Question: Is It a Bad Idea to Use Marijuana to Relieve Depression?
Answer: There is much debate as to whether marijuana might actually help depression. Participants in a 1997 pilot study1 reported that one of the reasons they continued to smoke marijuana was that they felt it relieved their symptoms of depression and anxiety. Another study2 found that marijuana did not seem to exacerbate depression, but rather was another symptom of the condition. Although there is preliminary evidence that marijuana may have antidepressant properties, many argue there are also some important drawbacks to it's usage. There is a well-known phenomenon called "amotivational syndrome" in which chronic cannabis users become apathetic, socially withdrawn, and perform at a level of everyday functioning well below their capacity prior to their marijuana use. Although the depressed person may feel relief from their symptoms, this may be an illusion of well-being if the person loses motivation and productivity.
http://depression.about.com/cs/drugsalc ... otmeds.htm
Seems to me like taking hallucinogenic drug is just hiding from the problem, not helping anything. I know a couple of people who smoke dope regularly and they are the only two people I know that are unemployed and seem unhappy with their lives.
I'm not saying drugs are evil or getting preachy, but I think that telling someone who is depressed to just do some drugs and get over it is poor advice.
My cousins smoke weed, they are also unemployed. Whenever they get depressed, they smoke more weed. It isn't really a solution, I do support legalizing it and taxing it, but that is for another thread.
Speaking exclusively for myself I find that when I am depressed fixing what I am depressed about solves the issue. If I am capable of fixing said issue. e.g.; If I get depressed about my school performance I increase the amount of time I study, if I get depressed about something that happened between me and my girlfriend I talk to her, etc. Obviously if I get depressed because somebody I cared about died then I cannot really fix that, but I find that accepting it and allowing myself the mourning period sooner helps.
Basically I find it best to attempt to first attempt to resolve my own issues without the use of any drugs if I can do so, after that I resort to help in people. Had a real anger issue as a child 5-8, that is why I had a shrink, and he helped me a lot.
I will admit however that I have a tendency to medicate with food during times of depression, but it should be noted that these aren't particularly unhealthy things (candy, cake etc.), some are unhealthy like Pizza, but I just as often eat things like salmon, beans or steamed broccoli. I know this isn't a particularly healthy attitude towards food, but given I am also a cyclist and use it as my main mode of transportation I never really gain any weight.
I agree with Cube, thread should be locked, we have Shadi in a sensitive position and I don't think it will particularly help his mental state if we all turn this into a argument. Lock it, Shadi can speak to cube via chat if he needs help as he is the accredited professional, I have also made myself available to him in case he feels the need to talk to anybody and Cube is unavailable.
