professorsmile
Registered on
Jun-14-2005
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Message #4715 posted by professorsmile (Info) June 14, 2005 22:48:19 ET
In Reply to: Marijuana helping with anxiety and depression? posted by Tavz (Info) May 25, 2005 20:48:30 ET
Here are some of my thoughts on cannabis and depression, trying to keep it as simple as possible:
I've been using marihuana for the last 19 years, as much as I can afford and been able to get hold of. I consider that whole period has been a fantastic adventure, an amazing trip that I don't regret, though I'd agree I've overused the stuff and should have paid more attention to career, family etc. I should have kept the dope as a spare-time hobby instead of the most important thing in my life.
I don't think cannabis itself either causes or cures depression, but for me it certainly relieves the symptoms when I've got it. Of course, the depression really comes on heavy when I discontinue marihuana.
I've found out since getting on the internet that depression is a huge global problem, steadily increasing despite all the official resources supposed to be handling it. The best experts I've been able to find say that no medication on its own can cure depression, they usually only work in conjunction with some form of therapy that actually helps overcome the life problems that are causing the depression. Very few of us are able to find or afford such effective therapy so most of us just get some kind of chemical to minimize the symptoms. That means the causes and the depression are still there and come back heavily whenever the medication is withdrawn. I personally have never encountered anyone who has actually fully recovered from chronic depression. Where I live in the UK I seem to be surrounded by sad and lonely people who are kept zonked by some legal pharmaceutical or other - in many cases the "medicine" just seems to postpone the final breakdown or suicide.
Cannabis on the other hand actually seems to produce cheerfulness and enjoyment of life in people who would otherwise be sad all the time...though they are likely to get themselves classified as "bi-polar" if the "mania" wears off when they're not able to score!
I reckon I've been using marihuana as an escapist activity. When I get high I usually tend to forget the real problems in my life and go off on a binge of new-found pleasures. When the dope wears off the problems all come back on top...until my next spliff or bong. (Correct...lack of self-control!)
All I'm really saying is that depression can only be cured by addressing and overcoming one's real life problems. The medication just reduces awareness of the symptoms while one does that, with or without help. Cannabis is the best such medication in my opinion. Of course it is going to be opposed by people who believe that medicine should only reduce how bad you feel, but it is evil if it actually makes you feel good!
Sorry, that all came out a lot less clear than it seemed in my mind before I started, but I'm glad I tried. My excuse is that I haven't been able to get any real marihuana for months and I've been awfully depressed! I actually stopped using medically prescribed anti-depressants altogether as they havenb't worked for me or anyone I know, but the side-effects were actually adding to my troubles. The only thing that has cheered me up lately is finding web-sites like this where folk are actually discussing these matters honestly. That cheers me up since I have actually spent the last 19 years trying to liberate the circulation of true information on cannabis and its positive value, starting in an atmosphere of paranaoia where no-one would dare to publicly say anything good about it). I love my marihuana and always will. I know it will never be free of control now but I hang on through my current depression in hopes of getting some more.
By the way, the main obstruction to my overcoming depression altogether is POVERTY. I casn't figure any way out of that now. I live in a country where the government and media disguise the truth that the majority of people my age are unemployed and depressed. The young are bound to be more cheerful, not knowing so much of the truth as I do, and they will always be willing to work much harder for much less bread.
Anyway, YES, MARIHUANA WILL HELP YOU WITH DEPRESSION. iT'S MUCH LESS DANGEROUS THAN ANY OTHER MEDICATION I KNOW!
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