Effects of JWH-018 and Why is it Dangerous?

JWH-018, also called a 'synthetic cannabinoid', is an emerging drug of choice to replace the use of Marijuana. Since it provides the same effect or even better than Marijuana, most herbal smoke blends incorporate JWH-018 as part of the ingredients to achieve a better 'high' experience. Nevertheless, effects of JWH-018 still vary between individuals. Usually, novice smokers may undergo a much more profound "high" experience compared to regulars. A few users may or may not show the same signs and symptoms, however they may experience the same effect of JWH-018 in general.

Cognitive and Psychological Effects of Smoking JWH-018

JWH-018 mimics the mechanism of THC found in Marijuana, thus affecting the functions of the brain resulting to CNS depression. Since it binds itself to CB1 receptors dominantly found in the brain, expect to notice symptoms of alterations in the control of emotions, motivation, judgment, memory and learning. For smoking a regular dose of 3 to 5mg of JWH-018, its psychological effects include:
* heightened mood
* enhanced sense of humor
* heightened curiosity and intrigue
* racing thoughts
* time distortion and dilation
* buzzing or humming like a psychedelic experience
* reduced concentration
* relaxing state
* mild euphoria (phasing in between bouts)
* Manic-depressive (hyperactivity to moments of dullness and vice versa)

Physical Effects

Same as its cognitive and psychological effects, physical effects are also predominantly, if not greater, the same for all users. JWH-018 causes the same Cannabis effects and actually confirmed through these following symptoms:
* bloodshot eyes and droopy eyelids (only noted to some users)
* drowsiness
* tachycardia (increases heart rate)
* visual effects (colors appear more full and vibrant)
* heavy sinking feeling
* respiratory suppression
* controlled breathing
* gastrointestinal discomfort (rarely happens)
* possible heightened pleasurable sensitivity

It also renders some positive effects such as analgesia and anti-anxiety. But, these claims are doubtful up to this day due to lack of evidence from scientific researches. Therefore, the proposal for its medical application as a response to its therapeutic effect is still out-of-the-question.

Dangers of JWH-018

Although no cases of dying from JWH-018 known, smoking higher doses of JWH-018 might be quite dangerous. Reported scarier and harmful effects include short-term memory loss, extreme sedation that may lead to coma, euphoria, paranoia, anxiety, slight confusion and vomiting. It clearly creates shocking brain effects, even cause severe life-threatening hallucinations, and some seizures. Aside from that, the frightening physical effects in the cardiovascular system, such as increase heart rate and blood pressure, may pose a threat to the body of the user. Thus, ignoring such negative effects of JWH-018 is big no-no.

It is even more disturbing that JWH-018 may actually have a greater possibility for abuse. There was a case study about a man actually demonstrating withdrawal symptoms when he abstained himself from using JWH-018. He experienced tremors, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, bouts of headaches, insomnia and palpitations and even seemed restless with unclear thoughts.

With all the commotions going on about JWH-018, especially its negative effects to the body, the issue remains at a standstill. There are already quite a number of reports proliferating in the Internet and even reached the ears of lawmakers, however the information remain as speculations. Since no clinical evidences and thorough scientific studies to back these claims, it is obvious that it will just become another rumor. Hence, hearsay or not, using something without knowledge about its possible harmful effects is still just plain ignorance.

Clyfford Still - The Innovator of American Abstract Expressionism & Color Field Painting

Clyfford Still was an American, 'Abstract Expressionist' artist, noteworthy for bringing 'American Abstract Expressionism' into the limelight, and putting the New York City to the fore of the art world, a recognition previously attached to Paris. Born on November 30, 1904 at Grandin, North Dakota, Clyfford spent his childhood in Spokane, Washington. He graduated from the Spokane University, Washington from 1931-1933 amidst the Great Depression. In 1935, Still did his Masters of Fine Arts from Washington State University, Washington, followed by his teaching stint there, from 1935 to 1941. During this period, his paintings mostly depicted people, machinery, and farm life.

Through 1938 to 42, this art form of Still graduated to 'Abstract Painting' with spontaneous 'Surrealism' as its cardinal point. In 1941, the artist shifted to the San Francisco Bay area and during 1946-50, he had a strong teaching stint at the California School of Fine Arts (now, San Francisco Art Institute). Meanwhile, Clyfford Still exhibited his work at the San Francisco Museum of Art in 1943, where he met Mark Rothko for the first time. During this period, the artist ventured into 'American Abstract Expressionism,' which characterizes the use of bold brush strokes and attaches preference to texture over color. This style of painting emphasizes the cycles of life, vis-à-vis, birth, the hardships, and the death, described commonly as the "Human Condition." Such depiction became increasingly relevant after World War II and was widely accepted & lauded by the critics. Clyfford spent quite a lot of late 1940s and the whole of 50s in the New York City.

Later, the artist adopted a new technique of painting known as the "Color Field Painting." This style boldly portrays an irregular use of solid colors on the canvas. In effect, his paintings gave the impression of a multifaceted colored canvas. This attribute primarily, gave them a genuine, mysterious, and ingenious look. Despite, most of his contemporaries, like Mark Rothko, using thin color palette, Clyfford Still was gritty enough to use a thick spread of the colors. He was once quoted as saying, "I never wanted color to be color. I never wanted texture to be texture, or images to become shapes. I wanted them all to fuse together into a living spirit."

In 1957, Clyfford Still created his masterpiece, "1957-D No 1," which demonstrates juxtaposed colors with a defined black and yellow scheme, marked by the small patches of white and red. Different people interpreted the painting differently. The art critics' endless search for a meaning in his paintings annoyed Clyfford Still, because he believed, each of his paintings was a personal experience and beyond interpretation. In 1961, the artist moved to Maryland with his second wife, Patricia. In 1964, Clyfford painted another untitled masterpiece, which extensively uses red color. The method used in this painting is called 'Serigraphy,' which involves the manual application of numerous colors on the canvas. His other prominent works include an untitled painting of "1953," "1949 No. 1 (PH-385)," "PH 77," and "1957 J No. 2 (PH 401)."

Even after his death on June 23, 1980 at Maryland, Clyfford Still's paintings continue to gather high praises at art galleries, such as Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Hirschhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. His paintings garnered one of the highest auction prices, to the tune of $21.296 million, in the year 2006. Clyfford Still is highly respected among art critics, art students, and historians because of his remarkable innovations in the 'American Abstract Expressionism' and the 'Color Field Painting.' His famous quote "A great free joy surges through me when I work . . . with tense slashes and a few thrusts the beautiful white fields receive their color and the work is finished in a few minutes," describes Clyfford's genuine fervor for art.

Depressed Symptoms and 3 Guaranteed Ways to Cure Depression Forever

Before you can begin to stop depression, you must first start off by understanding what causes depression and what the depressed symptoms are. This is the very first, if not the most important step in defeating depression.

So what causes depression?

Well, depression can be caused by a number of things, some of which you have 100% control of and some of which you don't.

Here are a great deal of the causes:

• Biochemical makeup (your brain has neurotransmitters which generally act as on/off switches for happiness and depression)


• Heredity (if someone in your family has depression, then you're two times as likely to get depression yourself)


• Psychological makeup (things such as long-term abuse as a child and neglect add to your risk factor of becoming depressed as a teenager and an adult)


• Changing hormone levels (pre-menstrual syndrome, menopause)


• Stressful life events (a bad breakup or divorce, loss of a job or death of a family or friend)


• Alcohol or drug abuse


• Getting "burned out" (becoming over-demanded or over-worked)

So now that you know what some of the causes for being depressed are, let's discover some of the depressed symptoms:

• thoughts of suicide


• irritability


• uncontrollable crying


• difficulty sleeping


• lack of motivation


• weight gain or weight loss


• inability to concentrate


• negative thinking


• fatigue


• loss of pleasure

Do these sound familiar to you? If you answered yes to them then you're probably suffering from some form of depression. The good news though is that feeling this way isn't permanent. Here are just a few ways of getting rid of your depression:

1. Put yourself first. What used to make you happy? Obviously you can't just force yourself to start liking something again but if you could find the little things that used to make you smile, you'll be just that much closer to smiling permanently. Also, take time out from your busy work or school schedule and plan something fun like seeing a baseball game or taking a short vacation.


2. Exercise and eat healthy. I know what you're thinking, when you're down in the dumps, there's nothing you want more than to just indulge in your favorite junk food. Well here's the thing: that works - for a short time only. What you can do instead is work out, whether you go for a short jog or walk your dog, exercise releases therapeutic endorphins into your brain which has been proven to be just as effective as antidepressants at making you happy again. So not only will you be healthy, but you'll be healthy and look good in the long run.


3. Reach out to friends and family. Obviously we always have times when we are going to argue with loved ones, but what about when you guys are all together and there's no drama, no fighting, just love. This is what you're aiming for. There are few times that make people happier than spending time with friends and family, so reach out to them. Let them know how you're feeling I guarantee if you love them and they love you back, it'll be almost impossible for them NOT to reach back out to you and lift you above your depression.

Anxiety and Depression

Feeling anxious is a natural and perfectly normal response to stressful situations or events like a driving test, job interview or medical examination. It is part of the body's fight or flight reflex so helps us to cope with any perceived threat or danger.

Some symptoms associated with anxiety include:

o Rapid heartbeat

o Tightness in the chest

o Breathlessness

o Diarrhoea

o Dry mouth

o Frequent urination

o Sweating

o Light headedness

o Difficulty swallowing

In some people, and nobody really knows exactly why, attacks of anxiety can become prolonged, happen repeatedly, and are severe enough to interfere with their ability to carry out normal routines and activities. If this is the case then they may be diagnosed as suffering from an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety Disorders

Along with the physical symptoms of anxiety, the individual can feel irritable, unable to concentrate or focus, not in control of their actions and could feel they are losing it or going completely mad. There are several different types of anxiety disorders.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder - the person feels anxious, nervous or keyed up a lot of the time, often about minor stresses at work or at home or perhaps without even knowing why they are feeling anxious.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - a variety of symptoms can follow a severe or life threatening trauma including a lot of anxiety, recurrent and distressing memories, thoughts, images, or feelings associated with the trauma that interferes with normal daily life

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Recurrent thoughts and urges (obsessions) that result in repetitive thoughts or actions (compulsions) in order to relieve the anxiety brought on by the obsessions. For example, obsession about dirt evokes a compulsion to repeatedly wash hands

Phobia - an extreme fear of something that is not in proportion to the reality to the extent that even thinking about it can evoke anxiety and panic, for example, fear of experiencing an embarrassing or awkward situation from which there is no escape, or fear of leaving a safe place (agoraphobia) may prevent someone leaving the house

Panic Disorder - Recurrent panic attacks with a severe attack of anxiety and fear that happens without warning and for no apparent reason

According to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), 5% of the population in the UK have Generalised Anxiety Disorder and 1% suffer from Panic Disorder. It is important to get an accurate diagnosis in order to get the appropriate treatment as anxiety can also be a symptom of other conditions including an underlying illness or substance abuse, and anxiety will often accompany some form of depression.

Depression

Feeling a bit low or down in the dumps from time to time is quite normal, but if the symptoms don't go away after a couple of weeks and are affecting your normal routines, then it is possible that you are suffering from depression. Around 10% of the population in the UK suffer from depression at any one time.

Some symptoms associated with depression include:

o Feeling tired and lethargic for most of the time

o Persistent low moods and sadness, a feeling of despondency

o Sleep disturbances, either inability to sleep or sleeping too much

o A pessimistic outlook on life

o Feeling anxious and nervous

o Feelings of worthlessness or guilt

o Frightening and irrational thoughts

o Loss of pleasure in activities and lack of interest in sex

o Avoidance of social contact and social situations

o Loss of appetite or an increased appetite and associated weight loss or weight gain

o Emotional outbursts for no apparent reason

o Irritability

Depression can affect anyone at any time but some people are more at risk than others, for example, the long term sick and unemployed, the socially isolated, those in prison, anyone with a previous history of depression themselves or in their family or anyone battling with drug or alcohol addiction. Life changing events can sometimes precipitate an episode of depression, for example, redundancy, divorce, physical illness and disability or bereavement.

Sometimes people will seek help from their GP with symptoms of both anxiety and depression.

Mixed Anxiety and Depression

According to government statistics, in the year 2000 only 2.8% of the population suffered from depression without any symptoms of anxiety whereas just over 9% of adults in Britain were suffering from mixed anxiety and depression and this figure had increased from previous years suggesting that the numbers are growing. No one knows exactly what causes either anxiety or depression because there is no single cause; however, there are certain factors that appear to contribute to both anxiety and depressive disorders and these include the possibility of chemical imbalances in the brain, a genetic tendency, personality and personal life experiences or a combination of these factors. Treatment will usually consist of a mixed approach involving medication and psychotherapy techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy.

A Natural Remedy For Depression - A Look at Alternative Medicines

Proponents for a natural remedy for depression swear about the benefits of St. John's Wort, Ginseng, Ginkgo Biloba, Folic Acid, Vitamins B6 and Vitamin B9. St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is used to treat mild to moderate depression with some success.

Piper methysticum or Kava Kava is relatively new but has been successfully used to treat depression.

Other herbs touted as being great for calming and treating depression are chamomile, sage, licorice, basil, clove, rosemary and ginger. This list is not comprehensive as there are many others available.

Many of these products can be purchased in healthy food stores.

According to the book "7 Steps to a Depression Free Life" by Nancy Miller, food can play a part in maintaining good health. Minerals and vitamin deficiency has been found in test done on persons with depression.

Despite the fact that these medications are natural, you should not use them without first speaking with your doctor, especially if you are pregnant or are taking prescriptive depression medications.

Apart from herbs, other natural remedies for treating depression include acupuncture, aromatherapy, and homeopathy among others.

Homeopathy is the use of diluted doses of a substance to treat a disease that could be used by large doses of those same substances. Put another way, homeopathy encourages the body to heal itself.

Other natural remedies for depression include stress management techniques using meditation, yoga and exercise.

Last but not least is life coaching; Nancy Miller recommends life coaching as a good alternative to counseling as it helps the depressed person focus on the present and the future. Talking, the most natural remedy for depression.

Kick Your Smoking Habit With St John's Wort

Most smokers find it difficult to quit smoking when withdrawal symptoms set in. Failure to overcome the withdrawal symptoms lead many smokers into relapse. If you want a natural remedy for these symptoms, you can consider St John's Wort.

In Europe, doctors treat people who suffer from depression and anxiety with St John's Wort which comforts them. In scientific terms, St John's Wort refers to hypercium perforatum. It acts as an alternative remedy for commercial drugs such as Prozac. Studies show the effectiveness of St John's Wort in easing the symptoms of mild-to-moderate depression. In major depression cases, however, St John's Wort yields poor results.

Until today, no scientific studies can claim St John's Wort as an aid in quit smoking programs. The only recent study was conducted by Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Although the results of the pilot study appear to be encouraging, more clinical studies are needed to support the effectiveness of St John's Wort in treating nicotine addictions. So, this herb still remains as an unapproved or unlicensed herbal remedy for smoking cessation.

Nicotine helps smokers overcome depression by increasing the levels of dopamine, a body chemical which induces a happy mood. When you give up smoking, your brain adjusts to changes in dopamine. During this transition period, your body undergoes withdrawal symptoms as absence of nicotine causes the dopamine levels to drop. St. John's Wort increases levels of dopamine to counteract your cravings to smoke cigarettes.

Pharmaceutical companies use a standardized extract of hypericin, the active ingredient, to make over-the-counter St John's Wort supplements. They come in different forms such as oil, tincture, and capsule. You can easily buy them from drug stores, grocery stores, health shops, and pharmacies.

Many people assume St John's Wort does not produce side effects because of its natural and herbal properties. However, reports reveal side effects in isolated cases. For example, it causes nerve damage or cataract when you expose yourself to too much sunlight. So, avoid exposure to sunshine, tanning rays, and tanning salons. Wear sunglasses when going out in the daytime especially under strong sunlight conditions. Studies caution consumers to be careful with the dosages. You should only take 300mg of standardized St John's Wort either once or twice daily. Read the warning labels on the bottles. This potent herb also interferes with other medications. You should not take St John's Wort during:

1. Pregnancy
2. Consumption of other anti-depressant drugs, contraceptive pills, and blood-thinning drugs

Start taking St John's Wort the week before your designated quit day. Even though clinical studies to support the effectiveness of this herb in smoking cessation is insufficient, you can consider this herb as an option. Instead of taking prescribed drugs, St John's Wort is safer and costs less. Many people take it without their doctors' advice. However, consult your doctor first if you plan to use this herb to kick your smoking habit.

Binge Eating Disorder And Depression: Do They Go Hand-In-Hand?

It's hard to imagine that there are people out there who won't eat an entire row of cookies, or hear food calling to them in the middle of the night; people who never have to throw their food out to avoid eating it, or pick it out of the garbage in desperation. Binge eating is of course only a cover-up for a much bigger issue, the emptiness one feels inside.

If one feels empty, the feeling of depression occurs and so does binge eating. Compulsive eating is eating large amounts of food in a short span of time while Depression on the other hand is a serious condition that can affect all aspect of one's life. Binging puts the victim in a spot where he/she cannot control eating, which will later on gives the feeling of guilt for over eating. Psychological and emotional factors, such as the feeling of depression occurs, this proves the link of emotional eating and depression.

According to researches, there is a straight correlation between compulsive eating and depression. Some argue that depression caused binge eating, as most victims gets worst in binging when they are depressed, stressed out or if they keep any negative feelings inside. Some says the opposite and blames "over eating" or binging for being depressed. However, there is no clear explanation as to whether binge eating leads to depression or depression stimulates binge eating.

In the United States alone, Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is affecting 3.5 percent of females and 2 percent of males and 30 percent of those seeking to lose weight. In a recent study, researchers investigated the link between binge eating and depression in the early age of adolescence. A soaring 1.7 percent rate found prevalent for eating disorders in teens.

Studies showed a great risk for binging for young girls when they feel "depressed" or "down in the dumps". Most common reasons are teasing coming from the opposite sex or family members. As for boys, they become less resilient to constant comments about weight from peers and family members.

A study also proved that young girls have higher risk of having emotional eating and depression than boys. Is it because teen girls face more challenges than boys do? Girls faced in dealing with more than one stressor simultaneously as compared to boys. Some common stressors include:

• Body image: Girls are more concerned about physical appearance than boys do during adolescence.

• Transition: Both face changes during puberty but girls find it more difficult to transition than boys do. Example of which is transitioning to middle school or junior high.

• Worthlessness: Girls feels less important or less to succeed in life than boys do. Discrimination based on gender and sexual preference in terms of opportunities in life. Their self-esteem is greatly affected, which leads them to feel depress and over eat.

• Sexuality: Girls are stuck with the traditional double standard, by which females were judge harshly than males. Teenage girls would shy away from expressing their sexual desires and preferences for the fear of rejection and judgment. Girls are more prone to judge themselves negatively than boys do. Teenage boys on the other hand are more vocal in expressing their actions and ideas. When faced with rejection, they become depressed but they can easily brush off negativity off their shoulders and move on.

Binge eating and depression goes hand and hand.

Depressive symptoms and negative emotions are to consider in preventing binge eating. Binge eaters are mostly secretive and in denial. Parents, friends and even doctors should be aware in checking these signs of disordered eating and vice versa.