compliment.
• Keep the conversation going: In either case, try not to take it too personally and move the conversation forward by talking about other subjects without dwelling on the awkwardness.

Research has found that we tend to underestimate the positive impact of giving compliments and overestimate how uncomfortable their words might make the recipient. This makes people less likely to engage in prosocial behaviors. So, don’t be afraid to let someone know you appreciate them!

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a motivational theory that explains how human needs build from basic to complex. It proposes that people must first meet essential physiological and safety needs before they can focus on higher-level needs like belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Often shown as a pyramid, the model helps explain why unmet basic needs can make it harder to pursue personal growth and fulfillment.

Five Levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

1. Physiological Needs

The physiological needs include those that are vital to survival. Some examples of physiological needs include:

In addition to the basic requirements of nutrition, air, and temperature regulation, physiological needs also include shelter and clothing. Maslow included sexual reproduction in this level of the hierarchy as well, since it is essential to the survival and propagation of the species.

2. Security and Safety Needs

At the second level of Maslow’s hierarchy, the needs start to become a bit more complex. At this level, the needs for security and safety become primary.

People want control and order in their lives. Some of the basic security and safety needs include:

Finding a job, obtaining health insurance and health care, contributing money to a savings account, and moving to a safer neighborhood are all examples of actions motivated by security and safety needs.

3. Love and Belonging

The social needs in Maslow’s hierarchy include love, acceptance, and belonging. At this level, the need for emotional relationships drives human behavior. Some of the things that satisfy this need include:

• Friendships
• Romantic attachments
• Family relationships
• Social groups
• Community groups
• Churches and religious organizations

In order to avoid loneliness, depression, and anxiety, it is important for people to feel loved and accepted by others. Personal relationships with friends, family, and lovers play an important role, as does involvement in groups—such as religious groups, sports teams, book clubs, and other group activities.

4. Esteem Needs

At the fourth level in Maslow’s hierarchy is the need for appreciation and respect. Once the needs at the bottom three levels have been satisfied, esteem needs start to play a much larger role in motivating behavior.

At this stage, people want to feel respected, valued, and recognized for their contributions. This includes both internal feelings of competence as well as external validation for accomplishments. Key aspects of esteem include:

• Feeling a sense of achievement and accomplishment
• Receiving recognition, appreciation, or praise from others
• Building self-esteem and confidence
• Developing a sense of self-worth and value
• Feeling respected in professional, academic, athletic, or social roles

People often meet these needs through accomplishments at work or school, participation in sports or teams, creative projects, or personal hobbies. When esteem needs are met, people tend to feel confident in their abilities. Conversely, those who lack self-esteem and the respect of others can develop feelings of inferiority.

5. Self-Actualization Needs

At the very peak of Maslow’s hierarchy are the self-actualization needs. Self-actualizing people are self-aware, concerned with personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others, and interested in fulfilling their potential.

“What a man can be, he must be,” Maslow explained, referring to the need people have to achieve their full potential as human beings.

Maslow said of self-actualization: “It may be loosely described as the full use and exploitation of talents, capabilities, potentialities, etc. Such people seem to be fulfilling themselves and to be doing the best that they are capable of doing. They are people who have developed or are developing to the full stature of which they are capable.”

Understanding Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory

Abraham Maslow first introduced the concept of a hierarchy of needs in his 1943 paper, titled “A Theory of Human Motivation,” and again in his subsequent book, “Motivation and Personality.” This hierarchy suggests that people are motivated to fulfill basic needs before moving on to other, more advanced needs.

While some of the existing schools of thought at the time, such as psychoanalysis and behaviorism, tended to focus on problematic behaviors, Maslow was more interested in learning about what makes people happy and what they do to achieve that aim.

As a humanist, Maslow believed that people have an inborn desire to be self-actualized. In other words, people naturally desire to be all they can be. To achieve this ultimate goal, however, several more basic needs must be met. This includes the need for food, safety, love, and self-esteem.

Maslow believed that these needs are similar to instincts and play a significant role in motivating behavior.

What Are the Different Types of Needs?

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs can be separated into two types of needs: deficiency needs and growth needs.

• Deficiency needs: Physiological, security, social, and esteem needs are deficiency needs, which arise due to deprivation. Satisfying these lower-level needs is important to avoid unpleasant feelings or consequences.
• Growth needs: Maslow called the needs at the top of the pyramid growth needs. These needs don’t stem from a lack of something, but rather from a desire to grow as a person.

While the theory is generally portrayed as a fairly rigid hierarchy, Maslow noted that the order in which these needs are fulfilled does not always follow this standard progression.

For example, he noted that for some individuals, the need for self-esteem is more important than the need for love. For others, the need for creative fulfillment may supersede even the most basic needs.

How People Move Up the Pyramid

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is often displayed as a pyramid.

• The lowest levels of the pyramid of needs are made up of the most basic needs, while the most complex needs are at the top.
• Once lower-level needs have been met, individuals can progress to the next level of needs.
• As people progress up the pyramid, needs become increasingly psychological and social.
• At the top of the pyramid, the need for personal esteem and feelings of accomplishment take priority.

Like Carl Rogers, Maslow emphasized the importance of self-actualization, a process of personal growth and development that enables individuals to reach their full potential.

Where Maslow’s Theory Falls Short

Maslow’s theory has gained widespread popularity both within and outside of psychology. The theory has had a particularly significant influence on the fields of education and business. But Maslow’s concept has not been without criticism. Chief among the long-held objections are:

• Needs don’t follow a hierarchy: While some research has shown support for Maslow’s theories, most of the research has not been able to substantiate the idea of a needs hierarchy. Wahba and Bridwell (researchers from Baruch College) reported that there was little evidence for Maslow’s ranking of these needs and even less evidence that these needs are in a hierarchical order.
• The theory is difficult to test: Maslow’s definition of self-actualization is difficult to test scientifically. His research on self-actualization was also based on a very limited sample of individuals, including people he knew as well as biographies of famous individuals whom Maslow believed to be self-actualized.

Some of the more recent critiques suggest that Maslow was inspired by the belief systems of the Blackfoot nation, but neglected to acknowledge this. Maslow studied the Northern Blackfoot tribe as an anthropologist. However, the popular views of the hierarchy are often seen as a misrepresentation of the Blackfoot worldview.

What Today’s Research Says About Maslow’s Hierarchy

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs marked an important shift in psychology. Instead of focusing on abnormal behavior and development, his humanistic approach emphasized how people can grow, thrive, and reach their potential.

Although research is limited, the hierarchy remains widely recognized and popular in fields such as psychology, business, education, mental health, and everyday life. Recent research suggests that:

• Satisfying needs contributes to well-being. However, people don’t necessarily need to meet these needs in the order suggested by the pyramid.
• Higher-level needs are still important in times of stress or crisis, even if lower-level basic needs are disrupted. This suggests that the needs hierarchy is more flexible than Maslow initially suggested.
• Research suggests that human needs don’t follow a fixed sequence, which challenges the idea of a universal series of needs.
• Needs shift over time, which means that the needs that influence our behavior are much more dynamic and fluid than the needs hierarchy suggests.

Such results suggest that while these needs can be powerful motivators of human behavior, they do not necessarily take the hierarchical form that Maslow described.

How Maslow Expanded His Theory Over Time

In 1970, Maslow built upon his original hierarchy to include three additional needs at the top of his pyramid, for a total of eight:

• Cognitive needs: This centers on knowledge. People generally want to learn and know things about their world and their places in it.
• Aesthetic needs: This addresses the appreciation of beauty and form. People might fulfill this need through enjoying or creating music, art, literature, and other creative expressions.
• Transcendence needs: Maslow believed that humans are driven to look beyond the physical self in search of meaning. Helping others, practicing spirituality, and connecting with nature are a few ways we might meet this need.

Test Yourself With a Quick Quiz

It doesn’t matter how long or briefly a relationship may have lasted—meeting a person and learning about their likes, dislikes, and annoying little quirks often makes it hard to let go completely. So, the idea of getting back with an ex is a pretty normal thought for most people. Knowing when and how to get back with your ex isn’t always so easy.

You might need to start by considering how the relationship ended in the first place. You might have been the one who decided to bring an end to your relationship. Or may it was your partner’s “we need to talk” text got the ball rolling for a breakup. In some cases, a breakup may have only been temporary.

When to Get Back With an Ex

Beyond the fluttering butterflies in your stomach, how strongly you miss them after returning from a long day at work, or how amazing the sex was—there are stronger motivations to consider before deciding to pursue a former flame.

Before considering how to get back with your ex, you must be 100% certain that you’re doing so for all the right reasons.

The Relationship Is Fixable

Sometimes, there’s nothing like time apart to allow for a fresh look into a relationship. Taking a break and getting away from your partner can offer a chance to look at things more objectively. You might be asking yourself questions like:

• Were we too hasty to call things off?
• Would things have turned out differently if we had honest conversations?
• Why did we throw things away when there was still so much love left in the relationship?

Both of You Have Changed for the Better 

Despite the hurt left over from ending things with a partner, the fact remains that breakups tend to happen for well-founded reasons.

While infidelity and a loss of interest are commonly to blame for ending things—sometimes, a clash of personalities could be responsible for the end of a relationship.

Being with a partner that is always unwilling to compromise, or one who has trouble opening up or showing affection may, among many other things, cause considerable friction within the relationship and could lead to a breakup.

Trust Can Be Rebuilt in the Relationship

Because trust is the foundation of most healthy relationships, having it broken by cheating, or persistent lies. It can be hard to continue with a partner that has hurt you deeply.

However, in cases where there is genuine remorse for the breach of trust and openings are available with your partner to have honest conversations about why the breach happened, there may be a chance to rekindle the relationship. This is, of course, following an agreement to be open and honest in the future.

You’re Both Willing to Work to Get Back Together

A relationship requires more than one person’s participation. This is why even though you may be willing and excited at the chance to continue a relationship with an ex, they must be on the same page.

Once you and your former partner are OK with giving life together another shot, you can follow the necessary steps to get the relationship back on track.

Tips for How to Get Back With Your Ex

When you’ve decided to get back with an ex, the last thing you want to do is make the same mistakes that led to the end of the relationship the first time around.

To avoid this, a deliberate effort must be made to rekindle the love and feelings once shared. Here are some careful steps to get back with your ex.

Take Your Time Before Reaching Out

When you’re itching to resume life with an ex, one of the last things you’ll want to hear is any advice suggesting a little space before taking the plunge to reach out.

It’ll also give you the distance necessary to consider any changes required to get back into healthy form with your ex.

Think About What Could Have Happened Differently

While taking time apart from your ex, you should dedicate some time to review the relationship, especially noting things that could have been handled better or differently.

Use this time to have honest conversations about where you may have contributed to the end of your relationship. It’s also a good time to look deeply into what worked and what didn’t with your partner.

If a second go remains appealing after considering things carefully, you can proceed with your efforts to reach out.

Reach Out to Your Ex to Talk About the Relationship

After taking a closer look and accepting responsibility for the role you may have had in ending your relationship—it’s time to take the step of reaching out!

Call them and ask if they’d be open to speaking honestly about your relationship. If they’re open to it, share your new insights about what caused the breakup and get their feedback to see if they share the same sentiments.

Listen to any alternate suggestions they might have, but always make sure you’re on the same page, or at least at a reasonable compromise when it comes to serious matters that caused difficulties in the relationship.

Now is not the time to consider who was right or wrong, but rather, it’s a time to review what could have been done differently for a happier outcome. You can also lighten the mood and discuss happier times in your relationship.

Bring Up the Possibility of Getting Back Together

After discussing the past with your former partner, you can then bring up the possibility of a future with them.

How you go about this can be entirely up to you and how you interpret their response. However, it may be advisable to have a few conversations where you catch up and speak only as friends before bringing up any discussions that may lead to giving your relationship another chance.

Have a Trial Period

When it comes to getting back with your ex, taking things slow is usually the name of the game. You can use a trial period to understand what it feels like to be together again. You can make your trial period last as long as you’d like. When you both feel ready to take the next step, then you can discuss your next move together.

During this trial period, it may be best to keep the status of your relationship private. This means taking things slowly by telling your friends and family you’re back together or posting about it on social media.

Ease Back Into the Relationship

After introspection, joint discussions, and a trial run, it may be time to ease back into the full, public swing of things. At this point, you might be ready to officially define your relationship to whatever feels accurate!

Remaining respectful of your partner’s feelings, agreeing to handle disagreements with love, and reaching healthy compromises to maintain the relationship should feature prominently in the second chapter of your relationship.

If your relationship has been faced with hardships, you might find yourself focused on a key question: Is your relationship worth saving? Relationships can be tricky. One moment you can be on the highest euphoria cloud, and the next second it can feel like you’re alone in the relationship.

However, when you’re in a relationship and questioning staying, there are some key things to consider before calling it quits. The questions you might ask yourself that will factor into your decision include:

• Does this person add value to your life?
• How long have you been together?
• Have you been through hard times and made it out together?

In this article, you’ll learn what you should consider before breaking up with your current partner. It also provides some questions you should ask yourself during the decision-making process and urges you to reflect on how your actions may have affected the relationship. Additionally, you’ll learn what makes a relationship worth saving and ways to rekindle the spark that once was.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Before you decide to end your relationship completely, it’s a good idea to take a step back to reflect on what’s working and what is hindering the relationship. Here are some questions to ask yourself that will help determine if you’re going to stay on the boat or swim to shore.

• Why did you get into the relationship to begin with?
• How does this person make you feel? How did they make you feel in the past?
• What’s changed to even make you question if the relationship is worth saving?
• What are your deal breakers?
• What aren’t you doing enough of?
• Are you worth saving or fighting for?
• Are both you and your partner making sincere and sustainable efforts to hear and understand the other’s needs and feelings, repair from disconnect and conflict, and do your best to meet each other’s needs?

You and your partner need to be able to honestly answer these questions separately. Though relationships are about being a pair, true fulfillment and happiness start with oneself. Therefore, taking a look at your own actions and facing your contribution to the relationship will help you both get closer to a final decision.

What’s Going Wrong in the Relationship?

All too often, it’s easy to point the finger at anyone but yourself, especially in relationships. However, if you think the relationship is headed to destruction, you’ll need to sit down and have a serious conversation with your partner.

Start by asking each other the following questions:

• How did we get here?
• Are you willing to work to save what we have?
• What can we do differently?
• Are we communicating enough? Effectively? Really hearing and understanding each other?
• What are some things we can change?
• Can we bring in professional assistance?
• Do we bring out more of the best than the worst in each other?

Relationships can be hard to manage. When you think about it, since birth, you’ve been in countless relationships and juggling them to the best of your ability. You have your parents, grandparents, sibling, cousins, aunts and uncles, friends, teachers, and associates—that’s a lot of relationship building. And then you bring in a boyfriend or girlfriend to the mix, which only adds to your collection of people.

The key is never giving up. If you feel you’ve fallen short with communicating or being present in a family member’s life, you don’t just end that relationship.

If you have a quality person in your life that you love and care about, it’s best to try and figure out if there’s potential to salvage the relationship.

How Do You Know If Your Relationship Is Worth Saving?

It can be easy to walk away and avoid conflict because staying takes hard work. However, both parties have to be willing to do their part in any relationship, or it just won’t work. Here are some clues to know if staying is a real possibility.

Your Partner Won’t Give Up on You

No matter how tough things get, how estranged you all are, or if it seems the love is fading, they still are there to fight together. That’s when you know you have something priceless and ultimately have something worth fighting for.

Having a partner who won’t give up and is committed to continuing to try their best is wonderful. However, it is also important to acknowledge and be honest about whether the differences are too great to overcome such as major differences in values and life visions.

You Can Be Vulnerable With Them

It’s hard to open up to people and share your complete truth with someone; that’s the epitome of being completely naked. Sharing your fears, your flaws, and secrets are not something that should be taken lightly. Opening up in this way can be scarier than skydiving.

If you have someone you trust enough to know you from the inside, keep them close because they know your heart, and love you still.

You Both Understand That We’re All Just Human

If you’re mature enough to understand that we’re all just human, love is capable of lasting. Of course, humans will fail, make mistakes, and stumble. But if you have someone willing to take accountability and work on their downfalls, you have a gem worth keeping. Forgiveness will set you free; holding grudges will leave you stuck and bitter.

You Still Care

No matter how much that person gets on your nerves or makes you mad, you still care about their well-being. If you care, there’s still hope for the relationship. It’s when nothing they do phases you, and when you don’t complain or press an issue that you know the relationship isn’t worth saving.

You’re Still Best Friends

It’s been said that the best relationships start from friendship. Whether it begins as friends or gradually becomes a solid friendship, a relationship is worth saving with a friend. Losing a relationship and a friendship would be detrimental.

Sit down as friends and discuss the issues at hand, and settle them respectfully. If you’ve already found a lifelong friend in your partner, never take them for granted.

Oddly enough, this generation is wired to throw people away like yesterday’s trash. We are extremely eager to move on to the next new “thing” just as quickly as technology is produced. As a result, there is a lack of value and appreciation.

Fun Ideas to Get the Spark Back

Just like a candle, when the spark goes out, it can be relit. Try out these suggestions to rekindle the old flames.

• Go on spontaneous dates often
• Handwrite a love letter
• Run a bath for your partner
• Recreate the first date
• Plan a vacation to a place you both have wanted to go
• Turn off technology, sit in the middle of the floor, and talk, but really listen
• Get dressed up and cook at home, then help each other undress for dessert

Keep in Mind

A relationship worth saving takes a lot of work from both people. There will be trying times, and you may want to give up, but that’s when you are tested the most.

If you have someone of quality then you’ll do anything to keep them around. The payoff will be worthwhile and appreciated because you’ll have gone through the fight together.

If you love someone unconditionally, it is worth it to put in the work it takes to keep the relationship. As long as you both stay connected and communicate through it all, the relationship can weather the challenges life brings.

While marijuana (also known as weed) is sometimes portrayed as relatively harmless, research has shown that it can have a number of negative effects on health. In addition to these health risks, there is also a potential for dependence and addiction. 

If you want to quit smoking marijuana, there are several things you can do to improve your chances of success like tapering your use, quitting cold turkey (if you’re prepared to handle withdrawal symptoms), and finding healthier distractions.

This article explores some of these tactics for how to stop smoking weed as well as information on the withdrawal symptoms you may experience.

Choose How You Will Stop Smoking Marijuana

Once you decide to stop smoking weed, your first decision is to pick which approach is right for you and your needs. While some people may find giving up marijuana easier than others, your own experience may depend on whether you have developed a dependence or addiction to the substance.

There are two common approaches to choose from when you are trying to stop smoking marijuana: tapering your use or quitting cold turkey.

Tapering Your Use

Tapering is a process that involves gradually reducing drug use by lowering the dose used over a period of time. The goal is to slowly allow a person’s body to become used to lower levels of the substance while minimizing drug withdrawal symptoms. 

If you decide to try the gradual approach, there are some things you can do to help improve your chances of success.

• Give yourself a deadline. Pick a date that you would like to stop smoking weed for good. Then figure out how much you’ll have to cut back to quit by that date.
• Pick a tapering strategy. You might opt to cut back a certain amount each day or each week. You might also opt to switch to a lower-potency cannabis product.

Quitting Cold Turkey

This approach involves simply stopping the use of the drug. While quitting cold turkey isn’t easy and often leads to more intense withdrawal symptoms, there are some reasons people might choose this method.

For instance, it can be an effective way to stop your habit and get a fresh start. People who doubt their ability to reduce their marijuana use gradually may find this method more effective.

Prepare for Withdrawal When You Stop Marijuana

Once you decide to stop smoking weed, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the withdrawal symptoms you might experience as you give up the drug. By doing this, you’ll be better prepared mentally and can plan how you will deal with these symptoms.

Research suggests that up to 90% of people who are dependent on marijuana will experience withdrawal symptoms. People who use tobacco or other substances are more likely to experience withdrawal when they stop smoking marijuana.

For most people discontinuing their marijuana use, withdrawal symptoms will usually last for around one to two weeks. However, some people may continue to experience these symptoms for several weeks or even months, a phenomenon known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).

During this time, it can be helpful to have a plan that will help you stick to your recovery efforts. Look for ways to relieve your symptoms without turning to marijuana and consider reaching out to your healthcare provider for solutions that can help.

Reminding yourself that these feelings are temporary and that you will get better in a few days can help.

Understand Your Triggers

Whether you are tapering your use or quitting cold turkey, it is vital to be aware of the people, objects, or situations that can trigger drug cravings and use. Identifying these triggers and finding ways to avoid or cope with them can help you be more successful.

When you are trying to stop smoking marijuana, it is essential to get rid of any marijuana-related paraphernalia in your home. Getting rid of the drug itself is crucial, but you should also eliminate any pipes, bowls, bongs, vapes, and related products.

Having them readily available makes it easier and more tempting to give in to a drug craving.

Once you are more aware of the things that trigger your drug use, you can plan to deal with those triggers. Sometimes this might involve avoiding or eliminating things that create pressure on you to smoke marijuana. In other cases, you’ll need to explore healthy coping mechanisms to help you manage your urges.

Don’t be too hard on yourself if you do make a mistake and smoke again. Relapse is common for anyone who is trying to quit. Research has found that it usually takes people a few tries before they are successful.

A slip-up doesn’t mean that you’ve failed; it’s just a temporary setback. The key is to keep trying and find healthy ways to deal with triggers.

Tips for Quitting Marijuana

No matter what strategy you decide to use to stop smoking marijuana, several techniques can help you stick to your goals. Some things you can try are listed below.

Find Distractions

Finding ways to stay busy can help distract you from some of the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. It can also keep your mind off of the drug cravings that you might be experiencing.  

Look for things that you can do that will help take your mind off smoking marijuana. If you usually smoke during specific periods, such as on the weekends, find activities that will help keep you occupied and distracted.

Creating a new routine can also be helpful when you are quitting a substance such as marijuana. Keeping a routine during stressful times can be important for your mental well-being, but sticking to old habits (those that featured regular drug use) can make recovery much more difficult.

Exercise

When you are quitting marijuana, you may find that getting regular exercise can be helpful for various reasons.

First, it can act as a valuable distraction when cravings hit. It can also help you feel better and more energized as you cope with symptoms of withdrawal.

Some research also suggests that exercise may help complement other treatments for cannabis use disorder. Researchers indicate that since marijuana use can affect the systems that regulate stress and rewards, exercise might help reduce withdrawal symptoms, aid in stress management, and reduce drug cravings.

One small study published in the journal PLoS ONE found that moderate exercise curbed marijuana use and cravings.

Care for Yourself

It can be challenging to deal with the symptoms of marijuana withdrawal, so caring for yourself is particularly important during this time. Make sure you are eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of rest.

When you find yourself struggling with stress or anxiety, try implementing some effective stress management techniques such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation.

Also, focus on finding a sense of balance in your life. Practicing mindfulness, in which you learn to focus on the present moment and build a stronger sense of self-awareness, can help you become more in tune with your needs.

Find Support

Your social support system can also play an important part in achieving your goals. 

You might notice that some people in your life may be less supportive—particularly if much of your social life centers around marijuana use. In these cases, you may need to consider reevaluating some of your relationships and places where you spend your time. 

Create boundaries with people who make it more challenging to quit. Talk to supportive friends about your goals. They can offer the encouragement and support that you need to be successful.

How to Get Help for Marijuana Addiction

If you want to stop smoking weed, it’s also important to remember that you don’t have to do it all on your own. Getting help from your healthcare provider or therapist can increase your chances of successfully quitting marijuana.

Start by talking to your doctor or mental health professional about your treatment options. 

Medications

There are currently no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of marijuana use disorders, but research in this area is ongoing. Clinical trials have shown that buspirone, an anti-anxiety medication, can reduce cravings and drug use and decrease symptoms of irritability.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications to treat co-occurring mental health disorders. For example, they might prescribe antidepressants to treat symptoms of anxiety or depression.

Therapy

Therapy is generally the recommended treatment for marijuana use disorder. Specific strategies that may be used include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which addresses the underlying negative thought patterns that contribute to addictive behavior. Your therapist can also help you find coping mechanisms that will help you deal with the thoughts or emotions that often contribute to drug use.
• Contingency management, which involves the use of rewards to reinforce and encourage drug abstinence. For example, you may be able to earn desired rewards by passing a drug test.
• Motivational interviewing, which is an approach that helps people develop a strong motivation to make positive behavior changes in their lives. This type of therapy can be helpful for people who struggle to find the motivation to quit smoking marijuana. 

It isn’t uncommon for parents to occasionally feel that their children’s behavior is out of control. After all, most kids experience temper tantrums, rule-breaking, or other behavioral challenges from time to time.

In many cases, such behavioral issues can signify that a child’s needs are not being met or that they are dealing with something stressful. Sometimes, however, these problems might indicate a more serious behavioral disorder or emotional problem.

This article discusses how to tell if your child’s behavior is out of control and what steps you can take to help your child. Recognizing that there might be a problem and taking steps to improve your child’s behavior can lead to better outcomes.

Frequent and Severe Outbursts

Temper tantrums are normal among younger children but decrease in frequency and severity as they age. If your child is still experiencing frequent and severe temper tantrums past the age of five, it may be a sign that they are experiencing a behavioral issue.

Behaviors that are sometimes viewed as out of control when they occur in older children include:

• Crying, screaming, or yelling excessively
• Kicking, punching, or hitting others
• Holding their breath, going limp, or tensing their body
• Flailing their arms or legs

Such tantrums are often in response to stress or unmet desire. Kids might engage in such behavior when they don’t get what they want or when they want attention from others. Outbursts can also occur in response to being tired, hungry, or frustrated.

Difficulty With Interpersonal Relationships

Another sign that your child’s behavior might be out of control is having frequent interpersonal issues with other children and adults.

Common problems you might notice include the following: 

• Your child might frequently be involved in arguments with other children that are never resolved. 
• Your child blames others for these conflicts and cannot or will not acknowledge how their actions may have contributed to the problem.
• They cannot get along with other children in school or other settings.
• They struggle to maintain friendships.
• They often alienate other adults due to their behavioral outbursts.
• They are often excluded from social activities because others don’t want to deal with their behavior.

These social problems can leave kids feeling isolated and take a serious toll on self-esteem.

Problems Managing Emotions

Another problem associated with out-of-control behavior in children is difficulty managing emotions. While younger kids struggle more with emotional control, this is an ability that gradually improves as children get older.

On the other hand, kids who experience emotional dysregulation have a more challenging time understanding and controlling their own emotional responses.

Signs of emotional dysregulation in kids include:

• Intense, out-of-control outbursts of anger
• Severe feelings of frustration
• Trouble dealing with disappointment
• Frequent crying
• Frequent negative moods

Poor Impulse Control

Kids with out-of-control behavior may struggle to manage their impulses effectively. They may engage in actions without considering the consequences, leading to social, academic, or disciplinary problems.

Examples of impulsive behaviors that can cause problems include:

• Acting out to get attention
• Overreacting when frustrated, angry, or disappointed
• Engaging in risky behaviors such as smoking, drinking, or using drugs
• Not thinking about the consequences of actions
• Lashing out at others
• Interrupting others frequently
• Taking things without asking
• Feeling very impatient

Serious Behavioral Problems

Out-of-control behavior can often be more severe and lead to significant consequences. Examples of these behaviors can include:

• Significant rule-breaking, such as skipping school, running away, or staying out at night
• Bullying, fighting, cruelty toward others or animals, or other actions that may cause harm 
• Stealing, lying, or damaging other people’s property
• Refusing to comply with adults’ requests or rules 
• Self-harm, thoughts of suicide, or suicidal behaviors

Such behavior patterns might indicate a behavioral disorder, such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD). ODD is usually between around age eight and no later than age 12. Conduct disorder may begin before age 10, but it is often diagnosed during adolescence.

What to Do If Your Child’s Behavior Is Out of Control

If you feel like your child’s behavior is out of control, there are steps that you can take to improve your child’s behavior. For many behavioral issues, effective parenting strategies can help caregivers get a handle on behavioral challenges. 

Some strategies that can help improve children’s behavior include:

• Establish clear household rules: Parents and caregivers should establish household rules, write them down, and discuss them with the child. Having rules can help kids learn to regulate their own behavior more effectively.
• Create structure: Kids benefit when there is structure in the home, particularly when dealing with behavioral issues. Make a schedule, so your child knows what to expect each day.
• Establish consequences: In addition to creating rules, it is essential to create consistent consequences for violations of the household rules. Examples of effective consequences include time-outs, restitution, and loss of privileges. Logical consequences, such as cleaning up a mess they made, can also be helpful.
• Offer reinforcement: Look for ways to help motivate your child to manage their behavior more effectively. Praise them when they engage in desired behaviors. Create a reward system, such as a sticker chart, where a child can earn a specific reward for a pattern of good behavior.

When to Seek Help

If disciplinary and parenting strategies don’t seem to be working or if your child’s behavior poses a risk to others or themselves, it is essential to talk to a professional. Talking to your child’s pediatrician is an excellent place to start. They can recommend treatments or refer you to other professionals for assessment, advice, and treatment. 

Treatment for behavioral issues may include psychotherapy, behavioral interventions, parent education, and medication. Joining a parent support group can also be a great source of information, advice, and encouragement.