Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 578938

Shown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Response to Marijuana

Posted by zarathustra on November 15, 2005, at 11:24:17

I have struggled with depression and possibly ADD for most of my life. Antidepressants no longer work at 30.

When I smoke marijuana, my experience seems to be PROFOUNDLY different from the norm, its almost paradoxical. I seem to be able to think "clearly", that is, I am able to realize things about my life and existence that I am not capable of otherwise. However the anxiety is overwhelming and I feel as though I am psychotic...thoughts are broken, memory is useless, my heart races, and I have disturbingly creative thoughts. I will cry one minute, then get angry or laugh the next. Also, I seem to have an emotional hangover the next day and I get very depressed.
Why do I smoke it you ask? Well it breaks up the monotony of life I guess.

I am wondering if a persons response to Marijuana can be indicative of underlying chemical problems, or can help me to finally diagnose myself definatively. I have heard it can trigger psychotic episodes; why?
Are the receptors for marijuana linked with the ones for depression?

Thanks
Andrew

 

Re: Response to Marijuana

Posted by med_empowered on November 15, 2005, at 17:18:44

In reply to Response to Marijuana, posted by zarathustra on November 15, 2005, at 11:24:17

hey! OK, the whole marijuana/psychosis thing is a little unclear...some studies say it is a risk factor for schizophrenia, others say its probably not...I dont really know what to think of it. I mean, on the 1 hand, I could see it happeneing but...there's been a substantial increase in marijuana use long term over the whole 20th century, and particularly since the 50s (first the 60s, then the 70s made pot popular...now its incredibly common place). Yet...there hasn't been any major increase in the overall rate of schizophrenia diagnosis. So..I don't know. Plus, there is some indication that people with depression, bipolar, and schizophrenia can actually get benefits from pot; with depression and bipolar, it stabilizes mood and reduces depression...with schizophrenia, it *can* help with depression and the negative symptoms (or cause problems...tricky bag).

As for using your pot experiences to diangose a disorder...I dont think that would really work. I mean, lots of people without any sort of obvious mental disorder will have problems with pot, and many people with severe disorders will LOVE pot and will find that it helps their mood and what not.

I wouldn't worry about your response to pot. There's no really "standard" response, given all the variables that could affect it.

 

Re: Response to Marijuana

Posted by blueberry on November 15, 2005, at 17:27:50

In reply to Response to Marijuana, posted by zarathustra on November 15, 2005, at 11:24:17

I can relate to what you are saying. Been there done that.

It's just my opinion, and no one really knows, but I believe what you describe is dopamine hypofunction. Marijuana increases dopamine by about 6 times normal levels. The initial rush gives you the goodness, but then it becomes overload giving the paranoia and psychoticness stuff. And in any case, it is only short lived. The depression the next day is from the dopamine levels falling off dramatically as they return to baseline levels. Serotonin and norepinephrine could be partially at play, but it's my opinion that it is mostly dopamine related.

Just my thoughts though. I could be all wrong.

 

Re: Response to Marijuana

Posted by Phillipa on November 15, 2005, at 22:09:24

In reply to Re: Response to Marijuana, posted by blueberry on November 15, 2005, at 17:27:50

Tried it once and was high for twenty four hours. Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: Response to Marijuana » Phillipa

Posted by ed_uk on November 17, 2005, at 13:44:26

In reply to Re: Response to Marijuana, posted by Phillipa on November 15, 2005, at 22:09:24

LOL! Did you enjoy it?

Ed xx

 

Re: Response to Marijuana

Posted by med_empowered on November 17, 2005, at 17:57:25

In reply to Re: Response to Marijuana » Phillipa, posted by ed_uk on November 17, 2005, at 13:44:26

hmmm...so, when I smoke pot, i often get anxious...BUT the day or two afterwards are NICE--I feel mellowed out and calm. Plus, when I'm feeling really slowed down and what not, pot perks me up for a bit, and I still get that warm and fuzzy feeling the next day. What gives? I have weird responses to stimulants, so I've often thought that my dopamine levels might be different from other people's, but I dont really know.

 

yep me too.... (well not anymore, ROFL)

Posted by spriggy on November 17, 2005, at 20:35:27

In reply to Re: Response to Marijuana, posted by med_empowered on November 17, 2005, at 17:57:25

I was a wild teenager.

Pot made me feel very, very weird.

I didn't like it. All my friends' seemed happy, giddy, laughy on it. I felt weird/freaked out/like I was disappearing or floating away.

I would think, " Why is this fun for everyone BUT me?" LOL

Then I discovered 2 large BudLights made me feel about how my friends' felt on pot and that became my vice until I got pregnant at 16.

Now, I just pray, take warm baths, and Klonopin. ROFL

No pot for me... never did like it.

 

Re: Response to Marijuana » ed_uk

Posted by Phillipa on November 17, 2005, at 21:40:30

In reply to Re: Response to Marijuana » Phillipa, posted by ed_uk on November 17, 2005, at 13:44:26

I enjoyed it more than anything I ever tried. Felt like I was flying in an airplane driving home. The guy I smoked it with showed me how. Only let me take two tokes on it with beer. He asked me to dance in his apartment and when he touched my back I felt feelings I'd never felt before Never had I wanted to jump in bed with someone more and have wonderful sex. Unfortunately I realized I didn't even like him so I didn't. Today I wish I had. It would have been wonderful. Whenever I tell anyone of this they say the pot had something added to it. Fondly, PJ O

 

Re: Response to Marijuana » Phillipa

Posted by ed_uk on November 18, 2005, at 13:55:35

In reply to Re: Response to Marijuana » ed_uk, posted by Phillipa on November 17, 2005, at 21:40:30

Hi PJ

Perhaps you should try pot again LOL!

ED xx

 

Re: Response to Marijuana » ed_uk

Posted by Phillipa on November 18, 2005, at 19:13:06

In reply to Re: Response to Marijuana » Phillipa, posted by ed_uk on November 18, 2005, at 13:55:35

Oh Ed you made me laugh! Love PJ O

 

Re: Response to Marijuana » Phillipa

Posted by ed_uk on November 19, 2005, at 7:41:29

In reply to Re: Response to Marijuana » ed_uk, posted by Phillipa on November 18, 2005, at 19:13:06

I guess that's good!!!

Ed xxx

 

Re: Response to MarijuanaBlueberry

Posted by Jimmyboy on November 21, 2005, at 12:56:45

In reply to Re: Response to Marijuana, posted by blueberry on November 15, 2005, at 17:27:50

I think Blueberry's post wqas very interesting, b/c that sort of explains my response to it..

I smoked pot regularly for two years in high school and when I first started , I loved it , was very relaxed and was very social when I used it and the longer I used it I became slowly more and more paranoid and almost anti-social. So I quit for about ten years and was actually scared to smoke it. ( all of my friends smoked and always offered it)

Well ten years down the road I started dating a girl that smoked all of the time , so I gradually started smoking more and more and the same pattern has developed. Hmm..

Does anyone know how long it would take to get it "out of your brain" and get back to normal?


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