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submitted by /u/mvea [link] [comments] |
source https://www.reddit.com/r/Health/comments/e95vrw/a_shocking_number_of_americans_know_someone_who/
A Shocking Number Of Americans Know Someone Who Died Due To Unaffordable Care - The high costs of the U.S. health care system are killing people, a new survey concludes.
source https://www.reddit.com/r/Health/comments/e95vrw/a_shocking_number_of_americans_know_someone_who/
Who wants Medicare for All? People who value Americans' health over corporate profits. Only by ending the stranglehold of private insurance companies can we fix our broken health care system.
Who wants Medicare for All? People who value Americans' health over corporate profits. Only by ending the stranglehold of private insurance companies can we fix our broken health care system.
Who wants Medicare for All? People who value Americans' health over corporate profits. Only by ending the stranglehold of private insurance companies can we fix our broken health care system.
https://ift.tt/2P9trAo December 11, 2019 at 04:50PM https://ift.tt/1R552o9
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California Is Weighing Whether to Label THC a Risk for Pregnant Women
(LOS ANGELES) — More than three years after California voters broadly legalized marijuana, a state panel is considering if its potent, high-inducing chemical — THC — should be declared a risk to pregnant women and require warnings.
Studies have indicated that a rising number of mothers-to-be have turned to marijuana products for relief from morning sickness and headaches, though its effectiveness has not been backed by science.
Cannabis industry officials say too little sound research is available on THC to support such a move and warn that it could make marijuana companies a target for lawsuits with unverified claims of injuries from pot use during pregnancy.
“That seems like an open-ended checkbook. How do we defend ourselves?” said Los Angeles dispensary owner Jerred Kiloh, who heads the United Cannabis Business Association, an industry group.
Lawyers looking for a quick buck will say “give us $10,000 or we are going to take you into a long court case,” he added.
The California Cannabis Industry Association echoed that fear, noting that pot’s standing as an illegal drug at the federal level has choked off research by government agencies. Those studies are needed to determine if THC poses health risks for pregnant women.
“Good policy and consumer protections are based on facts and data,” spokesman Josh Drayton said.
The meeting Wednesday of the obscure state Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee in Sacramento will focus on whether THC causes “reproductive toxicity.” The panel is made up of scientists appointed by the governor.
An affirmative finding would make THC one of hundreds of chemicals judged to cause cancer or birth defects that the state requires to carry warning labels, such as arsenic and lead.
The review is being carried out under the umbrella of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, better known as Proposition 65. It requires warning labels for chemicals judged as dangerous and allows residents, advocacy groups and attorneys to sue on behalf of the state and collect a portion of civil penalties for failure to provide warnings.
The 1986 law has been credited with weeding out cancer-causing chemicals from products but also faulted for setting the stage for legal shakedowns.
Since 2009, the state has listed marijuana smoke as being known to cause cancer, similar to tobacco smoke.
“The expansion of Proposition 65 as it relates to cannabis is premature and lacks both the facts and the data that would justify this move,” Drayton said.
The U.S. surgeon general warned in August that smoking marijuana is dangerous for pregnant women and their developing babies. Mainstream medicine advises against pot use in pregnancy because of studies suggesting it might cause premature birth, low birth weight or other health problems, but many of those studies were in animals or had findings that were open to dispute.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is paying for several studies on marijuana use during pregnancy.
If the California panel declares pot a risk for pregnant women, it’s not clear what the immediate impact would be on the state’s legal pot industry.
Presumably, packaging would need to be changed over time to carry warning labels for pregnant women. But such requirements would likely take additional steps by agencies that oversee marijuana regulation and packaging.
Even products containing CBD, a trendy ingredient extracted from marijuana or hemp, can contain trace amounts of THC.
Do You Ever Wake Up Depressed and Don’t Know Why? Here’s What to Do
Feeling depressed for no reason? Here’s what you should know.
Depression can become a huge problem in your life, but many people may not actually recognize the signs of depression or symptoms; instead, they’ll just assume that they’re sad.
But if you’re waking up depressed, or feeling depressed for no reason every day, then you may not just be sad or going through a “phase.”
Wondering “Why am I depressed?” all the time might make you feel like you’re going crazy or that you’ll never feel better again — but there’s a way to get through to the underlying issues that cause your depression and anxiety and be happy again.
So was it that kind of morning for you? Did you wake up feeling depressed for no reason again? Is this becoming a pattern, even though your life is going pretty great?
Are you happy with your relationships, your job, your health, and yet, for some reason you’re still feeling depressed?
If the answer is yes, then there are a few things that you can do to try and figure out what is going on. Getting past depression is important and knowing the cause is an important part of doing so.
Here are 5 signs of depression you need to pay attention to and what to do when you’re depressed so you can start being happy again:
1. Take note of the view out your window.
Believe it or not, the time of year can greatly affect your moods, maybe even contribute to why you wake up feeling depressed for no reason.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a depressive disorder caused by the change of seasons. Some people get depressed because of the reduced daylight hours. Some people because of the temperature changes. Everyone affected by SAD finds themselves feeling depressed without something being wrong.
Fall is a hard time for me because my kids go back to school and the days start getting shorter. If I don’t pay attention, I often find myself deeply depressed, even if everything else is great.
How do you deal with SAD? The most effective way is with a full spectrum lamp. The lamp will help your body tolerate the change in seasons by exposing it to full-spectrum light.
Another thing to ask yourself is if something painful happened to you this same time of year in the past. I know that every year in early June, I get very depressed because it’s the anniversary of my mother’s death. Sometimes it creeps up on me and I don’t even know it.
Anticipating anniversaries that might be fraught with emotion is a good way to keep SAD at bay because you can take steps to deal with what might make you depressed.
I make sure I do something that reminds me of my mom before the anniversary of her death, and it has really helped me manage the pain of the loss so it doesn’t bring me down.
2. Get your thyroid and vitamin D levels checked.
Two major causes of depression can be thyroid hormone levels that are off and low vitamin D.
When your thyroid hormone levels are off, a variety of symptoms can arise. One of them is depression.
Vitamin D deficiency is also one of the major causes of depression. Because of the prevalence of sunscreen use and a significant shortage of sunshine during some parts of the year, many Americans don’t get enough sun.
The sun is the only way for a human being to get Vitamin D (other than fortified milk and orange juice) so sun deficiency means a vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D deficiency leads to depression.
Fortunately, in both cases, testing is easy — a simple blood test — and the treatment involves taking a pill.
So, if you’re suddenly feeling depressed for no reason, call your primary care doctor and get yourself checked right away.
3. Make sure you are taking good care of yourself.
Are you eating well? Getting exercise? Spending time with friends? Taking care of your hygiene?
If not, this could be the cause of your depression.
Taking care of your mental and physical bodies is the key to mental and physical health. If you don’t take care of yourself, but instead live on wine and ice cream, eventually your body is going to react.
A body that isn’t well fed or exercised will start to turn on itself, causing all sorts of debilitating issues. One of those issues is depression.
So, if you find that you’re suddenly feeling depressed for no reason, examine how you’re taking care of yourself. If you’re not doing a good job, try to make a change. You might find your depression lifts if you do.
4. Know about the different kinds of depression.
Diagnostically, are two basic kinds of depression: Situational depression and chemical depression. They have similar symptoms but different causes.
Situational depression is caused by something that happens in your life. When something big happens that makes you sad, like the death of a parent or a divorce or the loss of a job, you can become situationally depressed.
This kind of depression usually has a beginning, caused by a specific event, and an end, and is often treated differently from chemical depression.
Chemical depression is the result of your brain chemistry being off in such a way that leads to depression. You are most often born with chemical depression, but it can also be caused by a traumatic life event.
Chemical depression can happen to you even if your life is going great.
A good way to get a sense of whether or not you are chemically depressed is to ask yourself some questions:
- Are you living with feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness?
- Are you more irritable than usual?
- Have you lost interest in things that used to make you happy?
- Are you not sleeping as well as you used to?
- Have your sleep patterns changed? Are you spending more time in bed?
- Have your eating patterns changed? Have you lost or gained weight?
- Are you more anxious than you used to be?
- Do you struggle with feelings of worthlessness?
- Do you have a hard time focusing?
- Do you think about committing suicide?
- Do you have new physical problems, like headaches or backaches?
If you answered yes to any, or all, of these questions you might be struggling with chemical depression.
5. Reach out for help.
Regardless of what kind of depression you’re struggling with, situational or chemical depression, it is important that you reach out for help.
See your primary care doctor right away about your depression. Tell them honestly about your symptoms so they can treat you.
Many people struggle with the embarrassment of depression. They think that they should be able to suck it up and just deal like everybody else.
A significant portion of Americans deal with depression and many of them don’t just suck it up. They either self-medicate with food or alcohol or they get treatment from a professional.
Guess which one is better for you?
If you wake up feeling depressed for no reason again tomorrow, talk to your primary care doctor. Feeling lethargic, unmotivated, sad, and angry can be debilitating and you don’t want it to overtake your life.
Whatever you do, don’t ignore the depression and hope it goes away. The most important thing is not to go it alone. Get some professional help. Depression will get worse the longer it goes untreated so nipping it in the bud is essential.
This guest article was originally published on YourTango.com: Exactly What to Do If You Wake Up Feeling Depressed and You Aren’t Sure Why
What Therapists Do When They Feel Overwhelmed
Therapists are real people. It might seem funny to say that, but we forget that clinicians struggle, too. They, too, grapple with depression, trauma, guilt, and self-doubt. They, too, stress out over daily tasks and responsibilities. They, too, feel stuck and paralyzed.
We asked six therapists to share what frays their nerves, and how they cope when these stressors strike. Overall, we hope you realize that you’re really not alone and there are many healthy strategies you can turn to.
Karissa King
Therapist Karissa J. King, LMFT, regularly travels with her husband to speak at marriage retreats. They have two children, ages 2 and under, and she often feels exhausted and inundated with guilt.
When these feelings arise, King reminds herself that she’s a “human being, not a human doing.” “I remember who I am and that my actions will flow gracefully from that identity. I don’t have to put undue guilt—or even worse, shame—on myself, based on things I think others expect of me.”
Practically, King and her husband schedule a buffer day before and after they travel for their talks. This provides them with an evening and an entire day to unpack, be with their kids, and “mentally switch gears.”
King also focuses on fostering her friendships, which has been an “absolute game-changer.” For example, she and her friends have a text thread where they encourage each other in practicing healthy habits and schedule fun activities, such as rock climbing and road trips.
King engages in other nourishing activities, too, including regular date nights, prayer, reading, journaling, bubble baths, and family walks.
James Killian
Therapist James Killian, LPC, tends to feel overwhelmed when his clients’ symptoms spike, his children are having a tough time, and his loved ones are struggling and also need support. Killian is the owner of Arcadian Counseling in Woodbridge, Conn., which specializes in helping high-functioning adults and teens manage anxiety.
During these times, he turns to mindfulness. He focuses on being present in the moment with each person and he ups the frequency and duration of his daily meditation practice.
Killian also carves out alone time every day, and connects with his therapist.
Jordan Madison
For Jordan Madison, LGMFT, a therapist in Bethesda, Maryland, stressors include meeting financial obligations, getting behind on work tasks, and feeling like she’s not doing enough to grow in her career.
She navigates these overwhelmed moments by making checklists and identifying what she can and can’t control. Madison also processes her feelings through journaling, takes bubble baths, watches TV, and practices yoga. And she schedules time to do absolutely nothing.
Colleen Cira
Clinical psychologist Colleen Cira, Psy.D, CCTP, is the founder and executive director of Cira Center for Behavioral Health in Chicago and Oak Park, where she specializes in trauma and women’s issues. She’s also a trauma survivor and feels overwhelmed when that trauma is triggered.
For example, Cira gets overwhelmed when she fears that she’s too much or not enough. She gets overwhelmed when she thinks someone is upset with her (but isn’t telling her), and consequently, she can’t fix the conflict. Other triggers include feeling like she isn’t allowed to have needs or wants, and must do everything perfectly or she’s a fraud.
To navigate those triggers, she pauses, takes a deep breath, and accepts her overwhelmed feelings with “loving arms.” This might look like journaling, crying, or talking to a friend. Next, after she’s processed the most acute part of her pain, she reflects on the feeling she experienced before the overwhelm. This is critical because this feeling will help her identify her needs, and take action to meet them.
For example, if Cira realizes that she was experiencing sadness because she hasn’t seen her friends, she’ll talk to them about connecting more.
Julie C. Kull
Julie C. Kull, LCSW, a psychotherapist who specializes in clients with anxiety, infertility and pregnancy loss, gets stressed out when she takes on too much.
“I am a helper by nature so I want to help everyone. But I have to be very conscious that I cannot help everyone and I have to put my self-care before taking care of others. If I am not healthy, I am not at my best to help others.”
When she feels overwhelmed, Kull tries to pinpoint what’s missing (and nourish that need): Is she meditating or exercising enough? Has she checked in with her close friends? Has she spent time with her husband? Does she need to set boundaries in a certain situation or area of her life?
Carla Marie Manly
“In general, I tend to feel more stressed by my own to-do list and personal expectations than life events,” said Carla Marie Manly, Ph.D, an author and clinical psychologist in private practice in Sonoma County, Calif. When this happens, Manly takes a pragmatic approach that shrinks her stress and empowers her: She steps back, lists her priorities, and completes what she can.
Manly also ramps up her self-care, which includes more walks in nature, meditation, yoga, essential oils, cooking, and time with friends. Changing up her routine helps, too: She’ll see a new movie or drive to the ocean.
Working from a neuro-linguistic paradigm, Manly is attuned to the power of words. “Knowing that the word ‘overwhelmed’ leaves me feeling defeated and powerless, I tend to avoid the use of such words and, instead, tell myself: ‘I feel challenged, but I can pause, breathe, and sort this out. All will be well.’”
Cira wants readers “to really breathe into the idea that struggling—with pain, overwhelm, sadness, worry, stress—is all incredibly human. It’s the very definition of what it means to be human: Humans feel and think. That’s what differentiates us from every other species on the planet.”
“So, struggling isn’t reserved for some and not others—we all struggle,” Cira said. “It simply depends on how willing we are to let that be known.”
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