Long term side effects of resin?

Never really spoken to anyone on else on this subject. Felt like talking about it as its something that's been bothering me for many years.

I started smoking cannabis resin back in early '95. It quickly grew to an every evening pastime with friends. Rather than just smoking joints we used an intense form of inhalation known as a "lung". This was a large transparent plastic soft drinks bottle with the bottom cut off and a plastic bag taped round bottom and pushed up inside. When the bag was pulled down the cannabis smoke would be drawn in. Usually I'd inhale two of them and smoke a joint to myself.

My tolerance was probably quite low to the drug as the effects were very intoxicating! I noticed the odd simple side effect like brief short term memory loss and feeling tense the next morning when sober. Even noticed slight confusion when sober too. This was after two years daily usage.

In the third year of smoking it, '98, I began to suffer paranoia and acute anxiety when using the drug. I also found that the anxiety was present in the daytime when sober, stupidly I didn't connect it with my cannabis usage.

The anxiety quickly turned into depression. I blamed this on the job at the time, it was an irrational thought since the job was fine. I found myself having many irrational thoughts back then.

I went to see my doctor and started a course of anti depressants. After a few months they began to work and the anxiety became far less, but I felt disconnected from my emotions. Foolishly I didn't stop smoking cannabis in the evenings, I think I was socially addicted despite the negative side effects. I was now having far more problems with shirt term memory, ability to problem solve, learning new skills, retaining, absorbing and using information. Also issues with space awareness and reaction time.

I finally quit back in April 2000. Yes, a long time ago. A few months later I quit the anti depressants too. I felt I didn't need either any longer. But the side effects of the cannabis still seemed to be there and without the anti depressants to make me feel happy and up beat the side effects bothered me terribly.

I still seem to have some of the cognitive issues I've mentioned above. Learning new skills, concentration and problem solving seem to be the worst.

To cheer myself and relax in the evenings over the past few years I turned to alcohol. Not to get drunk, just a little merry. No more than 3 to 4 pints per evening. I've recently decided to kick the habit. Found that it was becoming too much of a past time considering I'd been doing this for around 5 years.

So that's my story, I know I'm to blame and if I could turn back the clock I would. I'm finding it ok without the few beers in the evening.

Just wondered if anyone else has suffered long term negative cognitive effects from cannabis despite giving it up many years back?

All comments welcomed.

Thanks

 

Thanks for the reply mate, fair amount of reflection from yourself there.

I too, felt the positive effects when high and similiar to yourself. My imagination and creative skills were superb! Those were the good days and I really DID enjoy them!

But I suspect doing too much, as mentioned two lungs every night for five years was overkill. I should've given it a break, but that's hindsight. I didn't heed to early warnings to cut back and ease off a bit.

Just wondering if anyone else suffered a similiar story?