Mental Illness and Marijuana

[Totah Sam]

Last week my nephew checked himself into a psych ward. He had grabbed a knife and tried to stab himself with it claiming to be Jesus Christ and the knife wouldn't hurt him. Needless to say this was rather peculiar behavior. Several days and a battery of tests later he was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. This is a curse that runs in my family. My mother, twin sister and one older brother have all been diagnosed with the same disorder. I don't know how I dodged the bullet but I'm Bipolar free. I am, however, Unipolar/PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Which means I'm pretty much down all the time interspersed with frequent bouts of panic attacks and sleepless nights.

While in the psych ward the Director of Behavorial Sciences decided to take my nephew under her wing and treat him herself. This was the best thing that could have happened to him. She is wonderful. Since she took over his case he has been improving by leaps and bounds.

While my sister was visiting her son (my nephew) they got into a discussion about Medications. The stuff they had him on cost $400.00 a bottle. That was just ONE of the meds they were prescribing for him. He has no benefits or health insurance. While discussing this the Director said something that really surprised my sister.

She said that if she could prescribe Marijuana for him she would. She said it was a great mood enhancer during the depressive episodes and acts like a tranquilizer during the manic episodes. She explained to my sister that it was a herb and perfectly natural and safe... She said it was SAFE. A lot safer than the chemicals they are pouring down his throat now.

My family is Mormon. Very staunch, religious, dedicated Mormons. We come from a long line of them. We don't even drink coke, coffee or tea let alone alcohol or tobacco. We're as straight laced as they come. So you can imagine the look on my sister's face when this was said to her.

My sister and I had a long discussion about the benefits of medical marijuana and I reminded her that our sister-in-law with MS has had great results after starting to use marijuana as part of her treatment. She's slowly coming around.

Hell yes let's legalize marijuana. It saves lives.

[chronictoker]

It could have benefits for bipolar, but I think there needs to be way more testing for medical marijuana in general, especially in regard to mental health. The way it is now, the general public knows little about marijuana except myths. There needs to be more freedom of information regarding the subject. We need to do away with the war on drugs so ppl can get the help they need. If all universities had access to test MM, we'd have this all cleared up by now....

[clinton]

I had a breakdown in 1995 and entered a major depression that lasted 8 years. During that time I was on every medication my doctors could think up. I was put on 8 mg of zanix daily!!!

Anyway one of the many diagnosis was bipolar. I suffered through all the side effects of more drugs. One day my doctor gave me a prescription for thyroid hormon since he had tried everything else. My depression was cured in less than 2 months. My depression was tied to my thyroid level. I relapsed once but increasing my meds cleared it up.

So dont be so quick to accept a diagnosis. Those idiots treated me with crap that did not help me. During the depression, I told my psych that MJ seemed to help with the depression. He would have non of that crap. I know MJ to be helpfull to many mentally ill people.

clinton

[Totah Sam]

I have sarcoidosis and one of the manifestations is erythema nodosum. This is an auto-immune disorder that causes inflammation pretty much throughout my body. It can flare-up anywhere. Most of the time it hits my lower legs. The pain is unimaginable. I have passed out from it. I had researched and found that many patients with chronic sarcoidosis use marijuana as a supplement to treatments. Especially those of us on Chemotherapy. My point is, and yes I'm eventually going to get there, since using marijuana myself I've noticed that it regulates my depressive episodes very well. I'm no longer on my psych meds. I don't need them. I was taking Depakote, Paxil, Wellbutrin, and Risperdal. I felt like a damn zombie all the time and I could barely function.

I realize what I'm telling you isn't medical fact. It's anecdotal at best. But I know that it's working for me and that's all that matters. I have a full time job and function as a productive member of this society. I could be on disability with either the Sarcoidosis or Unipolar/PTSD diagnosis but I chose not to. I'd rather pay my own way. If it wasn't for marijuana I doubt that would be possible.

[clinton]

Originally Posted by Totah Sam

I have sarcoidosis and one of the manifestations is erythema nodosum. This is an auto-immune disorder that causes inflammation pretty much throughout my body. It can flare-up anywhere. Most of the time it hits my lower legs. The pain is unimaginable. I have passed out from it. I had researched and found that many patients with chronic sarcoidosis use marijuana as a supplement to treatments. Especially those of us on Chemotherapy. My point is, and yes I'm eventually going to get there, since using marijuana myself I've noticed that it regulates my depressive episodes very well. I'm no longer on my psych meds. I don't need them. I was taking Depakote, Paxil, Wellbutrin, and Risperdal. I felt like a damn zombie all the time and I could barely function.

I realize what I'm telling you isn't medical fact. It's anecdotal at best. But I know that it's working for me and that's all that matters. I have a full time job and function as a productive member of this society. I could be on disability with either the Sarcoidosis or Unipolar/PTSD diagnosis but I chose not to. I'd rather pay my own way. If it wasn't for marijuana I doubt that would be possible.

Good for you!!!!!!

clinton