Concerns Surrounding Regular Marijuana Use?

[jenny72]

Maybe I'm just different from most folks, but when I've tried it in the past I become very withdrawn, paranoid, tired, then eat way too much and then sleep. I have tried it once in awhile throughout my adult life always with the same result. I don't care for it at all.

 

[Lionheart]

From my understanding of it, there are two types of marijuana; Sativa and indica. Indica is said to help PTSD symptoms, while sativa can make the symptoms worse. The only way I know to tell the difference between the two is that the plant looks different; sativa has long, thin leaves, while indica is bushy, with broad leaves.

In states where marijuana is legal, the dispensary takes the guess work out of it and supplies the patient with the appropriate type of marijuana. (they also recommend a vaporizer as opposed to smoking it outright). Even so, not all medicine, whether it be medicinal marijuana or a pharmaceutical, is going to work for everyone.

I use marijuana occasionally, to help with stress, pain, insomnia, nausea, loss of appetite, etc and for me, it works well, but I must also add that I try to be a responsible user and do not drive or operate machinery when I am high. I stay at home and listen to music or find some other benign activity such as drawing, painting, or simply hanging out with family/friends. (I have found that it is best to plan your activity before you smoke or you may end up doing a lot of nothing).;)

I feel strongly that medical marijuana should be made available from licensed physicians for those people with PTSD (cancer, MS etc) that find it helps them. However, if one is looking for an escape from problems, marijuana or any other type of escapism is only going to prolong suffering and I do not recommend that anyone consume drugs or alcohol as a means of escape from the inevitable....it just does not work in the long haul.

 

[BrokenToker]

Does anyone else find marijuana gives you a solid nights sleep? No flashbacks/night terrors?

Is it bad to avoid the dreams?

 

[Philippa]

Maybe I'm just different from most folks, but when I've tried it in the past I become very withdrawn, paranoid, tired, then eat way too much and then sleep. I have tried it once in awhile throughout my adult life always with the same result. I don't care for it at all.

This is how I was when I smoked back in my twenties. I realized I just didn't like it much.

A few years ago I started spliffing again with a friend and found I really enjoyed it, if I didn't do it too often. Especially going into the city and wearing sunglasses and with my earplugs and music and just walk from one end of the city to the other. I find this so much fun...passing the people, listening to music, in my stride. I don't really do it for escape, I just enjoy it now. Funny how that works. But I don't do it very often...just for a treat once in a while.

I want to keep in touch with what I am feeling, and weed blocks feelings out.

 

[bright_morning]

Does anyone else find marijuana gives you a solid nights sleep? No flashbacks/night terrors?

Yes. It works really well for me in that way.

 

[^^FlyingSolo^^]

If you can't feel it, you can't review it and heal it. Simple as that.

This is so true in my opinion. I love the way Anthony wrote that, it sounds like it should be a song or a quote or something. ;)

My research has shown me that addicts identify with "labels". They use "labels", ie. bottles (alcohol), pills, dope, pot, etc.. to replace and numb the pain they can't deal with in reality. They use "labels" as an escape mechanism. They use "labels" in replace of having to feel "real" emotions and acknowledge their pain & fear.

I share Anthonys' view on this, however, I've always said everything in moderation. If you have insomnia and haven't slept in 3 nights, and you think you need a few tokes off your J, then go for it. A lot of people don't know self control and moderation.

But I'm strictly against pot or any substance used on a regular basis to avoid emotion pain or escape "real" emotions, for exactly the reasons Anthony stated. I'm against any routine, regular use of any substance to avoid pain and the mental work it takes to heal.

I myself don't use meds on a regular basis. I could have all the valume and drugs I want- but I don't. I use as little as possible. Only what I need, when I need it, as a last resort. If pot was legal in my state, I would probably keep a J around for times that I thought it was necessary, even though I haven't smoked it in 20 years. But I understand moderation, and self control. I was never an addict even in my drug years. I viewed those as leisure drugs for social acceptance and entertainment at that age.

I've always felt more challenged by facing my fears rather than escaping. Escaping is too easy. I find the real world way more fascinating than any substance induced alternative.

But each to his own. What's right for me, may not be right for the next person. It's a personal decision.

Solo

 

[jenny72]

Solo you are so strong :) I also try to stay away from any pills/subtances and I do ok except for the drink...I do limit myself, but, I could do alot better....:notworthy:

 

[^^FlyingSolo^^]

Jenny72,

Thank you! You limit yourself which is great! Just do the best you can, that's all you can do. :)

 

[BrokenToker]

Yes. It works really well for me in that way.

Any specific strain you find most effective? Or just indica dominant?

I want to keep in touch with what I am feeling, and weed blocks feelings out.

This one kinda hit me... I recently started limiting my DAILY intake as to see how I am with out it. I dont think weed necessarily blocks feelings out, But it definatly makes living in less then acceptable conditions that much easier.

 

[bright_morning]

Any specific strain you find most effective? Or just indica dominant?

"God's Gift" is my preference for sleeping, totally smooths out the nightmares/terrors but still allows me to dream. I don't get that big blank feeling when I wake up, but more like I had an actual regular night's sleep, which after 30 years of sleep trouble is really nice. It's also not as heavy as something like say, Romulan, which was so intense, both sleepy and heady and distorting that it actually gave me anxiety. Reminded me of why I hate Valium/Xanax (among many reasons).

God's Gift is a clone only strain and the real thing is a bit hard to find, at least around here. There is a fake version that floats around that is OG crossed with GDP... But the real one is something along the lines of Killer Queen x Mendocino Purple. It's also not to be confused with Lavender, which is Sativa dominant.

Complex reply, I know, but hopefully you can track it down with the right info. Sadly, there is a lot of misinformation out there and some who will fake a bud if they cant get the real one at their collective. Hope that helps.

 

[AzureMind]

Well, physically speaking, Marijuana can affect the major body organs (Brain, Heart, Lungs, Liver, etc) negatively by leaving deposits of the chemical compound THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) which over time can affect reaction time for self-defense if needed, it can affect your memory and recall for times needed to recall certain things, it can affect your ability to breathe, as constant smoke inhalation from it can damage the lungs and impair your breathing.

Mentally/Emotionally, I'm on the fence about certain things; i have found that marijuana can 'ease' the tension/anxiety one experiences while reviewing a flashback or processing some trauma....when I was actually stoned one time, I had a flashback, and I felt the emotions of fear, and anger associated with the scenario, I was at just the right distance mentally/emotionally to cope with it, and stay present in it without letting my emotional responses overtake me. But it makes one psychologically/emotionally dependent in the long-run if one continues down this road...you believe that emotionally you must get high in order to have that "cushion" to protect you from the pain of the situation to face it....but the truth is, in order to really get past it, you've gotta just face it sober, it's the best, and safest coping mechanism there is.

 

[stuff]

I don't smoke constantly, but I have found no better remedy than getting stoned when I've hit a serious case of the suicides/really bad trigger day. Call it self-medication, but I've found nothing else that can stop my head in it's tracks and get me to look at the lighter side of things or realize that I'm freaking out due to being triggered. Not that I'm suggesting you do this if you are feeling suicidal without having experienced your own reactions to things. I'm just saying I don't know if I'd still be here if I couldn't smoke a joint on occasion and remember what it feels like to be calm for even an hour.