To smoke or not to smoke? (anxiety)

[in_esse]

Hi all newbie here.

I have trawled forums and message boards all day today and decided that this forum seemed the best one to get some honest advice. As it doesnâ??t seem to be a â??cannabis rules all other theories are unwelcomeâ?� bored. And its some honest advice I am looking for.

I used to smoke cannabis quite heavily when I was 14 till I was about 17-18 I loved it, it never made me feel ill like drinking did! Then I became pregnant and gave it all up. I am 27 now so that is a lot of years of not smoking.

Okay now here is the tricky part. After my son was born I developed anxiety attacks although I am sure I had them a little before that I just never understood what they were. From a young age I suffered from social anxiety and depression ( pre cannabis) although I would really have panic attacks I would just go to great lengthâ??s to avoid situations I knew I would feel â?? uncomfortableâ?� in. So during the time I was smoking I was probably masking a lot of my depression and I cant remember having an anxiety attack the whole time I was smoking.

Anyway over the last few years my depression and anxiety has got worse. I have a true phobia of being sick because of this and my stress levels being so high I am now two stone underweight I have no appetite at all! I wont take any anti depressants, as I donâ??t like a lot of the side effects that come with them. The doctor has offered me valium and similar drugs but I am wary of taking them.

18 months ago I met up with an old friend from my smoking days and he is still a smoker.

The point of this post is that I have been seriously tempted to pick up a joint and see if it provided me any relief of this almost constant state of anxiety. I have looked up cannabis and anxiety for hours and its so contradictory. Some people who suffer from anxiety swear by it, others blame it for them being that way in the first place. Others say that it provides temporary relief but only adds to the problem long term. Although to be honest with the difficulty sleeping, anxiety attacks and sore muscles from being constantly tense it doesnâ??t feel like things can get any worse! I suppose itâ??s the same as anything it affects people in different ways and maybe I wont know until I try! â?¦. I did tryâ?¦ I had a few pulls on my other halfâ??s joint last night, being anxious already I was most defiantly concerned about what it would do to me but to be honest I was fine! I felt a lot more relaxed I had that big smile on my face and the giggles for about half hour. Later that evening something happened that would normally have me sent me into a panic. The fear was still there but it was like my body did not really react. I didnâ??t get the sweats I didnâ??t feel sick. My breathing remained nice and calm. I went to bed and even though my brain was telling me I was anxious I fell straight to sleep and didnâ??t wake up until the alarm went off ( LOVELY)

Thing is with existing anxiety and a family history of mania, Leading to concerns of cannabis psychosis, or it at least increasing my chances of following in my mothers footsteps (scary thought) am I just making a big, big , big mistake?

Thing is after the nice relaxed feeling i had last night i do really fancy trying cannabis to control some of my anxiety!
I know there is no definite answer but what do you guys think?

Cher

[thcbongman]

I have anxiety and I deal with it in multiple ways.

If you look at the conventional medicine they use to relief anxiety, xanax, it just makes you tired and drained. It's not stuff you really want to take everyday. It's all different for everybody, but weed does help suppress it, but can also cause it in some people. Really the best way to deal with anxiety is to throw yourself in social situations to get use to it and overcome it. It's tough, but dealing with your problems face-on is really the only way you can cope with them.

[in_esse]

Problem is i am getting anxiety at home all the time just randomly! I can be sat watching t.v feeling okay then BAM! Nice big dose of anxiety. I dont even need to be confronted with my fears they just seem to follow me about and i'm at that point where i am sooooo tired and drained with it all!
Cher xx

[thcbongman]

That's where I use the weed, or once in a blue moon, Xanax :) You should try it out, but for some it increases anxiety and paranoia.

I also meditate to calm down the nerves. With a little practice, it'll do a lot of good to clear your mind and bring a sense of calm. Also some mood-lifting music is helpful.

[Iplaybass182]

can someone explain what aniexty feels like. I think I might have it or something.

[robert42]

hey i too suffer from anxiety check out this thread... http://boards.cannabis.com/strains-seeds/102691-specific-med-strains-specific-uses-nice-list.html

[xmordeciax]

To smoke or not to smoke... should this even be a questions...
SMOKE!!!

[stinkyattic]

I smoke for my anxiety.
I was seeing a shrink who put me on celexa for panic attacks, and it worked, but made me develop this who-gives-a-fuck attitude and I was TOO chilled.
Then I quit the celexa to deal with the fun project of booting my boyfriend.. had to get some scrappiness back, lol.
I still smoked and realized that the anxiety never returned!
Then I had to quit smoking for a little while and after a week or so I started getting a bit anxious again.
My advice is AVOID sativas like the plague if you are smoking to calm yourself.
I smoke right before bed every 2-3 days and it helps for me.
It's a homegrown line based heavily on Afghanis, but I've been breeding it down for a couple years from plants that have a nice effect on me personally.
Anyway best of luck and I DO also recommend talking to a nice helpful therapist who can sort of guide you through the whole thing.

[xmordeciax]

I smoke for my anxiety.
I was seeing a shrink who put me on celexa for panic attacks, and it worked, but made me develop this who-gives-a-fuck attitude and I was TOO chilled.
Then I quit the celexa to deal with the fun project of booting my boyfriend.. had to get some scrappiness back, lol.
I still smoked and realized that the anxiety never returned!
Then I had to quit smoking for a little while and after a week or so I started getting a bit anxious again.
My advice is AVOID sativas like the plague if you are smoking to calm yourself.
I smoke right before bed every 2-3 days and it helps for me.
It's a homegrown line based heavily on Afghanis, but I've been breeding it down for a couple years from plants that have a nice effect on me personally.
Anyway best of luck and I DO also recommend talking to a nice helpful therapist who can sort of guide you through the whole thing.

That sounds great you gonna put some seeds on seedbay?

[stinkyattic]

That sounds great you gonna put some seeds on seedbay?

Not for a couple years, if at all.
I'd have to get it more stabilized first.
Too much phenotypic variation atm.

[Mrs. Greenjeans]

but made me develop this who-gives-a-fuck attitude and I was TOO chilled.
LOL! That happened to my mom when she took Serzone. Celexa made me horny. Cymbalta made me suicidal.

[EbelEyes]

It makes my anxiety completely go away.

If thats what it even is.

But as for depression, Cannabis only comforts it...