Vaping refers to the process of using electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes, vapes, vape pens, or ENDS). Since 2007, when e-cigarettes began appearing in the United States, vaping has become fairly common.

Many believed e-cigarettes to be harmless, but as vaping has increased in popularity, news reports of vaping-related illnesses and deaths have also increased. In October 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a total of 1,080 cases of lung injuries linked to vaping in the United States. They also reported 18 vaping-related deaths.

E-cigarettes have become popular among teens and young adults in particular. According to the same CDC statistics:

• 80% of patients were under 35 years old.
• 21% were between the ages of 18 and 20.
• 16% were under age 18.

Some people simply enjoy the taste of flavored e-cigarettes. Others may use them as a less harmful alternative to cigarette smoking. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, while it is true that e-cigarettes generally don’t contain as many toxic chemicals as traditional cigarettes, they’re still not great for your health.

What Is Vaping?

The term “vaping” refers to the “vapor” produced by e-cigarettes. This vapor, which e-cigarette users inhale, comes from liquid heated inside the e-cigarette. Some assume it’s just water vapor, but in fact, it is an aerosol. In other words, the vapor is made up of very fine particles of the substances contained in the liquid. If the liquid contains toxic chemicals, so does the aerosol.

Although e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, the substances they do contain can vary widely. Most contain nicotine. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society, even e-cigarettes labeled as nicotine-free may still contain some nicotine. What’s more, JUULs, a specific brand of e-cigarette, always contain nicotine.

E-cigarette liquid and vapor could contain the following chemicals:

• Formaldehyde, which can form when the liquid gets too hot or when too little liquid reaches the heating element
• VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, which can damage the liver or kidney
• Flavoring agents that have varying levels of the chemical diacetyl, which in turn has been linked to lung disease
• THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the agent in marijuana that creates the marijuana “high”)
• CBD (cannabinoid) oils
• Flakka or other synthetic drugs

In a September 2019 press release, the CDC suggested vaping THC products could be particularly dangerous, though experts continue to investigate the exact cause of the illnesses. Research supports the link between vaping THC and health issues. After interviewing 578 people who had become ill after vaping, the CDC found most had vaped THC products.

Dangers of Vaping

E-cigarette use involves the direct inhalation of vapor rather than the direct smoking of a substance. No smoke is produced, and since they don’t contain tobacco, they don’t produce any tobacco smell. Because of this, many users find vaping more appealing and believe it causes fewer, if any, harmful effects.

But this isn’t necessarily the case. Science hasn’t conclusively identified all potential health risks associated with vaping, but existing evidence does suggest e-cigarettes—while likely not as harmful as traditional cigarettes—can still negatively affect health.

What’s more, medical experts have linked the chemicals in e-cigarettes to a range of health conditions, including:

• Lung irritation and lung disease
• Nose and throat irritation
• Chest pain
• Liver, kidney, and nervous system damage
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and other circulatory issues
• Cancer

As evidence linking THC in e-cigarettes to illness and death emerges, medical experts continue to advise against using e-cigarettes, especially e-cigarettes containing THC. Since e-cigarettes might, in theory, contain any chemical, people are encouraged to use extreme caution when unsure of exactly which substances they’re vaping.

Is Vaping Addictive?

E-cigarettes don’t contain as many harmful chemicals as traditional cigarettes (which contain thousands of chemicals). But they do typically contain nicotine—a toxic, addictive chemical, and some e-cigarettes may provide even more nicotine than a traditional cigarette. This means e-cigarettes are still addictive.

Even teens who do know e-cigarettes contain nicotine may not realize they’re addictive or that they can have serious health effects.Research also suggests e-cigarettes can function as a “gateway drug” to cigarette smoking and other tobacco use. The risk is especially high for teens and young adults who might not have started smoking otherwise.

Some people may look to e-cigarettes as a way to ease themselves out of smoking. However, the research on this strategy is mixed. One study suggests e-cigarettes work as well as other nicotine replacements such as patches or gums. Another study found most people who used vaping to quit nicotine ended up smoking both traditional and electronic cigarettes. The FDA has not approved of using e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool.

Why Is Vaping So Popular Among Teens?

An annual survey from the National Institutes of Health found that vaping increased among high school seniors by 9% between 2017 and 2018. The research found increases in vaping across several substances: nicotine, marijuana, and hash oil, as well as flavored e-cigarette liquid.

Experts point to a few key reasons that help explain why many teens find vaping appealing.

First, e-cigarette marketing often involves advertising methods like animation, bright colors, and youthful actors, all of which seem designed to attract teens and young adults. Ad messages also often appear to suggest vaping is linked to increased popularity and happiness. E-cigarettes also come in a range of flavors, which can make them seem more fun and enjoyable to younger people.

Lack of education on e-cigarettes can also further the mistaken belief that vaping doesn’t have any serious effects. Many teenagers don’t know much about e-cigarettes. Some aren’t aware they contain nicotine or other substances, and many believe the vapor contains nothing more than flavor. Even teens who do know e-cigarettes contain nicotine may not realize they’re addictive or that they can have serious health effects.

Treatment for E-Cig Addiction

Teenage vaping addiction is a growing health concern. Research has yet to determine the full effects of vaping on the brain and body, but experts believe it can have a particularly harmful impact on teens.

The brain continues to develop throughout the teen years, and while it’s still developing, teens face a higher risk for addiction than adults. Vaping during the teen years also has the potential to permanently affect brain development.

If you believe your teen is using e-cigarettes, these tips can help you start a conversation and get them help, if necessary.

• Have a conversation, not a lecture. If you don’t know anything about vaping, do some reading so you’re prepared to talk with your teen. Spend time reviewing articles and information from credible sources about vaping and the health effects it can cause with your teen.
• Start with general questions instead of asking directly, “Have you tried vaping?” For example, you might ask, “Do other kids at school/your friends use e-cigarettes?” “What do you know about vaping?” This can help you understand what your child knows about e-cigarette use and its effects.
• Talk with your teen about getting help with quitting. Offer your encouragement and support if they want to quit on their own. (Consider setting a good example and quitting yourself, if you also use e-cigarettes). If they’ve tried to quit and can’t, ask them to consider talking to their primary health care provider or a counselor who can offer professional assistance with quitting.

Medical science still has much to uncover about e-cigarettes, but recent news reports highlight a number of recognized concerns. E-cigarettes may involve fewer health risks than tobacco cigarettes, but that doesn’t mean they’re healthy. They may pose even more dangers to teens—an age group in which e-cigarette use has recently increased.

A compassionate therapist can support you in the process of quitting e-cigarettes or any other addiction. Begin your search today!

References:

1. 5 vaping facts you need to know. (n.d.). Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-truths-you-need-to-know-about-vaping
2. Bates, J. (2019, October 1). CDC says for first time that some THC products could be behind vaping deaths and illnesses. Time. Retrieved from https://time.com/5688229/cdc-thc-vaping-deaths
3. Hellman, J. (2019, October 3). CDC: Cases of vaping-related illness top 1,000. The Hill. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/464279-cdc-cases-of-vaping-related-illnesses-top-1000?fbclid=IwAR1N76JddJm8vCrx6D9T0oJTnLkc7u9cSdsBc39nJ-SnXgBGwQwqaXcC9Lc
4. Martinelli, K. (n.d.). Teen vaping: What you need to know. Child Mind Institute. Retrieved from https://childmind.org/article/teen-vaping-what-you-need-to-know/
5. Outbreak of lung injury associated with e-cigarette use, or vaping. (2019, September 27). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html
6. Richter, L. (2018). What is vaping? Retrieved from https://www.centeronaddiction.org/e-cigarettes/recreational-vaping/what-vaping
7. Vaping rises among teens. (2019). National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2019/02/vaping-rises-among-teens
8. Vaping: What you need to know. (2019). KidsHealth. Retrieved from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/e-cigarettes.html
9. What do we know about e-cigarettes? (2019). American Cancer Society. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/tobacco-and-cancer/e-cigarettes.html

Community-based mental health services can improve outcomes in people with mental health diagnoses, several studies have found. Deinstitutionalization—the push to keep people out of long-term mental health institutions—increasingly means people with mental health conditions are living in their communities rather than treatment facilities. The Olmstead decision, a United States Supreme Court ruling on mental health treatment, enshrined the right to the least restrictive treatment available.

The number of available psychiatric beds dropped from 558,922 in 1995 to 37,679 in 2016. This is good news for those with mental health conditions, most of whom lead more fulfilling lives in their communities than in institutions. Inadequate funding for outpatient, community-based resources, however, has driven the number of homeless people with mental health diagnoses to more than 100,000.

When available and funded, court-ordered treatment programs—known as assisted outpatient treatment (AOT)—can help integrate people with mental health conditions back into their communities. The 21^st Century Cures Act, which former President Barack Obama signed into law in December 2016, includes additional funding for AOT. Research in several states points to the efficacy of these programs. In New York, for example, researchers looked at more than 3,000 people with access to AOT. AOT reduced mental health hospitalizations by 77% and homelessness by 74%.

Stop Smoking Services May Boost Mental Health of People With Depression

[fat_widget_right]Smoking cessation services may improve overall mental health, according to a study published in the journal Annals of Behavioural Medicine. Researchers found 66.3% of smokers who had moderate to severe depression when they used quit-smoking services experienced no symptoms a year later.

Good Outcomes With ‘Telepsychiatry’ in Medical Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder

Telepsychiatry, which offers remote therapeutic services via video conferencing, may be a good option for people with an addiction to opioids. According to a study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, for people using buprenorphine to treat their addiction, telepsychiatry offered similar results to in-person therapy. Participants in the telepsychiatry group were more likely to live in rural areas, making telepsychiatry a more accessible option.

Nicotine May Help Schizophrenia, Study Finds

According to a study published in Nature Medicine, nicotine may treat hypofrontality, one of the symptoms of schizophrenia. Hypofrontality denotes low activity in the prefrontal cortex during cognitive tasks. This leads to cognitive issues in people with schizophrenia. When exposed to nicotine, the prefrontal cortex of people with schizophrenia appears to work better. Smoking, which releases nicotine to the brain, is more prevalent among people with schizophrenia. One study estimated 88% of people with the diagnosis smoke.

Phyllis Harrison-Ross, Mental Health Pioneer, Dies at 80

Phyllis Harrison-Ross, who pioneered mental health treatments for children with disabilities, died of lung cancer January 16. Many public schools use Harrison-Ross’s programs, which were designed to keep children with disabilities out of institutional settings.

Trapped by the Game: Why Professional Footballers Don’t Talk About Their Mental Health

According to interviews with seven male football players, footballers do not feel safe discussing mental health issues. The interviews point to struggle as a common theme among players. They viewed the football field as a battlefield where they felt they had to struggle to “survive.” Shame and stigma often kept them from expressing any sense of vulnerability or emotional difficulties. Many also found it hard to integrate into the real world after careers in professional football.

Hypnosis is often recognized as being used by performers in comedy or entertainment and is typically seen as fun and harmless in those situations. However, hypnosis has a broader application when used in helping practices. Essentially, there are three main platforms for hypnosis:

1. Hypnosis used for entertainment.

2. Hypnosis is used by a person trained in specialized uses, such as helping people to stop smoking, manage weight, or deal with sleeping problems.

3. Hypnosis is used by a licensed mental health practitioner (hypnotherapist) as one of the tools in the counseling/therapeutic toolbox.

Hypnosis and hypnotherapy have an extensive history as reputable methods used the therapeutic process by trained and skilled hypnotists and hypnotherapists alike. The difference between hypnosis and hypnotherapy is that hypnosis is defined as a state of mind, while hypnotherapy is the name of the therapeutic modality in which hypnosis is used.

A trained hypnotist uses hypnosis to help people with issues such as smoking cessation and weight management, but is not licensed as to practice hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy is practiced by a hypnotherapist who is a trained, licensed, and/or certified professional. Only a hypnotherapist may use hypnotherapy to work with such mental health concerns as phobias, stage fright, eating disorders, and certain medical conditions.

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How Does Hypnosis Work?

Hypnosis is defined as a harmless altered trance state characterized by very deep relaxation, highly focused attention, and an extreme openness to suggestions which are usually positive and foster positive therapeutic changes. However, a hypnotic trance is not necessarily therapeutic on its own. For example, when someone is driving to the mall, seemingly suddenly arrives, and is not sure exactly how he or she got there so soon, he/she has experienced an altered, hypnotic state. People may also experience this altered state when they are just beginning to fall asleep and are in a dreamy and drowsy state, aware but not completely focused—just focused enough to have a simple conversation but not remember talking at all.

When used for therapeutic approaches, specific suggestions and images given to people in a trance can alter their behavior in a positive manner. When in this state of hypnosis, you are more inclined to permanent change and more likely to be successful in making the lasting changes you desire. Almost all lasting changes happen in your subconscious mind.

Another example of how visualization in hypnosis works is when a hypnotherapist helps a person experiencing claustrophobia to visualize being in a very open space, without fear, when entering an elevator. By learning to positively visualize entering the elevator without fear, the person is often able to then do it in reality. The subconscious mind does not distinguish between a genuine experience and a suggested one. If you visualize it in a trance state, your body will react to it.

Who Can Be Hypnotized?

The simplest answer is that almost anyone can be hypnotized if they want to be. Modern research has shown that most people can be hypnotized to some degree and that the real question is how deep and to what degree they go into trance. Being able to be hypnotized is not a sign of being weak-minded, gullible, or giving up control. The ability to be hypnotized—or “hypnotizability”—is actually correlated with intelligence and the ability to have heightened awareness and focus while being in complete control.

For example, if while in a hypnotic trance you were asked to give the hypnotherapist your wallet or take off all of your clothes, you wouldn’t unless you truly wanted to. Likewise, if you were in the audience of a stage performance by a hypnotist and you were selected to participate in the show, you would quack like a duck only if you truly wanted to. In fact, the participants are usually chosen because the hypnotist believes you want to act silly and be part of the show. This is in contrast to someone who is not showing any indication he or she wants to be at the event or even have fun.

Every smoker knows that smoking poses serious health risks, but the prospect of quitting can be daunting. Nicotine withdrawals can last between three and 14 days, and some smokers find the depression and anxiety that may be associated with quitting smoking unbearable.

If you can ride out the first week or two of misery, though, it really does get better. Within a few weeks, you may be wondering why you ever craved a cigarette at all.

For smokers desperately craving just one more puff, these five tips can help quell the nicotine thirst.

Change Your Routine 

Nicotine is highly addictive, but it leaves your body within three days. By the fifth or sixth day, any cravings you feel are psychological, not physical. Changing your daily routine to remove common triggers for smoking can help you cope with these cravings. Try taking a day or two off of work, changing your working hours, or even going on a vacation. When you don’t have constant reminders that you used to smoke, you’re much less likely to miss puffing away your life.

[fat_widget_right]Get Moving

Even the healthiest smokers suffer cardiovascular consequences from their decision to smoke. But within a few hours of quitting, your body begins to repair itself. This makes exercise easier, and exercising without coughing and becoming exhausted can be a powerful reminder that quitting has immediate health benefits. Even better, though, aerobic exercise can help silence even the worst cravings. Try doing a few jumping jacks every time you get a nicotine pang, and aim for a slightly longer workout every day or every other day.

Drink Some Water

The desire to put a cigarette in your mouth can be overwhelming, but try replacing that habit with a healthier one. Sipping cold water through a straw can combat nicotine cravings. Try taking a few deep breaths as you drink, and visualize yourself as a happy, healthy nonsmoker.

Accept the Cravings

When a craving strikes and you need to be doing something else, the energy you need to fight the craving can undermine your ability to work, concentrate, or maintain a decent mood. Rather than fighting cravings, try accepting them. When you feel a craving, tell yourself you’re going to take five minutes to fully experience the craving. Breathe through it while thinking about all the reasons you want to be a nonsmoker. Then get back to what you were doing before the craving came on.

Make Cigarettes Your Enemy

Most smokers conceive of quitting smoking as a time of epic deprivation. If you think of cigarettes as your friend, though, you’ll miss them more when they’re not around. Before you quit smoking, concentrate on every problem cigarettes have caused you—from smoker’s cough to the inability to enjoy a meal without lighting up. When you smoke a cigarette that you don’t enjoy or that gives you a headache, dwell on it. Then, when you give up smoking for good, think of your cravings as nasty reminders of what cigarettes used to do to you.

The cravings aren’t a longing for a friend who helped you through tough times; they’re the voice of harmful nicotine trying to convince you to do something that’s terrible for your body. When you miss cigarettes, think to yourself, “Cigarettes have harmed me so much that I have managed to convince myself that something that tastes bad and is terrible for me is good.” When cigarettes become your enemy, you have little reason to smoke them—even when you get a craving.

Are you working on quitting smoking? You’re not alone—more and more people are getting help with nicotine addiction. Smoking isn’t just a physical habit; it’s a mental health issue. Finding a therapist who works with smoking cessation may help. You can look for a therapist for yourself or a loved one in the GoodTherapy.org directory.

References:

1. Withdrawals. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.quit.ie/en/inner/withdrawals
2. Withdrawal symptoms and how to cope. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.lung.ca/protect-protegez/tobacco-tabagisme/quitting-cesser/withdrawal-sevrage_e.php

Addiction occurs when a person becomes physically or psychologically dependent on a substance, thing, or activity, generally leading to withdrawal symptoms when it is unavailable. Many people engage in potentially addictive behaviors recreationally, but when those behaviors are abused to the point of interfering with day-to-day functioning at work, in the classroom, at home, or in relationships, it becomes a serious issue that may require intervention and treatment.

Faces & Voices of Recovery claims on its site that more than 21 million people experience addiction and are not yet in recovery, and according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, approximately 17.6 million people in the United States experience alcohol abuse or dependence, along with millions more who partake in risky behaviors such as binge drinking. The all-consuming nature of addiction takes a physical, mental, and emotional toll on the addicted person and on those who love and care for him or her. It follows that recovering from addiction takes time, dedication, and support—and ultimately, the addicted person must be the one to summon the resolution and determination to make a full recovery.

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Thankfully, there are several resources available for coping with addiction, be it yours or that of someone you care about. We’ve compiled a list of the 10 best ones—GoodTherapy.org excluded—for 2013. As with our previous top 10 lists, our selections are based on quality and depth of content, presentation, and functionality.

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): This multifaceted, government-run site offers several informational resources and links for those who are experiencing addiction, those affected by another’s addiction, and those who work with addictions in clinical or community support settings. The site emphasizes the importance of using science-based approaches to understanding and treating drug abuse and addiction, and is committed to facilitating the rapid dissemination of the latest in addiction-related research.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens: NIDA for Teens provides numerous links and resources pertaining to drug abuse among adolescents ages 11 through 15. The site features the “Sara Bellum Blog,” geared toward teenagers who may be experiencing peer pressure and are wishing to educate themselves about drugs. There are also basic drug facts, lesson plans and activities materials for educators, and informational pages to guide parents in keeping their children drug free.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): SAMHSA, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services organization, aims to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental health issues. The goal of the site is to make information, services, and research related to substance abuse and mental health issues readily available to the public. A “Find Help” page is particularly useful for those who are in need of services or seeking help for a friend or loved one in crisis.
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) offer this site specifically for those who are affected by alcohol abuse and alcoholism. It provides research-based statistics and information on the varying degrees of alcohol usage and what constitutes abuse, as well as the effects of alcohol on physical health. There are links to publications, including journals, reports, brochures, and fact sheets, presentations and videocasts, classroom resources, and clinical manuals, as well as to research initiatives and opportunities for grant funding.
• Sober Nation: This is another site geared toward those who are recovering from addiction or seeking guidance and support in the withdrawal process. Several articles and posts share personal stories of addiction and recovery; the discussion forums offer a sense of community; and the “Sober Nation Store” offers apparel for those who wish to wear their recovery proudly. There is also a free, 24-hour addiction hotline for those seeking immediate help.
• The Addiction Recovery Guide: This “online guide to drug and alcohol addiction recovery” offers several pages of helpful insight and information for people in recovery. For people who think they may be experiencing addiction, there are links to personal evaluations for alcohol and drug use. The site also offers links to treatment options, programs and resources, medications used in treating addiction, holistic approaches to addiction, a message board, and a “Beyond Recovery” section for those looking for assistance in maintaining sobriety, securing housing and employment, and pursuing higher education.
• Al-Anon Family Groups: Al-Anon is known for its devotion to its stated purpose of providing “strength and hope for friends and families of problem drinkers.” The site offers helpful quizzes and information to assess whether you are affected by someone else’s drinking. There are also specific sections for professionals and teens which offer insight on how Al-Anon works and how to approach teenagers who show signs of alcohol abuse.
• The Partnership at Drugfree.org: Along with a helpline and other resources to aid in preventing, intervening in, and treating and recovering from addiction, this site offers a comprehensive “Drug Guide” that features detailed information on more than 40 commonly abused narcotics. Readers also have access to a variety of community education tools, tips, programs, and other information, including useful videos for training and educational purposes. For parents seeking immediate help in dealing with an addicted child, there is a “Parents’ Toll-Free Helpline” as well as a collection of materials guiding parents and loved ones through the intervention process.
• Faces & Voices of Recovery: This online community is devoted to providing help, guidance, and support for those who are recovering from addiction, and encourages such individuals to share their stories and join the movement to advocate for reduced addiction stigma. On the landing page, visitors will find links to videos and stories of people in recovery along with a webinar series on the importance of living in “safe, sober, and peer-supportive environments” while in recovery. Recovery-themed merchandise—including shirts, hats, and mugs bearing the slogan “Got recovery?”—and reading materials can be purchased in the online store.
• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD): This comprehensive site offers numerous informational resources for parents, youth, recovering people, and their family and friends, as well as self-tests for adults and teens who wish to assess whether they are addicted to alcohol or drugs. NCADD also advocates for increased community awareness and support of addiction and provides location-specific treatment referrals to those in need.

Nominate another website for our Top 10 awards here.

Hypnosis has long been fodder for television shows and stand-up acts, and most people are familiar with hypnotists who claim to be able to make anyone do anything while under hypnosis. But hypnosis is no longer just a sideshow performance, and an increasing number of people are turning to hypnosis to quit smoking, get over depression and anxiety, lose weight, and forget about phobias.

Hypnosis is still controversial within mental health, partially because it’s often part of a comedy act and not real treatment and partially because some hypnotherapists have induced false memories under regression-based hypnotherapy.

What Is It?
Hypnosis isn’t a magic trick. It’s an altered state of consciousness that hypnotists induce via the power of suggestion. Hypnotists may use relaxation techniques, key words, guided imagery, or some combination of these to help clients slowly relax. Then, while under hypnosis, hypnotists make suggestions about changes in behavior.

The idea behind hypnosis is that, even when the conscious mind wants to do something, the unconscious mind might not fully accept this change. Hypnotists claim that, under the right conditions, they can subtly alter the effects the unconscious mind has on the conscious mind and help bring about behavioral changes. Some hypnotists use hypnosis to help gradually alter a client’s perceptions. A person struggling with pain, for example, might undergo hypnosis to help him or her see the pain as pressure. An increasing number of women are even using hypnosis to help cope with the pain of childbirth.

Does It Work?
You can’t be hypnotized to do something that is outside of your moral compass or that you don’t really want to do. People who try to quit gambling or spending through hypnosis will likely not see results if they’re quitting only because of family pressure. Hypnosis can’t change the way you think; it simply makes it easier to follow through with behavioral changes. Hypnosis can also bring about a state of relaxation, and some hypnotherapists teach their clients how to self-hypnotize under stressful conditions. For people with anxiety issues, severe stress, or depression, this can help ease the symptoms.

But hypnosis is not a panacea, and is most effective when it’s used in conjunction with therapy and lifestyle changes. Particularly for long-term, chronic problems, it may take several hypnosis sessions to see results. Some people don’t see any results at all; because hypnosis thrives on suggestibility, if you’re not particularly suggestible it probably won’t work.

Choosing a Hypnotist
If you’re thinking about trying hypnotherapy, get a recommendation from your therapist. The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis also maintains a directory of qualified hypnotists with a clinical background. Make sure you know how long your hypnotist has been practicing and what methods he or she uses. The messages you hear under hypnosis should not come as a surprise, and your hypnotist should discuss the specific tools he or she is going to use before hypnotizing you.

Regression-based hypnosis, which is used to recover repressed memories, can be dangerous. Because people are more suggestible under hypnosis, the hypnotist can inadvertently fabricate memories that didn’t actually occur. Particularly if these memories are traumatic, this can lead to additional mental health issues. People with a history of psychosis should not undergo hypnosis without first taking to their doctors, because hypnosis increases their risk of a psychotic episode.

References:

1. About the society. (n.d.). American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Retrieved from http://www.asch.net/
2. Beattie-Moss, M. (n.d.). Does hypnosis work? Research Penn State. Retrieved from http://www.rps.psu.edu/probing/hypnosis.html
3. Mental health and hypnosis. (n.d.). WebMD. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-hypnotherapy
4. Portenoy, R. (2008, August 18). How does hypnosis work, can anyone be hypnotized, and when is it used? ABC News. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/TreatingPain/story?id=4047906

Individuals addicted to nicotine can exhibit unique responses when they are deprived of a cigarette. Many people report being anxious, snappy, or moody when they try to quit smoking. All of these responses are common. But for people with panic disorder (PD), going without a cigarette may trigger a panic attack. According to a recent study conducted by Teresa M. Leyro of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California in San Francisco, people with anxiety problems and a history of panic attacks in particular are more likely to smoke than people without a history of anxiety-related problems. However, few studies have looked at how nicotine cessation, an event that can cause tension and stress in individuals with no history of anxiety, affects those with a predisposition to panic.

Leyro enlisted 58 adult smokers and exposed them to bodily sensations designed to elicit fear or anxiety. The participants were comprised of individuals with and without a history of PD, and all reported smoking approximately 20 cigarettes a day. The experiment was conducted after they had gone without smoking for 12 hours to allow sufficient time for withdrawal symptoms to occur. Leyro discovered that the participants with severe PD and the most significant withdrawal had the highest rates of panic symptoms after the experiment.

These results suggest that individuals with PD may catastrophize their circumstances and be more sensitive to physical cues when in a heightened state of anxiety. Additionally, these same individuals took longer to recover from their panic than those with low withdrawal symptoms. However, Leyro also found that the participants without PD and with low levels of withdrawal had elevated panic symptoms, too. This could be due to the fact that in the absence of withdrawal symptoms, these individuals may have been overly stimulated by fearful or threatening emotions when they experienced the physical sensations. Leyro hopes that these findings open up avenues of further research. She added, “This line of inquiry can shed light on the etiology of panic psychopathology among smokers and ultimately inform the development of novel specialized interventions for this difficult-to-treat population.”

Reference:
Leyro, T. M., Zvolensky, M. J. (2012). The interaction of nicotine withdrawal and panic disorder in the prediction of panic-relevant responding to a biological challenge. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1037/a0029423

Related articles:
Three Steps for Dealing with Panic Attacks
Identifying and Treating Addiction and Substance Abuse Problems