Posts in category: Dating Tips, Guide and Advice

An addiction to marijuana (weed) is not common, but it is possible. Approximately 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will develop cannabis use disorder.

Some of the signs of marijuana addiction include:

1. Strong cravings
2. A loss of interest in other activities
3. Withdrawal symptoms
4. Increased tolerance for marijuana
5. Continued marijuana use despite negative consequences

Signs of Marijuana Addiction

Marijuana is one of the most widely used drugs in the United States, but it can have serious health consequences as well as other negative effects on a person’s life. There are some signs to watch out for that suggest a person might be addicted to weed.

Strong Cravings

One of the major signs of cannabis use disorder, according to the DSM, is a strong craving to use marijuana. A person’s urges might be so strong, for example, that they would sacrifice other commitments such as work or school in order to acquire and use marijuana.

Loss of Interest in Activities

Someone who is addicted to marijuana will prioritize their drug use over other aspects of their life. They will likely cut back on activities that previously brought them joy or withdraw from them altogether.

In addition, marijuana dependence has been linked with a lack of motivation. Someone who is addicted may lack the drive to engage in activities, pursue goals, or keep up with responsibilities, including school and work.

Withdrawal Symptoms

If someone frequently uses marijuana and experiences withdrawal symptoms upon stopping the drug, they may be considered to have marijuana dependence. Marijuana withdrawal symptoms are typically mild, peak within the first week after quitting, and may last up to two weeks. Symptoms include:

Increased Tolerance

According to the DSM, tolerance to a drug happens when, over time, a person isn’t able to achieve the desired effects or “high” by using the same amount of the drug. They will need a larger amount of the drug to achieve these effects.

A sign of marijuana addiction is increased tolerance. In other words, the more someone uses weed, the more they will need to use as their body becomes desensitized to it.

Continued Use Despite Negative Consequences

Someone with a weed addiction may realize that their drug use is affecting them physically, mentally, and emotionally. Studies have found that some of these consequences include:

• Impaired memory
• Impaired motor skills (increased risk of injury)
• Paranoia
• Higher risk of psychosis
• Cognitive impairment (lower IQ)
• Dropping out of school
• Inability to fulfill work commitments
• Financial instability

Despite the negative influence their addiction has on their life, however, someone with cannabis use disorder will continue to use marijuana.

Marijuana Addiction Risk Factors

Risk factors that make young adults more likely to develop an addiction to marijuana include:

• Assigned male at birth
• Using other substances like alcohol or tobacco
• Dysfunctional parent-child relationships
• Having friends who use marijuana
• Poor self-esteem
• Thrill-seeking or impulsive behavior
• Mental health issues

How Marijuana Use Affects the Brain and Body

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), marijuana use can have negative impacts on brain and body function:

• Loss of IQ points (these cannot be recovered even if someone stops using marijuana)
• Relationship issues
• Reduced school success
• Slower reaction time while driving or playing sports
• Depression and anxiety
• Premature birth, stillbirth
• Suicidal ideation

Gender schema theory was introduced by psychologist Sandra Bem in 1981 and asserted that children learn about male and female roles from the culture in which they live. According to the theory, children adjust their behavior to align with the gender norms of their culture from the earliest stages of social development.

Gender schema theory proposes that the ideas we have about gender (our schemas) are shapes through the cultures in which we live. This theory has played a major role in our understanding of how gender expectations are socially and culturally constructed.

The theory continues to inform researchers as they investigate discrimination, stereotyping, marginalized populations, and mental health. 

Knowing more about how your gender schemas are formed can also help you have a better idea about how your beliefs impact your behavior and how you interact with the world.

Origins of Gender Schema Theory

Bem’s theory was influenced by the cognitive revolution of the 1960s and 1970s and her desire to remedy what she believed to be shortcomings in the psychoanalytic and social learning theories of the time.

Freudian theories, she suggested, were too focused on the influence of anatomy on gender development.

Cultural Influences on Gender Schema

Gender schemas have an impact not only on how people process information but on the attitudes and beliefs that direct “gender-appropriate” behavior.

Culture Influences Gender Role Expectations

For example, a child who lives in a very traditional culture might believe that a woman’s role is in the caring and raising of children, while a man’s role is in work and industry.

Culture Influences How People Are Valued

It also dictates a person’s value and potential in that culture. For example, a girl raised in a traditional culture might believe that the only path available to her as a woman is to get married and raise kids. By contrast, a girl raised in a more progressive culture might pursue a career, avoid having children, or decide not to get married.

Cultural Influences Can Be Overt or Subtle

Many of these influences are overt, while others are more subtle. For instance, even the placement of gender titles in vocabulary (“how men and women are meant to behave”) inherently places women in a secondary position by rule. All of these influences add up to how gender schema is formed.

Consequences of Nonconformity

Within this construct, men and women are tacitly aware of the consequences of not adhering to the cultural norm. A woman who decides to pursue a career, for example, might be considered “abrasive” or “bossy” in traditional culture or be considered “unfair” or “disrespectful” to her husband if she doesn’t take his last name.

On the flip side, even in more progressive societies, men may be subject to disapproval for being the stay-at-home parent, while a woman may be described as “old-fashioned” or “backward” if she adheres to a more traditional “housewife” role.

Categories in Gender Schema Theory

According to Bern’s theory, people fall into one of four different gender categories:

Gender-schematic individuals are more likely to see the world in terms of gender and regulate their behavior according to those expectations. Gender-aschematic people, on the other hand, don’t place the same emphasis on gender, which means they are less likely to see the world through that lens.

Rationale and Criticism of Gender Schema Theory

In her writings, Bem believed that gender schemas were limiting for men, women, and society as a whole.

Critics of Bem’s theory say that she portrayed individuals simply as passive bystanders in the development of gender schemas and ignored the complex forces that contribute to the construction of gender.

Bem’s Sex-Role Inventory

In addition to the gender schema theory, Bem created a questionnaire known as the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BRSI). The inventory consists of 60 different words that are either masculine, feminine, or gender-neutral.

When taking the test, respondents are asked to rate how strongly they identify with each characteristic. Rather than simply categorizing people as masculine or feminine, the inventory presents both traits as part of a continuum.

Individuals can rank high on one gender or low on another (sex-typed). They can also rank high on both masculine and feminine traits (androgynous).

Video games aren’t just fun and entertaining; some evidence suggests that they can actually be helpful for stress relief. While video games often get negative attention from people who suggest they make kids less social and more aggressive, there is mounting evidence that these interactive games can also have mental health benefits.

Research on the Connection Between Gaming and Stress

Most gamers report that playing video games—even violent games—is a way to relieve stress and enjoy playing with friends. Some evidence has even found that many commercially available video games can be helpful in the treatment of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.

There is a large body of research suggesting that playing violent video games is positively associated with increased scores on measures of aggression. However, there is still a great deal of debate over how this translates to actual real-world behavior. Many lab studies demonstrating this increased aggression look at thoughts and language but not actual behaviors.

One study found that teens who played violent games experienced minimal increases in feelings of aggression, though the increases were barely detectable; teen girls experienced a slight increase in stress.

Research suggests that video games’ impact on the stress response is complex and can vary depending on the type of game played. Fighting games are associated with increased physical stress markers (like elevated blood pressure) compared to puzzle games, but they are also associated with higher self-reported positive emotions.

How Video Games Can Help Relieve Stress

Much of the research that has found a link between video game violence and aggression does not actually show a clear link between exposure to in-game violence and real-world aggression. 

Similarly, while there may be some stress responses triggered by games, overall self-assessments provided by gamers failed to show a link between problems with social life, academic behavior, work behavior, or physical reactions (stress). This suggests that, if there is a negative effect, gamers themselves are not aware of it and its effects on their lives.

Cooperative Games Can Decrease Stress Levels

One study examined players as they played either competitive or cooperative games. As predicted, there was a difference in stress levels after playing, and those who played cooperatively experienced a greater decrease in stress levels, but the difference was slight—both groups experienced decreases in stress by playing the game.

In addition, both groups retained positive feelings toward the other players, though there was slightly higher regard for those who were cooperative. This is another way in which video games can provide positive social experiences and a decrease in stress.

Video Games vs. Meditative Interventions

One study compared the stress-relieving effects of playing a simple casual video game to the effects of participating in a mindfulness meditation session. Both groups experienced significant reductions in stress following the intervention.

While participants in the mindfulness meditation group experienced slightly greater stress relief, the researchers suggested that the effects were very similar. Given the popularity of video games, researchers suggest that these tools can be an effective intervention for people coping with stress.

How We Can Use Video Games for Better Stress Relief

Overall, there is significant evidence that video games are not only fun, but they can be great stress relievers as well for many reasons. Video games can support stress relief by increasing emotional awareness and helping people respond in ways that improve coping and goal-achievement.

Video Games Can Improve Emotional Awareness

There is evidence that video games can provide a safe and fun outlet for developing our emotional awareness and coping skills. One study from the Behavioral Science Institute in The Netherlands studied proficient gamers playing Starcraft 2 to determine if their in-game coping mechanisms were related to their overall stress levels. 

They found that several players who became upset during gameplay found useful coping strategies to handle their negative emotions.

Video Games May Boost Interoceptive Awareness

One key difference between those who coped well and those who were less effective copers was the ability to monitor their own feelings and internal states. This ability is known as interoceptive awareness.

By monitoring internal states, people are then able to take steps to maintain a healthy balance. They can do this, either by making beneficial decisions to improve their situation or by seeking support. In fact, most games reward players for managing their emotions and working toward solutions in the face of stress.

Recommended Video Games for Stress Relief

If you are interested in trying video games for stress-relief, it can be helpful to know more about what might help and what you should avoid. Here are some recommended video games to help relieve stress.

Casual Games

These games can be picked up and played for a few minutes and then put down again. They can include simple challenges, short gameplay matches, or the ability to stop and save at any time.

Casual games are enjoyable because they can offer a quick break, a challenging-but-not-stressful experience, and a change in focus. Some casual games include Animal Crossing, Minecraft, Stardew Valley, and the Sims 4.

Cooperative Games

These games involve challenges that can be completed with other players. There are several benefits to this. One of the main benefits is that players can create a network of friends through the game, which can be comforting and may also be empowering. We enjoyed playing games with friends when we were young, and this need doesn’t necessarily go away in adulthood.

As subjects have reported, cooperative gaming can relieve stress and create positive feelings among players. These games can be played on handheld gaming systems, over the computer, or even via social media sites like Facebook.

Games for Stress-Management

Some games were actually created to help players learn to manage stress more efficiently. While these games aren’t necessarily as “mainstream” as some of the others, they can be especially helpful for stress relief.

Some games train players in meditation while others can even train in biofeedback, helping players build skills in these powerful stress management techniques that can be used in virtually any stressful situation.

There are a number of stress-relief games now available to play on virtual reality (VR) headset devices. Some that you might consider trying on a VR headset include:

Games That Improve Stress Management Skills

Games that teach stress management skills are rare, but there are a few. Some to consider include:

• Relaxing Rhythms by Wild Devine: An older game that teaches biofeedback, which uses finger sensors to provide in-game feedback.
• Muse: A game that uses a “brain-sensing headband,” which provides feedback for meditation: you listen to nature sounds as you meditate, but once your mind begins to wander, the atmospheric nature sounds become more intense until you bring your thoughts back to the present moment. This is a device that seems to fall somewhere between a game and a tool, but it can be enjoyable and more interesting to many new practitioners of meditation.
• Champions of the Shengha: A game that allows players to wear a sensor in real life and become more powerful in the game by remaining calm as they play it, facilitating mindfulness practice.

Champions of the Shengha is a remarkable game in that it encourages the practice of emotional mastery and allows players to become more powerful in the game and in real life. It’s ideal for teens and others who may have a difficult time learning stress management techniques like mindfulness, but love playing games.

Games That Build Skills

These games can build brain power or specific abilities. The benefit is that not only can they help to take your mind off of what is stressing you, they can help you to build executive function abilities that can help you to solve problems and stay organized in your regular life—abilities that can relieve stress!

Skill-building games can be puzzle games (like crossword puzzles that you can play online or on a handheld game device) or they can be games that require quick thinking. This includes games like:

Games You Really Enjoy

Really, any game that you truly enjoy can be a stress reliever. Virtually any game that you find to be truly fun can be beneficial by providing an escape from daily stress, a break from patterns of rumination, or a way to build positive feelings. Play, tune into your feelings during and after you play, and see what you enjoy the most!

It’s important to remember that video games can also be time-consuming or even addictive, so be careful about that. If you struggle to control how much time you spend playing video games or if playing is causing problems in other areas of your life, consider looking for a different stress relief technique.

For obvious reasons, finding a game that doesn’t require a huge time investment and allows for casual involvement (rather than carrying a stiff penalty if you need to quit a game after a certain amount of time or play only for limited amounts of time) may also be less stressful. 

Ultimately, pay attention to how you feel during and after you play. Make adjustments based on your observations.

Phosphatidyl-serine (PS) is an acidic phospholipid synthesized in the brain and plays a significant role in brain structure and function. These phospholipids are part of the protective cell membrane and play an important role in transmitting messages between nerve cells in the brain by aiding in neurotransmitter release, synaptic activity, and receptor function. It also reduces neuroinflammation, which is a contributing factor in many central nervous system diseases.

PS synthesis can be disrupted by various means and is thought to decrease with age. This may be one of the factors linked with neurodevelopmental diseases (like ADHD and autism spectrum disorders) and neurodegenerative diseases (like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s).

Read on to learn about the benefits of phosphatidylserine, and how to maintain PS levels in your brain through food and dietary supplements. We will share research outcomes on dietary aids, recommended dosage, and possible side effects.

The Potential Mental Health Benefits of Phosphatidylserine

PS is believed to play a role in mood regulation, restorative sleep, and cognitive functions, such as attention, focus, processing speed, and memory. High levels of PS are found in the hippocampus (a structure in the brain responsible for learning and memory). These phospholipids are also known to enhance exercise performance with faster reaction time and reflexes.

Studies in animals suggest that levels decline with age, and food and dietary supplements may counteract this. Likewise, they may help with conditions such as:

The Food and Drug Administration has not formally approved phosphatidylserine for treating any medical conditions; however, it has recognized the small studies that show improvement in cognitive function and has indicated that PS found in food products is generally recognized as safe (GRAS)

Where Do I Find Phosphatidylserine?

Aside from being produced in the brain, PS exists naturally in certain foods, like soybeans, white beans, cabbage, sunflower, fatty fish, organ meats, and egg yolk.

It can also be purchased in pill form wherever vitamins are sold, and there has been a notable uptick in the consumption of supplements like Neuriva and other brain health dietary aids.

Supplements were originally made from PS synthesized in cow brains; however, since the outbreak of mad cow disease, the industry has moved towards more natural methods of producing PS such as soy or soy-free products like sunflower lecithin.

PS can be purchased as an isolated substrate but is often recommended in combination with other supplements like B vitamins, folate, and omega-three fatty acids to be fully effective.

Research on Phosphatidylserine

A handful of studies have explored the health effects of phosphatidylserine supplements. However, many of the studies are small and dated.

May Boost Athletic Performance

Phosphatidylserine supplements may help increase exercise capacity and improve athletic performance. Researchers also found that phosphatidylserine may help decrease muscle soreness and protect against an increase in levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that often occurs as a result of overtraining.

May Improve Memory Loss

Phosphatidylserine is often taken to try to slow age-related memory loss. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, 78 older people with mild cognitive impairment were assigned to six months of treatment with phosphatidylserine supplements or a placebo.

In tests performed at the end of the six-month period, participants who took phosphatidylserine were found to have experienced a significant improvement in memory.

May Ease Depression

Phosphatidylserine is thought to play a role in helping to regulate mood. In a 2015 study published in Mental Illness, for instance, people over the age of 65 with major depression took a supplement containing phosphatidylserine and the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA three times daily for 12 weeks. At the study’s end, scores on a depression scale had improved.

May Treat ADHD Symptoms

Using phosphatidylserine in combination with omega-3 fatty acids may aid in the treatment of ADHD symptoms in children, suggests a 2012 study published in European Psychiatry. For the study, 200 children with ADHD were assigned to 15 weeks of treatment with either a placebo or a supplement containing phosphatidylserine and omega-3 fatty acids.

Study results revealed that participants treated with the combination of phosphatidylserine and omega-3 fatty acids experienced a significantly greater reduction in hyperactive/impulsive behavior and a greater improvement in mood compared to those given the placebo.

Another study published in 2014 compared phosphatidylserine to placebo in children who had been diagnosed with ADHD. After two months, the treatment group showed significant improvement in auditory memory, inattention, and impulsivity. This was a small study involving only 36 children. More and larger studies need to be performed to further assess safety and efficacy.

May Lower Cortisol Levels

Some studies have shown that phosphatidylserine supplementation reduces the body’s levels of cortisol, a steroid hormone that the body produces in response to stress.

Cortisol also plays a major role in regulating many of the body’s functions. High levels are associated with adverse health effects such as increased blood glucose and blood pressure, so keeping cortisol levels in check is beneficial.

Warnings and Contraindications of Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine may have a blood-thinning effect. If you take blood-thinning medication such as Coumadin (warfarin), take anti-inflammatory medication, or have blood clotting problems, speak with your doctor before taking phosphatidylserine. Do not take it within two weeks of scheduled surgery.

Phosphatidylserine supplements may also interact with medications used to treat glaucoma, Alzheimer’s disease, antihistamines, and antidepressants. Because additional potential interactions with many medications have not been tested, ask your doctor before using phosphatidylserine.

Possible Side Effects of Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine can have side effects you should be aware of before you take this supplement. You may experience headaches, intestinal gas, stomach upset, or insomnia. It may also interact with other medications.

Phosphatidylserine Dosage and Preparation

A 2015 review article noted that 300 milligrams to 800 milligrams a day of phosphatidylserine are absorbed efficiently in humans, and according to the Natural Medicine Comprehensive Database, the therapeutic dose for memory loss is 100 milligrams taken two or three times per day.

If you’re thinking of taking a supplement containing phosphatidylserine, talk to a healthcare provider about what dosage might be most appropriate for you.

Gold Standard for Maintaining Mental Health and Cognitive Function

To maintain your memory and brain functioning, a healthy lifestyle is always at the forefront of maintaining cognitive function and preventing neurocognitive disease processes.

• Try keeping your brain active by challenging yourself with new learning opportunities, puzzles, and games.
• Research suggests that physical activity is good for overall brain functioning, prevents brain shrinkage, and can increase the size of the hippocampus, which is important for memory.
• Stress management and mindfulness meditation have also been shown to improve cognitive functioning.
• Healthy sleep patterns are critical in restorative processes that support brain health.
• Eat balanced nutritious meals. The gut-brain connection has proven to play a significant role in mental health and cognitive function.
• Avoid alcohol. In fact, ethanol is disruptive to the synthesis of phosphatidylserine and may be a significant contributor to the decrease in cognitive functioning in people who consume excess amounts of alcohol.

If you’re still thinking of trying phosphatidylserine, be sure to consult your primary care provider first. Avoid self-treating any medical condition as a means of avoiding or delaying standard care.