How does marijuana effect the depressed?

[mrgorth]

I've been battling depression for over a year now. I'm on 3 different anti-depressants and something for sleep. I've never tried pot in 35 years. I know that a lot of my depression comes from worry and from being an intense person. I've been wondering if I could benefit from using pot. Any thoughts? I think it might chill me out.

[Zuni]

1. Depends

it could make you more depressed and cause paranoia. Or it could relax you and calm you down.

But the paranoid reactions can be severe

[stellanoir]

4. I agree with Zuni.

Though it can take the edge off and allow one to gain perspective it, like any other substance on the planet, can trigger different reactions in different people.

There is no way to know whether or not it will have an adverse reaction to what you're already on. Phamaceutical companies brilliantly generally don't list contra-indicators for illegal substances.

Ideally you could go to Amsterdam and have a paranoia free high.

The onus of illegality makes a rather enormous diff. Too bad about that.

[elehhhhna]

13. Ideally Amsterdam but it's mind-bending to be high in public

in another country. My brothers (one an accomplished burn-out, the other a reformed party-guy) were sooooo blown that they were embarassing me. Bill & Rob's Excellent Adventure. He he. Only the suburban Mom could handle herself. Yep.

[skypilot]

2. Good question.

Pot effects different people in different ways. I gave up smoking pot because it actually started to MAKE me depressed.

[wtbymark]

6. different effects

high quality pot can motivate, but can also spawn the paranoia
Low quality 'swag' can induce depression and lack of motivation
Plus the fact that everybody's chemistry is different so it will affect you differently (individually say)

My advice: Be Free, be 'at liberty' to experiment with your body
stick to high quality, become a connoisseur, then let us know how it went

Happy smokin'

[skypilot]

9. My days of experimenting are over.

I've had some high quality pot in my day and the result was just that I got depressed faster. I really used to enjoy pot but after awhile my reaction to it just changed. Oh well, it was good while it lasted.

[creeker]

65. there is strains out there that in part excellent highs

without the paranoia -----Weed is no different from any other seed---every variety is different -- the same as Tomatoes,Corn, Beans.etc.

[rd_kent]

55. Really?

You think the pot was to blame?

[Goldmund]

3. Using it a lot and often wouldn't help you

But using it ocassionally might open some psychological doors. Psychiatrically, chemically, it won't help. But psychologically it may. Since it's the farthest thing from being addictive, if I were you, I'd try it once or twice and see what it does to you. It won't hurt.

[htuttle]

5. I find that it chills me out

If you decide to give it a shot, it would probably be best if you were in familiar, safe surroundings -- ie., at home (with an ample supply of 'finger food') would be a good idea.

After 27 years of smoking it, I find the effect more subtle than drastic, but I suppose I'm just used to it by now.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

7. as previous posters have mentioned, it depends

personally, i have found it to be an "anti-depressent", but again that is just for me, it may not apply to you.

marijuana helps me to take kind of disconnect myself from my normal thoughts which can be quite refreshing especially if you are stuck in a rutt. basically it can change your perspective slightly, which for me it helps me lighten up and focus on things that really matter to me.

i have had many moments of clarity thanks to marijuana. but again that is just me, it effects people differently. some like it some don't. my partner doesn't smoke at all, it makes her feel paranoid and stupid.

it's effect on the user depends on your tolerance to it, i.e. a new user will get more "stoned" than a habitual user.

personally i would suggest giving it a try, but be sure that you are in a familiar and comforatable place. it may be nice to have someone you know try it with you.

[JesterCS]

67. I agree.

have a good friend come hang out, even if they dont smoke. Watch a movie, play cards, hell, sit outside and watch cars go by. Everything is fun whilst high =D

[The Devils Advocate]

8. Absolutely worth the try.

Depression is an unavoidable fact of life. Pot will ease depression at times, but it will not cure depression. For that, one needs to change one's expectations to conform with reality, and to learn patience. More often than not, pot will ease depression. It will fuck you up now and then, but exagerrating symptoms, but I think you will find that manageable if you get high with an experience person.

[disgruntled_goat]

10. interesting parallels

between you and i

after trying various anti depressants, i switched to pot a couple years ago. it works for me as an anti-depressant role, but there's a few caveats, especially if you are new to the weed.

feel free to PM me if you wanna talk more. i have been studying this field for a few years now, so hopefully my BS level is less than 100% ;)

my current favorite aspect to my progress herein is: I've been able to expand my perspective, which in turn has led me to develop better ways to cognitively deal with and prevent depression.
in other words, i'm getting better at dealing with life. I never had this progress with MAOIs or SSRIs or any of that Big Pharma horse pucky.

good luck!

[mrgorth]

12. Thanks all.

Now to just try some sometime.

[LittleOne13]

53. anti depressant marijuana

i am thinking about doing something with my life involving anti depressant marijuana...
well idk but i hope...

i know quiet a bit about marijuana it's self but would like to know more about if it helps the depressed.
how has it changed your life?

[SnowGoose]

11. You're on THREE different antidepressants?

and it's still not working? You might want to pause for a moment and take stock.

Antidepressants medications are all based on one fundamental premise - there's something physiological going on in your brain which can be altered in a positive way by the chemical.

But if you've tried 3 things and none of them is fixing your problem, it might be time to question the assumption (doesn't mean it's not true, just that you might want to be open to other possibilities).

Do you do psychotherapy as well? Do you have a counselor or therapist who uses 'cognitive behavioral' therapy? Importantly: do you exercise regularly? It sure is looking like exercise can help a great deal (as well as many drugs) but, like drugs, it takes a few weeks for the full effectiveness to become apparent.

As far as the cannabis goes, it just might make you feel better, but I see that you're also on medication for sleep. You should realize that while you may be able to fall asleep easily while stoned, cannabis does interrupt normal sleep 'architecture'. It reduces the amount of time you spend in REM sleep... that might end up being more of a drag on your mental state than a help.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't consider trying it... just remember, it's just another chemical (ok really a family of chemicals) - like the legal drugs you're already taking. Given your current lack of success in that area, you might want to be realistic about its chances of 'fixing what ails you'.

Best of luck, friend.

[nebenaube]

51. uh... hold on there, that's not quite correct

Acute use of cannabis does alter sleep architecture by reducing REM but then again that is exactly how the tricyclic antidepressants do their work. In chronic use the sleep architecture stabilizes with normal distributions of REM and Delta. The source is "Sleep Research" and if you demand it I will produce the specific citation.

[nebenaube]

56. not quite!

You should realize that while you may be able to fall asleep easily while stoned, cannabis does interrupt normal sleep 'architecture'. It reduces the amount of time you spend in REM sleep... that might end up being more of a drag on your mental state than a help.

Wrong... The only study of cannabis and sleep architecture shows that acute use of THC reduces REM but sleep architecture reverts to normal in chronic use.

Tri-cyclic antidepressants reduce REM; this reduction of REM is the mechanism that provides the anti-depressant effect. Unfortunately, REM sleep is required and will eventually express itself in a myriad of potentially unpleasant ways.

The last thing you want to be doing is hit the snooze button and going back to sleep on a regular basis. It's better to get up now and take a 45 min nap later while occasionally sleeping late on weekends. Expect to be depressed after a long sleep period but take the time to burn off any latent REM pressure. Avoid alcohol before bedtime, avoid caffeine in the evening.

[firefox]

14. Exercise is best

There is nothing better for rage than pot and plenty of people use it to help with depression. You should absolutely quit drinking alcohol as alcohol flushes seratonin from the brain, where depression is characterized by lack of seratonin. There is such a thing as alcohol-induced depression.

Dr. Weil says 6 weeks of exercise can cure depression, although it is about impossibe to take up exercise when depressed- http://www.drweil.com/u/Home/index.html

[kweerwolf]

15. From my own experience,

I found smoking pot in combination with an anti-depressant (I was on Pamelor at the time) was not a good combination. I always tended to be a rather mellow stoner, but when I got high in combination with the drug I sometimes suffered panic attacks and some form of paranoia ... usually in the form of feeling claustrophobic and having the need to get outside so i didn't have that 'the walls are closing in' sort of feeling. It was enough to make me give up pot for all but special occasions.

Pamelor is one of the earlier tricyclic anti-depressants. I've also taken Prozac, Wellbutrin and Paxil, but since I wasn't smoking pot at the time, I'm not sure what the side effects would be.

I do think it's an individual thing and one person's experiences won't necessarily be like the next person's because of varying qualities of pot and different ways our bodies react to the combo of pot and anti-depressants.

[Nikia]

16. Be careful about interactions with other drugs

Pot while used with tri cyclic anti depressents can increase the side effects of tri cyclics and possibly cause you serious physical/and or mental problems. I don't think that the other ones are quite as dangerous, but still be aware that these drugs can interact. If you are taking other drugs, marijuana will not affect you the same as someone who isn't taking anything.
If you have been taking this medication for a while and not better, it is best that you try something different. Talk to your doctor about therapy and/or different medications.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Zhade]

18. My evidence is strictly anecdotal, but - it helps my clinical depression.

My ADHD, too.

[I_like_chicken]

19. Dude, you can take all the drugs in the world, and you will still

be depressed. Drugs are a way of avoiding the real underlying issues that are the cause of your depression. I don't give a fuck what the doctors say, they're all manipulated by drug companies anyways. The only way to get over your depression is to face up to your fears and deal with them.

In that sense, maybe pot will help you. Smoking pot will make you deal with the underlying issues that are bothering you. Don't look to pot to avoid your pain, cause it will only make it worse.

[Djinn]

22. often the underlying issue

is that seratonin or dopamine is too quickly reabsorbed - no amount of therapy is EVER going to change that, you can't "face up" to depression it's not a fear, it's not being sad because certain things are "bothering you"

I'm all for people looking into ALL options to treat depression but the "all drug are bad because they're made by pharma's" is really unhelpful and sometimes drug's ARE the best treatment

[K-W]

25. All doctors I have known agree with you.

And always aim for a long term non-medicinal strategy to go along with short term medicinal mood stabilization. Then again, ive been lucky to have very good treatment.

[Digit]

20. I know from seeing your posts that you have split from your wife...

You go through a grieving process during times such as these because it is a loss.
Get into some counseling, and join a club to exercise and learn to feel good about yourself. Maybe even take dancing lessons.
The fact that she left you does not mean you are without value.
Do something that will help you feel a sense of accomplishment (exercise or dancing), and get the couseling so you can talk out how you FEEL about being left. You can work through this and become whole again.
Good luck to you...there is life on the other side of divorce.

[Nordmadr]

47. What this poster said and then some, but the

pot could help too. :)

Olafr

[Wizard777]

21. Somewhat helpful

It won't effectively relieve depression only make it more bearable. people with severe depression get anxiety attacks when the marijuana starts to wear off. My God Children have told me that some of the kids they go to school with use it to counteract the side effect of thier prescribed medicines like ritalin or antidepressants. It makes the medicine more bearable. Some will even refuse thier medicine without it. No weed = no meds.

[libodem]

23. ...don't worry

be happy:)

[K-W]

24. It has saved my life as far as I am concerned.

Without it, I probably wouldnt have made it through the many severe depressions and anxiety attacks I have weathered.

Certainly worth a try. Medicinally speaking the best bet is a fairly small dose orally ingested. Always start with a small dose and move up until you hit the desired effect. Oral ingestion helps with achieving a plateau without going overboard and impairing yourself mentally.

[Trish]

26. i think it helps.....

along with diet, exercise, and self acceptance.

[Heddi]

27. I've known three people who were very depressed

Severe depression, possibly? Two of them were bi-polar.

All three of them were really kind of not good when they smoked pot. One of the bi-polar friends of mine (We'll call him A) would get really paranoid and freaked out and think that people were staring at him, making fun of him, etc, when the reality was no one was doing anything to antagonize him. He wasn't very good with pot, and I don't know if it was his condition in and of itself, or MJ + the meds he was on.

Another of my bi-polar friends (We'll call her B) didn't really get an effect from smoking pot. Pot that would make my toenails curl would just leave her empty and unaffected.

My severely depressed friend (We'll call him C)also had bad expriences and would spiral into further depression, esp. if he smoked alone. That seemed to intensify boredom (which pot can do), which would intensify his feelings of lonliness, which would intensify his depression. I got many a phone calls from a very stoned "C" at 11pm after he smoked too much, friends left, and now he was feeling majorly depressed.

C was also a person who took his meds sporadically. Sometimes he would be on a med for 8 months, then just stop one day, be off meds for days, weeks, months, then back on for days, weeks, months. I know that just abruptly stopping some meds and then taking them again without doseage regulation can be bad for you physiologically, so who knows what caused his spiral--I only know that he was much worse off when he smoked than when he didn't.

--
I would suggest that if you do smoke pot, smoke it firstly around friends. Don't smoke too much at once---you may or may not 'feel it' right away. It may sneak up on you, it may hit you on your first hit...it depends.

Take it slow and see how you do with it. Plan to be around people that evening incase your body doesn't handle it so well.

Good luck. I know reefer definitely chills me out :)

[Dez]

28. Works wonders for me. n/t

[Heddi]

29. That's super.

my point was that it doesn't work for everyone, and if this is something the OP is interested in doing, the OP should do it the first few times in a safe environment to see what their reaction is going to be. It may be nothing, it may be bliss, it may be a full-blown anxiety attack. We don't know.

I know several non-depressed people who don't do well smoking pot. One goes into intense Asthma attacks. The other gets violently ill. Neither of these people smoke pot because of the effects it has on their body.

Every foreign substance introduced into the body (whether a pill, a drink, a food, a drug, etc) has the potential to react in different ways with different people.

[Asgaya Dihi]

30. Agreed

For the most part pot is low impact, but that doesn't cover everyone or every circumstance. If someone is already prone to any sort of emotional problems anything that plays with their emotional balance can cause a bad reaction. For some it may be soothing, but for others it be ugly. It is something to be pretty careful with.

If you've got reason for concern visit the following web page and read about how it might effect your condition first, then try it with help available if you choose to go in that direction. Site is run by Lester Grinspoon, M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry (Emeritus) at Harvard Medical School and James Bakalar, J.D., Lecturer in Law in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

RXMarijuana.com Welcome to Marijuana: The Forbidden Medicine
http://www.rxmarijuana.com/

Edit to add this...

for some reason I got a virus warning when visiting the site, JS/IllWill. Don't know if it's a false alarm or a real one, but you might want to skip the link if you're concerned. There's other medical marijuana sites as well, I'd guess some jerk hacked this one and they'll clean it up as soon as they know about it, I'll drop them a note on it now. Do a web search on the topic for now maybe.

[Heddi]

31. I think it also, in a small way, has to do with the potency of pot you're

dealing with.

Growing up in the South, the best you could get was dry, seed-filled dark brown junk that someone grew in a ditch behind their yard. You'd have to smoke ALOT to get anywhere near 'high'.

However, since moving to the Pacific Northwest, i've encountered THE best pot I've ever smoked in my life. My mom, who has been smoking since Jesus was born was blown off her chair by ONE hit of some rather mediocre reefer we had at the time.

A few years ago, my husband and I went to Vancouver, BC and met a really nice fellow in a coffeshop there who was more than willing to share what he had. He rolled a joint bigger than my thumb, and the three of us (he, my husband, and I) proceeded to smoke it.

After the 4th hit or so, I was flying. But I'd never smoked nothing like that before so I kept going, knowing it was probably to my detriment.

At the end of the joint, this guy is acting like he's not even feeling it---as for me, I had forgotten what my name was at that point.

A few minutes later he rolled a 2nd. We partook partially, and left the rest up to him.

No more than 10 minutes later he rolled ANOTHER joint. I couldn't believe this guy could even FUNCTION. I certainly couldn't.

We didn't partake on that one, thankfully. As it was getting late, and we had no idea where we were, we parted company and went back to walk to our hotel to 'come down'.

I don't remember that walk. I don't remember leaving the shop, actually. I do remember 'coming to' in an underground mall, no idea where we were, hubby TOTALLY out of it, and trying desperately to 'come down' enough to not look like two stoned Americans wandering the streets of Vancouver.

---

So I think alot has to do with the potency as well as your body's own physiology.

:)

[Dez]

32. Ahh, Vancouver..

my favorite city! I know it well.. and relate to walking the streets of Vancouver stoned .. have done it many times. I can't smoke as much as I did when I lived up there.. but it does help the depression.. hits the spot!

Not all medicines work for everybody .. but there is medicine out there for everybody, no matter what it is.. we just have to find our own medicine.. I'm glad I found mine ;-)

[Heddi]

33. I love my medicine :)

I mean (and I know this is totally off-topic to what the OP was asking), but HONESTLY..and I mean HONESTLY...I don't see any difference between me smoking a bowl at the end of the night as a 'night cap' and someone who has a gin and tonic or two after dinner to wind down.

No difference whatsoever, other than, you know, the whold getting drunk and hungover part.

I pose no threat to society. I don't go to school stoned. I don't go to work stoned. Equally, I don't go to school drunk and I don't go to work drunk. I drink and I smoke in the privacy of my own home, with my husband or friends (all of whom are upstanding members of society, professional adults, not pothead junky hippie teenagers). I don't drive stoned (hate it!).

But, according to some, I'm no better than someone who cooks up meth and sells it on the street.

argh.

The BEST time I've ever had was Amsterdam. Let me tell you, there is no sorrow greater than having to flush a few grams of fine hash & reefer down the toilet the day your flight leaves because you just couln't possibly smoke anymore. Sob. I've never flushed reefer before. I was so sad...I felt like I was flushing away a loved one :( ha ha

[RageFist]

34. I agree with Heddi

because I'm kind of like person C...I get bored and smoke alone and it does intensify the boredom. It also makes just hanging out doihng nothing seem ok, which isnt always good. If you get into it I would say space it out and don't smoke everyday...you'll start hating it if you do. So I would say it is definitely not an anti-depressant

[Dez]

35. It worked for me.

Several years ago, I took myself off my anti depressants, and smoked cannabis only, and I did this for a year, and it worked great for me. I think it's the same with cannabis as with these meds.. they don't all work for everybody. I can't afford to smoke it like I did then, so am back on the meds, which I get for free.

[Ariana Celeste]

36. Probably wouldn't want to smoke much while on meds, but

other than that, I will say this.

If your depression is caused by anxiety and stress, or if your depression causes anxiety and stress, smoking a little pot now and again would most likely help relieve it.

But I definitely wouldn't recommend it if you're on meds, you never know what could happen.

[Dez]

37. I smoke on meds

no negative reaction. When I run out of meds, and it takes a while to get them, cannabis rellieves the withdrawl from the anti depressant.

[Ariana Celeste]

38. Some people have no negative reaction

I didn't either. But, better safe than sorry. :)

And you're damned right about the withdrawal. Oy. :hi:

[Dez]

39. Cannabis is the safest drug there is

you can't OD, or die from withdrawl like alcohol.. it's extremely safe, and it's illegal because it's just so good, and the drug companies can't compete with a seed, plain and simple.. The alcohol companies lobby against it as well, since it's superior to any alcoholic product on the market.. it's all about the money. In Canada, it's legal medicine, but then they don't have the drug companies up there like we do. Always about money, that's America!

[Ariana Celeste]

40. You're exactly right

No argument from me! :7

[Nikia]

44. It can amplify side effects of tricyclic antidepressents

This can be dangerous not because marijuana is dangerous but because tricyclic antidepressents are dangerous. Some of these side effects are mental, systoms of psychosis, or circulatory, irregular heart beat. Knowledgeable psychiatrists will not prescribe them if they know that you smoke pot, but many people are afraid to be honest because of the war on drugs or fear that the doctor will want to treat addiction. Don't smoke pot if you use these drugs.
For anything else, many psychiatric drugs have side effects, some severe, for some people. Marijuana may interact with these drugs. If you have taken a psychiatric drug for a while and know its side effects for you, smoke pot and see how you feel. If everything is good, it will probably be alright for you to smoke. If you are just starting a new drug, you might want to lay off the pot until you know what the side effects are for you.
Again, it is not that marijuana is dangerous, but prescription drugs can be. You need to be careful about drug interaction. This goes for other drugs too. Be careful about taking cold medicine with prescription drugs too.

[psychonaut]

41. it has its benefits but you gotta do it right

generally, hallucinogens magnify whatever thoughts and feelings you have while you're on them. so if you're depressed, its going to make you more depressed. but if you use it when youre in a good mood (im sure you have them every now and then), it will help to further ingrain whatever thoughts and beliefs were going through your mind during the good mood. its a way of subconscious change. and its also incredibly powerful for introspection, i.e. finding out exactly WHY you're depressed so that you can change it. i know this has worked for me and substantially improved my own life, but i cant guarantee it will work for everyone. its something to look into.

hope that helps :)

[Dez]

42. I'm on disability for depression

and when I smoke while depressed, it will, within 30 seconds, lift my mood, and I will feel happy again, so I disagree with what you say about it enhancing whatever you're feeling at the time.. but perhaps because of my clinical depression, it works differently on me, who knows... I only know it works.

I have never smoked while depressed, and felt more depressed afterwards, or had more anxiety, etc. Cannabis is incredible medicine for so many people who suffer with so many different illnesses.. the drug companies will have our politicians keep it illegal as long as they can. It's up to us to out lobby our politicans and tell them ALL, Rep. AND Dems that they will lose a vote from us unless they vote for the people, rather than for the corporations which lobby them to keep it illegal.

[Mike K]

64. You're right.

But the problem is too many politically responsible Americans, mainly on the right, have been thoroughly indoctrinated by Reefer Madness propaganda. They believe pot is addictive, that it is a "gateway" to hard drug use and that it promotes irresponsible conduct.

[Nikia]

45. I need good context too

I tell people that marijuana is not a strong drug. It works with whatever is already there, unlike strong drugs that will induce a mood, no matter what you are feeling. Unfortunately, I haven't had good context for a while.
I suppose that for some people, it usually does improve ones moodsm especially if they associate it with being in a good mood.

[gulfcoastliberal]

43. I think it works

My dad is a well-respected pyschiatrist with over 45+ years of brain research working at the NIH/VA. He was planning (before being diagnosed with cancer) to do research on marijuana and depression. He said some pharmaceutical companies were interested. During the 60s/70s he did human research on marijuana and sleep. Gave people government grown pot and hash oil and recorded their brainwaves during sleep. He says it is the only compound that actually increases your stage-4 (delta-cycle) aka "deep sleep". Shit like Sonata and Ambien lessen delta wave sleep.

Hey, it's just a herb. People take that other herb St Johns Wort for depression. I'd say the marijuana herb is better.

[firefox]

46. New research in

http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21188.shtml This is about new research on what cannabis does for depression.

[Madspirit]

48. Love Pot

I am 52 and I suffer from bipolar, PTSD and depression. I am also medication resistant. I have had adverse reactions to almost every medication on the market. ...esp. the ones for bipolar. Smoking pot every day is about the only thing that keeps my head from spinning off and flying around the room. EVERY psychiatrist I have EVER known and I've seen so many fucking shrinks it would put Woody Allen to shame...has said they wish it was legal or at least could be prescribed.
Madspirit

[Union Thug]

49. Sleep..definately the best thing I've ever used to counteract the

insomnia.

Thank god for MJ!

[bamacrat]

50. Usually make me feel better when Im depressed.

Lightens the mood and takes your mind off things.

[maxsolomon]

52. it doesn't help - personal experience

but now that i'm in therapy, and practicing vipassana meditation, i can use it without issues.

i am not on any other drugs - i am more stressed than depressed.

[Mike K]

62. It would be more accurate to say it didn't help you.

And it should be noted that different types (strains) of marijuana produce different effects in varying degrees. It's hard to know what you have until you try it and unless you grow your own or buy from a trusted grower there will be occasional surprises.

[forum slut]

54. .

deleted

[jmc]

57. Xanax XR

Have you considered Xanax XR? I have dealt with depression since junior high (30 now). I take anti-depressants and they weren't really helping. If you are considering marijuana, try Xanax XR. I don't recommend going on the regular Xanax, it is extremely short acting. I take one in the morning, and the anxiety from my depression is gone. It could cause the exact opposite to happen and make your depression worse, just like marijuana. Talk to your doctor about Xanax XR. I take 2 2mg per day. You won't have to worry about the ridiculous drug laws if you get caught with the mj and it is something that has worked for a lot of us.

Good luck, while I can't say I understand what you are going through, I do understand some of the feelings and effects that come with depression and I sincerely hope you can dig your way out of it.

I hope this helps,
John

[jmc]

58. Holy Crap, Sorry.

I didn't see how old this thread was. Sorry I brought it back up. I hope you worked things out. Good luck all the same.

[rantormusing]

59. Don't smoke to treat depression.

It can really make it worse, the paranoia the crushing thoughts reaffirming the scenarios your smoking to avoid. You start feeling bad, and you worry over and over again. Don't do it.


Unless you have people over, or a list of things you were going to work on once you smoked.

[Mike K]

61. Everyone doesn't react the same way.

[Mike K]

60. There is no way to anticipate your reaction -

- to marijuana. While most people react in pretty much the same way, which is to become pleasantly relaxed, cerebral and pensive, others become morbidly depressed and I once saw a really big guy become agitated and extremely paranoid after just a few hits of some rather potent bud. So the only way to know for sure how it will affect you is to experiment, but do so only in the company of trusted and savvy friends.

I think it's worth giving it a try because it could be just what you need.

[wildbilln864]

63. I get very depressed sometimes and a fatty always....

changes my state of mind and the way I'm looking at a certain situation. It definitely helps me. Can't speak for others.

[JesterCS]

66. you have to find that happy medium,

The first few times I smoked by myself, I.... overdosed I guess you could say and I had an anxiety attack, followed by vomiting.

My tip. Take a Xanax or other anti-anxiety pill right before you smoke.

I have severe depression and social anxiety disorder, and Marijuana helps immensely with both.