avacado Posted October 5, 2013 Posted October 5, 2013 I used to smoke weed often when I was a teenager but in the many years since then, I almost never use it. Last night at a concert, I was looking bored so a friend offered me a "chill pill", an indica blend that she insisted would get rid of my anxiety. It certainly made the show more enjoyable, but then 4+ hours later, lying in bed, I'm in the midst of a full blown anxiety attack that won't seem to end. I had virtually no attention span and I'd imagine the ways I've failed in life or screwed up, and how my friends probably secretly hate me and talk about me, extremely paranoid and intense stuff. This is what weed does to me. I'm not normally like that. I'll smoke it very rarely, only after a trusted friend insists that this particular strain will be good for me. And I wind up a wreck, every time. But I do see the benefit that weed can give, it allows you to examine your life from a different perspective and make better choices. So I don't want to just avoid using it entirely. Anyone else have similar experiences with weed, and learned to enjoy it somehow?
NGC1300 Posted October 5, 2013 Posted October 5, 2013 Weed can prompt anxiety attacks in people, regardless of the strain. If I smoke alone; I feel relaxed. If I attempt to smoke in a social setting, I will have a full-blown panic attack. It's quite remarkable how the same drug can effect the same person in a whole different manner, depending on the setting.
Phoe Posted October 5, 2013 Posted October 5, 2013 Yes. Everytime I tried it in college it made me jittery and anxious, so I don't bother with trying it anymore. 1
Blastoplast Posted October 5, 2013 Posted October 5, 2013 Indica shouldn't give you anxiety attacks, it's supposed to relieve anxiety. Perhaps marijuana just isn't your thing -- the only thing I could suggest is trying different methods of imbibing: vaporizers, hash, or candies. If you have access you could experiment with different strains and make note of their effects on you.
mea_M Posted October 6, 2013 Posted October 6, 2013 Could never tolerate that stuff. LMAO first. Second came the bright idea that I was going to save the world. Third, eating like mad then sudden paranoia looking out windows. Someone going to get ya thinking.:laugh: Not for me. Mea:)
PogoStick Posted October 6, 2013 Posted October 6, 2013 Cannabis is well known to increase anxiety and panic attacks. Don't listen to the idiots about different strains. It's still weed. It's like saying a lager beer wakes you up but a stout makes you sleepy. I'm pro weed btw, but the drug culture is full of myths perpetuated by idiots.
HeartDesires Posted October 6, 2013 Posted October 6, 2013 Gosh how I wish I could enjoy smoking weed and get a nice buzz. I really, really tried to like it. But every time the same thing happens - I just end up sitting in a chair looking and feeling stupid.
whichwayisup Posted October 7, 2013 Posted October 7, 2013 I used to smoke weed often when I was a teenager but in the many years since then, I almost never use it. Last night at a concert, I was looking bored so a friend offered me a "chill pill", an indica blend that she insisted would get rid of my anxiety. It certainly made the show more enjoyable, but then 4+ hours later, lying in bed, I'm in the midst of a full blown anxiety attack that won't seem to end. I had virtually no attention span and I'd imagine the ways I've failed in life or screwed up, and how my friends probably secretly hate me and talk about me, extremely paranoid and intense stuff. This is what weed does to me. I'm not normally like that. I'll smoke it very rarely, only after a trusted friend insists that this particular strain will be good for me. And I wind up a wreck, every time. But I do see the benefit that weed can give, it allows you to examine your life from a different perspective and make better choices. So I don't want to just avoid using it entirely. Anyone else have similar experiences with weed, and learned to enjoy it somehow? If you suffer from anxiety, do NOT smoke up at all. It enhances your negative feelings and makes you more aware of what you feel..SO if you're anxious and feeling it inside, it'll feel much worse when you're high. Those days are over. Stop allowing your friends to bully you into doing that! You know your body can't handle it and you end up suffering. For what? To please them and not let them down? Just say no man, it's not worth it.
hinatticus Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 If you build tolerance up. And I mean a high tolerance. Like a gram a day type thing, you will have zero anxiety and zero paranoia. Just a nice mellow feeling. I used to smoke like that but I quit. Whenever I have some now ill get those anxious feelings. It's like anything really, build up a tolerance and you can handle it better. When I was a teenager I'd puke every time I drank, not anymore. Haha.
almond Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 Cannabis is well known to increase anxiety and panic attacks. Don't listen to the idiots about different strains. It's still weed. It's like saying a lager beer wakes you up but a stout makes you sleepy. I'm pro weed btw, but the drug culture is full of myths perpetuated by idiots. Different strains definitely do different things - I don't think that statement makes me an idiot? Some are known to reduce anxiety in many people. Some people just do not tolerate cannabis well at all, regardless of the strain. Drugs affect people differently, simple. The drug culture is definitely full of myths and often dangerous misinformation, but different strains having different effects certainly isn't one of them. The differences between Indicas vs. Sativas for example, are well documented. Low or high THC and CBN/CBD producing a different high is hardly a myth either.
Keenly Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 I'm going to go ahead and say no, that's never happened to me .
KathyM Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 Weed is actually a depressant, just like alcohol is, and numbs the body, reduces energy level, negatively affects ability to think and concentrate, and takes away motivation. 1
almond Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 Weed is actually a depressant, just like alcohol is, and numbs the body, reduces energy level, negatively affects ability to think and concentrate, and takes away motivation. Blanket statements are usually imprecise to some extent, but this one is incorrect in so many ways.
KathyM Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 Blanket statements are usually imprecise to some extent, but this one is incorrect in so many ways. Sorry, but I took a psychopharmacology class in college, and we studied the effects of the various drugs, both illegal drugs and legal drugs. Weed is a depressant to the body. It has the effects I mentioned. Some of my therapy clients smoke weed. The effects I listed are what they are experiencing, and my supervisor, who has been a licensed therapist for over 20 years, also told me weed acts as a depressant on the body. 1
KathyM Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 Cannabis (marijuana) | Better Health Channel The above article I posted also confirms that weed is a depressant, and can also cause psychosis.
hinatticus Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 When I smoked weed I used it to motivate me. Then again it's all about tolerance. I used to go jogging after coming home from the bar when I was drunk. Also weed for me enabled me to think differently. Open new doors in the mind as they say. But then again, everything affects everybody differently. Some people get hammered and dumb after 3 beers. Others can drink a 24 and be happy go lucky.
almond Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 (edited) Sorry, but I took a psychopharmacology class in college, and we studied the effects of the various drugs, both illegal drugs and legal drugs. Weed is a depressant to the body. It has the effects I mentioned. Some of my therapy clients smoke weed. The effects I listed are what they are experiencing, and my supervisor, who has been a licensed therapist for over 20 years, also told me weed acts as a depressant on the body. No need to apologise I'm not going to get into dick-sizing re: credentials, but a single psychopharmacology class is not relevant to this discussion. Neither is being a qualified therapist that has clients that smoke cannabis. I apologise for not being more thorough in my first response. I'll go back to your initial post and provide some more information: Weed is actually a depressant This statement is overly-simplistic, and incorrect. Cannabis is not classified as a depressant. It clearly exhibits stimulant, psychedelic and depressant properties. Not only can it not be classified as a depressant, but it is a far cry from being a depressant "just like alcohol is!!" just like alcohol is This is the statement I took the most issue with. Even after doing only one pharmacology class, you should be able to understand that the mechanisms of action are completely different. They are two entirely different drugs, and are not related in any way. This is just completely incorrect. I am more than happy to provide further information on this point if you wish, but a simple google search should enable you to understand this quite quickly. and numbs the body, reduces energy level, negatively affects ability to think and concentrate, and takes away motivation. Whilst the above quoted effects are not entirely incorrect, they are incorrect in that context. It is a blanket statement, and demonstrates a lack of knowledge of the wide range of common effects that cannabis actually has: It does the exact opposite of numbing the body quite often actually, but certain strains can be useful for pain relief. It can cause a "numbing" effect to some extent, but again, blanket statement that does not apply across the board by any means. The reduction in energy level is also only applicable in some circumstances, and this is evident in any literature re: proven stimulant properties of cannabis. The negative effects on ability to think and concentrate wear off after the high does. They do not carry over or become permanent. This also only applies to some users while high - many use cannabis to help them study. There are a lot of studies that have been done on this, and examination of very heavy users has shown no evidence that cannabis adversely affects concentration or memory long term after cessation of use. The reduction in motivation can be relevant. A symptom resembling amotivational syndrome has been identified in chronic users (symptoms cease relatively shortly after stopping use), but this only applies to adolescents - adults are not affected by this symptom. There may be other factors at play that reduce motivation in chronic users of any substance, of course. So while it may occur in particular circumstances, stating that smoking cannabis "takes away motivation" is not accurate. Recent studies have shown remarkable improvement in the motivation of stroke victims while using medical cannabis. Edited October 8, 2013 by almond I would provide some references and a bit more info, but I'm at work at the moment and a bit distracted.
almond Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 Cannabis (marijuana) | Better Health Channel The above article I posted also confirms that weed is a depressant, and can also cause psychosis. Lol I'm sorry, but a source like that will confirm absolutely nothing.
KathyM Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 This statement is overly-simplistic, and incorrect. Cannabis is not classified as a depressant. It clearly exhibits stimulant, psychedelic and depressant properties. Not only can it not be classified as a depressant, but it is a far cry from being a depressant "just like alcohol is!!" Professors with Ph.D.s told me weed was a depressant. Psychopharmacology books I've read in my graduate classes told me weed is a depressant. My supervisor with 20 years of experience as a licensed therapist told me weed was a depressant. Some of my clients who have smoked week regularly exhibit those same symptoms I mentioned (lack of motivation, difficulty thinking/concentrating/learning, lack of energy, etc.) The article I posted from a health website confirmed that weed is a depressant. Other articles I've read, peer reviewed scholarly articles, have noted that weed is a depressant. If you don't want to believe me, I guess you'll believe what you want.
almond Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 Professors with Ph.D.s told me weed was a depressant. Psychopharmacology books I've read in my graduate classes told me weed is a depressant. My supervisor with 20 years of experience as a licensed therapist told me weed was a depressant. Some of my clients who have smoked week regularly exhibit those same symptoms I mentioned (lack of motivation, difficulty thinking/concentrating/learning, lack of energy, etc.) The article I posted from a health website confirmed that weed is a depressant. Other articles I've read, peer reviewed scholarly articles, have noted that weed is a depressant. If you don't want to believe me, I guess you'll believe what you want. It's not about believing you, it's just that you're incorrect. I clearly stated that cannabis does have depressant qualities - please re-read my post. We were discussing it's classification. You are refusing to acknowledge that your statement re: cannabis being a depressant "just like alcohol" is incorrect. How on Earth is it a depressant like alcohol?? Anyway, even Wikipedia (definitely not my favourite source, but easily understood and accessible) corroborates exactly what I'm saying: -------------------------- "Psychoactive classification While many psychoactive drugs clearly fall into the category of either stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogen, cannabis exhibits a mix of all properties, perhaps leaning the most towards hallucinogenic or psychedelic properties, though with other effects quite pronounced as well. THC is typically considered the primary active component of the cannabis plant; various scientific studies have suggested that certain other cannabinoids like CBD may also play a significant role in its psychoactive effects.[25][26][27]" ---------------------- The fact that you stated that cannabis is a "depressant just like alcohol," clearly demonstrates that you have no idea how alcohol works on the human brain or body, or how cannabis works. Not even the basics unfortunately. It does not matter whether some of your clients that smoke cannabis experience thought disturbances, lack of motivation etc. etc. This is completely irrelevant. They are in therapy for a reason. All of these could quite easily be symptoms of a number of things, quite commonly, depression. Correlation does not equal causation and so on. I find it odd that you attribute these symptoms to their cannabis usage, without exploring other, more likely options. You have failed to respond to many key points in my previous posts. I don't think there's much more that we can get out of this discussion. Please do some research.
hinatticus Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 I think almond knows what he's talking about.
KathyM Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 It's not about believing you, it's just that you're incorrect. I clearly stated that cannabis does have depressant qualities - please re-read my post. We were discussing it's classification. You are refusing to acknowledge that your statement re: cannabis being a depressant "just like alcohol" is incorrect. How on Earth is it a depressant like alcohol?? Anyway, even Wikipedia (definitely not my favourite source, but easily understood and accessible) corroborates exactly what I'm saying: -------------------------- "Psychoactive classification While many psychoactive drugs clearly fall into the category of either stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogen, cannabis exhibits a mix of all properties, perhaps leaning the most towards hallucinogenic or psychedelic properties, though with other effects quite pronounced as well. THC is typically considered the primary active component of the cannabis plant; various scientific studies have suggested that certain other cannabinoids like CBD may also play a significant role in its psychoactive effects.[25][26][27]" ---------------------- The fact that you stated that cannabis is a "depressant just like alcohol," clearly demonstrates that you have no idea how alcohol works on the human brain or body, or how cannabis works. Not even the basics unfortunately. It does not matter whether some of your clients that smoke cannabis experience thought disturbances, lack of motivation etc. etc. This is completely irrelevant. They are in therapy for a reason. All of these could quite easily be symptoms of a number of things, quite commonly, depression. Correlation does not equal causation and so on. I find it odd that you attribute these symptoms to their cannabis usage, without exploring other, more likely options. You have failed to respond to many key points in my previous posts. I don't think there's much more that we can get out of this discussion. Please do some research. Marijuana's effects on human cognitive functio... [J Gen Psychol. 1986] - PubMed - NCBI Here is a description of weed from a PubMed article. It describes weed as both a stimulant and a depressant, JUST LIKE ALCOHOL is both a stimulant and a depressant. The article even says that: Marijuana is both a stimulant and a depressant, JUST LIKE ALCOHOL. I'm trying to point out the negative effects on the body: loss of concentration/ability to learn/clouded thinking. Not to mention the carginogenic effects. I've seen these symptoms in my clients who smoke pot on a regular basis. That was my intent on posting--to point out the negative symptoms that are commonly experienced from pot usage. I've presented two reputable articles backing up what I'm saying.
KathyM Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 Dose-related neurocognitive effects of marijuana use Here's another scholarly article describing a study which showed that, even after 28 days of abstinence from marijuana use, study participants showed a loss of cognitive functioning if they were heavy pot smokers.
almond Posted October 9, 2013 Posted October 9, 2013 Marijuana's effects on human cognitive functio... [J Gen Psychol. 1986] - PubMed - NCBI Here is a description of weed from a PubMed article. It describes weed as both a stimulant and a depressant, JUST LIKE ALCOHOL is both a stimulant and a depressant. The article even says that: Marijuana is both a stimulant and a depressant, JUST LIKE ALCOHOL. I'm trying to point out the negative effects on the body: loss of concentration/ability to learn/clouded thinking. Not to mention the carginogenic effects. I've seen these symptoms in my clients who smoke pot on a regular basis. That was my intent on posting--to point out the negative symptoms that are commonly experienced from pot usage. I've presented two reputable articles backing up what I'm saying. Lol, talk about misquoting. And that is not a "description of weed." This is what the abstract actually says: "Marijuana is complex chemically and not yet fully understood, but it is not a narcotic. Like alcohol, marijuana acts as both stimulant and depressant, but it lingers in body organs longer than alcohol." That is completely different to your statement that cannabis is "actually a depressant just like alcohol." It also does not address my point re: psychoactive classification - you just keep shifting the goal posts. You are grasping at straws now. Look at the context that the comparison is written in the abstract, and compare that to your initial statement. Alcohol is a GABA drug! It is a CNS depressant! Lol. Stating that cannabis is "actually a depressant just like alcohol" is completely and utterly ridiculous. You can talk in circles all you like, but it is an inaccurate statement - no two ways about it. I'm not going to go over this with you again. Your refusal to acknowledge this and your persistence in defending a completely incorrect statement is actually amusing. I've had my fill of it now though, so I won't be touching on this again. Dose-related neurocognitive effects of marijuana use Here's another scholarly article describing a study which showed that, even after 28 days of abstinence from marijuana use, study participants showed a loss of cognitive functioning if they were heavy pot smokers. I stated that the cognitive effects are not permanent, and the first paper that you quoted also stated something to this effect. I did not state that effects do not linger for a period after cessation in chronic users - of course they do. Cannabis is a drug that does not clear quickly from the system, and this is predictably exacerbated by long-term use. Residual cognitive effects are most likely due to the drug lingering in the system. But, the results of that particular study are not typical either. I'll play: http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/149/9/794.full.pdf JAMA Network | JAMA Psychiatry | Neuropsychological Performance in Long-term Cannabis Users We can go back and forth quoting single, conflicting studies all day long. Unless you are spending time keeping up with the latest findings, and ensuring that results of the studies you reference can actually be replicated and validated, then it doesn't really mean much of anything. I am not defending cannabis abuse in any way, shape or form. And that is what we're talking about now - chronic use/abuse. Remember that you made your initial statement about all these apparent effects when the topic was merely touching on occasional recreational use - another reason as to why I found your statement ridiculous. But with all the goal post shifting and so on....here we are. This has nothing to do with the OP. There is no denying that abuse of cannabis is hardly good for you in a multitude of ways - this is not debatable. However, I simply disagree with uneducated and overly-simplistic blanket statements, and I felt the need to correct the "depressant just like alcohol is" post. You're stubborn, so it has gone on and on. I have enjoyed playing, but it's past my bed time now. I would also like to apologise in case I have come across as rude or condescending in any of my posts - it was genuinely not my intention. I have however found your style of communication, and the refusal to acknowledge specific points that I have taken time to type out, mildly frustrating to be honest. But, communication styles can clash I suppose, so nothing personal at all I hope you have a nice day.
KathyM Posted October 9, 2013 Posted October 9, 2013 Lol, talk about misquoting. And that is not a "description of weed." This is what the abstract actually says: "Marijuana is complex chemically and not yet fully understood, but it is not a narcotic. Like alcohol, marijuana acts as both stimulant and depressant, but it lingers in body organs longer than alcohol." So when I say that weed is a depressant, just like alcohol, that is entirely different than the article that states that like alcohol, marijuana is both a stimulant and a depressant. Yeah, huge difference there. I'm done going around in circles with you. I've posted three reputable articles saying that marijuana is a depressant. I'm not sure why you argue with that statement. I'm pointing out the depressive symptoms that marijuana can cause, as well as the psychotic symptoms that it can cause. People can read the articles and come to their own conclusions. 1
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