Liberally Medicated

[Karin]

I can totally understand how pot can make a mental disorder more pronounced.  I don't get why it's so enormously popular.  Whenever I tried it, the paranoia was very unpleasant, and the cotton mouth was agony.  I could drink 4 gallons of water, but it wouldn't go away.  Then, that's all you can think about, that and the paranoia.  Yuck.  I'll just have a beer, thanks.
 

[DumbAss Tanker]

I give people mental disorders, heart attacks, and ulcers, I don't get them.

 

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Here's some info on it:

Marijuana and Mental Health
A number of studies have shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and schizophrenia. Some of these studies have shown age at first use to be a factor, where early use is a marker of vulnerability to later problems. However, at this time, it is not clear whether marijuana use causes mental problems, exacerbates them, or is used in attempt to self-medicate symptoms already in existence. Chronic marijuana use, especially in a very young person, may also be a marker of risk for mental illnesses, including addiction, stemming from genetic or environmental vulnerabilities, such as early exposure to stress or violence. At the present time, the strongest evidence links marijuana use and schizophrenia and/or related disorders. High doses of marijuana can produce an acute psychotic reaction; in addition, use of the drug may trigger the onset or relapse of schizophrenia in vulnerable individuals.

http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/marijuana.html

Obvious RW propaganda to prop-up a failed drug war used to oppress inner city minorities.

RACIST![/DUmode]

[debk]

Cindie, one of my sisters is bipolar with depression, other sister and brother are treated for depression, as was our mother.  HER father, his two brothers, and both of their parents all commited suicide.  Obviously mental health issues run deeply in my family, although my children have been spared thus far.  I've been diagnosed with GAD, OCD and panic attacks and have to take SSRI's or suffer grave consequences.  Taking meds for people like us is necessary, but people who use them for recreational purposes give us all a bad reputation, IMO.

Don't know what it is about depression, but it's in my family too. My dad, my half-sister, one of her daughter's, myself, my daughter, and I think my son has some of it too...though he won't admit to it. 3 cousins do, and they are all my dad's sister's children, don't know about their children who are all adults, though I would suspect some have some degree of it. Alcoholism is on both my dad's side and my ex's (where there have also been depression issues)....have to wonder if depression and alchololism aren't somehow connected.

I think the other difference between "us" and "them", is that we will tend to wait and wait, before we reach the point where we have no choice but to take the medications.....where as the "them" will pop anything without the need...just the urge.

[delilahmused]

Don't know what it is about depression, but it's in my family too. My dad, my half-sister, one of her daughter's, myself, my daughter, and I think my son has some of it too...though he won't admit to it. 3 cousins do, and they are all my dad's sister's children, don't know about their children who are all adults, though I would suspect some have some degree of it. Alcoholism is on both my dad's side and my ex's (where there have also been depression issues)....have to wonder if depression and alchololism aren't somehow connected.

I think the other difference between "us" and "them", is that we will tend to wait and wait, before we reach the point where we have no choice but to take the medications.....where as the "them" will pop anything without the need...just the urge.

I have a great doctor who specializes in brain chemistry and alcoholism is connected to depression in many people. One of the first questions he asked me was whether there was any alcoholism in my family. It was a manic day and I was talking a mile a minute so I'm surprised he could understand me. Practically everyone on my mother's side was an alcoholic. My mother self-medicated until the booze finally killed her. The thing is, you feel good for a while but it increases depression when you sober up. I was paranoid to even have alcohol in my house for a long time. Now I can have beer or wine (and I make killer margaritas) without panicking. We have addiction issues in my family, knowing this I just turned it into a positive and made working out my addiction. Still, I panic if I don't get to work out for a couple of days. But I figure that's probably better than spending my days with a vodka bottle in my hand.

Cindie

[delilahmused]

Here's an excerpt from another interesting article talking about the possible correlation between pot smoking and mental health issues:

http://www.thesite.org/drinkanddrugs/drugsafety/drugsandyourbody/cannabisandmentalhealth

There's increasing evidence to suggest that long-term use of cannabis can lead to the development of psychosis, particularly among those who start using it in their teens. A study in New Zealand found that those who had used cannabis three times or more before the age of 15 were much more likely to experience symptoms of schizophrenia by the time they were 26. The research team concluded that there's a vulnerable minority of teenagers for whom cannabis is harmful, but added that, "We're not saying that cannabis is the major cause of schizophrenia, but it's a risk factor."

A study of 2,500 14 to 24 year-olds in Munich, Germany, found that among those who had no vulnerability to psychosis, cannabis use moderately raised the risk of developing signs of psychosis later on, from 16% to 25%. But for those who were considered vulnerable to psychosis (who had shown psychotic symptoms by the age of 11), scientists found a stronger link. For these people, cannabis use almost doubled their chance of developing psychosis, from 25% to 50%. Also, the risks increased with the more cannabis they smoked, and the earlier they smoked it.

Meanwhile, a team from Bristol and Cardiff Universities published a paper that claims cannabis users are 40% more likely to suffer a psychotic illness than non users. The research suggests that although the risk of getting a psychotic illness like schizophrenia remained low, it could be a factor in 14% of psychotic problems in young adults in the UK. The researchers looked at 35 studies on cannabis and its link to mental health.

Thanks for sharing! The things I learn here!

Cindie

[debk]

I have a great doctor who specializes in brain chemistry and alcoholism is connected to depression in many people. One of the first questions he asked me was whether there was any alcoholism in my family. It was a manic day and I was talking a mile a minute so I'm surprised he could understand me. Practically everyone on my mother's side was an alcoholic. My mother self-medicated until the booze finally killed her. The thing is, you feel good for a while but it increases depression when you sober up. I was paranoid to even have alcohol in my house for a long time. Now I can have beer or wine (and I make killer margaritas) without panicking. We have addiction issues in my family, knowing this I just turned it into a positive and made working out my addiction. Still, I panic if I don't get to work out for a couple of days. But I figure that's probably better than spending my days with a vodka bottle in my hand.

Cindie

Surprisingly, since my father was an alcoholic....when I got married to a guy who was going to start his General Surgery internship in a month....he made me promise that whatever else...that I would never drink alcohol alone.

That was in 1977.

I bet I haven't poured myself a drink, when alone, 10 times in 33 years. Even when I did, I rarely finished them.

I know I have an addictive personality. My total points on Pogo.com reflect that...

If it wasn't for the facts that too much alcohol will really trash my intestional tract, I don't like beer or wine and I HATE to be out of control....I am sure that over the years, for a variety of reasons....I could easily have become an alcoholic. I have rarely become sick to my stomach, even nauseated..when I drank too much and outside of the trashed intestional tract, I don't have hangovers per se. I have frequently thanked God, for making sure that too much trashes my IT....have often wondered if He made sure that I would have those effects to keep me from making some really bad decisions.

[AllosaursRus]

Surprisingly, since my father was an alcoholic....when I got married to a guy who was going to start his General Surgery internship in a month....he made me promise that whatever else...that I would never drink alcohol alone.

That was in 1977.

I bet I haven't poured myself a drink, when alone, 10 times in 33 years. Even when I did, I rarely finished them.

I know I have an addictive personality. My total points on Pogo.com reflect that...

If it wasn't for the facts that too much alcohol will really trash my intestional tract, I don't like beer or wine and I HATE to be out of control....I am sure that over the years, for a variety of reasons....I could easily have become an alcoholic. I have rarely become sick to my stomach, even nauseated..when I drank too much and outside of the trashed intestional tract, I don't have hangovers per se. I have frequently thanked God, for making sure that too much trashes my IT....have often wondered if He made sure that I would have those effects to keep me from making some really bad decisions.

I quit getting hangovers about the time I turned 50. Must be an age thing, cause when I went out with boys until all hours of the night when I was younger, I used to spend the next day on the couch with the remote. Nowadays I can pretty much put away a fifth without any ill effects whatsoever.

Could be I don't drink anything except JW without any mixer now. I have heard it's the mixer that can make ya sick when mixed with alcohol.

[Boudicca]

I have a great doctor who specializes in brain chemistry and alcoholism is connected to depression in many people. One of the first questions he asked me was whether there was any alcoholism in my family. It was a manic day and I was talking a mile a minute so I'm surprised he could understand me. Practically everyone on my mother's side was an alcoholic. My mother self-medicated until the booze finally killed her. The thing is, you feel good for a while but it increases depression when you sober up. I was paranoid to even have alcohol in my house for a long time. Now I can have beer or wine (and I make killer margaritas) without panicking. We have addiction issues in my family, knowing this I just turned it into a positive and made working out my addiction. Still, I panic if I don't get to work out for a couple of days. But I figure that's probably better than spending my days with a vodka bottle in my hand.


Cindie

Lots of alcoholics in my mom's family AND my dad's.  Her side had the mental health issues, and his didn't, or at least they weren't diagnosed as such.  I got diagnosed shortly after my father's death in 2000 when DH dragged me to the ER because I was on my hands and knees gasping for air and sure I was gonna die.  I'd had panic attacks in the past but not to that scale.  I often wish someone would have found out my anxiety issues in my 20's in steadof when I hit 40.  That was the same year I discovered I had diabetes, hypertension, Barrett's esophagus and IBS.  Talk about a crappy year.  Sheesh.

[Boudicca]

I think the other difference between "us" and "them", is that we will tend to wait and wait, before we reach the point where we have no choice but to take the medications.....where as the "them" will pop anything without the need...just the urge.
[/quote]

 

[PatriotGame]

Lots of alcoholics in my mom's family AND my dad's.  Her side had the mental health issues, and his didn't, or at least they weren't diagnosed as such.  I got diagnosed shortly after my father's death in 2000 when DH dragged me to the ER because I was on my hands and knees gasping for air and sure I was gonna die.  I'd had panic attacks in the past but not to that scale.  I often wish someone would have found out my anxiety issues in my 20's in steadof when I hit 40.  That was the same year I discovered I had diabetes, hypertension, Barrett's esophagus and IBS.  Talk about a crappy year.  Sheesh.

Holy shit!
My cat scratched my leg.....

[Boudicca]

Holy shit!
My cat scratched my leg.....

Fortunately for me, all eight of my furry feline friends love me and would never dream of scratching me.

[PatriotGame]

Are drug addled people liberals or does being liberal force one to be drug addicted? A corollary to the great question of whether one must first be mentally ill to be liberal or does the conflict reality of liberalism make one mentally ill. 

Liberalism is a mental disorder.

Liberals are therefore clinically insane.

It's not a chicken/egg thing. If you become insane, you will become a liberal. If you adopt liberalism, you have gone insane.

[PatriotGame]

I give people mental disorders, heart attacks, and ulcers, I don't get them.

 

Well then...carry on!