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Tag: anxiety

How Entheogenic Plants & Fungi Affect Memory

A major area of psychedelic research is its potential clinical applications in psychiatry. In particular, a major area of study has concentrated on the potential therapeutic effects of shrooms, acid, and MDMA for treating post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Memory plays a central role in the psychedelic experience,” begins a 2020 Psychopharmacology review. “The ability for psychedelics to provoke vivid memories has been considered important to their clinical efficacy.”

Throughout their review, the researchers found that psychedelics enhance autobiographical memory recall, which has therapeutic potential for overcoming traumatic experiences. However, psychedelics also have a dose-dependent effect of impairing memory task performance.

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5-HT2A: From Psychedelics to Psychiatry

“Serotonin” (5-HT) is more than just a buzzword tossed around by Gen Z and Millennials when something benign boosts their mood.

The beloved hormone has an array of functions throughout the body, with seven types of receptors nestled in your brain and peripheral organs. Each of these receptors has subtypes with labels A through D, as well.

But there’s one serotonin receptor that’s often shrouded in mystery and intrigue — the 5-HT2A receptor. This is the serotonin receptor infamous for its role in the psychedelic experience.

But there’s hardly any discussion of its functions beyond its role in tripping your face off and how that’s tied to your mental health.

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How Online Counseling Can Help You Manage Quarantine Mood Swings

Summer’s over but the coronavirus pandemic appears to have no end in sight. Case numbers are still on the rise, schools change their plans for reopening every other day, social injustice continues to take more victims, and 10.2 percent of Americans remain unemployed.

Oh, let’s not forget to mention there’s an incredibly important presidential election looming over our nation, too.

Needless to say, 2020 has left us in a global fugue, confined to our homes and a prisoner of our minds, using moods like chalk to tally down the days spent in quarantine. After all, the varying emotions seem to be the only way to tell the days apart anymore.

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Why Anxiety Prevents You From Falling Asleep

Your heart’s beating like a racehorse and you’re gasping for air. Beads of sweat break from your pores and trickle across your skin. Your stomach’s in a twist and your mind is either shouting garbled nonsense or filled with cotton balls.

Sound familiar? These are among the most common symptoms of anxiety. About 31 percent of adults in America will experience anxiety at some point in their life, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

In addition to interfering with your daily life, anxiety can make sleeping seem like an impossibly arduous task. But… why?

Fortunately, Vanessa O. of Sleepopolis is here to explain the ins and outs of anxiety-induced insomnia.

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Tune-In Tuesdays #75: A Heart-to-Heart on Agoraphobia with Katie Wood

Iridescent London-based power-pop artist Katie Wood uses the electricity of a nostalgic 80’s sound and sense of fashion to spark her heartfelt lyricism to life. Her aura is empowering and truly awe-inspiring.

Recently, we spoke to Wood via email for a candid discussion about her latest track, “Uh Huh Yeah,” which openly describes her experiences with agoraphobia.

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The Role of Serotonin in Your Daily Life

Serotonin is a hormone associated with mood regulation and well-being, but its functions go far beyond that.

Countless research over the last few decades has linked serotonin to regulating stress, long-term memory recall, sleep, digestion, blood pressure, and body temperature.

The hormone has also been critical to furthering the understanding of various neurological, behavioral, and emotional conditions, such as depression and migraines.

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The Chilling Effects of Sleep Deprivation

As you’re laying in bed, toughing it through another night of your thoughts running laps around your brain, you glance over at your phone. The clock reads “5:24 AM.” You have to be up by 6:00, but you haven’t slept a wink all night.

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Overcoming First Day Jitters

School’s back in session, rapidly reversing summer’s recession of classroom blues.

Whether you’re the new kid or a seasoned pupil amongst the hustle and bustle of peers hurrying through the hallways during the first week, you’re not alone in your first day jitters. 50.8 million students will be at the hands of 3.2 million teachers in public schools across America, the National Center for Education Statistics reports.

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