Cannabis and Mental Health
Cannabis use can lead to disorientation, anxiety, and feelings of paranoia. It is linked to an increased risk of developing psychosis, including hallucinations and paranoia, as well as long-lasting mental disorders like schizophrenia. The risk of schizophrenia is especially higher for those who start using cannabis at a younger age or use it frequently. Additionally, […]
What Effect Does Smoking Have on Your Eyes and Macular Degeneration?
Smoking is a major risk factor for developing eye conditions like macular degeneration, but unlike aging or genetics, it’s a factor you can control. Research increasingly links environmental pollutants, including cigarette smoke, to eye diseases, with the CDC highlighting the connection between smoking and disorders such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Smoking can negatively affect […]
How to Boost Your Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is key to maintaining good mental health. By understanding your thoughts, feelings, and triggers, you can better manage stress, improve emotional regulation, and recognize when to seek help. It helps you stay grounded, make healthier choices, and create a deeper sense of balance and well-being in your daily life. Building self-awareness is a powerful […]
Loneliness and Mental Health Distress Have a Cyclical Relationship
Researchers identified four key themes from interviews in a study on loneliness: the meaning of loneliness, factors contributing to it, its links to mental health, and strategies for reducing it. The study found that certain groups, such as disabled individuals and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, are more vulnerable to chronic loneliness. While the sample […]
Cannabis and Secondhand Smoke
The dangers of secondhand tobacco smoke on the heart and lungs are well-documented, leading to concerns about whether secondhand cannabis smoke poses similar health risks. Cannabis smoke shares many of the same harmful and cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco, with some present in even higher concentrations. Additionally, cannabis smoke contains THC, the psychoactive compound responsible […]
Cannabis
Cannabis, derived from the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds of the cannabis plant, contains compounds like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), known for its mind-altering effects. THC can impact mood, perception, and mental clarity, but it can also pose risks to brain health and overall well-being. Over the years, the potency of cannabis products has increased, as […]
How Cognitive Therapy Works for Stress Relief
Stress can overwhelm our minds, feeding us negative energy that leads to harmful thoughts, anxiety, and self-doubt. This negative cycle can be hard to break, but cognitive therapy offers a way to regain control. Cognitive therapy focuses on identifying and challenging distorted thinking patterns, replacing them with more balanced, positive thoughts. By learning how to […]
Use These 10 Phrases to Disarm a Narcissist
Interacting with a narcissist can be deeply damaging to your mental health because they often manipulate, gaslight, and devalue others to maintain control and feed their ego. Their lack of empathy and constant need for validation can make you question your self-worth, leaving you feeling drained, anxious, and emotionally unstable. Over time, this toxic dynamic […]
Cannabis and Your Health
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a mind-altering compound that causes a “high,” leading to intoxication and influencing perception, thought processes, emotions, and decision-making. For more details on how THC affects the body, visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse: Cannabis Drug Facts. On the other hand, cannabidiol (CBD) does not cause a “high” but can still have […]
Commercial Tobacco Control Framework
Minnesota’s recent commercial tobacco prevention efforts, led by community advocates and local public health, have driven innovative policy, systems, and environmental changes centered on health equity. These efforts include local communities passing Tobacco 21 laws before federal and state legislation, policies prohibiting the sale of flavored commercial tobacco products, including menthol, starting in 2017, and […]