I Don't Wanna Quit But I Might Have To?!?!

[blackbarbie]

I'm scared!!! I think weed might be making me crazy.

Just to give u a little background....I've been smoking on/off for about 3 years but recently this year I've become a heavy user. I stopped smoking for a month in August and I'm smoking now again.

Anyways, my thoughts are weird now and I don't feel like I think the same way anymore. Lately when I smoke it's not even enjoyable anymore. I get depressed, scared, and think I'm psychotic...Do u think weed might be making me seriously crazy or is it all in my head? I have been kinda stressed out and I smoke alone for the most part.

Another question: If someone does have psychosis, can they get rid of it?

[xtreme23]

i think you should take a break for a month and try it again.. if it keeps happening it cud either be in your head or something might be wrong

[geonagual]

I am no professional..so I really cant give any good advice. but here is some good rep to make you feel better...take care

[birdgirl73]

How old are you, Barbie, and have you ever had any such symptoms before under any circumstances? By psychotic, do you mean you're having delusions and possibly seeing and hearing things, like voices, that aren't really there?

I think the recommendation to take a break is a good one. See what happens and see if that makes you feel better and more normal. If not, it might be time to get a professional evaluation to see what a psychiatric professional thinks.

[birdgirl73]

P.S. In answer to your question, psychosis, when it's caused by medicinal substances--and there are several types that can do that--is usually temporary once those substances are out of people's systems. A friend of mine, for instance, had a psychotic reaction once when she was on heavy doses of a steroidal antiinflammatory, which affects some people that way. As she went off the med and her body excreted it, she got better. In those studies that have been done with THC and psychotic aggravation, those effects are generally temporary, too. THC can take a while to clear, however, especially after heavy use. So give it time.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Anybody in your family with issues of mental illness? Particularily schizophrenia, psychosis, bi-polar, that sort of thing? The main theories around why cannabis can aggrivate pre-clinical mental conditions is because of the stimulation of dopamine.

I don't know why, though, in such a case nicotine wouldn't do the same. Just out of curiosity, does anybody know how dopaminergic responses differ with nicotine as compared to tetrahydrocannabinol? Or am I just entirely too stoned right now?:stoned:

[2theMOON]

<<< I think Gandolf is just too stoned to make a clear dissision :smokin:

[beachguy in thongs]

You can always try smoking more weed. Maybe, some people have genetically-defective cannabinoid receptors, or maybe, your's are too sensitive. Either way, one hit will do you. If not, get better weed.

As for psychosis


The link between cannabis use and psychosis has been studied intensively and debated hotly for decades. The authors review the research that has been done on the topic, including the studies which produced evidence of a relationship between the two phenomena, and give a detailed analysis of the hypotheses about the nature of the link (the direction of causality). According to the reviewed literature an increased prevalence of cannabis use can be found in the schizophrenic population. The use of the drug is associated with a worse prognosis and an earlier onset of schizophrenia. However, findings about the possible effect of cannabis use on the specific symptoms of schizophrenia have been contradictory. An association has also been observed between cannabis use and schizotypal personality traits, but evidence for a specific, cannabis induced functional psychosis is still lacking. Based on the data of longitudinal studies, cannabis use should be recognized as a risk factor for later psychosis. The abuse of the drug increases the likelihood of later psychotic symptoms especially among individuals with vulnerability or when the use starts in early adolescence. At the same time, the role of self-medication or a common genetic background cannot be excluded either, and a circular causality is very possible.

Psychiatr Hung. 2007;22(2):145-162.
[The role of cannabis use in psychosis.]

[mikeyjo]

Smoking if already depressed will make the feeling worse. Feeling isolated...? don't smoke, it won't help at all.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Smoking if already depressed will make the feeling worse. Feeling isolated...? don't smoke, it won't help at all.

I agree with you to a point my good man, but you're making far too much of a blanket statement. Different effects for different people and whatnot, some find quite the opposite to what you describe.


<<< I think Gandolf is just too stoned to make a clear dissision

lol, yeah I was pretty much baked into total reefer madness last night:stoned:

[blackbarbie]

i'm 18.

the weird thing is, it never used to be like this. i used to looove smoking and never had any of these problems like anxiety and feeling depressed.

often i will hear voices and think someone is talking to me or talking in the background, and it turns out that no one said anything. it's only happened when i was either high or coming off of a weed binge. also, i dont sleep as much as i should that may have something to do with it.

as far as i know, no one in my family has mental illness. my dad is depressed, but we know the cause of that (nothing genetic)..oh now that i think of it, there is an uncle on my dad's side that are mentally handicapped. but they are severly retarded (sorry if that offends!) - does that count?

thanks for all the advice & rep!
xoxo

[mikeyjo]

I agree with you to a point my good man, but you're making far too much of a blanket statement. Different effects for different people and whatnot, some find quite the opposite to what you describe.

True. My bad for generalizing. I have experienced both sides of the coin though, and although VERY RARE, smoking has every now and then brought me down further.

But i wouldn't blame it, more my state of mind/being at the time.

[mikeyjo]

often i will hear voices and think someone is talking to me or talking in the background, and it turns out that no one said anything. it's only happened when i was either high or coming off of a weed binge. also, i dont sleep as much as i should that may have something to do with it.

I get paranoia sometimes after having smoked. Thinking I hear things and what not. Making sure all the doors are locked tends to remedy that hehe. My sig other looks at me weird when I say "what" and she didn't say anything.

Of course it could just be the popo and big brother injecting things into your head via sats and cell towers. A tin hat helps with that.
j/k :p.

[robo scat]

Barbie. I have the exact same symptoms you have, all of them.
I'm prescribed to Concerta and Protonix and I don't get enough sleep.
To top it all off, I'm stressed due to school, college shit, and health problems.

I honestly think a combination of those things and the heavy use of cannabis just aren't working together. I'm considering stopping Concerta and taking a break from smoking, just to cancel out the possibility that it's a mental problem.
Over the last few months I've learned that anxiety and stress can cause or simulate health problems and really fuck with your head. Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. It already seems to be improving for me. :)

Edit: Not to mention I recently quit smoking cigarettes, which may have something to do with it.