Italy's Packed, and We're All Craving Something

July 1, 2025

Good afternoon everyone.

Lately, it feels like everyone is in Italy. Friends, acquaintances, and even strangers I’ve bumped into are just returning from or soon heading to Rome, Florence or the Amalfi Coast. A childhood friend is there now with her adult sons, documenting every gelato and boat ride on Facebook. Over the weekend, there was a little wedding in Venice, you may have heard about it.

On the flip side – I’ve also read countless stories of Italians fed up with the tourist overload. Is there a happy medium? This little southern Italian town is trying to attract more visitors with beautiful street murals – and it’s working!

(Image credit: Luciano Magaldi Sardella via SWNS)

No list today, just straight to it.

Mental Health Roundup

💸 More stress = more risk. When we’re stressed we make riskier decisions. Why? Simply put, stress makes us care less about potential loss vs. potential gain. The best advice – don’t make major money decisions when you’re overwhelmed.

🍄 There's a fungus among us. A WVU student discovered a new fungus hiding in morning glory plants. These ergot alkaloids have psychedelic properties that could potentially be used to treat some mental health or neurological conditions. Don’t go eating your flowers just yet though – they can be toxic and have unwanted side effects.

🫟 Don't be so quick to judge that tattoo. Have you ever made assumptions about someone based on their tattoos? Research says those snap judgements often miss the mark, except when it comes to “wacky” tattoos. People with quirky tattoos tend to be more open and adventurous.

🧬 Early puberty may boost mental health risks. Kids who hit puberty early (before age 8 in girls and 9 in boys) may face higher risk of certain mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and ADHD.

Eating disorders

🥗 What's the difference between an eating disorder or disordered eating? Disordered eating = negative attitudes and behaviors about food and eating patterns. Eating disorder = a diagnosable mental illness with more complex issues like body image and obsessive thoughts, seriously disrupting everyday life. Either way, if you see the signs, get help!

🛠️ Eating disorder criteria may need a refresh. Current diagnostic tools are missing a lot of behaviors like chewing gum, smoking, and even eating cotton balls. Researchers want to update assessment tools to catch what’s slipping through the cracks.

👏🏼 TikTok bans #SkinnyTok. European regulators shut down the toxic #SkinnyTok hashtag for glorifying extreme thinness and disordered eating. We do not need influencers pushing low calorie diets and “What I eat in a day” posts to teens. Ick.

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Addiction/Substance Use

🌿 THC gummies and vapes stay legal in Texas. Because of a loophole – you can still legally get high in Texas. Governor Greg Abbott blocked a proposed ban on THC edibles and vapes. Recreational use is still illegal and medical weed is very limited, but many agree allowing certain THC products brings jobs and benefits small businesses.

🚫 But.. vaping of THC, CBD and other synthetic cannabinoids is increasing among teens. What’s scary is the danger of synthetic products – you really don’t know what you’re getting.

🍷 Alcohol cravings may spike during your cycle. Hormone shifts during the menstrual cycle may increase alcohol cravings, and may influence the risk of binge-drinking in women.

🍭 Can sweets be addictive? Bet you can’t eat just one – cookies, donuts, candy – whatever it may be, craving the sweet, sugary stuff may mimic the patterns of other addictions. Scientists are developing a food addiction scale (FFSAS) to study our emotional triggers to certain foods.

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Wellness

🌱 Last week I mentioned how Kraft Heinz is saying good-bye to artificial dyes. Now, Nestle, General Mills and a growing list of companies are joining the club. Great news for our guts!

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Etc.

📚 Is the college major outdated? With rising costs and dropping enrollment, colleges in the U.S. are feeling the pressure. The solution? Some are pushing for degree in 3 years instead of 4, others say revamping the “major” model to include multiple disciplines is the way of the future. Flexibility is key.

✍️ Journaling

Some prompts to reflect on this week’s topics:

🔹 What’s the last time you made a rush decision? How did that turn out?

🔹 Have you ever made assumptions based on how someone looks?

🔹 What foods do you crave the most? How do those cravings connect to your emotions?

🎧 Good Mood Tunes

Kicking off this week with a sweet classic…

That’s it for this week, peeps! Have a good week, and stay curious!

I hope you enjoyed this mental health roundup! Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below or share with a friend! ❤️