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Post by Deimos on Sept 22, 2011 0:55:00 GMT -5
I've really been struggling for the past few weeks with a massive self esteem issue. I feel like the only thing thing that I'm actually useful for is my work. Like its the only thing that gets me up in the morning. I've tried looking for other passions to make it seem like my life is more...fulfilling, but nothing is interesting to me It doesn't help that I have no friends that I can be around and talk to about this thing, and help me find something else to give a damn about. I also have major depressive bursts when people ask me what I did on the weekend. It's so bad that I've had to tell people to never ask me that because I never actually do anything. It's just sitting around, studying and doing menial crap and just waiting to go back to TAFE Hell, yesterday I started thinking about what my life would be like after I finish my education, and I couldn't stop crying because it feels like that I'm going to be the depressing quiet guy that eventually snaps and shoots everyone just to make things more interesting.
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Post by Napoleon the Clown on Sept 22, 2011 13:53:33 GMT -5
Has anyone here thought about smoking pot to deal with their mental condition? I admit that I have. No. Self-medicating is a terrible idea, and pot generally exacerbates the problem. Don't be stupid, don't smoke pot if you've got any sort of mental disorder. It's like a lung cancer patient smoking tobacco.
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Post by Shane for Wax on Sept 22, 2011 16:18:55 GMT -5
Has anyone here thought about smoking pot to deal with their mental condition? I admit that I have. No. Self-medicating is a terrible idea, and pot generally exacerbates the problem. Don't be stupid, don't smoke pot if you've got any sort of mental disorder. It's like a lung cancer patient smoking tobacco. What Nap said. Besides, some studies link it to memory problems and stuff like that which just is giving you even more brain issues.
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Post by Mlle Antéchrist on Sept 22, 2011 20:17:29 GMT -5
This may have been suggested already, but pause breathing can be beneficial in helping one manage moments of heightened anxiety. It's similar to using a paper bag during a panic attack, but I've found that it's much more effective, and I've come across quite a few people who also found that it helped. On top of the chemical effects of controlling your intact of oxygen, having a simple task to focus on is a good way to keep yourself sane during stressful periods.
Start by taking a slow, deep breath, then exhale. Count to 1, then take another slow, deep breath. After exhaling this one, count to two. Breath again, exhale, then count to three. Keep going until you've gotten up to five counts between breaths, then start over if necessary.
It's not a guaranteed fix, nor a magical cure for all of your anxiety, but it can take the edge off in particularly bad moments. Note that this technique is great even for people who don't have anxiety disorders, and are just feeling a bit stressed out.
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Post by big_electron on Sept 22, 2011 23:35:48 GMT -5
Has anyone here thought about smoking pot to deal with their mental condition? I admit that I have. No. Self-medicating is a terrible idea, and pot generally exacerbates the problem. Don't be stupid, don't smoke pot if you've got any sort of mental disorder. It's like a lung cancer patient smoking tobacco. The same thing could be said of alcohol, and do you have any idea of how many mentally ill people there are who drink?
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Post by Art Vandelay on Sept 22, 2011 23:37:53 GMT -5
No. Self-medicating is a terrible idea, and pot generally exacerbates the problem. Don't be stupid, don't smoke pot if you've got any sort of mental disorder. It's like a lung cancer patient smoking tobacco. The same thing could be said of alcohol, and do you have any idea of how many mentally ill people there are who drink? ...Which excaserbates the problem.
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Post by DeadpanDoubter on Sept 22, 2011 23:39:17 GMT -5
Yeah, that's...that's kind of a no brainer. Even if you're not an alcoholic, it can fuck you over, especially if you're on psychiatric meds, too.
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Paimun
Full Member
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Post by Paimun on Sept 22, 2011 23:42:49 GMT -5
No. Self-medicating is a terrible idea, and pot generally exacerbates the problem. Don't be stupid, don't smoke pot if you've got any sort of mental disorder. It's like a lung cancer patient smoking tobacco. The same thing could be said of alcohol, and do you have any idea of how many mentally ill people there are who drink? A lot of mentally ill people commit suicide. Clearly suicide is a GREAT idea!
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Post by big_electron on Sept 22, 2011 23:52:32 GMT -5
Alcohol, in moderation, won't hurt you. In fact, it might be good for you. I've seen studies showing that people who sip now and then have better health than people who don't drink at all.
Don't get drunk all the time. One beer a day, when you get home from work.
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Post by DeadpanDoubter on Sept 22, 2011 23:54:23 GMT -5
In moderation, no, but you were talking about self-medicating. That's not just "a beer a day".
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Post by Napoleon the Clown on Sept 23, 2011 0:02:10 GMT -5
No. Self-medicating is a terrible idea, and pot generally exacerbates the problem. Don't be stupid, don't smoke pot if you've got any sort of mental disorder. It's like a lung cancer patient smoking tobacco. The same thing could be said of alcohol, and do you have any idea of how many mentally ill people there are who drink? Your point? Lots of people do stupid things every day. It doesn't make them not stupid.
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Post by lonelocust on Sept 23, 2011 18:12:27 GMT -5
The problem with using pot to deal with mental health issues is that it's impossible to predict how someone is going to react to it. For some people, it can actually exacerbate the symptoms, and different strains of the plant (or even the same strain from different growers) can have varying effects -- and given that it's illegal, it's rather difficult to pick and choose which strain you want (just ask all of the stoners who have tried to find Purple Kush, and got freezer-burned basement weed instead). I don't oppose the recreational use of pot anymore than I oppose people drinking alcohol (honestly, I'd rather deal with a pothead neighbour than one who gets drunk every night), and I'm supportive of those who already use it and find that it genuinely helps, but I'd be very hesitant about recommending that someone try it for that purpose, unless they're able to access it through a doctor -- and even then, caution is warranted. Medical marijuana is legal in California, and is very often prescribed here for anxiety especially. And as I understand it you can in fact do that searching for strains thing.
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Post by Mlle Antéchrist on Sept 23, 2011 19:57:16 GMT -5
Medical marijuana is legal in California, and is very often prescribed here for anxiety especially. And as I understand it you can in fact do that searching for strains thing. That's one of the reasons I support legalization -- people should know what they're putting into their bodies.
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Post by Shane for Wax on Sept 24, 2011 6:05:21 GMT -5
Take it from someone who self-medicates on alcohol sometimes and used to self-medicate on drugs that are illegal without a prescription--- it doesn't do crap other than make you feel worse later.
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Paimun
Full Member
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Posts: 221
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Post by Paimun on Sept 24, 2011 11:24:10 GMT -5
I wonder if I need to up my Zoloft; I'm feeling insanely guilty and delusional and overthinking everything again...
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