5 Ways to Manage Your Mental Health During the Holidays, According to a Therapist
The holiday season can bring heightened stress, not just for those already dealing with depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions, but for nearly everyone. Surveys suggest that anywhere from 38% to 70% of people report feeling more stressed during this time of year. However, you likely don’t need statistics to know this is true—you’ve […]
The Earth is Not Disposable: Nicotine Vape Waste
The Environmental Toll of Vapes Vaping isn’t just harmful to health—it’s a hidden threat to the environment. Disposable vapes and e-cigarettes contribute to deforestation as their production requires extracting raw materials like lithium for batteries. These batteries, often improperly discarded, leach toxic chemicals into the soil and water, creating hazardous waste that can’t be thrown […]
Living With Existential Depression
Existential depression is a deeply challenging experience where individuals grapple with finding meaning in their lives and existence itself. This struggle can lead to a lack of motivation in daily life, fixation on thoughts of death and dying, indifference toward the seemingly “unfixable” state of the world, and avoidance of connections with others. While these […]
Cannabis-Involved Emergency Department Visits Among Persons Aged <25 Years Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, 2019–2022
During the COVID-19 pandemic, cannabis-involved emergency department (ED) visits among young people under 25 years rose significantly, according to CDC data from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program spanning 2019–2022. Weekly averages were consistently higher in 2020, 2021, and 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, with notable spikes among children aged 10 years. While ED […]
5 Types of Self-Care for Every Area of Your Life
Self-care is essential for maintaining balance and preventing burnout, as no amount of stress-relief activities can compensate if we neglect ourselves. Defined as a “multidimensional, multifaceted process of purposeful engagement in strategies that promote healthy functioning and enhance well-being,” self-care simply means ensuring our physical and emotional needs are met. It involves reconnecting with our […]
Health Problems Caused by Secondhand Smoke
There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, as even brief exposure can cause immediate harm. In adults who do not smoke, secondhand smoke increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and adverse reproductive health effects in women, such as low birth weight. For infants and children, secondhand smoke is […]
Having Trouble Meditating? A Mantra Can Help
The term mantra comes from Sanskrit, where “man” means mind and “tra” signifies tool or vehicle, making mantras a sacred set of phrases that can transport the mind to a meditative state. Originating from the ancient sound “Om,” considered the sound of creation, mantras were first recorded in Vedic Sanskrit over 3,000 years ago, as […]
Cigars
Cigar smoke contains the same toxic, cancer-causing compounds as cigarette smoke, making it dangerous for both smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke. Cigars deliver nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can hinder brain development and make quitting tobacco difficult. Even people who claim not to inhale cigar smoke are still exposed to harmful chemicals, […]
How Pot Affects Your Mind and Body
Cannabis, often called marijuana, weed, pot, or grass, is a drug derived from the cannabis plant. It can be consumed in various ways—smoked, vaped, eaten, or even brewed into drinks. While many use it recreationally for relaxation or enjoyment, it’s increasingly being prescribed by doctors to address certain medical conditions and symptoms. Cannabis contains compounds […]
Cannabis Frequently Asked Questions
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, weed, pot, or bud, refers to the dried flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds of the cannabis plant. This plant contains over 100 compounds called cannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is mind-altering and causes impairment, and cannabidiol (CBD), a non-impairing compound that does not produce a “high.” How Is Cannabis Used? […]