Tag Archives: anxiety

You Can Trust Me, I’m a Doctor: Self-Medicating and How to Know When You’ve Crossed a Line

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I’m the first person to admit I should start seeing a therapist, and don’t worry I have an appointment lined up. I’ve also taken enough psychology courses to realize some of my coping mechanisms are unhealthy.

Coping mechanisms refers to how an individual responds to a crisis or distressing situation. For example, some people make jokes in serious situations, some run from their problems, some use alcohol or drugs, some get aggressive and lash out, the list goes on. Personally, I either run away from my problems and shut myself in my room or I self-medicate.

Don’t Mind My Vices

It isn’t easy admitting my bad habits to the world, but I self-medicate by smoking marijuana when I feel anxious, Juuling, shopping, and comfort-eating. For those who don’t know, a Juul is an e-cigarette device that allows you to smoke a nicotine vapor.

Self-Medicating With The Juul, Don’t Do This

I’ve already addressed comfort-eating in a previous post, so I won’t embarrass myself by talking more about that. However, I will be discussing using marijuana and nicotine to self-medicate. Unhealthy habits and substances may be okay in moderation for anybody but how am I supposed to know when I’ve gone too far?

First, let me admit I am pro the legalization of recreational and medical marijuana, so I may be biased in that regard. Personally, I don’t see the harm in responsibly using weed to unwind with friends after work; what concerns me, is being unable to cope with anxiety without weed. This post also isn’t intended to extensively discuss the benefits of medical marijuana. However, I will be discussing the effects of marijuana use on anxiety.

Why I Self-Medicate

I indulge in any of these forms of self-medication when I’m feeling anxious and overwhelmed. Shopping and comfort eating distract me from the anxious thoughts while locking myself in my room keeps my problems out of sight out of mind. Personally, smoking weed and Juuling help me feel more relaxed and like my problems aren’t as bad as they seemed before.

On a Healthier Note, I Also Like To Workout At Planet Fitness To Cope With Anxiety, I’d Highly Recommend The Black Card Membership

That isn’t to say anybody reading this should start using an e-cig, they’re not good for you and I’m not encouraging anybody to pick up this habit, however, I have to admit my own vices. These are also social activities for me, that then helps my anxiety by getting me out of my own head and talking with others. Ultimately, they alter my perception; I perceive my stress and anxiety to be more manageable and less detrimental, it also helps me be more mindful of the current moment and not so anxious about the future.

Is My Brain Okay?

Both nicotine and marijuana have been found to alter your brain chemistry. Weed alters your brain chemistry by introducing THC into your bloodstream carried to the brain; “after consuming marijuana, many people experience a pleasant euphoria and sense of relaxation. Other common effects, which may vary dramatically among different people, include heightened sensory perception, laughter, altered perception of time, and increased appetite” (drugabuse.gov).

Anxiety.org further states, “one feature of the high association with cannabis use is a state of increased relaxation, happiness, and detachment from reality. One of the most commonly cited reasons people give for using cannabis is increased relaxation and the ability to cope with negative emotions while under its influence.”

Nicotine also is absorbed into the blood where adrenaline is released and travels to the brain; adrenaline “stimulates the central nervous system and increases blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. It also increases dopamine, which reinforces rewarding behaviors” (drugabuse.org).

It makes sense why I use marijuana and nicotine to self-medicate, the way these substances impact the brain alleviate the negative symptoms of my anxiety and depression. However, chronic use can actually increase the symptoms of these mental illnesses. You may have heard of CBD as a treatment for anxiety, which I think of as marijuana’s more widely accepted sister.

Is CBD Worth a Shot Instead?

Harvard Health’s Blog defines CBD: “CBD stands for cannabidiol. It is the second most prevalent of the active ingredients of cannabis (marijuana). While CBD is a component of marijuana (one of hundreds), by itself it does not cause a “high.”

Basically, there are not a sufficient amount of human studies to confidently recommend CBD as a general treatment for anxiety. However, it’s more readily available than marijuana and there have been a few studies confirming CBD as a treatment for epilepsy, anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain, just not enough to be statistically significant.

CBD Oil

That being said, it’s always recommended to talk to your doctor before trying anything to treat a mental illness. “Without sufficient high-quality evidence in human studies we can’t pinpoint effective doses, and because CBD is currently is mostly available as an unregulated supplement, it’s difficult to know exactly what you are getting. If you decide to try CBD, talk with your doctor — if for no other reason than to make sure it won’t affect other medications you are taking” (Harvard Health Blog).

Does Weed Help With Anxiety?

The short answer to that question is, weed may temporarily help with anxiety but it ultimately makes things worse.

Dr. Carol Lee wrote an article for anxiety.org explaining this concept:

“Small sample sizes and significant limitations in the research make it difficult to conclusively state the benefits of cannabis use in treating anxiety. Although, cannabis temporarily decreases anxiety, it may also maintain or exacerbate symptoms in the long run; perhaps creating a way to avoid experiencing the anxiety fully. The result? Individuals may not learn that they can cope with and manage their anxiety without cannabis.”

Taking A Bath Is A Great Alternative to Self-Medicating

Dr. Lee mentions one of my primary concerns, being unable to cope with anxiety without my habits of self-medication, or cannabis and nicotine. From the research I did for this post, I think I’d benefit from consulting a doctor and therapist about my habits.

All of this being said and as far as I’ve noticed, my self-medicating hasn’t caused any real negative effects on my daily life, yet. But I would like to get ahead of these habits and learn some healthier coping mechanisms before they do impact my well-being.

When is self-medicating okay? Basically, it isn’t recommended, go to therapy and see a doctor instead.

My Paper’s Due, But It’s Happy Hour- Managing FOMO

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FOMO stands for “fear of missing out.” This is something I feel almost every Friday and Saturday night when I see my Snapchat friends taking shots, dancing, and looking like they’re having a great time. In all honesty, I’m not a big fan of St. Cloud’s downtown bar scene or house parties. I’ve gone to enough house parties to know I usually have a better time staying home and chilling with two or three friends.

I also know how easy it is to make the bar and parties look way more fun than they are on Snapchat, I’m guilty of it myself.

The above video depicts a fun, care free night with friends. In reality, the two roommates pictured and I got into a screaming match, all ended up crying and didn’t speak to each other for a week.

Even knowing all of this, I can’t help but feel like I’m missing out on something, or that the next night might be different, or that people will think I’m lame and antisocial if I don’t go out. On the other hand, my roommate, Madi, doesn’t feel this way at all. Some nights, my FOMO gets the best of me and I force myself to go Downtown and socialize while Madi says, “No, I’ll go out when I wanna go out.” She never feels like she’s missing out and refuses to make herself feel guilty for not wanting to go Downtown.

I asked Madi what she does to avoid FOMO and she said, “I just know it (going Downtown) sucks every time. I used to think Downtown would be more fun than house parties, then I turned 21 and went out a few times and it still wasn’t fun. So, I know I’m not missing anything and don’t feel bad about it.” While that may work for Madi, it doesn’t work for me so I need to know some other ways that I can manage my FOMO.

College Magazine provides a list of 10 Reasons You Shouldn’t Feel FOMO in College:

1. REMEMBER HOW GROSS PARTIES REALLY GET

a. let’s not forget that parties are usually sweaty, sticky, and too loud to hear yourself think.

2. THINK ABOUT THE HANGOVER YOU’RE AVOIDING

a. Even though I’m only 21, my hangovers are so debilitating I can’t -or won’t- get out of bed for at least three days (see video below).

3. DO SOMETHING YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO DO

a. I like to spend my weekends binge watching Netflix or YouTube videos., shopping, having wine nights, or cooking with my roommates.

One Weekend We Made Pancake and Sausage Muffins

4. HANG OUT WITH A FRIEND

5. TREAT YOURSELF

a. Take the weekend to indulge in some much needed self-care. Reward yourself with some relaxation after a week of class, studying, and work.

6. GET INVOLVED WITH “CHEM/Substance-FREE” CLUBS

a. Substance-free clubs are clubs dedicated to providing alternative activities and events, other than drinking, on weekends for students. Even if you don’t want to join a substance-free club, find a club on campus that holds weekend events that interest you. Take this time to explore a new hobby and get involved on campus.

7. AVOID SOCIAL MEDIA

8. CHANGE YOUR HABITS

a. Try and switch up your routine on the weekend. For example, if you usually have a movie night on Saturdays, try going bowling or having a bonfire. Doing the same thing every weekend gets boring for anybody.

9. DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

a. If you know going Downtown and drinking won’t make you happy, then don’t do it. Be realistic with yourself and only do the things you want to do.

10. PRACTICE GRATITUDE

This night, I conquered my FOMO and spent the night at a movie with two friends rather than forcing myself to go Downtown.

I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder my freshman year of college. A symptom of my anxiety is constantly worrying and stressing about the unknown and everything I think I “should” be doing; for example, if I have a weekend off of work, I convince myself that I’m lazy and a loser if I don’t use that free time to go Downtown with everyone else.

I tend to feel extremely guilty, to the point of self-isolation, if I don’t fulfill these perceived social responsibilities.

It’s been found that. “a number of anxiety disorders, such as social anxiety disorder and separation anxiety disorder, include dimensions of worry related to what others are doing while out of one’s presence.” (Sleep In the Social World of College Students). This explains the connection or vicious cycle between my anxious feelings and behaviors surrounding FOMO, or worrying about what I’m missing.

This Weekend I Conquered FOMO By Going To The Lake For a Social Media-Cleanse

That same article states, “FOMO may tend to emerge more readily among a subset of students who have low levels of life satisfaction, self-competence, autonomy, or connection to others, and/or low mood, and/or it may [stem from] interactions or experiences that promote social comparison, such as the use of social media,” as other possible causes of FOMO. One way to combat this is improving sleep habits. Going to sleep earlier and avoiding your phone before bed are two ways to do this.

 

There are links between FOMO and anxiety disorders, but they aren’t the only cause.

FOMO can impact anyone and is often worsened by social media. With social media, we’re constantly aware of where everyone is and how much fun it is there.

The grass always seems greener, especially when Snapchat and Instagram filters are used. In the article, “Sleep in the Social World of College Students: Bridging Interpersonal Stress and Fear of Missing Out with Mental Health by Sue K. Adams, Karla K. Murdock, Meada Daly-Cano and Meredith Rose,” FOMO is described as, “an individual’s all-consuming sense that others are engaging in rewarding experiences in their absence” (2020).

The key word here is, ‘all-consuming.’ I thought this was worth noting because sometimes when my FOMO feels especially strong, it also ruins my night at home. It can be difficult to get past feeling excluded– often times it leaves me feeling emotionally overwhelmed, tired, guilty, and inadequate.

Due to this, a social media-cleanse or just turning your phone off for the night can be a great way to cope with FOMO.

This Night I Forced Myself To Go Out and Ended Up With A Broken Heel and Crying

“Out of sight, out of mind” is a helpful mindset for combating FOMO; muting Instagram and Snapchat stories for the weekend is one way to avoid seeing what you may be missing and allows you to focus on yourself or friends in front of you.

 

It’s also helpful to remind yourself that social media is everyone’s highlight real, no one is advertising the moments they feel inadequate or overwhelmed on Instagram.