ARP 384 Changes to 988 Suicide Hotline

I had a flashback. What generated it was that I watched a video of a congress person telling his constituents that only the truly deserving should have access to free health care. Those that work are worthy. That is my understanding of what he said. I could be wrong.

The example he gave was that a 28 year old person who refused to work. Once upon a time, I was truly ill. I had no savings. I owed bills. I couldn't work. The congress person would have deemed me unworthy. 

Just like the Department of Health and Human Services did with the removal of LGBTQ+ access to the 988 suicide hotline. In this episode, what has happened and alternative hotline options.

P.S. to the hot fingered. This is a mental health issue. 

Resources Mentioned:

The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.

 

Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.

 

National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of 988 and users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. There are also text/chat services available to folks in Canada, the UK and Ireland.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

ARP 369 - A Look At Emotional Freedom Techniques

EFT Tapping, that takes me back a couple of years. Back when there was limited 240x 120 size video on websites. My symptoms were really bad that that time. I tried to make sense of it. I couldn't. Not with a 56k modem. I quickly moved on to other possible help sources.

About a year ago, I saw a EFT Tapping video. I tried it out. It did work for me if I was on the edge of an attack. Not so much if I have a big hella whopper of one, but that might be just me. 

This time, I went looking for answers.

I did find some. Not enough to satisfy folks on the medical evidence-based  side of the fence. 

But in-between the hooey and the functional components is a way of feeling better without risk to the body or the wallet.

This technique has been infused with cognitive therapy, meditation and affirmations. Those things do work. It might not work for everyone. But there are folks that have found relief practicing FTF Tapping.

You couldn't get some of those same people go to a meditation class but they are doing a meditative practice and not know it. That is ok.

So here is the thing. Check out the videos. Read the views at Skeptic's Dictionary & Quackwatch. Read a couple of pages from the EFT manual. 

You might decide that the technique works for you. Or you decide it is a bunch of junk pseudoscience.
Both things can be true. 

It is up to you to decide if you want to add it to your anxiety tool kit.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255.

Or for LGBTQ+ folks, The Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

Contrary Views of Emotional Freedom Techniques

Skeptic's Dictionary gives a very detailed page about the creators, the practice and the site owners thoughts about the technique. There is also a comments page where folks go deep.

Quackwatch is a website that since 1996 takes a very critical look at claims made regarding questionable health treatments. There is a page on the website that has a few thoughts about EFT. The section on EFT is toward the bottom of the site.

Positive Views of Emotional Freedom Techniques:

The BBC did a video story about the technique, How Tapping Therapy Can Help Calm Your Mind.

The non-profit Kaiser Permanete page on Emotional Freedom Technique

Gary Craig original site was www.emofree.com now re-directs to Palace of Possibilities. 

The EFT International Free Tapping Manual This is a 66-page PDF explaining the concepts of the practice and how to go about it. 

Videos:

Nick Ortner Tapping Techniques on YouTube - please be aware that you will see the tapping techniques but the Ortner family does have goods and services for sale.

EFT Tapping for Anxiety

Ten Minute Tapping Meditation for Anxiety, Stress and Worry

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Show 325 - Minding the Line Fly Fishing Movie and PTSD Resources

After missing last week, I was determined to get an episode up.  I recording and edited it.

The SOS software decided to garble my speech. 

And then it stopped working.

So I turned to my phone and made something happen.

This is a quick look at the new movie called Minding the LIne, which is a fictional movie about fly fishing, PTSD and coping as best you can. 

I'll get the rest of the episode re-jiggered and try again. 

I might have to miss an episode or two, it is getting hectic at Amalgamated Salt and Brimstone and some times you have to yield to the sulfur.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

Mending the Line 

Blue Sky Entertainment official movie trailer on YouTube.

Field and Stream interview with director Joshua Caldwell about the movie and the challenges in bring it to the screen.

Variety.com review of the Mending the Line film.

RogerEbert.com review of the film.

PTSD Resources

National Institute of Mental Health information page about PTSD and you can download the PDF booklet 

Department of Veterans Affairs National Center on PTSD  The Center also has podcast called 

PTSD Bytes where you can get small audio chunks of information about the condition and tips for handling it. 

Helpguide.org page on what is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and your treatment options. This site also has veteran specific information and has info on the various types of PTSD. 

Psychology Today post on Conquer Anxiety, One Small Step at a Time, A solution-focused approach to overcoming fear, worry, and stress.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

ARP Pebble in the Road - One More Thing About CBD Oil

Trying to finish up on my science literacy class. It is a pip. It is very good and provides a lot information about how scientists evaluate questions and data. 

It is thumping my poor brain with all kinds of concepts. Once I finish the class, I should be back on a regular schedule. 

Going through my stuff and seeing if I forgot anything. Seems like I did forget a thing or two. 

I might have included this in an episode but just in case, I want to make sure that you know about buying CBD oil on Amazon.com.

If you have been following the mini series about hemp seed oil and CBD oil you know:

The sale of hemp products with less than 0.3 THC or any psychoactive properties is permitted in the U.S. on the federal level.

However, depending on where you live in the United States, hemp products can either legal conditionally legal or totally illegal to purchase depending on the state or territory you happen to live in. 

Fifty states, the District of Columbia and the territories. All with different laws , regulations and Attorney Generals.

Not to mention interstate commerce rules and the TSA at the airports.

And then there is American version of Amazon.com. The site really wants to help you find what you want. 

Amazon site does not want to disappoint you. Neither do the flim flam artists who will make it seem that there product does what you hope it would do but it does not.

This is a quick episode on why you can't buy CBD oil with 0.3% TCH via the U.S. version of Amazon.com.  It isn't complicated.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

The National Council of State Legislators current activity list of the current cannabis laws in the United States.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Show 301 - Self-Medication Pro and Con

Having to live with anxiety symptoms is not easy. I can't speak for you but I have sometimes been shamed, embarrassed or felt hopeless after a bad bout with those rascals.

My self-medication of choice is food. I kinda have to deal with that because it isn't an effective way to deal with the problem. I've been around this bend before so I know I can do it.

Will I? Probably.

You see my symptoms are flaring up again. Big time.

And yes, I do breathe. 

Go out side and walk a bit.

Fill my head with music so I can get from point A to B.

Most times it works, sometimes it does not.

I used to think that self-medication was a bad but understandable idea.  I’ve kinda moved to the center of “it depends, and what are your other options?”

So in this episode, the questions that I've asked myself and maybe you should consider is what are the benefits and liabilities of self-medication?

There are the obvious ones

• Stopping or hiding symptoms
• A rest period
• Ability to focus
• Relief

And the cons

• Dosage, how much and not knowing when it is too much?
• Dependency, could be adding on an additional problem.
• Financial, the cost of trying to control your symptoms instead of treating the problem. 
• Affect on the Body, does the treatment of the symptom cause more harm than good?

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

Post Covid Anxiety Is Real is on the Psychology Today website about how hard it seems to be to reintegrate back into the public space.

Helpguide.org is a non-profit organization and website that provides information about mental health issues.  They have a post on Self-Medication and there are some questions to be considered. 

You should know that they believe in investigating other options before taking medication. 

There is a page on the Good Rx website that talks about self-medication and alcohol. 

It is a good article, however the main purpose of the website is to connect users with coupons to use for medication from pharmacy vendors. 

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Show 299 - Buying CBD Oil via Retail Supermarkets

One of the things that I have learned about considering using hemp seed oil and CBD oil is that you need a lot of information. 

Information about the laws in your states. Is cannabis legal where I live?

What do I want it for? Physical pain relief, a sleep aid or something to chill the anxiety symptoms down?

Where do I go for credible, factual information? This has been one of the hardest aspect of putting these episodes together. 

So, being a birth frugalista, I looked at it from a shopper's perspective.

Oh, one more thing. I tend to use market, supermarket and store interchangeably. 

It has a different meaning to the MBA and financial folks. In the episode, I also say retail market or market. 

I mean the retail brick and mortar stores.

There is some information from a post from the National Center of Complimentary and Integrative Health page on Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know   It is factual but a lot more research has to be done and it can't happen until cannabis is federally legalized.

There are advocacy organizations but most look like sales literature as opposed to providing consumer information.

Reams of pages about the laws except that the laws are changing even as I type this script.

Flim Flam Frankies and the folks that create duplicate websites with 100s different names hope to heaven you land on them. They will promise you the world. Do not give those people your money.

The first goal for those of us that are considering buying CBD oil is buying safely and getting what you paid for.  

If you haven’t already and you are new to this, please review the episodes on how it is made and the uses for hemp seed oil and CBD oil. 

In this episode, going to the supermarket to get some CBD Oil. 

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

Post on Very Well Health on Procrastination: Causes, Types, and How to Overcome It 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration page on Is It Really FDA Approved?

The National Council of State Legislators seems to have a current activity list of the current cannabis laws in the United States. The laws are in flux. It is crazy making.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Show 298 Uses of Hemp Seed Oil and CBD Oil

As I mention in the show, it is easy to get sucker-fied when it comes to purchasing hemp seed oil or CBD oil. There is a lot of flim-flam operators in the marketplace.

We have a vulnerability to want to find anything that can help us cope. 

If you are seeking for alternatives for traditional opiate medication it seems like it is an option. But if you don’t know the basics, you can lose time, money and an possible effective treatment source.

My intention is to find a way to get to the basic information needed to make an informed decision.

It is easy to find the junk and too dang hard to find viable, credible information.

Deep breath. 

This is a small effort to find alternatives.  Alternative does not necessarily mean safer. 

Again, start with identifying the basics  

For those of us that had actual critical thinking classes this means:

• What is it?
• What is it made of or how is it process?
• Who is doing what and why?
• Who is doing the opposite? 
• Why and what are the benefits and risk?
• What is in it for them?
• What is in it for you?

In this episode the actual uses of Hemp Seed Oil and CBD Oil.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

From Findlaw.com which is a web publication of Thompson/Reuters, 2019 Marijuana Possession Laws by State.

Cannabis and CBD for Health and Wellness: An Essential Guide for Using Nature's Medicine to Relieve Stress, Anxiety, Chronic Pain, Inflammation, and More by Aliza Sherman and Junella Chin M.D. The link is to the Kindle version of the book.

From Workman Press, A Woman's Guide to Cannabis: Using Marijuana to Feel Better, Look Better, Sleep Better–and Get High Like a Lady by Nikki Furrer. There is also an audiobook version for those that want to listen as they process information.

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements Fact Sheet on Omega 3 Fatty Acids. There might be better sources than hemp. But it is an option.

Very Well Mind has a page on some of the Potential Side Effects of CBD. 

From the National Center of Complimentary and Integrative Health Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know, last updated in 2019. 

Related Post

What is Hemp Seed Oil and CBD Oil?

What is Serotonin?

Brain Health and Nutritional Support

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Show 297 What Is Hemp Seed Oil and CBD Oil?

I want folks to make an informed decision. Before you can make a decision you need facts, research and resources.

There is a lot of hokum about hemp seed oil and CBD oil. Both are oils that come from the hemp plant.

They are not the same. They service different populations and purposes. In this episode, a look at what is hemp seed oil and CBD oil.

There was an interesting conversation about the original 2005 formulation of Four Loco. It was a fortified beer that had a lot of caffeine in it. It also came in fruit flavors. And wormwood, can't forget about the wormwood.

On Twitter there were people telling their stories about drinking half a can and then being tore up for the rest of the night.

Other people mentioning that not only did they drink a can of Four Loco but had a vodka chaser. The word blackout was often used.

This is when reading becomes fundamental. Not that it would have stopped any teen or college freshman from gulping it down but maybe reading that the drink had caffeine and a percentage of booze might have slowed or stopped a few of them sipping 24 ounces/709ml of trouble.

Which is my I want to talk about Hemp Seed Oil. It will not make you sick like the original Four Loko. But there are "opportunistic" people  who want to exact money from you based on ignorance. 

Resources Mentioned: 

From CBS News This Morning, a story about Cecil Jackson who has agoraphobia. 
Anxiety and Depression Association of America video about Overcoming Agoraphobia on YouTube.

PepsiCo Rockstar Unplugged Product Information page

PBS NewsHour page on Is CBD legal? Here’s what you need to know, according to science. It is a good starting point of information.

Consumer Reports.org posts on CBD Goes Mainstream and How to Shop for CBD.

Your can also check out their main guide page on all of the other articles they have written about CBD.

Related Posts

Alcohol and Serotonin

Brain Health and Nutritional Support

What's the Deal with Magnesium?

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

 

Show 264 Quick Look at Sleep Pod

Hi folks, this is a pebble in the road about finding helpful aids for a better sleep. Being the anxious folks that we are, sleep is not always obtainable or consistent. Especially if you are living the chaotic life.

So there is this product called a Sleep Pod by a company called Hug Sleep. (I think, there may have been a name change) Oh, by the way this is not a sponsored or promotion product. Really more of my first look about product that claims to help people sleep.

How to describe this thing. To me, it looks like is a giant snuggly body sock for sleeping.

So this is a quick look at the product.

Resources Mentioned: 

First off you might want to check out the original commercial for the product to see how it works. You can find it on YouTube.

There is a Freakin Reviews of the Sleep Pod, and he didn’t like it.

Fast Company has a review of the product and loved it.

Then there is a on Gizmodo, not so much.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Show 226 - Aromatherapy Oils for Stress Relief

In this weeks show I fess up to eating chocolate cookies, a look at the website and videos from MedCircle.com and a look at some of the essential oils that can be helpful to handle anxiety symptoms. 

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 

"Aromatherapy is sometimes used for insomnia, but we don’t know whether it’s helpful because little rigorous research has been done on this topic.

Aromatherapy is sometimes incorporated into massage therapy for various conditions, such as knee pain from osteoarthritis or pain, anxiety, and other symptoms in people with cancer."

So this is a brief update on essential oils for aromatherapy.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

MedCircle.com is a membership mental health education service. The goal is to provide information about mental health concepts and treatment. There is a MedCircle YouTube channel for the service where you can view clips or watch selected full episodes.  

Dr. Tracey Marks has a video on Essential Oils and the Brain on YouTube.

John Hopkins University article on Aromatherapy: Do Essential Oils Really Work?

Very Well Mind page on Using Aromatherapy for Relieving Your Stress and a more detailed on on Aromatherapy for Social Anxiety Disorder

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Episode 020 More on CAM for Anxiety and Panic Disorders

There is a lot to check out in this weeks podcast. Taking a look at how complementary and alternative medicine can help with anxiety and panic disorders. I have a list of resources. Be skeptical but open to the possible.



 You can also download the current episode to your mobile or media device.

Resource Mentioned:

• American Family Physician Herbal and Dietary Supplements for Treatment of Anxiety Disorders published in 2007. This is the PDF version.
• Dr. Berg video on Breathing for Sleep (works for anxiety/panic too)
• BornNaturalpathic 2014 PDF newsletter on Naturalpathic treatment for anxiety. 
• Best Health Magazine Canada Eight Nutrients to Help Beat Anxiety
• Explore Integrative Medicine page from UCLA
• University of Maryland page on anxiety treatment that also has info on CAM type treatments.
• Natural Vitality Natural Calm, the Anti-Stress Drink

Disclaimer:

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Episode 019 Overview of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the book Furiously Happy

In this episode, Jenny Lawson’s book Furiously Happy and a overview of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.




Resource Mentioned:

• Jenny Lawson’s Furiously Happy page http://thebloggess.com/furiously-happy
• Audible version of Furiously Happy http://www.audible.com/pd/Bios-Memoirs/Furiously-Happy-Audiobook/B00VAW2XZC
• Health Triage episode on CAM issues https://youtu.be/bJKkFJyDlYI
• Medline Plus page on Complementary and Integrative Medicine https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/complementaryandintegrativemedicine.html

You can download this episode by saving the link to your computer or device.

Disclaimer:

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.