Cannabis - Is It Good For Anxiety What Are The Medical Risks V Benefits

[gordiescotland1]

I am a sufferer of depression and anxiety and have been for many years have good days and bad days I also suffer from insomnia my final diagnosis before discharge from mental health team 2 years ago was borderline personality disorder. My friend reckons they give you that label when they dont know what is wrong with you!! I was chatting to a friend today who has had similar issue to myself and he feels cannabis has really helped him and he suggested I try some as an ingredient in food as I dont smoke. I know it can be beneficial in pain relief and there is a great debate about the negative effects on mental health ie psychosis but I also suffer from an arrythmia well controlled as well as type 2 diabetes and I am on a lot of medication so not sure if it would be worth the risk, not ready to meet my maker yet too much sin !! But I want to know the full facts as much as possible before I make an informed choice.

[Cloverjo]

I'm not a regular dope smoker, but I have tried it.
I wouldn't recommend it. It made me even more anxious and paranoid.

Some people find it relaxes them, but I'd be wary as you have anxiety and depression.

[Mamyalynne]

For pain issues I'd say - give it a go but for mood am less confident in recommending it as it affects people so differently.

[chrissie1212]

Having been a mental health worker for many years I would seriously advise you against trying cannabis. You have already been diagnosed by your mental health team and you say you suffer from depression and anxiety (sadly a very common and enduring problem and very debilitating). It has been proven that cannabis can create feelings of paranoia and also exacerbates anxiety. It's best you stick to your prescribed meds and if your depression and anxiety have not been relieved you should ask for a re-assessment by your mental health team and perhaps try a different medication. I hope you can find some relief by asking for help again.

[Sqad]

!"Cannabis - Is It Good For Anxiety"

I don't know and it is my impression that the medical profession is in the same situation of not knowing.
It could ease your anxiety but on the other hand it could make it worse. You could become addicted to the use of Cannabis and the long term effects are not well known.
Yes......you could try it, but the post of chrissie above is excellent and that is the advice that i would follow.

[nailit]

My son smokes cannabis, I defo think it makes him paranoid.

[murraymints]

as cannabis, and the more potent skunk, has been proved to cause paranoia and hallucinations I would advise you ,as a sufferer of depression and anxiety, to stay well clear...I have seen first hand the damage it can do to vulnerable minds..

[nailit]

seems to have some medical benefits though

[nailit]

arrrgh, link not working.
Type 'cannabis parkinsons' in to you tube.

[murraymints]

morning Nailit xx clip will not open..it can help with pain..BUT ..if you are in any way mentally/psychologically wobbly the walk away !

[nailit]

Morning minty. If my link worked (don't know why it doesn't) It shows a parkinsons sufferer totally relaxed and free from symptons, not just pain free. Agreed tho, if psychologically unstable give it a wide birth.

[murraymints]

agree it can help with Parkinsons too...

[ummmm]

I also used to work in mental health and I would advise against it.

[nailit]

Just reread ur post gordie

//my final diagnosis before discharge from mental health team 2 years ago was borderline personality disorder. My friend reckons they give you that label when they dont know what is wrong with you//

I too was 'diagnosed' with personality disorder many years ago by a prison shrink. Its a sham diagnosis that means absolutely nothing. Its why I often refer to psychiatry on here as a pseudoscience.
Sorry for the diversion.

[murraymints]

it does seem to be a cop out diagnosis..the human brain/mind is an enigma and we all react so differently to things in life so as not to be "pigeon holeable " we can but make the best of our lives and do what needs to be done..as Nailit has proved there is light and a way forward if one is strong enough to go down that tough road...

[nailit]

//we all react so differently to things in life so as not to be "pigeon holeable//
What scares me minty is how much trust people place in psychiatrists when they CAN pigeonhole you with what is often nothing more than their OPINION. (and then proceed to dose you up with chemicals that can have debilitating side affects)
Anyway, too early in the morning to go of on a rant about my dislike of the mental health services....
Wish you well in your journey gordie, theres always light at the end even if we cant always see it. Just lay off the weed :-)

[murraymints]

agree 100% ...too many "experts" want to find the page that applies and not look at the individual .....

[waterboatman]

You know the definition of an expert?

Ex being the unknown quantity, and a spurt being a drip under pressure.

[nailit]

^^LOL

[EDDIE51]

If you are already suffering from anxiety and depression DO NOT try cannabis, it will just make you worse. I know, my daughter is a heavy cannabis user , as soon as she starts to get 'low' on cannabis she gets very irritable and aggressive.
A lot of the problem is the modern version of 'weed' that is far stronger than the old stuff many of us tried back in the 60s/70s.
All the cannabis sold now is 'Skunk Weed' bred to have a far higher level of the active ingredient 'THC' than the 'traditional' version.
It causes mental health problems! as well as being habit forming (though not truly addictive as the Opiates are) and needing constantly increasing dosage to get the desired effect.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah I can see why you are confused - the internet has sites which says cannabis stimulant and cannabis sedative...
with no marker on quality - of the site and not the cannabis

in terms of the danger of drug abuse with cannabis -
I hesitate to say 'try it and see'

I daresay you will - do not go for 'skunk' - more sort of kick for your buck - ( how do I know all this?) -as that deffo drives you crazy - and I am not sure if that is the point of the exercise

oh and if the police pick you up on your first drug heist
then the defence of 'I was using it for XYZ illness' is well tried and doesnt work.