Posts in category: Dating Tips, Guide and Advice

One of the newest trends in the growing vape culture is the practice of vaping cannabidiol (CBD) oil. However, vaping CBD oil poses many health risks. Learn more about the possible side effects and hazards of vaping CBD oil and other ways of reaping the potential benefits of CBD.

Why People Vape CBD Oil

Especially where marijuana has been legalized, CBD has been touted as therapeutic for a host of medical problems, such as:

• Anxiety
• Epileptic seizures
• Inflammation
• Sleeplessness

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved only one CBD-based medication: Epiodolex, which is used to treat seizures associated with two severe forms of epilepsy.

Continuing research suggests that CBD might have both physical and mental health benefits, but there is not yet enough evidence to recommend it as a treatment.

What Is CBD Oil?

CBD oil is extracted from the flowers and buds of marijuana or hemp plants. Typically, it does not produce a “high” or intoxication because it contains very little, if any, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Vaping-Related Lung Injuries

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently linked liquid vaping products to an outbreak of nearly 3,000 lung illnesses so serious that even young people were being admitted to the hospital.

Although the CDC has linked many of these hospitalizations to vitamin E acetate (which is used to dilute CBD oil), the risks of vaping CBD oil are considerable. This is particularly true of vape pens sold by illicit dealers, online sources, or friends. At least 26 cases involved vaping CBD oil.

Concern About Long-Term Effects

Additionally, numerous scientists, doctors, and researchers are concerned with the safety of inhaling CBD oil because so little is known about the long-term effects. Furthermore, when vaping devices are heated, a chemical reaction takes place that could pose additional risks to the lungs, especially in young people.

Potential Side Effects of Vaping CBD

In addition to the potential for lung injury, vaping CBD can have various other side effects, such as:

• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Fatigue
• Impaired memory and thinking
• Nausea
• Stomach upset
• Vomiting
• Increased anxiety
• Changes in mood
• Changes in appetite

CBD Regulations

The 2018 Farm Bill removed CBD from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. However, it is still subject to the same laws and regulations as other substances the FDA monitors.

According to the FDA, marketing CBD in food or as a supplement is illegal at the federal level in the U.S. Despite this, the marketing of CBD with unproven medical claims and of unknown quality is an ongoing problem.

The FDA also cautions that CBD can interact with other drugs and may have negative effects on the liver and male fertility. The agency has not yet determined how to regulate CBD vaping products effectively.

Mislabeling

This lack of certification has resulted in the marketing of fake CBD oil products that sometimes contain harmful chemicals. To determine the extent to which this occurs, the Associated Press (AP) commissioned a study of nearly 30 oils claiming to contain CBD. Flora Research Laboratories, which is licensed and inspected by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), conducted the study and found that:

• Ten of the 30 vapes contained synthetic marijuana.
• Eight oils had no detectable level of CBD.
• Fourteen contained less than 0.3% CBD by weight.
• Six ranged between 1.07% and 8.87% CBD by weight.

Because this testing was such a small sample, the AP noted that their sampling was not necessarily representative of the entire CBD market.

Some other research found that CBD mislabeling affects up to 70% of CBD products sold online.

Alternatives to Vaping CBD

If you want to try CBD but avoid the risks associated with vaping, try these forms:

• Beverages
• Capsules
• Edibles
• Gummies
• Nasal sprays
• Tablets

Remember, however, that these are also unregulated.

Benzodiazepines are a group of central nervous system depressants used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. Benzodiazepines are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States. Several types of benzodiazepines are sold under popular brand names like Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), and Klonopin (clonazepam).

The primary difference between these drugs is the length of time they stay active in the body. However, benzodiazepines can cause physical dependence and withdrawal even when they are taken as directed. 

Overview of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

Benzodiazepine use has become widespread. From 1996 to 2013, the number of people filling benzodiazepine prescriptions increased by 67%. Benzodiazepine abuse and dependence has become more significant among all age groups, from teens to elderly adults. In 2016, estimates suggest that about half a million people in the United States misused sedative drugs.

When you are physically dependent on a drug, it means your body can’t operate normally without it. If you stop or reduce your dose suddenly, you will experience withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawing from benzodiazepines can be a difficult, even dangerous process. You can expect to feel anxious and on edge for several weeks. You might feel irritable and hypersensitive to everything around you. Insomnia is also common. During the first week, you can also expect physical symptoms like headaches and hand tremors.

Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be managed with a gradual dose reduction, which will cause milder symptoms that come and go in waves.

Signs and Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms can occur after as little as one month of use, even on small, therapeutic doses. Among people taking benzodiazepines for longer than six months, about 40% experience moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms when they quit suddenly. The other 60% experience mild symptoms.

The severity of withdrawal symptoms is associated with a variety of factors, including:

• Your current dose
• How long you’ve been taking it
• Whether you take more than one benzodiazepine
• Whether you take other sedating drugs
• Any substance use issues
• Whether you are quitting more than one substance at a time

 Possible symptoms include:

• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Hand tremors
• Muscle spasms
• Headache
• Sweating
• Racing pulse
• Hyperventilation
• Nausea or vomiting
• Aches and pains
• Panic attacks
• Hypersensitivity to stimuli like light and touch
• Abnormal bodily sensations (skin-crawling, goosebumps)
• Depression
• Problems with concentration and memory
• Visual disturbances (flashes of light or blurred vision)
• Auditory, tactile, or visual hallucinations
• Feelings of unreality
• Delirium
• Grand mal seizures

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), withdrawal symptoms from short-acting benzodiazepines peak on the second day and improve by the fourth or fifth. However, some people find they last for several weeks.

Estimates suggest that 10 to 25% of people who take benzodiazepines for extended periods experience what’s known as protracted withdrawal.

Symptoms will be milder than acute withdrawal and they can disappear for weeks at a time. Protracted withdrawal rarely lasts longer than one year.

Coping With Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

The best way to quit benzodiazepines is to avoid withdrawal by asking your doctor to taper down your dose. Tapering means taking progressively smaller doses over the course of a few weeks or months. 

Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be risky, so it is best to work with a doctor. Depending on which benzodiazepine you are currently taking, your doctor may want to switch you to a different one before your taper begins. Short-acting benzodiazepines complicate withdrawal with too many ups and downs. Diazepam, a long-acting benzodiazepine, is the most common choice for dose tapering. 

There is no standard tapering schedule for you to follow. Your doctor will help make an individualized tapering schedule based on your current dose and particular circumstances. Some people taper quickly, finishing up within two to three weeks. Others taper slowly over the course of several months.

Your doctor can pause or slow down the taper if your symptoms are intolerable. To cope with these breakthrough symptoms, it helps to have a backup plan for dealing with anxiety. Helpful strategies include:

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Warnings

Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be dangerous when not handled properly. There is a risk that people who quit benzodiazepines without a taper may experience a life-threatening grand mal seizure. If you go into withdrawal without tapering, you also risk experiencing delirium and hallucinations that cause you to lose touch with reality—a terrifying and dangerous experience.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will require inpatient care. Most people do okay with tapering their benzodiazepines at home with the help of their primary care doctor or psychiatrist. You should plan to stay in touch with your doctor regularly during the tapering process, either by phone or during office visits.

Depending on your situation, your doctor may think it best to prescribe very small amounts of medication at a time. This will prevent you from altering the taper, but it might mean frequent trips to the pharmacy.

Some people, such as those with a history of complicated withdrawal, seizures, or severe mental illness, may be better suited for an inpatient setting. This can involve living at a detox facility or hospital for several weeks, where you can receive constant medical monitoring and psychological support.

Inpatient treatment can be costly, depending on the facility. However, the costs may be covered by your insurance.

If you are pregnant or are thinking about becoming pregnant, talk to your OBGYN or psychiatrist about your plans. Benzodiazepine use in pregnancy carries some risks. However, going through any withdrawal during pregnancy also has its risks. Your doctor can help you weigh the potential risks and benefits of benzodiazepine use and your pregnancy.

Long-Term Treatment for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

Long-term treatment after benzodiazepine withdrawal will depend on your reasons for taking them in the first place and your reasons for quitting. If you have a psychiatric condition that was managed by the benzodiazepines, you will need an alternative plan to manage your condition. Typically, this is a combination of therapy and pharmacologic support.

If your reasons for quitting benzodiazepines are that you were misusing them or unable to control your use, then you may require further substance use treatment. This is particularly true if you are also giving up other substances, like alcohol or opioids.

Psychotherapy can help you understand the root cause of your substance abuse problems. It can also help you learn to identify psychological triggers that may cause you to relapse so that you can avoid them in the future.

Resources

The best resource in your quest to quit benzodiazepines is your prescribing doctor. If you prefer someone else, any primary care physician or psychiatrist can help you taper your dose.

If you have an appointment with a counselor for your first therapy session, you might not know what to expect. Or perhaps you’re considering starting therapy but don’t know where to begin. Knowing where to start and what to expect during your first session can help you feel more comfortable and informed.

Learn more about the different types of therapy, what to expect from your first appointment, what questions to ask your therapist, and more.

How to Choose a Therapist

No two therapists are the same. Asking the right questions will help you choose the best therapist for you. Questions to ask before you make an appointment:

• Affiliations: “What professional associations do you belong to?” Knowing more about a therapist’s professional affiliations can give you a better idea of their credentials, background, and current focus.
• Background: “What is your academic background, and what has your training been to prepare you to practice as a therapist?” Making sure your a potential therapist has training and experience in treating your condition or concerns means you will be more likely to get the appropriate treatment you need.
• Cost: “What are your fees? How will my insurance claim be handled?” Not all therapists accept insurance, so it is important to consider the cost and payment before starting treatment. Rates may also vary considerably.
• Experience: “What specialized training and/or experience have you had working with the issue I am dealing with?” An experienced therapist can recognize the problems you are facing, which can give them greater insight into the treatments and techniques that can most help you.
• Rules: “What are your office protocols?” (e.g., booking appointments, payment for missed appointments, emergencies, building access after hours, etc.) Understanding how such situations or handled can help protect your working relationship and ensure that your sessions proceed with fewer issues.
• Specialties: “What type of therapy do you do?” It can be helpful to know whether the therapist does mostly talk therapy or if they include opportunities for role-playing, visualizing, hypnosis, artwork, ‘bodywork,’ and other techniques. You may prefer a specific approach, but some techniques may be more helpful for certain types of problems.

Before Your First Therapy Session

When you get to the therapist’s office, expect your initial experience to be similar to a doctor’s appointment. You will sign in when you get there, sit in the waiting room, and wait for someone to call your name. If your therapist has a home practice, the scene might be a bit more casual.

While waiting, you will likely fill out some paperwork, including:

• HIPPA forms
• Insurance information
• Medical history, including your current medications
• A questionnaire about your symptoms
• Record release form
• Therapist-patient services agreement

If you feel uncomfortable answering any of the questions on paper, you can wait until you are with the therapist and answer the questions orally. You might also have the option to complete this paperwork at home prior to your first visit.

Your First Therapy Session

Your first session with the therapist will be different from future visits. The initial visit is a period for you and your therapist to get to know each other and get an idea of how to proceed. Future visits will be more therapeutic in nature. For example, in your second session, you may explore a specific symptom, problem, or past trauma you mentioned in the first session.

During the first session, your therapist may ask you:

• What are your symptoms?
• What brought you to therapy?
• What do you feel is wrong in your life?
• Some questions about your history, including your childhood, education, relationships (family, romantic, friends), your current living situation, and your career

You and your therapist should also come to an agreement about the length of your treatment, methods to be employed, and ins and outs of patient confidentiality.

Length of Treatment

Depending on your issue and therapy goals, therapy can last a few sessions or several weeks or years. While you likely want to know how long it’s going to take to “feel better,” there’s no simple answer. It’s very individualized.

In addition, some insurance plans only cover a set number of sessions in a given year, so you may need to factor in those limitations and/or work with your therapist to come up with a payment plan.

Therapy Methods

Therapists have training in a variety of techniques that can help you better cope with mental illness, resolve personal issues, and create personal changes in your life. Finding out what technique or combination of techniques your therapist will use can give you a better idea of what will happen during your sessions. Some common types of therapy include:

• Client-centered therapy (person-centered therapy): A non-directive form of talk therapy that emphasizes positive unconditional regard
• Cognitive or cognitive-behavioral therapy: Focuses on making connections between thoughts, behavior, and feelings
• Existential therapy: Focuses on you (free will, self-determination) rather than the symptom
• Gestalt therapy: Focuses on the “here and now” experience of the client
• Psychoanalytic or psychodynamic therapy: Focuses on getting in touch with and working through painful feelings in the unconscious mind

Patient Confidentiality

In most cases, a therapist is required to keep information discussed during therapy private. However, according to the American Psychological Association’s “Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct,” confidential information can be disclosed with the permission of the individual or as permitted by the law.

While the specifics of a legal duty to warn vary by state, in most cases, a therapist is required to breach confidentiality if a client poses an imminent threat to themselves, the therapist, or a third party. The information must be divulged to a person capable of taking action to reduce the threat, for example, a police officer.

What to Ask Your Therapist

When the therapist finishes, they should ask you if you have any questions. You can use this opportunity to get to know your therapist a little better by asking more about their training, experience, approaches, and goals for therapy.

Is Your Therapist Right for You?

A big part of successful therapy is feeling comfortable with your therapist, which may come over time. However, if after a few meetings, you’re just not clicking, you do have the choice to seek out another therapist.

To determine if you’re receiving the best care from your therapist, the National Alliance on Mental Illnesses recommends asking yourself the following questions:

• Do they challenge you?
• Do they check-in with you?
• Do they guide you to your goals?
• Do they help you learn?
• Do they show acceptance and compassion?
• Do they treat you as an equal?

If your answer to any of these questions is “No,” then it’s likely time to consider changing therapists. At the end of your session, just tell your therapist that you will not be returning. Don’t be surprised if your therapist asks why.

You can answer honestly (you just feel like you’re not clicking) or just say that you prefer not to say. In most cases, your therapist will be professional and can recommend another therapist who will be a better fit. 

Are you tired of being single? Maybe you’ve been working through your feelings after a bad breakup and want to dip your toes back in the water. Whatever your situation, there are some things to ask yourself before you decide to shack up with someone new.

Take the Relationship Quiz

This fast and free quiz can help you think about how you’re feeling and how ready you may or may not be to take things to the next level with someone you’re interested in.

Who Is This Relationship Quiz For?

This quiz is for anyone wondering if they’re ready to be in a relationship, whether it’s for the first time or after a hard breakup. It can help you better understand your feelings about long-term relationships. While everyone is different, and only you can decide when and if you’re ready for a relationship, you can use this quiz to think more about your feelings, which may help you make a decision.

This relationship test is based on elements of a healthy relationship. While everyone is different, and only you can decide when and if you’re ready for a relationship, you can use this quiz to think more about your feelings, which may help you make a decision.

Deciding whether you’re ready for a relationship is a personal decision that can look different for everyone. Talk with your potential partner about what a loving and committed relationship means to you, explore what it means for them, and proceed with courage, honesty, and mutual care and respect.

What To Know About Relationships

Relationships are important for human health. Research shows that social connections are needed for good mental and physical health, and people who have healthy relationships are more likely to have better health outcomes and a reduced risk of mortality.

Romantic relationships and partnerships can come in many forms. Shared feelings of love and attraction usually define these relationships. Psychologist Robert Sternberg defines love as having three main components (passion, intimacy, and decision/commitment). 

At first, feelings of passion are strong. It feels great to be with the other person, and you may be intensely drawn to each other. As time goes on, relationships evolve. You may no longer feel intense passion, but you likely have a deeper connection with feelings of trust, respect, and commitment.

No relationship is perfect, and being in a long-term partnership requires work to maintain it. Good communication and the ability to meet each other’s needs is important. 

Some key elements of a healthy relationship include: 

• Trust
• Openness
• Honesty
• Respect
• Good communication 

It’s a good idea to start a new relationship with the people involved being on the same page in terms of what they want out of a relationship and shared values.

Signs You’re Ready for a Relationship

When people question whether or not they’re ready for a relationship, they often mean a long-term partnership where the parties involved are more invested in each other than they would be with casual dating. If you’ve never been in a long-term relationship before or if you’ve had a breakup recently, you might wonder how to tell if you’re ready to enter into something more serious. 

Here are some signs you’re ready to enter a new relationship: 

• You’re tired of dating casually and are ready to enter into something with commitment.
• You’re prepared to communicate openly and honestly and understand that sometimes you’ll have to work to resolve conflict in a way that’s not hurtful.
• You can see yourself building a life and a future with this person.
• You’ve had conversations about wants, needs, core values, and beliefs, and you’re on the same page when it comes to future plans and lifestyle.
• You enjoy spending time with this person and have feelings for them that go beyond sexual attraction.

Ultimately, when you’re ready depends on your feelings and emotional needs.

Signs You’re Not Ready for a Relationship 

There are also signs to consider that indicate you might not be ready to enter a relationship. Here are some indicators you aren’t ready to take things to another level: 

• You’re still getting over an ex and have unresolved feelings or wounds that need to be healed. 
• You aren’t ready to commit to being exclusive and are still enjoying the flexibility that comes with dating casually. 
• You feel anxious or a sense of urgency when seeing people around you in long-term relationships and think you need to reach a milestone because others have or because you’re a certain age.
• You don’t like being around the person for long periods.
• You fight often and don’t resolve the conflicts in a respectful way.