Confessions of A Pharmacophobe: Why I'm Afraid of Drugs

What is Pharmacophobia?

As you may have guessed, pharmacophobia is the fear of drugs, but it actually extends much farther than that. Many folks, that experience some type of fear in relation to drugs, also experience a more targeted fear regarding pharmaceutical drugs as well as developing an addiction to them.

Of course, every person is different and can experience varied versions of pharmacophobia. Some may be afraid of medication, or hallucinogenic drugs, intravenous drugs, or even the common vaccinations specifically. In any case, very little information exists about this fear, which is why it is so important to bring this issue, and adjoining issues, into the light.

Why is pharmacophobia a problem?

Right about now you might be thinking “being afraid of drugs isn’t a bad thing” and you’d be partially correct. However, if we examine this phobia from a psychological perspective, it could potentially be harmful to someone’s life.

Untreated mental illnesses, including fears, can grow into incapacitating obstacles in a person’s life. Often times, the illness starts as one small problem then evolves into a gargantuan issue that is impeding the affected individual’s ability to live a healthy life.

For example, someone with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) may have a fear of germs. This may start as a handwashing obsession that eventually begins to creep into other areas of that person’s life. Maybe they start becoming obsessive about germs in their house, on their clothes or shoes, where their food is cooked, etc. You can see where something as harmless as washing your hands can possibly stop someone from living a fulfilled and healthy life.

This can also affect those with other mental health conditions aside from their phobias. Someone may be suffering from pharmacophobia as well as anxiety, depression, or other common mental health problems. It may be quite difficult for someone with pharmacophobia to receive medical treatment for such a condition when they happen to be terrified of developing a dependency on their medication.

Of course, many may go through their lives never needing treatment. Some pharmacophobes may remain in control over their fear and it may never develop into a larger issue. Yet, as is the case with millions of untreated mental health cases each year, many can result in constant stress, anxiety, and seclusion from a world where drugs are a part of our everyday lives.

How does someone develop a fear of drugs?

When I was about 8 years old, my mother developed a debilitating addiction to meth. She was trapped by this sickness, unable to escape for roughly 6 years. Eventually, she was arrested, sent to prison, and it was there that she committed to getting clean and sober.

I cannot speak for her and what she went through during those years, but I can speak for myself. Seeing my mother wither away before my very eyes was shocking to say the least. Watching someone so close to you, that you love so much, destroy their life and their body is simply horrifying. What I do know is, my mother was actually quite lucky to receive help when she did. Naturally, drug addiction in any form is risky, but extended use for months and even years is akin to playing a game of russian roulette.

Meth is particularly addictive and harshly degenerative on the body. You may have seen photos of those who have been using for only a few short months that look like tenured drug users on their last leg.

As a result, I have been afraid of drugs for as long as I can remember. For me, pharmacophobia mainly exists within “recreational” drugs instead of medicinal drugs. However, I do have a fear of medication, specifically addictive pain, anxiety, and depression meds. I definitely don’t have an issue with taking things like aspirin, allergy medication, cold medicine, etc. I recognize that if I ever saw myself in a situation where I was in need of medical attention, I might need to take the medication in order to restore my health, but of course I would prefer not to.

Fear of What A Prescription Means

Aside from the possibility of traumatic experiences with drugs, some pharmacophobes also develop their fear due to a perceived lack of control. Not being in control of the mind or body can be a seriously frightening scenario for some.

It’s easy to see why someone could develop a fear of drugs or addiction, given the current state prescription addiction in the United States. In a study done by the American Society of Addiction Medication, they reported over 47,055 drug related deaths in 2014 alone. Although 60% of these deaths were due to overdose by heroin or painkillers, the remaining 40% were due to the abuse of prescription medications, like highly accessible antidepressants or antianxiety medication.

What’s more, many others are afraid of the side affects that come along with medications. Possible blood clots, heart problems, liver failure, and even cancer can result from extended use of many prescription medications. These are hard facts to live with in a world where just about everything, even aspirin, has possible side effects listed on the bottle.

Lastly, societal stigmas and misinformation lead to shame amongst sufferers of mental illnesses and fears. Millions of Americans are so ashamed to admit their dependency on medication to help them live a peaceful life and heal over time. So, many choose to avoid this situation altogether due to a fear of failure. They become afraid of seeking help via medication because they believe this means they have failed as a human being.

Everyone deserves to be safe, healthy, and happy.

Understanding and controlling my pharmacophobia has been a journey for me and I realize that I may carry this fear for the rest of my life. Although, I too try to remember that asking for help does not result in my failure, quite the contrary actually. Seeking counseling or therapy is nothing to be ashamed of and should be used as a constant resource for those who feel that their mental health is negatively affecting their quality of life or the lives of those around them.

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7 Signs Of Seemingly Mature People You Need To Be Aware Of

By Freepik & Freepik / www.flaticon.com

By Madebyoliver & Freepik / www.flaticon.com

By Freepik & Freepik / www.flaticon.com

By Freepik & Freepik / www.flaticon.com

By Freepik & Freepik / www.flaticon.com

By Freepik & Freepik / www.flaticon.com

By Freepik & Freepik / www.flaticon.com

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5 Things You Should Do Every Day to Promote Your Music

Musicians everywhere work hard to find an audience, but not all musicians work smart. To effectively promote your music, you need to separate yourself from what everyone else is doing and try new things every day. Even if you fail to execute new strategies properly the first time, you’ll learn from experience, and can properly apply them in the future.

Promoting your music is hard work, and while it takes time away from recording and songwriting, it is an important part of having a career in music. Many musicians upload their music online and expect to just be found, but this is an unrealistic expectation. Successful musicians are the ones who put the work in to get their music in front of the right audience through effective use of different music marketing strategies.

Assuming you have an album recorded and are selling your music online, here are some things you can do every day to improve your music promotion efforts.

1. Send your music to a radio station

An effective radio promotion campaign can help any musician gain a densely populated fan base. When your fans are within a dense geographical area, it makes touring more profitable and can make booking new gigs much easier, since you’ll have local awareness.

When sending your music to radio stations, it’s important that you send finished recordings (not demos) to the program directors. After sending, you want to follow up with a phone call to solicit feedback. If the program director likes what you’ve sent, it’s time to ask them to add your music to the playlist. If not, ask when you can follow up with them, and follow up on time. 

2. Reach out to a blogger

For a new artist, getting your music reviewed online is a great way to gain a loyal following. Reaching out to music bloggers who are passionate about your niche and have a strong following is a great way to tap into the ears of passionate music fans.

When reaching out to bloggers about getting your music reviewed, make sure you have a high-quality album or EP out – it’s unlikely they’ll want to review singles. Emails you send to bloggers should be short, make proper use of white space, and be direct.

After you email bloggers, don’t forget to follow-up a few days later. You can automate follow-up emails with apps like Rebump.

3. Post to social media

Social media is great for musicians, but too many use it as a promotional platform. Instead, your social media accounts should be used to engage your existing audience so that they share your content and your following grows organically.

When posting on social media, be sure to follow the social media rule of thirds. One-third of your posts should be promotional, one-third should provide value to your followers, and one-third should be personal interactions. Keep this in mind when you attempt to promote your music on Twitter and Facebook.

4. Learn something new

Whether it’s learning a new musical instrument or reading blogs about promoting your music, it’s important to keep your mind fresh with new ideas. Subscribe to blog newsletters, search for music promotion tips and ideas on Google, or ask someone for advice every day.

When attempting to learn something new, remember to actually apply what you’re learning. Early application of newfound knowledge results in early failures and struggles that accelerate the learning process.

5. Spend $5 on advertising

While paid advertising can be expensive, it can be effective when used properly. Unfortunately, creating an advertising campaign that’s working effectively can take time and upfront investment, but by spending $5 a day through online advertising, you’re getting started on the learning process that can lead to effective paid promotional efforts when you release your next album.

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5 Reasons to Include Instagram in Your Marketing Strategy

Instagram is a visual content sharing platform that was founded in 2010. Over the past six years, it has accumulated over half a billion active users. Since Instagram has a such a large follower base, it’s a great branding tool.

Here are some of the biggest reasons countless brands are using Instagram as part of their digital marketing strategy.

1. Reach a Growing Market

Instagram has steadily gained new users every year since it was founded. There are over 60 million users in the United States alone, which is about 20% of the U.S. population. You can use Instagram to reach all of these users.

If you are still skeptical, you may want to read this post from Social Media Week. It is full of detailed case studies on Instagram marketing. Here are some results from companies that used Instagram to position their brands:

• Bloom and Wild ran a series of Instagram ads, which helped boost their bouquet orders by 62%.
• Mercedes Benz ran some Instagram ads, which increased website visits by 54%.
• Philadelphia (the cheese company, not the city) used images of their products to raise sales by 41%.

If Instagram can help some of the world’s largest brands increase sales by 40% or more, then it can do wonders for your business as well.

2. Better Position Products With a Visual Theme

Virtually any product can benefit from Instagram marketing. However, Instagram is particularly effective for promoting products with a strong visual theme. Brands in the following industries may notice a significant benefit from Instagram:

• Photography services
• Jewelry manufacturers
• Local restaurants
• Auto dealers
• Collectible guns

In many industries, customers rely on strong visual cues to make purchases. Since Instagram is such a popular site for sharing visual content, it is an ideal platform for these brands to expand their reach.

3. Growing Popularity for B2B Marketing

Most brands view Instagram as a platform for marketing to consumers. However, it’s also a great platform for B2B marketing. According to a recent infographic from Buzzoid, 90% of Interbrand 100 companies have a presence on Instagram. Almost all of these brands use the platform at least once a week. Scroll to the bottom of this post for an infographic on Why Your Business Needs to Be Active on Instagram.

Of course, most of these brands use Instagram to broaden their own base. However, it can actually be a great tool for other businesses to reach them as well.

There are a number of ways to use Instagram for B2B marketing. Beverley Reinemann recently posted a detailed overview about B2B marketing on Instagram, which encapsulated a strategy that Microsoft used.

“Instead of (or, you know, as well as) giving other people in your industry a behind-the-scenes look at your company, how about using your Instagram updates to inspire your followers? Microsoft did this with their #DoMore campaign when they hired a photographer to travel the world and take photos of entrepreneurs using Microsoft products… Highlighting other businesses and entrepreneurs also makes you look good; it gives the impression that you’re creating a movement around your brand as opposed to being in a constant ‘selling’ mindset.”

4. You Can Use it for Free

Many brands have invested in paid advertising on Instagram. It can definitely pay off, as the case studies from Mercedes and Bloom and Wild show. However, many brands have found that capitalizing off of free, organic traffic can be just as beneficial.

If you invest in using Instagram regularly, you can build a stronger brand presence and earn plenty of new leads without spending a dime.

5. Paid Ads are Cheap

When most people advertise online, they usually start with Facebook or Google. While these platforms are great for reaching targeted leads, they are also very expensive.

If you want to launch an online marketing campaign with a more limited budget, you should take a look at Instagram instead. You can purchase traffic for slightly less than you could with other digital marketing platforms.

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Tips for Choosing and Using a Child’s Car Seat

When you have a baby, there are so many decisions and purchases to make that it can have your head spinning, particularly if you are a first-time parent. From the stroller and the cot to the nursery decor and the clothing, to name just a few, there are plenty of choices you have to make.

One of the most important ones, though, that you really don’t want to rush or get wrong, is your selection of a child’s car seat. Take a look at statistics and you’ll see that thousands of children are injured in motor vehicle crashes each year (the number was more than 120,000 in 2014), and sadly hundreds of children die too.

Many injuries and fatalities occur because children are not safely buckled in or strapped into a car seat during transit. In fact, a CDC study found that, in one year, over 600,000 children aged between zero and 12 rode in vehicles without the proper safety precautions at least some of the time.

In recent weeks, the death of two children in the United States has further raised awareness of the importance of the proper installation of child safety seats. It is imperative that parents select a car seat that is the right option for their child’s age and size, and that it is installed properly. Read on for some tips you can follow today to ensure your family stays safe when traveling by vehicle.

How to Choose a Child’s Car Seat

When it comes to choosing a child’s car seat, you’ll find that there are two main types to choose from: infant carrier car seats, and convertible car seats.

Infant Seats

Infant car seats are designed to support smaller babies and can be more convenient when you have a young one. However, they are typically only suitable until your baby reaches between 20 to 30 pounds (the weight limit varies from car seat to car seat).

The major benefit of an infant car seat is that it can snap in and out of a sturdy base which gets strapped or latched to the backseat of your car. This means that it is easy to transfer a baby in and out of the car (which is particularly great if they are asleep); plus many models snap straight into stroller frames for convenient transport.

The drawback to the infant car seat, though, is that babies grow out of them quite quickly. Once a baby hits the weight limit of the seat or its head sits within an inch of the seat, you will need to move to a bigger option.

Convertible Seat

A convertible car seat, on the other hand, can be adjusted to suit your baby as it gets bigger in weight and or length. These types of seats can be converted from a rear-facing position to a forward-facing one once your baby is big enough (generally seen as two years of age or up to 22 to 40 pounds). They can often accommodate children up to 70 pounds, and provide great flexibility and longevity as a result.

The downside of a convertible car seat is that it is less convenient if your baby is asleep since you can’t just snap the cradle out with the baby inside. Also, be aware that convertible seats, due to their nature, are typically a little less secure for newborns. If you decide to go with this type of seat, then make sure your little one fits very snugly — you may need to use a padded head bumper or other padding to stop a newborn’s head from wobbling around in the seat.

Notes for Any Seat

When selecting a car seat it pays to look for one that:

• Will be easy to clean
• Has clear, straight-forward instructions available if you want to install the seat yourself
• Has easy-to-access harness adjusters and an easy-to-adjust harness height

How to Safely Install and Use a Child’s Car Seat

Installing your baby’s car seat correctly is imperative.

Start With Your Car’s Owner’s Manual

Before you go shopping for a car seat for your baby, it is a good idea to read the owner’s manual for your vehicle so that you can see exactly where a seat can go (keep in mind child car seats must always be in the rear of the car, not the front), and how it must be installed.

Be aware of how much room you will have available in the back seat since large bases may not fit in smaller cars, and consider who else will need to sit in the back of the car and in what spot.

Check Which Attachment Option You Have

Car seats can be attached using either seat belts or a LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system, so check the user manual to see what option is available to you. Also, read up on where the LATCH attachments might be in your vehicle.

Contact a Professional

After you have purchased a quality car seat, it is just as important that it is fitted in your vehicle correctly. If you want some assistance with this, consider utilizing a Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technician. These technicians are certified by the government in the proper installation of child car seats and can be found at locations such as hospitals, police stations, fire stations, and your local AAA. You will find a searchable database online via the NHTSA website if you need help locating a CPS technician in your area.

Featured photo credit: shutterstock.com via shutterstock.com

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How to Fix Your Most Dangerous Driving Habits

We all know the various activities we are not supposed to do while driving. But despite the fact that everyone knows at some level how to drive safely, over 38,000 Americans were killed in traffic accidents in 2015. It was the largest percentage rise in vehicle accidents in 50 years.

We should remember that a car accident is a colossal safety failure and that even basic steps can help you avoid an accident. Therefore, some of the most dangerous driving habits are also some of the easiest to fix. Here are five habits which far too many drivers do and what you can do to avoid them.

1. Road Rage

I once had a boss who was extraordinarily calm and respectful in the office, yet turned into a ball of rage whenever we drove together to an outside meeting. He would curse and slander anyone whose driving annoyed him in any way, and it was a deeply unpleasant experience especially because he was normally a nice guy.

Road rage can transform anyone into a monster instantly, and an angry driver is an unsafe driver. But why do we get so angry? According to Slate, it is the fact that other drivers are anonymous and hidden in their cars. This causes us to dehumanize them and is comparable to how people online can transform into vicious jerks when they talk to someone while hiding behind a screen.

Driving alongside a passenger can help you act like you would normally, though that does not always work as in my case. But if you find yourself experiencing road rage, take a moment to calm down, breathe deeply, and not let your anger take over.

2. Drowsy driving

Drunk driving is dangerous because alcohol slows your reactions which you need to drive safely. But driving while sleepy poses similar problems. Furthermore, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report found that drowsy driving is more likely to occur on freeways which increase the chances of a fatal accident, and that young men are the group most at risk from this sort of accident.

If you are tired, don’t hesitate to pull over and rest. Sleeping in a car is not as comfortable sleeping in your bed, but it is still better than taking the chance of sleeping forever.

3. Speeding through yellow lights

Contrary to the popular beliefs of drivers, yellow lights do not mean “Speed up to avoid the red light.” They mean “slow down.”

Slowing down on seeing a yellow light and being the first car stuck at a red light sucks. But the problem with speeding up is that it encourages you to keep speeding up until the last second, increasing the risk that you mistime things and end up running a red light after all. And even if you avoid a car accident for now, you can find yourself having a very unpleasant conversation with a nearby officer.

4. Distracted driving

We’re not just talking about cell phones. Activities like eating and talking can also take your mind off the road and increase your risk of an accident. In fact, one of the biggest causes of distracted driving is young children and parents’ attempt to handle their various idiosyncrasies.

Distracted driving caused over 400,000 injuries in 2009, but they are not that difficult to stop. Put your phone away. If something really urgent pops up like an important phone call, pull over and take care of it. Focusing only on one thing at a time is a crucial safety tip, whether we are looking at driving, the workplace, or anywhere else.

5. Seat belts

Cars have more safety features than ever, but nothing beats a seatbelt when it comes to saving lives. The CDC observes that seat belts saved 12,802 lives in 2014 and warns that airbags “are not a substitute for seat belts.” And yet despite that important fact, far too many people think that they are “too old” for seat belts or find it uncomfortable.

If you’re not used to constantly wearing a seat belt, get used to it. Wear it all the time, even when you only need to move your car a couple feet. Doing it every single time regardless of circumstances will turn it into a habit.

Make seatbelt wearing a habit and you will get used to it. Far from feeling uncomfortable while wearing it, you will feel uncomfortable driving without it. And that is a good thing.

Relax and stay focused

Driving safely is not that hard. All it requires is that you focus on the road, not be distracted by texts or anything else, and staying alert. Alertness, more than anything else, is the one trait which will help you stay alive and not turn into another statistic.

Make good driving a habit by wearing your seatbelt and by getting rid of distractions, and you will have nothing to worry about.

Featured photo credit: Lord Jim via flickr.com

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