Trick Or Treatment: Can These Sunglasses Cure Anxiety?

Have you ever dreamed of owning a pair of sunglasses that could wipe your ass, clean your tub and call you pretty? Me either but when I heard about a pair that might help with anxiety I had to test it out.

I reached out to Rainbow OPTX, who were sweet enough to send me a free pair to try. I picked the cat-eye frames in blue which is apparently supposed to promote everything I’ve been trying to feel for at least 20 years; “calm, relaxed and reassured.” You can read more about them on their website HERE.

Watch my review HERE to find out if these are a blatent trick or a legit treatment.

What is Trick or Treatment? I test out wellness cliches, health fad was, and alternative treatment methods for mental illness (so you don’t have to). Read my last one RIGHT HERE!

Trick or Treatment: Wellness Week LA Recap

I swear I meant to post this before I left for our trip to Scotland (pix on my Insta right here!) but omg you guys. I realized I hadn't purchased the required nude shoes to go with my bridesmaid dress, so the week before we left my life became all about that journey instead. Anyway please excuse the delay as I transition back into our regularly scheduled mental health bloggery. 

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In case you missed it, I recently attended Wellness Week LA and wrote about my experience stretching, meditating, and sweating out the sadness. As with all of my Trick or Treatment segments, I had to find out if this week of stereotypical ~wellness~ foolery did anything positive for my mental health OR if it was just an overpriced mound of crystal-infused horseshit.

Exploring supplemental methods to ease mental illness? Click on each day to find out which Wellness Week experiences were trash and trickery and which could actually be labeled a treatment. Then, try them for yourself (ask your doctor first) and let me know how it goes!  

Day One: Meditation

Day Two: Stretching 

Day Three: The Infrared Sauna

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My time at Wellness Week LA was SPONSORED. Huge merci to WWLA for the chance to attend! xo

Saunas, Sweating, & Suicide: My Last Day at Wellness Week LA #TrickOrTreatment

Trick or Treatment exists to help those on their mental health journey find a treatment plan that is tailored to their needs. Sometimes therapy and meds aren't enough. Sometimes we can't afford or gain access to traditional treatments. Occasionally certain options just aren't our style. Trick or Treatment isn't about the products I review or the places I visit or the events I may attend. It's about shedding light on as many potential mental health treatments as I can gain access to, so that readers of this blog may be presented with an abundance of options to try themselves. Society may refer to these options as wellness "cliches," but much of these cliches are only described that way because they are truly beneficial to the many who use them. 

That being said, the last day of my Wellness Week LA experience happened to fall on the day of the death of one of my writerly inspirations, Anthony Bourdain. I had plans to try out the infrared sauna experience at Sweattheory, but I found it hard to focus on relaxation when I got there. I'll keep today's recap short and sweet; I don't feel as excited to write today as I usually do. 

Verdict: Sitting in an infrared sauna in and of itself is not a treatment for mental illness. If anyone tells you that, run. It could be, however, a supplemental activity that you partake in to decrease the physical manifestations of stress, anxiety, depression, and so forth. What I mean by that is, if you are of appropriate physical health to withstand a sauna (check with your doctor first, people!), this treatment is a great way to unwind, relax your body, and imagine yourself tanning at the beach. It's also a nice space to sit with your thoughts, meditate, journal, listen to music, and enjoy some solo time. I would file this under general self-care, much like getting a massage or drinking a healthy smoothie. If you're in the LA area, def hit up Sweattheory. They'll give you a shot of Cayenne, a bathrobe, and a sauna with your own damn shower(!) in the name of sweating yourself better. Not to mention the whole place is covered in candles, plants, and smells like the inside of a sage-infused cupcake. Delish. 10/10 would return again. 

For more info, you can also follow my WWLA experience on my Instagram story right HERE. To learn more about WWLA, and Sweatheory, click their names.       

*Just FYI - my attendance at Wellness Week LA is sponsored. They were kind enough to give me a ticket at my request so that I could share my experiences with you. Huge thank you to WWLA!

Can a Stretch a Day Keep the Crazies at Bay? #TrickOrTreatment

Welcome to  Trick or Treatment! The series where I test out cliche, wellness trends to see if they will make my mental illness journey less of a fucking mess. You can read the previous #TT on meditation right HERE if you’re new to my blog or missed my last installment. This particular Trick or Treatment is part of my experience at Wellness Week LA; a health/lifestyle event from June 3rd-June 10th, 2018. Ticket holders are matched with various fitness, nutritional, and self-care activities in the city, depending on their interests. If you'd like more information on WWLA, or the business I mention below, click their names for more!

On Wednesday I chronicled my experience at Stretch Pro, a studio specifically designed for athletes and pain-sufferers alike to come and get their muscles worked in the name of feeling better in your body. 

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If you want to experience the benefits of yoga and a massage, minus the price tag, stretching is your new mom. True story: I'm terrified of group yoga since I'm super slow at keeping up with all the movements. I also needed something a little more intense than just a back rub to an Enya playlist. Cue: stretching; the cheaper version of visiting a physical therapist. JK, don't replace this with physical therapy if you need it, but it was equally as enjoyable for me.

Tbh, I was worried I had to be a walking Quest bar to feel welcomed here. I even flat-ironed my fucking hair like I was trying to get past airport security frisk-free. I don't know what the fuck is wrong with me. God bless the girl at the front desk and her ultra-casual, vintage GAP sweatshirt, though. Her welcoming demeanor was very much like, "Don't worry, Dominique. I know you only had an Equinox membership for the chilled towels, and that's okay." Thankfully, the stretch sesh was worth conquering my anxiety. Aside from the fact that the woman stretching my neck, back, and shoulders basically cured my three-year-long stiff neck problem, I felt the physical manifestations of my stress get flexed out of my being from the SEEDS OF MY SOUL. TL;DR - a firm yes.  

Verdict: So! Has my bipolar disorder been successfully taffy-pulled out of my system? Obvi, not but I would still call this a treatment for general physical pains stemming from anxiousness and stress. I'm a bit lethargic today and canceled my WWLA fitness class at Sandbox Fitness, but I'm not sure if that's due to the stretching or being weighed down by my overall hatred for fitness. Regardless, StretchPro was worth it, and I'd pay $40 for 25 minutes of that again. Of course, I have to clarify; this would be a grand *supplement* to your existing health plan. Not about to go off-brand and throw my meds into the ocean anytime soon.

Stay tuned for my next #WellnessWeekLA-themed Trick or Treatment: An infrared sauna session! I’ll be sweating my nips off in a wooden box in an attempt to reach mental bliss. Most likely I'll probably be in there trying to take selfies. You can also follow my WWLA experience on my Instagram story right HERE. 

Have any of you tried stretching as a form of self-care? Do you think this could be a suitable replacement for yoga since I'm literally the only person who seems to be terrible at it? Message me or leave a comment and help an anxious blogger out. xo 

*Just FYI - my attendance at Wellness Week LA is sponsored. They were kind enough to give me a ticket at my request so that I could share my experiences with you. Huge thank you to WWLA!

Modern Meditation Classes: Stress Relief or Whitewashed, LA Bullshit? #TrickOrTreatment

I am the only one in LA who has ever taken a photo like this. 

Welcome back to one of my favorite blog segments; Trick or Treatment! The series where I test out cliche, wellness trends to see if they will make my mental illness journey less of a fucking mess.  You can read the previous #TT right HERE if you’re new to my blog or missed my last installment. This particular Trick or Treatment is part of my experience at Wellness Week LA; a health/lifestyle event from June 3rd-June 10th. Ticket holders are matched with various fitness, nutritional, and self-care activities in the city, depending on their interests. If you'd like more information on WWLA, or the business I mention below, click their names for more!

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Unplug Meditation (West Hollywood) – The whole damn place smells like that one perfect friend who wears straw hats, cries in Erewhon, and somehow found a rent-controlled midcentury in the hills. And while I don’t think I went more than two breaths without intrusive thoughts about the woman to my right gulping her tea like baby fucking beluga inhaling her krill, the experience, the staff, the atmosphere–all wonderful. Did I mention, because it's a no-phone-zone, they charge your electronics behind the counter? Don't speak to me unless you're living in 3018. The staff also invites you to sample essential oils and pick a crystal to bring in to enhance your meditation experience. Even though I don’t incorporate crystals into my treatment plan, I still own a bunch, think they’re beautiful, and thought this was worth mentioning because its a nice touch. So, the big question is – is this trendy, WeHo meditation circle just a contrived, crock-pot of crazies? Trick or freaking treatment? 

Verdict: It’s a (supplemental) treatment. It’s nothing I want to replace my current wellness plan of therapy and meds with, but I would bring it into the mix. It became clear to me that this treatment that like many traditional options takes a good chunk of time and patience to see results. While I experienced benefits like relaxation, the sensation of being in a safe place, positive feelings, and subsequent motivation, I am confident I didn’t get the max effects of this practice because my zen skills are not fully developed. If I were to dedicate myself to this practice like I’ve committed myself to therapy and psychiatry, I bet I’d experience the benefits in which wellness woo-girls rave. Maybe if I’d just taken my Ritalin beforehand, I might have been able to focus better. TBD.

Stay tuned for my next #WellnessWeekLA-themed Trick or Treatment: Stretching! I’ll be getting my body contorted into awkward positions by a stranger in the name of mental wellness. You can also follow my WWLA experience on my Instagram story right HERE. 

By the way - if meditation has affected you, do me a flavor and comment below or send me a message. Did you have as much trouble as I did focusing when you first started? Or am I just a poor boy, and nobody loves me? What do I do to improve my focus? HALP.

*Just FYI - my attendance at Wellness Week LA is sponsored. Huge thank you to WWLA!

Trick or Treatment: I Drank This Magic Xanax Tea For a Week and Mental Illness Is Officially Cancelled

It's that time again! Sure, my blog is called Take Your Pills, but I know damn well that meds are not the only way to deal with mental illness. I'm always looking for different shit I can put in, on, or around my body to supplement my medicated journey, which is why I started #TrickOrTreatment. In case you missed the first one (you can go back and read it here), this segment aims to test out various alternatives to western medicine and traditional therapy. This time around, I drank valerian root tea, specifically "Nighty Night" by Traditional Medicinals, for six days to see what would happen. Not #spon but you can check it out right here. Valerian in tincture form was recommended to me by an old therapist, years ago, as a natural alternative to Xanax. You can read more about the herb here because, shocker, I'm not a naturopath and trying to explain its scientific workings myself would be comical. Anyhoo, I basically used to lap it out of the dropper like a sun-shriveled gerbil, and it didn't do shit. Fast forward to now -the tea was a totally different story.  Check out that infographic below to read what went down. 

The tribe has spoken. I'd have to call this a treatment ONLY if you don't plan on driving, operating heavy machinery, or being productive after you've sipped. Also, be sure you're in a spot where it's okay to possibly fall asleep, because, in addition to easing your anxiety, that may happen. That said, this might work for you as a sleep aid too if you couldn't already tell by my results (and the literal name of the tea). On the days that I didn't have anxiety, the tea just put me to sleep. On the day with my big attack, it actually calmed me down. For the record, I had my anti-anxiety meds (I take Lorazepam) on standby because I was SURE this tea was some bullshit. I didn't even need to take them. On the last day, I was shocked that this tea brought me to a level of chilldom that somehow allowed me not to become reactive to my boyfriend when he was in a snippy mood. That is never the case with me but apparently the old Dominique couldn't come to the phone right then and that's just fucking fine. I'm not about to throw out my Lorazepam, but I'm def keeping the tea around to use when I don't feel like taking a pill during a panic attack. 

If you decide to try this, let me know how it works! AND - if this doesn't work for you, or if you aren't able to try this, DONT GIVE  UP. There is a treatment out there for you. Keep searching. Keep working with your doctors. As someone who took years to find the right combo of meds and supplements, you WILL get there. xo

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DISCLAIMER: Hi! In case you couldn’t tell from my epic reporting, these aren’t real science experiments because I’m not a real scientist. I couldn’t even tell you how to convert Celcius to Fahrenheit, and like honestly who is Kelvin and why is he here? Please note - DO NOT perform any of the above practices without consulting a doctor FIRST. Unconventional treatment methods such as the one above have NOT been evaluated by the FDA which means they are NOT regulated. That said, unregulated alternative methods of treatment could result in serious health problems, dangerous interactions with your medication(s) and/or body, unwanted side-effects, and even death. Words in these posts should NOT be used as medical advice, and any questions you may have should be directed to a medical professional. Thank you for using your common sense you intelligent person, you!

Therapy Thursday # 10: I Tried Anger Management So You Don't Have To (But Maybe You Should, Tbh?)

TOPIC: How to tell if you're trying to win an argument instead working through one productively. According to my anger management class, winning an argument is not the goal, and only leads to the creation of more problems. 

WHEN TO USE: If you have trouble resolving arguments with loved ones or people in general. If you tend to fight dirty and use insults, underhanded comments, physical harm, and other emotionally abusive tactics. If you're often irritable or lash out at others. If you think you could benefit from anger management. 

HOW TO USE (With Examples): Here's how to tell if you're trying to win: 

-You point the finger at the other person: "It's your fault I'm like this!"

-You bring up blackmail-worthy information to hurt the other person: "Remember when you dated that abusive guy before me? No wonder you're abusive too." 

-You bring up past history: "Well, at 3 pm on October 7th, 1982 you forgot to wash the dishes!  Why are you getting mad at me for forgetting today?!" 

-You use black and white statements like 'you always' or 'you never:' "You ALWAYS forget to wash the dishes!" 

-You become passive aggressive: You expect your partner to read your mind. You expect them to know how you feel without your having to express it. 

-You use statements like, 'you're just like [insert person or thing here!]:' "You're just like my abusive ex-boyfriends' dog!" 

WHY IT'S LEGIT: Realistically it's probably going to be hard to catch yourself doing these things right away. It has been for me. If I'm arguing with my significant other, for example, I like to have him catch me mid-fight when I accidentally pull one of those moves above. It's annoying but it helps me wake up and realize that I'm just trying to win and be mean. 

ABOUT THERAPY THURSDAY: Join me every Thursday on my Instagram story (@domjoellehaikel) as I share with you a new tip/trick I learned in therapy over the years. If you can't catch the stories in time, look out for written recaps like these or on my 

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