Restoring Health and Hope: Nasha Mukti Kendra Noida by India Rehabs

India Rehabs in Noida is committed to restoring hope, health, and happiness to individuals affected by addiction. Our team of doctors, counselors, and holistic practitioners work together to achieve comprehensive recovery. visit here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/nasha-mukti-kendra-noida-beacon-hope-addiction-recovery-rahul-mishra-m0cxc

Addicted to Masturbation? How Homeopathy Can Help!

Masturbating is normal for every man. Instead, it is considered a healthy activity. It is humane to do it because it boosts sexual pleasure and maintains a healthy sex life. It's okay as long as it doesn't get addictive. Yes, many people get addicted to masturbation, and it is difficult to overcome. However, in the medical field, homeopathy is one of the most natural ways to get rid of masturbation addiction.

Homeopathy for Masturbation treatment helps eliminate compulsive sexual behaviors without causing any side effects. Dr. Vikas Singhal is among the well-known & experienced Homeopathic doctors in India. He has been treating rare, chronic mild & autoimmune disorders, such as compulsive masturbation syndrome, for over 20 years. For further information or to fix an appointment, call or WhatsApp us at +91 8264408264.

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Recover from Compulsive Masturbation Addiction with Homeopathy Medicine

Masturbation is normal for every man. Instead, it is considered a healthy activity. However, masturbating every day can become an addiction. If you think you are addicted to masturbation or can't live with masturbation one day. You may need to talk with an expert doctor. However, many people are choosing homeopathic medicine to get rid of this addiction.

Homeopathy for Masturbation Treatment is one of the most effective & best ways to control this issue without causing any side effects. Dr. Vikas Singhal is among the well-known & experienced Homeopathic experts. He is one of the best Homeopathic specialists for treating rare, chronic mild & autoimmune disorders, such as compulsive masturbation syndrome. For further information or to fix an appointment, call or WhatsApp us at +91 8264408264.

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GRATITUDE-
Practicing an Attitude of Gratitude.
Finding your way home through poetry of ancient wisdom.

KEY POINTS-
Gratitude requires more than a mere "thank you." It requires practical reciprocity.
The role of gratitude in recovery from addiction exemplifies the importance of giving back.
Gratitude for the gifts given by nature requires stewardship of the earth.
Gratitude begins as an idea, advances to practical action, and culminates in revising our identity and relationship to the earth.

Recovery from addiction, as well as from a wide variety of health issues and traumas, naturally fosters feelings of gratitude. But even deep gratitude tends to fade as we turn to the mundane tasks of daily life. People in recovery through the Twelve Steps are aware that maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” is important for remaining sober. Although the word “gratitude” does not appear in the Twelve Steps, Step Three involves a decision to receive the gift of caring and Step Twelve closes the loop by encouraging returning this gift to others in need.

The reciprocity of receiving and giving back is the essence of practicing gratitude. This reciprocity is beautifully described in Braiding Sweetgrass, by the Native American botanist and ecologist Robin Wall Kimmerer[i]. Her poetic writing combines ancient stories from different Anishinaabe tribes with a detailed scientific understanding of how the world of plants feeds and is nurtured by their mother earth. All living beings are treated as persons in the way humans see each other.

Wolves, nuthatches, and bees are all seen as people with homes and children. Humans are only one of many peoples, and all ultimately depend on plants as the sole life form capable of making food from sun, air, and water. In the process, plants feed oxygen into the air for all animals to breathe. Kimmerer’s perspective embeds humans in the vibrant web of life born from our earth. We are wholly dependent on the health of this web. Our own health and existence depend on the health and existence of this web, and yet we have fallen into unawareness of this relationship.

Instead, we expropriated the role of master, turning all the gifts earth freely gives as mere commodities to be monetized. We live in an illusion of our mastery as we graze through grocery stores casually grabbing bits and pieces of plant and animal lives wrapped in Styrofoam and plastic (themselves products of ancient plants pressed into petroleum deposits). We act like children who sneak into our grandmother’s kitchen to steal all the cookies she baked unbidden for us, carelessly breaking the plate that held them.

There is no reason we would be able to recover from the brain changes caused by addiction, but sobriety is a freely available gift. So too is the air we breathe, clear water from natural springs, fruits, nuts, roots, and grains given to us by the earth. No human can invent and produce such gifts. Humans are newcomers on earth, wholly dependent on its freely given bounty. Gratitude begins with becoming fully aware of our dependence on these gifts. Like recovering alcoholics and other drug addicts, we need to “make a decision” to embrace the reality of our dependence on the natural world. We cannot exist outside nature.

Awareness is necessary, but not sufficient, for the fulsome practice of gratitude. There must also be reciprocity. We cannot take from the earth with only a mere “thank you” in return. We must also become active stewards by caring for the natural world that already cares for us. We must enter into a mutual relationship with earth. It is our home, and homes need maintenance and care. The embrace earth gives us must be returned by our embrace of the earth, just as recovery from addiction is maintained by carrying the message of sobriety to those still in need.

The earth is in need. It needs us to take our foot off the accelerator that is driving climate change. As Kimmerer points out, the maple trees that offer us such sweet syrup are needing to migrate further north, becoming refugees from their current home because climate warming is ruining their current homeland. We need to stop driving carbon into the atmosphere and begin nurturing plants that pull it back out of our air.

I have been thrown into turmoil over what I can personally do to practice gratitude for all earth has given me throughout my 78 years. Too blind now even to garden, how can I practice gratitude? What practical action is available? After some thought, I have made a decision to serve the songbirds I remember being so plentiful when I was young but have become so much rarer now. As a child I remember the golden finches, redwing blackbirds, Baltimore orioles, and bobwhites that sang through the woods. Without much vision now, I delight in the birds still chirping in my yard. I am installing a bath to give them water through the dry summer, feeders to invite them to dinner, and small houses to raise their children. I love these birds, so it is time to do something so they will love me back.

An attitude of gratitude starts small but leads to radical shifts in our relationship to the entirety of earth’s natural world if we practice reciprocity. It can lead to seeing the land surrounding us as our home, not as property we own. In Kimmerer’s words, those who immigrated to America must find a way to become indigenous to this land. We need to find our proper place in the web this land has spun. Receiving and giving are two sides of belonging

SPIRITUALITY-
Why You've Got to Have Faith.
Believing in something bigger than yourself can be good for your mental health.

KEY POINTS-
Spirituality doesn’t have to mean religion—it also encompasses an array of other belief systems and practices.
A Gallup study found that "religious" people tended to score higher on well-being indexes.
Science can also lead to feelings of awe and transcendence not unlike a spiritual experience.

​​​​​​Do you consider yourself religious or spiritual? Do you believe in a higher power, or in something "larger" than yourself? If you answered yes to either of these questions, chances are you have better mental health and well-being than people who would answer no, according to recent research.

A report from the analytics and advisory company Gallup called "Faith and Wellness: The Worldwide Connection Between Spirituality and Wellbeing" is a meta-analysis of global data that also includes in-depth interviews. It explored the links between spirituality and well-being and found that the connection between faith and wellness was a worldwide phenomenon. People with a spiritual connection had better levels of mental health and well-being.

In fact, spirituality has been linked not only to lower rates of anxiety and depression but also to a reduction in other concerns, such as addiction.

Spirituality doesn’t necessarily mean adhering to a religion (although it can); it also encompasses an array of other belief systems and practices.

The Gallup study found that "religious" people tended to score higher than others on well-being indexes measuring five factors: positive coping and sense of purpose in life, faith-based social connections, community and civic engagement, structural stability, and workplace support of holistic well-being.

As I am a therapist, the results of the report are not surprising to me. I’m often asked if I am spiritual or religious, and positive psychology considers spirituality to be a character strength.

"But what is that?" I hear you ask.

Character Strengths
Character strengths are a collection of 24 positive traits that we all possess to varying degrees and in different orders. They are attributes that, when played to correctly, serve to enhance our wellness. In positive psychology, the character strength of spirituality means that you do indeed possess a sound and solid belief in a higher purpose (and have found a meaning to this crazy thing we call life). These things help you to feel "good."

Around the world, despite all the strides made in addressing mental health issues, experiences of debilitating negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, and anger are at their highest levels in more than a decade. So, it’s not for nothing that people are turning toward spiritual practices as a way of coping. Global well-being pundits predict spirituality will be the next major wellness trend, so don’t be surprised if it turns up as an offering at a high-end resort and spa either near you or on your next holiday experience.

Here in the United Kingdom, Shamanism and Druidry have become two of the fastest-growing belief systems. The former is one of the oldest forms of psycho-spiritual healing known to man (and goes back hundreds of thousands of years), whilst the latter (although classed as a religion) is itself a system and practice of nature-based spirituality. (The exclusive Beaverbrook Coach House Spa in Surrey already has Druidic practices (and Druids) included in its spa treatment programme.)

Science and Nature
But fret not, ye atheists and agnostics: You can still partake in some faith-based well-being, albeit from a different source.

Researchers at Warwick University recently discovered that science can also lead to feelings of awe and transcendence not unlike those in spiritual experiences.

In the study, "Spirituality of Science: Implications for Meaning, Well-Being, and Learning," the authors found that meaning in life could be predicted in a group of atheists and agnostics via scientific sources, with the science providing similar psychological benefits as religion and spirituality.

Meanwhile, I agree with the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who said, “I do believe in god, only I spell it N-A-T-U-R-E.”

It doesn’t matter whether you believe in a single god or a pantheon of gods and goddesses, or if you have devoted yourself to nature or science, or if you simply like to meditate once or twice a day—having faith in something larger than yourself is definitely good for you.

ANXIETY-
Mindfulness Should Not Be Taught in School? Really?
It must be combined with skills for feeling psychologically safe.

KEY POINTS-
Teaching mindfulness in schools has been shown to be ineffective and can increase symptoms.
Mindfulness breaks up mental rigidity, allowing emotions to be experienced.
People must also learn tools to tolerate mental discomfort.
Mindfulness-based interventions should not be discarded but used as part of a comprehensive approach.

Mental rigidity is akin to suppressing thoughts in that you allow yourself only certain sets and types of thoughts and emotions. Your emotional/mental bandwidth is limited, and it is difficult to respond appropriately to social cues and signals from others. You may behave in a manner that hurts and damages others. Mental inflexibility (rigidity) is a trait that is common to many mental health diagnoses.1

A large prospective study done in the UK tracked mindfulness-based teaching to over 8,000 students and compared it to usual practices. The mean age of students was 12 years. The study reported that there was no significant benefit and actually caused more problems among many students with prior mental health issues. The researchers recommended that non-specific mindfulness interventions not be implemented in the school system.2

Mental Rigidity
A 2023 paper extensively summarizing the literature on mental rigidity pointed out that the trait is characterized by automaticity and inflexibility and is centered around concepts of self. Patterns of thinking that may have been useful in the past remain fixed and often not relevant to the current situation. Rigidity can wreak havoc on relationships, quality of life, and ability to adapt to life’s challenges.1

Self is defined by dynamic interactions between various regions of the brain,. Lack of mental flexibility shows up on functional MRI brain scans as disruptions in connectivity between these areas.

Re-establishing flexibility seems to be important in the treatment of many health disorders, including major depression, complex psychological trauma, and substance use/addiction disorders. Mindfulness practices (MBIs) have been shown to lessen mental rigidity both clinically and on imaging studies.1

Increasing Mental Pain
The recommendation regarding mindfulness in schools overlooks an important fact— the conditions under which it is ineffective and can exacerbate mental symptoms. Part of the answer lies in looking at why rigidity exists in the first place.

One reason is that humans don't/can’t tolerate mental/emotional pain. Rigidity is one way of limiting exposure. to pain. As rigidity is broken up with mindfulness, what happens? You’ll feel even more emotional pain, which is often intolerable.3 It isn’t surprising that mindfulness increases symptoms in students with prior mental health diagnoses. People must also learn to feel safe in order to move forward. You would never cross a street unless you first felt it was safe to do so.

Used and tested alone as an approach to be implemented in the school system, mindfulness can’t work. What is also needed is teaching students how to also calm their threat physiology (flight or fight body chemistry) in order to feel safe.

Breaking up rigidity alone opens up the dam of suppressed thoughts and emotions, and it is predictable that those who are already struggling would experience a worsening of symptoms. For those without mental health issues, mindfulness alone won’t help one way or the other without further strategies to improve quality of life.

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are effective in increasing the dynamic interactions and connectivity between regions of the brain that define self. The term is the “pattern theory of self," and mental flexibility is increased.3

Define Where MBI’s Fit
Chronic disease is complex and isolated interventions are usually ineffective. However, they should not be discarded, because they can fit into a larger treatment plan. MBIs may be an excellent entry point for many people suffering from major depression, complex trauma, and addiction/substance abuse. However, opening up the flood gates without showing them a way to feel safe is problematic. MBIs favorably alter the brain activity underlying these problems. Instead of discarding MBIs, we should be asking, “what are additional effective treatments?”

Learning to tolerate mental pain is at the core of addressing mental health.

When Hope Feels Unreachable.
How to keep realistic hope without self-deception.

KEY POINTS-
Hope is a skill we all can cultivate.
Depression and other mental illness can distort our sense of hope.
Strategies such as letting go of fixed expectations and embracing small joys can help us build hope.
I remember sitting alongside a friend who had been through all things imaginable. I let her know how much I respected her strength. She tilted her head letting me know, "You don't get a choice. It wasn't my strength that got me through, it was hope." That stuck with me.

In ways, hope is like a small candle glowing in a dark room. Just a little hope goes a long way. It's a dangerous little thing though. Tilt it too far toward an expectation, you risk getting burned. As a therapist, I meet with people in all kinds of circumstances. I've sat with grieving families, individuals with addictions, people facing legal problems, and people facing mental illness. Hope can mean millions of things.

The beginning of my career focused on suicide prevention through crisis intervention. Perhaps the greatest predictor of suicide is hopelessness. Hopelessness gives a sense of futility to anything. Sometimes people land in hopelessness when a specific wish is vanquished like when a relationship has ended, when someone who had hoped to regain contact with a child is denied this, or when serious damage to one's life goals.

A View of the Future
Yet, in my work, I have also seen people remember hope. Genuine hope does not have to be linked to any one specific expectation. We can have hopes just for today. Hope to stand outside and enjoy the sun. A hope to refrain from an addictive substance or behavior. We can also have hope that tomorrow we will feel a greater sense of hope than we have in the past. Keeping flexibility in our hope makes hope more realistic. Our hopes can change from day to day.

Depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges can temporarily blind us to the presence of hope. Like a reverse fun house mirror, depression, and anxiety distort our views of the future. This has been confirmed through research showing that people with depression were less accurate in rating how they would feel in four days than those not experiencing depression (Zetsche and colleagues, 2019). Unsurprisingly, participants with depression rated their mood to be poorer than it would be. Hope has also been found to correlate positively with quality of life in individuals living with serious mental illness Mashiach-Eizenberg and colleagues, 2013).

Gaining insight into these illusions that mental health challenges place on our hope is key to recovery. Reaching out to supportive others in these times is key. Friends, family, and mental health clinicians can help you to regain perspective. Noticing small positive things like the sounds of the birds or a smile from a stranger are also ways to challenge your mind's deception.

Hopeful and Healthy
Hope is linked to more active health behaviors, which make us healthier (Greene and colleagues, 2015). Hope may also independently support more favorable health outcomes. Building a sense of hope is also an important part of counseling in palliative care. The person may not have hope to live for another 30 years, but they can hope for other things like having a meaningful conversation or enjoying a sunset.

We all need hope. Leaning into our values, letting go of rigid expectations, embracing uncertainty, and noticing ways that our minds may play tricks on us are ways to cultivate it. Hope is a skill anyone can build. If you are feeling low on hope, you are not alone. Many have felt this way and gotten through it. Perhaps you have even felt this way in the past and have gotten through it. Help is available. There is always hope.

ALCOHOLISM-
"Happy Hour" All Day? Drinking While Working at Home.
Working from home encourages problem drinking.
Setting limits can help.
Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

KEY POINTS-
Working from home makes some people want to drink more, and they may do so when working at home.
In-person work has its challenges for problem drinkers, but it can also provide needed structure and social support.
One can make a plan to get problem drinking under control, starting with an assessment.

One in eight of all full-time workers in the United States now perform their jobs entirely remotely. This is five times the pre-pandemic rate. For professionals whose jobs don't need them to be on-site every day, the numbers are even higher. Most white-collar jobs offer at least a hybrid option of working at home one or two days per week.

Much of this is good news for people who have the ability to work at home for at least part of the week. According to Stanford scholar Nicholas Bloom, working from home can enhance overall job satisfaction—as reflected by a 35 percent reduction in job quitting rates. People working from home are engaging in more outdoor recreation, including playing more golf, which increased by more than 50 percent since 2019, especially on weekdays. But, it's not all good news for people who have an issue with problem drinking.

Working From Home Can Lead to Greater Alcohol Consumption
Remote work, for some people, is accompanied by a substantial increase in alcohol consumption. During the COVID pandemic, more than a third of Americans reported consuming more alcohol while working at home than was previously the case. While the lockdowns and imposed isolations are over (we hope), those who continue to work from home at least two days per week report higher levels of alcohol consumption than people who do not work from home at all. Studies also indicate that:

The sharpest spikes in alcohol intake are seen in younger adults working from home.
Executives and others in managerial positions report higher levels of alcohol consumption than front-line staff members.
Professionals with higher levels of education report higher levels of alcohol consumption than less educated people—possibly because their jobs are more conducive to being done remotely.
A number of factors contribute to a rise in problem drinking among people working at home. These factors include blurred boundaries, reduced fear of detection, convenience, and availability.

Blurred Boundaries Between Work and Leisure Contribute to Heavier Drinking
Unless you are extremely disciplined, the boundaries between work and leisure tend to become blurred when you work at home. When does work end and private time start when your colleagues, managers, or clients expect you to be available 24/7?

Blurring the boundaries between work and home may be eroding inhibitions about drinking "on the job" when your workplace is also your private residence.

"Closet" Drinking Is Easier at Home
At an office, you might never even think about putting wine or beer in your coffee cup to help you get through a long meeting. Others in the meeting are likely to smell the alcohol. Online, this is not an issue. Being able to drink undetected removes one of the "backstops" that often discourage drinking in the workplace. Without a backstop, some remote workers drink more frequently and in larger quantities in the course of a workday.

Unlimited Availability
Anyone who has worked at home knows how much the refrigerator can be a temptation. The same is true for alcoholic beverages. At home, there is unobstructed access to alcohol any time of the day or night.

Drinking to Dull Pain When You Have Less Social Contact
The isolation of working from home can encourage reaching for alcohol as a way to manage unpleasant stressors. Alcohol can offer a balm to the pain or loneliness that feels more intense when we work less often alongside other people.

Drinking While Working at Home Can Escalate into a Serious Problem
Drinking from home does take longer to detect but over time it certainly can catch up with you. Over time, your drinking may increase incrementally before you realize that it has become a deeply ingrained habit, if not a full-blown addiction.

Alcohol can reduce your productivity, limit your ability to manage your professional responsibilities, impair your judgment, damage your health, and compound other mental health challenges you have. Drinking can completely derail your career and cause your relationships to deteriorate.

Make a Plan to Deal With Your Drinking
If you’re concerned, it’s important to get help as soon as you start noticing that your drinking is becoming a problem. With proper support, you can get your alcohol consumption under better control. Here are some initial steps you can take:

Start with an online self-assessment.
Set your goals. With your psychologist, you can determine if you can aim to learn how to drink in moderation or if you should focus on abstinence.
Structure your week to reduce the opportunities for drinking. This may include spending more time in the office, working in a shared space, or setting strict times for work and leisure.
Get social support that you might be missing from in-office work. This might include joining a support group, spending more in-person time with friends or family, or joining a team.
Try to identify the stressors and emotional issues that might be powering your drink. Seek professional therapy from an addiction psychologist or other qualified practitioner who can help you learn new coping skills and reduce your need to "self-medicate" with alcohol or other substances.

ADDICTION-
Believe It or Not, You Can Overdose on Weed.
If you think cannabis is basically harmless, you may need to think again.
Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

KEY POINTS-
As more states legalize it, the overuse and abuse of cannabis products will inevitably increase, resulting in more cases of cannabis toxicity.
Although eating cannabis, or edibles, doesn’t affect the lungs compared with smoking, accidental overdoses are more likely to happen.
While most legal cannabis products list the amount of THC they contain, understanding what this means in terms of potency can be a challenge.

You may have some familiarity with the term “blacking out” due to alcohol consumption. The phenomenon refers to gaps in a person’s memory for events that occurred while they were intoxicated and involves memory loss even while they are awake and conscious (they can be moving around, interacting with others, and may seem okay to those around them). A fragmentary blackout, also known as a “grayout” or “brownout” combines gaps in memory with some recollection of events, rather than no recollection as is the case with a total blackout.[1]

If this is your first encounter with the term “greening out” it’s unlikely to be your last, as cannabis use becomes ever more accessible and mainstream. It refers to an acute anxiety- or panic-inducing high, more frequently involving edibles (cannabis-containing food products that you can buy or make yourself) than smoking weed. Greening out is actually a form of overdose or toxic reaction caused by consuming too much of a cannabis product, and can include symptoms such as confusion, dizziness, disorientation, visual impairments, weakness, anxiety, panic, paranoia, increased pulse rate and blood pressure, nausea, or vomiting.

The psychoactive ingredient in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which causes a euphoric high but can also cause psychological reactions that include anxiety, fear, panic, or depression. The way it enters the body, whether by smoking weed or eating or drinking cannabis products in the form of gummies, chocolate bars, or baked goods, affects how much THC is absorbed. The amount of THC, or its concentration in edibles can be difficult to measure and is often unknown. Consequently, people who use edibles are sometimes unpleasantly surprised by their strength and long-lasting effects.

According to the World Health Organization, around 2.5 percent of the world’s population, or 147 million people, consume weed. As more and more states legalize it, the overuse and abuse of cannabis products will inevitably increase, resulting in more cases of cannabis toxicity, and in turn more emergency room visits and hospitalizations.[2]

A 2022 study that looked at more than 35,000 people in Canada found that people who reported using cannabis in the past year were more likely to have an ER visit or hospitalization than those who didn’t use it.[3]

How much is too much?
While most cannabis products that you can buy legally list the amount of THC they contain, understanding what this means in terms of potency can be a challenge. Moreover, if you’re consuming an edible that isn’t packaged commercially, it’s almost impossible to tell how much THC is in it, or in cannabis that is smoked. Generally, the likelihood of experiencing uncomfortable and potentially problematic effects is higher for first-time or infrequent users. However, even regular and veteran cannabis users sometimes experience anxiety, panic, and/or paranoia, with some (including professional clients as well as personal friends) reporting the sudden onset of these and other adverse effects, even after years of use.

A 2023 study in the journal Molecules at the Institute of Nutrition at Mahidol University in Thailand suggested that smoking 2 to 3 mg of THC can impair attention, focus, short-term memory, and executive functions including memory, thinking, and self-control.

More severe symptoms affect people who smoke more than 7.5 mg of THC, such as low blood pressure, panic, anxiety, delirium, jerking movements, and difficulties with balance and speech. The same study suggested that an oral dose of 5 to 20 mg of THC can impair short-term memory and executive functioning.[4]

Although eating cannabis, or edibles, doesn’t affect the lungs compared with smoking, accidental overdoses are more likely to happen. Also, it generally takes considerably longer for the mind- and mood-altering effects of edibles to begin to manifest—usually 30 minutes to two hours. As a result, people may take more, thinking they haven’t consumed enough, sometimes precipitating taking too much and greening out. Moreover, the high also lasts longer when eating cannabis relative to smoking it; depending on dosage the effects can last 6-12 hours before they subside. The duration of effects depends on several factors, such as body size, amount ingested, when food was last eaten, and interactions with medications or alcohol.

If cannabis use results in out-of-control behaviors, injury, or suicidal thoughts, people should seek medical help by calling 911 or going to the hospital. Those with underlying medical conditions or chronic illness, such as heart or lung disease, or diabetes, need to be especially aware of any symptoms of overdose, especially if these include shortness of breath or chest pain. Since THC intoxication can amplify symptoms of psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, it’s important for people with those conditions important to get emergency care in cases of overconsumption.

While psychotic episodes and serious medical problems are rare, cannabis-related reports to the U.S. National Poison Control increased from 2,951 cases in 2016 to 11,569 cases in 2020. From January to July 2021, 18 percent of exposures (119 of 661 cases) required hospitalization and 39 percent of the cases involved people under 18 (258 of 661 cases).[5]

What to do in the event of a "greenout"
Generally, cannabis toxicity improves on its own over time without medical intervention as cannabis is gradually and progressively metabolized and its effects subside. Unlike certain other substances, notably opioids—in the absence of other medical complications related to co-occurring conditions—an overdose of cannabis is highly unlikely to be fatal and most people do not need hospitalization. As long as someone can remain in a calm and safe environment, they will get through the greenout and be fine. When in doubt, it’s always advisable to seek medical assistance, and in more extreme cases of anxiety, panic, or paranoia, going to a hospital for observation with or without the administration of anti-anxiety drugs may be indicated.

When young children inadvertently consume cannabis products, rather than becoming agitated or paranoid, they tend to get lethargic, sleepy, and sometimes comatose. For them, observation in an urgent care or hospital setting is advisable for monitoring and to make sure their airways are not compromised. To prevent overdose and medical emergencies related to pets and children, the best practice is to keep cannabis secured and with its original packaging.

For those experiencing a greenout in the absence of a medical emergency, the following actions that create a calming environment can be beneficial:

Decrease the overall amount of stimulation by dimming lighting, reducing the volume of music or other sounds, and turning off the TV. That said, soothing/relaxing music or calming sounds at low volumes may be helpful.
Breathe intentionally by making your breathing slower and deeper, and breathing through your diaphragm/stomach.
If you're familiar with them, practice meditation, utilizing a guided meditation app if necessary.
If you can, call or text someone whom you are comfortable talking to about what you’re going through. If they can be with you in person, even better. Connecting with someone you trust and feel safe with can help to reassure you and decrease your symptoms of anxiety.
Keep in mind, and remind yourself as necessary, that this experience is temporary—even if it lasts longer than you would like, it will pass.

ADDICTION-
Some “Wellness Drinks” May Contain an Opiate-Like Substance.
Kratom activates opioid receptors in the brain and can be dangerous.
Reviewed by Tyler Woods

KEY POINTS-
Wellness beverages containing kratom may be dangerous, especially to people with addictive disease.
Kratom is derived from leaves of a tree in the coffee family and stimulates opioid receptors.
Bottles of Feel Free contain no warning that they contain an opiate-like substance. Anyone with a sensitivity to opiates should beware.

The title of this post comes from a San Francisco Chronicle article (April 6, 2023) [1] detailing why an alcoholic man sued Botanic Tonics, the makers of the “wellness drink” Feel Free, alleging it caused him to relapse after seven years of sobriety. He claims the Santa Monica company misrepresents Feel Free as a “safe, sober, and healthy alternative to alcohol.”

A quick internet search reveals Botanic Tonics does, indeed, advertise, “We’ve created a feel-good wellness tonic, a healthy productivity enhancer, and alcohol alternative featuring kava and other ancient plants from the South Pacific and Southeast Asia where they’ve been used socially and in wellness for centuries. A new way to feel good and feel free. Enjoy.”

What Botanic Tonics’ above description fails to reveal is that one of their ancient plant-based ingredients is kratom, which comes from the leaf of a tropical evergreen tree in the coffee family. Elements in kratom activate opiate receptors in the brain while also having stimulant qualities.[2] I first encountered kratom roughly 15 years ago when a patient fighting Vicodin addiction reported he had been buying kratom online from Southeast Asian sources. When he tried to stop using kratom, his withdrawal symptoms were nearly identical to withdrawal from Vicodin. I prescribed buprenorphine (Suboxone) to ease his withdrawal, just as we had done when he stopped Vicodin, with equal benefit. I wrote a brief article in the California Society of Addiction Medicine newsletter describing how kratom is simply one more way to develop an opiate addiction.

The unfortunate sober alcoholic who picked up a bottle of Feel Free at his local 7-Eleven claims he was soon drinking 10 bottles a day. When he tried to stop Feel Free, vomiting, delirium, and psychosis led him to twice visit a hospital emergency department, he says. He alleges eventually relapsing on alcohol to control withdrawal symptoms from Feel Free, followed by admission to detox and rehab.

While Feel Free lists both kava and kratom as ingredients on its bottle, it does not provide amounts of each, nor does it warn of potential addiction and withdrawal. To be fair, Botanic Tonics’ website recommends drinking no more than one bottle a day and the site does list the ingredients and their amount in Feel Free, as follows:
Kava (root) – 1,700 mg.
Kratom (leaf) – 3,500 mg.
Vitamin C – 37 mg.
Potassium – 169 mg.
Iron – 0.3 mg.
Other Ingredients: Pineapple Juice, Coconut Cream, Stevia Leaf
However, nothing on the website indicates kratom has opiate qualities or is addictive. Besides, who routinely visits the website of every new beverage they try?

I contacted Botanic Tonics to discuss Feel Free and had a pleasant conversation with J.W. Ross, the developer of Feel Free and founder of Botanic Tonics. He was eager to relate his own story of alcohol addiction and what he called social anxiety when he abstained. Feeling he needed a safe replacement for alcohol to feel comfortable, he developed the mixture of kava and kratom after years of study and research. When friends confirmed it increased “sociability, productivity, and calm energy,” Ross launched Feel Free as a wellness beverage. He seemed genuinely interested in providing an alternative to more harmful drugs so many people gravitate toward and noted that a new bottle label will soon include a more detailed list of ingredients.

The new label he sent contains more detail but is ultimately more confusing. It lists:
“Kratom leaf (ground)
Total Alkaloids 34mg
Mitragynine 20mg
7-hydroxymitangynine <0.05mg”

I wrote back that few people know what mitragynine and 7-hydtoxymitragynine are, and, amid a serious opioid epidemic, with so many people struggling with recovery from opiate addiction, the makers of Feel Free have the responsibility to inform the public that kratom has opiate-like qualities.

The new bottle label also reads “Note: Anything that makes you feel good can become habit-forming including nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and kratom… If used responsibly, Feel Free has not been shown to cause any harm.”

I replied that alcohol and kratom addiction are qualitatively different from a habit. People often use the word “habit” to soften the reality of addiction and dependence.

Finally, new text reads “This product is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women or people who are sensitive to active ingredients like kava.”

I responded that it would be stronger to make a clear prohibition against using Feel Free during pregnancy. I also made a strong recommendation to add “or kratom” after warning about sensitivity to kava.

The disappointing response from J.W. Ross to my suggestions for revised text on the bottle label was:

“One of the main issues we have is the amount of space on the bottle… without getting the font so small it can’t be clearly seen. That said, we will continue to improve over time.”

Perhaps they will improve. Only time will tell. As for now, however, they are not protecting the public as much as they should, despite being given enough information about the hazards of kratom and their responsibility to do no harm.

Feel Free is not safe for everyone. It contains an addictive drug that is especially dangerous for individuals with a tendency toward addiction. It can be a trap door back into addiction for unsuspecting people in recovery who are simply looking for a beverage to support wellness. Considering the amount of kratom in Feel Free, a microdose is only a rhetorical trick.

Beware: Feel Free is not the only “wellness” beverage containing kratom. Some cannabis beverages also contain kratom, and many products contain far more kratom than Feel Free. While it sounds best to visit the website for any new beverage you are thinking of trying, this can also be misleading. One cannabis retailer describes the effect of kratom as offering natural “pain relief, energy, immune boost, and focus.”

My recommendation? Tell all your healthcare team, patients, and friends to be aware of products containing kratom that advertise as “wellness beverages.”