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Social Anxiety Treatment

Introduction

Social Anxiety Treatment is a big concern these days. Social anxiety is one of the largest mental health care problems in the world. Estimates indicate that it affects approximately 7% of the population. Obviously, this is a big problem that has a negative effect on the people it affects.

Overcoming social anxiety might seem like an insurmountable task, but it can be overcome with enough willpower and the proper social anxiety treatment methods. Some of these treatment methods might include seeing a psychologist, pharmaceutical medication, forcing yourself into social situations, and other natural type remedies. The following article will guide you through the different treatment methods for social anxiety.

Seeing a Psychologist

Seeing a psychologist is the first step to treating social anxiety. A normal session with a psychologist will focus on treatment methods that involve overcoming negative thoughts. The healthcare professional should have a series of exercises that prepare the patient for challenging negative thoughts.

psychologist with patient image

Some of those exercises could be a logical questioning of those negative thoughts. An example would be to keep asking yourself “why?”

“Why do I think I’m the worst?”

“Why do I think that everyone else is better than me?”

Eventually, the patient will reach a point where they reach a logical end. At this point, the only option is to directly confront the negative thoughts. The socially anxious person will soon realize that their negative thoughts are simply a figment of their imagination.

Psychologists have other treatment methods beyond the scope of this article, but the example above is a great introduction to one method. Remember, every psychologist will have a different way to treat social anxiety and will custom tailor a treatment option for you.

Pharmaceutical Medication

Pharmaceutical medication is one of the most popular treatment options for social anxiety. Obtaining pharmaceutical medication is rather easy. Simply go to a psychiatrist, and if they diagnose a patient with social anxiety, then they will often prescribe medication. However, the medication prescribed for social anxiety has a fair amount of controversy surrounding it.

pharmaceutical medication image

Some studies have indicated that social anxiety medication may actually lead to more anxiety. Anti-anxiety medication has more issues than that though. It works by altering the chemistry of the brain. However, anxiety is generally not considered a mental health issue that requires adjustments to the brain chemistry. In fact, many psychiatrists reject the notion that brain-altering substances are an effective or safe method to treat any type of mental disorder. Finally, pharmaceutical drugs may cause dependency, which means getting off of them could be challenging. Even worse, getting off pharmaceutical drugs may result in a worse position than when the drugs were first taken. Thankfully, natural alternatives to pharmaceutical medication do exist though.

Forcing yourself into social situations

Forcing yourself into social situations is one of the better methods to treat social anxiety. Since social anxiety almost always has a root cause of negative thoughts; the best way to overcome negative thoughts is to confront them directly. Negative thoughts about social anxiety usually involve thinking of yourself as inadequate in social situations.

friends celebrating new year image

The best way to dispel that negative thought is a combination of positive thinking and direct experience in social situations. This experience will provide a great reference point to dispel negative thoughts. It allows you to reference a time when you had a good social experience and begins the process of building a positive feedback loop.

A positive feedback loop refers to receiving positive feedback for an event or action. This positive feedback then releases dopamine into the brain. The dopamine release feels good, and it causes you to pursue further dopamine releases. Unfortunately, setting up a positive feedback loop requires facing the fear of social interaction.

Overall, forcing yourself into social interactions might be one of the best methods to treat social anxiety. However, the first social interaction is often the hardest because no positive feedback loop has been established. Working up the courage to face the fear of social interactions often requires some help. This can be from a friend, a job requirement, alcohol, or other alternative methods.

A friend or a job requirement that forces social interactions is often a good method. Not everyone has the ability to switch careers nor does everyone have a friend willing to help with social interactions. The next option would be going out on your own to social events such as the Toastmasters International. Again, this might be hard the first time, and alcohol is not the best option to treat social anxiety. However, cannabidiol (CBD) has some known anti-anxiety benefits.

Using CBD to treat social anxiety

First, CBD is part of cannabis, but CBD does not contain any psycho-active ingredients. In other words, CBD will not make you high. It has all the benefits of normal marijuana, but with none of the downsides of it (dizziness, paranoia, racing heartbeat, etc.).

cbd image

CBD can be used to treat social anxiety as it increases the effectiveness of serotonin receptors in the brain. This method is actually similar to that of popular anti-anxiety medicines such as Prozac and Zoloft. However, CBD does not have the same addicting side-effects as Prozac and Zoloft.

The CBD gummies available from Sunday Scaries are an excellent way to consume CBD. The gummies are made of regular candy infused with CBD. This means not having to inhale vapor through an e-cigarette or other methods. Simply eat the gummies like any other gummy. The only difference is that these gummies will help with social anxiety.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the four main methods of treating social anxiety will all work. Each method has pros and cons, but with some methods, mainly pharmaceutical medicine, the cons far outweigh the pros. The best method to treating social anxiety likely involves a combination of speaking to a psychologist, eliminating negative thoughts, forcing yourself into social situations, and maybe using CBD to help.

The CBD is certainly not a necessity to treating social anxiety. However, in the early stages of treatment, it can certainly help. The main point is to not use the CBD as a crutch for treating anxiety. Though CBD does have a multitude of other benefits besides just treating anxiety.

This article  is originally published at SundayScaries.

CBD Oil for Acne: What You Need to Know

CBD Oil for Acne

We are talking about CBD Oil for Acne today. Although you probably remember learning about mitochondria and the Cold War back in high school, there’s one lesson we all wish we learned then: that leaving our teen years behind does not necessarily mean being acne-free.

While most of us hoped that our breakouts would be the least of our worries after our prom photos were taken and our dorm rooms were moved into, the reality is that it is completely normal (and unfortunately common) for people to get acne well into their twenties and thirties and beyond.

If you still struggle with blackheads and zits, it may be weighing down your self-esteem. Of course, no one should feel embarrassed or insecure about acne, but for many of us, we would still prefer to enjoy clear skin.

You may have tried over-the-counter drugstore products, do-it-yourself face masks from the Internet, or even dermatologist-prescribed medications to treat your acne. If nothing has been successful so far, there is one potential new solution that you might not be aware of – CBD oil.

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What Is CBD?

You might not be familiar with CBD and CBD products, and hemp oil. If you are, you might be thinking, “hey that is just marijuana, right?” You may also be thinking: “how will that help me with my skin?”

Yes, cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid derived from hemp. This is all scientific jargon to say that, yes, CBD is made from cannabis—but with a twist.

CBD is not the same as THC, which is the chemical that makes you high when you smoke or consume marijuana. This means that, even if you wanted to get high or buzzed from CBD, it will not happen. It simply does not have the same effect as THC.

However, research shows that there may be a number of medical benefits associated with CBD. Compared to a lot of other products on the market, CBD is just starting to receive the attention from researchers that it deserves, but so far studies are showing CBD can be an effective treatment for anxiety and seizures.

CBD and Skin Care

There are lots of reasons why people choose to use CBD and lots of ways that they choose to ingest it. Some people choose liquid tinctures or vapors, while others like to treat themselves with these gummies.

But Is CBD Truly a Reliable Acne Treatment?

Before answering that question, it is important to understand that skin health is one of the many things that are influenced by our endocannabinoid system (to keep the scientific language to a minimum, this is the same bodily system that cannabis products, including CBD and THC, interact with). Our endocannabinoid system is the reason why cannabis products can influence so many aspects of our health, and why people experience such a broad range of results when using them.

So, it makes sense that CBD products can have an effect on the general health of our skin and even treat acne. In fact, CBD is now being used in more and more beauty products. So far, research has suggested that cannabidiol oil can influence our skin health in two distinct ways: reducing inflammation and regulating oil production.

Reducing Inflammation

Inflammation is a leading symptom of acne—it is the reason why, even under a thick layer of foundation, your zit will remain red and obviously visible. By reducing inflammation, you can reduce the appearance of acne and speed the healing process.

So far, research has pointed to CBD has an anti-inflammatory effect, which, in turn, could improve the health of your skin.

Regulating Oil Production

Although inflammation is an all too common symptom of acne, oil production is the actual underlying cause. Sebum, which is produced in the sebaceous glands, is a naturally occurring oil used to lubricate your skin, but when it is over-produced, your pores end up clogged and a break-out erupts. You end up with oily skin and clogged pores through dead skin cells.

Studies are starting to show that CBD can be used to not only manage the unpleasant symptoms of acne but address the root causes as well through regulating the glands that produce sebum. This can help keep your pores clean and reduce acne without drying out your skin.

Other Skin Care Tips

When it comes to dealing with acne, there are a lot of different factors at play. Some people are genetically more likely to break out while others mainly notice acne appear with behavioral changes, such as a poor diet or stressful work life. Likewise, some people will notice acne primarily during puberty, while others will battle with it well into adulthood.

Whether or not you think that CBD is right for you, there are other actions you can incorporate into your lifestyle to prevent acne and heal breakouts, including:

  • Avoid over washing your face: although it may be tempting, washing more than twice a day can be damaging to your skin in the long run
  • If you wear makeup, remember to remove it before going to bed
  • Try to cut greasy, heavily processed foods from your diet
  • Stay hydrated throughout the day
  • Do not forget to moisturize, but choose an oil-free product
  • Avoid touching your face throughout the day
  • Wash your pillowcases often and keep your phone screen clean
  • Talk to a dermatologist if your current routine is not working and your acne is severe

How to Use CBD for Acne

If you are interested in using CBD for acne, you might be wondering the best way to start taking it. You might even be wondering if it is safe and legal.

The good news is that CBD is a safe product that millions of people are already using worldwide—and as it does not contain THC, it is legal in all fifty states.

As mentioned before, more research on CBD is underway than ever before, so far studies have been focusing on it being taken orally or transdermally (directly on the skin) when it comes to acne treatment.  For this reason, it is up to you. You might want to start by taking a tincture or edible product, and see if you notice an improvement.

You can also purchase skin care products that contain CBD and are good as a CBD oil for acne or purchase a tincture and create your own home treatments (in the long run, this option might save you money and ensure that you know exactly which products are ending up in your skin care products).

Ultimately, the choice is yours—whether you wish to use it as a face wash or take it orally, the only thing you have to lose is your pesky acne.

This article is originally published at SundayScaries.

CBD Oil Benefits for Skin: What the Beauty Industry Says about It

CBD Oil Benefits for Skin

Learn about the CBD oil benefits for skin in this article. Sometimes, it can be hard to keep up with cosmetic and skincare trends. Is activated charcoal truly the miracle solution it is marketed as? Will coconut oil change your life? Is a product with seaweed truly worth paying an extra ten bucks for?

If you have been swayed into buying a pricey cosmetic solution that did not deliver the promised results, you may be hesitant to jump onto any more skincare bandwagons.

However, what if there were products on the market backed by actual scientific research?

Here is one of our favorite brands.

See, it can be challenging to get an in-depth perspective on how effective your everyday skincare products are. Ultimately, there is minimal demand for scientific research into how soft cocoa butter can make your skin, or which natural extracts can reduce the look of scars and stretch marks.

However, there is one natural product that has been getting more attention the ever from the scientific community: Cannabidiol (CBD). Though hemp oil, cannabis oil, and marijuana, all come from the cannabis plant, pure CBD and CBD products have absolutely no THC and therefore cannot make you high.

Instead, it is often used for a wide range of medicinal and wellness purposes. blood pressure, eczema pain relief (including chronic pain), certain types of skin cancer, Dravet syndrome, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease are just a few areas where patients benefit from CBD oil and its derivatives.

Evidence has touted it as a potential treatment for epilepsy and mental illness, but can it help you with your skin? The beauty industry seems to think so, considering CBD is quickly becoming one of the most popular ingredients in both high-end and affordable drugstore-brand products.

CBD and Science

Before you find out what the beauty industry is saying about CBD, it is important to understand what the scientific community is saying about it. Although it is ultimately up to you and your doctor what you consume, and every person will respond differently to CBD, research has suggested there are three main benefits to CBD when it comes to skin care: reducing inflammation, regulating oil production, and helping with stress management.

Inflammation

Inflammation is one of those broad terms that can impact every aspect of your health. When a clogged pore is inflamed, the end result is a nasty, noticeable zit that draws attention in any conversation.

But inflammation is also a key issue when it comes to aging. According to evidence, inflammation is a primary cause of the visible and unpleasant signs of aging, and that CBD has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Oil Production

Acne occurs when our pores get clogged with an oil called sebum. On its own, sebum is a good thing—it keeps our face lubricated and our skin should have a healthy amount. However, people prone to breakouts tend to produce too much sebum, and this leaves clogged pores and unsightly blemishes.

Recent research is suggesting that CBD can actually help the glands that produce sebum to better regulate the oil that we produce, in turn helping prevent oily, acne-ridden skin.

Stress Management

Stress is a lightning rod for acne and signs of aging. During the busiest times in our life, we tend to notice more frequent breakouts and, as time goes on, we tend to display our daily stress through wrinkles and creases in our face.

Although we have many options to handle stress (including behavioral therapy, daily exercise, and cutting out activities, obligations, and people that increase stress) not all of them are easily available. After all, we might believe that quitting our jobs and moving to a tropical island is just what we need to reduce stress, but that is not exactly possible for all of us.

Research is still underway on the full spectrum of benefits that CBD offers, but studies that have been done so far point to it as being a tool to battle stress, anxiety and promote healthy sleep, which, in turn, can leave your skin healthier than ever.

What the Beauty Industry Thinks

The beauty industry has seemed to take the recent research into CBD in great strides, as it is becoming a mega-popular ingredient in both make-up and skin cleansing. The proof is in the pudding: both the popular drugstore brands you use every day and high-end brands used by celebrities and professional make-up artists are using CBD as a core ingredient.

Even Vogue—yes, Vogue—is touting the benefits of CBD. When the world’s most prevalent fashion and beauty magazine is taking CBD seriously, you know that there is a good reason for it.

Overall, if CBD-infused cosmetics and skincare products are something you want to try, you will not struggle to find products within your price range and your area. In coming months and years, we predict that CBD will be a leading beauty trend, and it will be hard to avoid a moisturizing face mask or daily cleanser without it in the ingredients list. However, there is an easier way.

Making Your Own Beauty Products

If the last thing you want is to spend another $30 on a beauty product that will collect dust in your bathroom caddy, there is a solution: simply make your own products.

Creating your own beauty products from scratch might seem daunting at first, but the truth is that high-quality skincare products are already using natural ingredients available at your local supermarket, and DIY recipes can be found scattered across the Internet.

In fact, some of the research cited above has suggested that the benefits of CBD were reaped both when it was applied to the skin and taken orally, meaning simply ingesting CBD every day can lead to an improvement in your skin, no other ingredients needed.

If you are unsure how to filter through the many brands offering CBD-infused products right now, consider starting with the purchase of a tincture. You can take this on your own orally and, if you do not see an improvement, start using it as a face wash or adding it to DIY recipes. At the end of the day, with or without expensive brand name products, your skin will thank you for taking action. From dealing with pain to skincare, CBD products are slowly but surely starting to lead the way.

This article first appeared on SundayScaries.

[sc_fs_faq sc_id=”fs_faq6atj83h6u” html=”true” headline=”h2″ img=”4079″ question=”What are the CBD oil benefits for skin care.” img_alt=”CBD oil benefits for skin care” css_class=”” ]Reduces inflammation, regulates oil production and helps with stress management.[/sc_fs_faq]

What Exactly Are CBD Gummies and Do They Work?

Like medical marijuana and hemp, CBD oil and CBD gummies have risen to fame in recent times, thanks to its natural ability to relieve pain and provide relief from other uncomfortable symptoms experienced as a result of a physical illness like epilepsy, Dravet syndrome, and inflammation, or even an emotional affliction like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. And for the multitude of benefits that CBD oil seems to have, it has one major downfall: it’s rather bitter taste!

CBD products all derived from the cannabis plant and are becoming increasingly popular as testimonies from well-known celebrities emerge highlighting its efficacy for treating a range of ailments from insomnia to Fibromyalgia, so it goes without saying that it didn’t take long for someone to develop a means of being able to enjoy all of its therapeutic benefits, without having to put up with the distinctive earthy taste.

Introducing CBD Gummies for Pain Relief and Wellness

CBD oil (and hemp oil) can be ingested in many forms and it isn’t just the CBD tincture that is effective. Cannabis-infused edibles are quickly gaining popularity, especially among patients who cannot bear the taste or texture of CBD oil. A good quality CBD gummy will allow you to experience all of the benefits of CBD oil but in the form of a tasty sweet treat that can be discretely ingested while at work or at a social event.

Cannabidiol or CBD is just one of more than one hundred compounds found in the hemp plant, that are known as cannabinoids. The effects of CBD are fairly clear and it works to heal our bodies through supporting and activating our natural endocannabinoid system, which is an inbuilt network of receptors that help us to maintain a balance in all aspects of our body’s health and wellness.

One of the main reasons that CBD has earned itself a stellar reputation among its fans is due to the fact that it is capable of healing more than one symptom of illness at the same time, making it a versatile option to improve overall health.

How Do Gummies Work?

The cleverly designed and tasty gummies allow the CBD to penetrate your bloodstream in a similar way to a sublingual tincture. When you suck on a gummy, you absorb the CBD into your system via the tissues in your mouth and you won’t have to worry about an unpleasant aftertaste. The most reputable brands will use only organic ingredients and their products will be free of any additives that compromise the purity of the gummies.

What Can CBD Gummies Help With?

CBD is reported to have a wide range of healing and soothing benefits including promoting sleep and relieving pain. In fact, many people who suffer from anxiety find that taking a daily dose of CBD enables them to manage their symptoms and maintain a normal lifestyle that promotes a sense of calm and balance. At this stage, CBD-infused products cannot be recommended as a sole medicine due to a lack of research, but CBD has proven itself as an incredibly beneficial supplement to thousands of people around the world and it is becoming a popular option for the natural treatment of arthritis and other chronic pain.

Why Choose CBD Gummies Over Oil?

The main reason that you would choose to consume gummies over oil is of course due to the fact that they are more palatable. It is also slightly easier to get your dosing more accurate, as you will know exactly how many milligrams of CBD is present in each sweet. Let’s also not forget that it is a fun way of taking medicine—especially as many of the flavors will bring back memories of eating candy as a child. Another bonus of choosing gummies over another ingestion method is the fact that they will be metabolized slower, meaning that the effects will often linger for an extended period of time.

Do CBD Oil Gummies Work?

It is always incredibly difficult to guarantee that a product or medicine is going to have a positive effect on absolutely everyone, as we are all unique individuals. Some people will instantly report feeling relief after taking their first CBD-infused gummy, while others will not notice an immediate improvement in their symptoms. Until more studies are performed on how viable CBD is as medicine, all we can do is remind ourselves of the fact that so many people have found relief from pain and illness through adding a daily dose of CBD into their routine

Are There Any Side Effects of CBD Oil Gummies?

It is highly unlikely that you will experience any negative side effects from using CBD and only see health benefits. Understandably, a higher dose might make you feel drowsy, but unless you have an allergy to cannabinoids, you will not experience any harmful side effects.

If any CBD oil products you try are poor quality, then it could cause you to feel nauseous or have a slight headache. This is just one of the reasons why it is so important to ensure that you are buying a good quality brand that doesn’t add any unnecessary chemicals to its products.

Always make sure the CBD gummies you buy have been infused with quality CBD oil and not just sprayed with it, as this can make a big difference with regards to the potency of the gummies.

Final Thoughts

Once you have found a brand of gummies that you feel comfortable trying, and then you should start with a low dose—even if this means cutting a gummy in half to begin with. Because everyone responds differently to a particular dose of CBD gummies, it might take a couple of weeks for you to find the exact dosage that provides you with the relief you have been looking for. The important thing is not to make any sudden changes and allow your body time to adjust to the supplement accordingly.

This article by Madeleine Taylor is originally published at SundayScaries.