[Trav1985]

Is marijuana a good idea for bipolar treatment?

[raspberrytorte]

I don't know... But I don't think it's good if you have an anxiety disorder, which I think many of us have, or if you're already paranoid. I had my first panic attack while high. And it made me way paranoid.

NO NO NO NO NO.

marijuana is terrible for people with MH problems. it is infamous for triggering psychoses episodes.

[lifelies]

It depends on the person. Some people react anxiously to weed; others find it to ease their minds. If you're not prone to having panic attacks or any kind of anxiety while high, I'd say it helps.
However if you have a bipolar disorder with psychotic features, I wouldn't recommend it. Marijuana sort of messes with your dopamine, which you don't want if you're on antipsychotics. It also can cause schizophrenia in the long run (although I personally don't think that's a hundred percent true) so if you're known to have psychotic issues I'd stay away from it.
Again I'm not a doctor nor an expert on therapeutic marijuana, so I could be wrong
Lana

[Sunnyhunny00]

I smoke weed on occasion, so I can only tell my experience.
Sometimes it causes increased anxiety and especially racing thoughts. That's the worst!!
However, sometimes is just makes me very happy, very optimistic and helps me understand stressful situations better. I really enjoy this, and this is what usually happens.
It almost ALWAYS makes me super talkative. Something nobody but my husband would enjoy.

As far as a treatment? --- No. Not at all.
It could never help me the way my meds do. Weed is a fallback. A fallback that for me, could go either way.

If it goes the wrong way, say something stressfull happens, I have to fight to keep myself collected. The fight is hard, draining, and can cause bad anxiety attacks.

If it goes in the right direction, it's only good to be temporary because if I smoked it throughout the day as treatment, it would most certainly throw me into a mania.

So, my views on weed is smoke it responsibly. Don't push your limits and pay close attention to how your mind reacts to it. And don't rely on it to fix any problems, for example...MH.

I personally don't recommend smoking more than once a day. I also feel that smoking alone or with someone you trust is extremely important when dealing with a mental illness. If you are surrounded by others, or out and about... You have an extremely higher chance of having anxiety and stressfull situations. ---This is only MY opinion.
I ONLY smoke at night with my husband. If anyone is over I will not smoke. My rules for being responsible for myself.

[Nammu]

I consider to be a lot safer than alcohol. But I'm not saying you should use it, depends on individual reactions. Just like psych meds not everyone reacts well to the the medicines that are life savers for some people. If you do use it let your doc know.

[gayleggg]

I read recently that it is really bad for people with bipolar disorder. I just wish I could remember where so that I could share the article.

[RisuNeko]

Weed has made me go COMPLETELY psychotic on 3 different occasions to the point where I couldn't see the real world through my own eyes, I saw alternate universes, and spoke in word salad and did some really bat s*** weird stuff that my friends told me about afterward. (I don't remember any of what my actual body was doing in the real world).

Out of all the people in the world with bipolar, it wouldn't surprise me if Marijuana has helped some of them. As a general rule however, self medicating is discouraged as a treatment option.

I use marijuana on occasion for chronic pain and sickness. It's a life saver for me sometimes. I do not use it to treat my bipolar though.

Whatever you decide, it's best to discuss your decision with your doctor.

Best of luck.

[Gray Rider]

I think if the person is in a comfortable routine it can be good. In areas where you can get the same strains is s good thing.
I don't think its the solution for fixing problems but it has therapeutic qualities..

[lunaticfringe]

I think it depends where you are at mentally/emotionally as I think marijuana kind of magnifies thoughts and feelings. It used to be very therapeutic and fun for me but these days I can't smoke it without getting paranoid, anxious, and extreme racing thoughts.

[chimera17]

My husband thinks smoking weed would help me stabilize my moods, but I haven't really felt that way. I've been relatively stable for a while now (from my mid-20s through my mid-30s), but when I was in college I did a considerable amount of weed and it definitely was NOT helpful! I'm feeling like I'm spiralling back into the instability of my early 20s, and while I am drawn to the idea of escaping through weed, I'm also really scared.

Is it possible to treat bipolar without any meds at all? How would I even be able to tell?

[Andica]

I use to smoke heavy 2-3 times a day and I told my self it was useful. I would say it helps with sleep but I would not recommend it. It really depends on the strain but again I'd say no for bipolar. It can really distort your view of reality and having a disorder can amplify that.

[MyUsername1111111]

It helped me come down from hypo-mania softly one time.

Although, considering i started smoking weed at 14, it may have actually catalyzed my disorder overall.

[Crazy Hitch]

Possibly quite a few different responses here.

My personal opinion is - no.

It might be good for short term relief but it can cause a lot of paranioa.

So I guess it depends on your definition of "good".

Well yes it can feel good.

But it does have consequences.

It's a matter of opinion as to whether these consequences are worth paying for the little bit of good that can be achieved very temporarily.

[Sully858]

I can find no references (credible or otherwise) where marijuana is prescribed or recommended for a mental health disorder of any kind, and that includes bipolar, of course. Hate to be a buzz kill. But I smoke it regularly anyway because I like it.

[Wander]

I just got rid of the marijuana I had as it was making me paranoid and anxious. I had been smoking for several years on and off but it seemed to have turned on me in the last few months. One night I got very, very paranoid and the next day ended up in hospital after an incident so it had to go. I feel less anxious and paranoid now I have stopped.

[Treyfrancis21]

I currently smoke pretty much daily and while there are some great benefits I feel from the weed, there can definitely be drawbacks and side effects that are unwanted. When I'm depressed it really helps take away some of the empty/hollow feeling that constantly threatens to overwhelm me. When I'm manic, smoking weed is often the only way I can get an appetite or decent sleep. That being said, it can definitely exacerbate paranoia and anxiety at times. I definitely wouldn't solely rely on marijuana to treat BP symptoms, but in combination with my meds it has helped me deal with a lot of things. Because of that I am actually at the point where I am trying to taper off smoking because I find it too easy to use as a crutch, keeping me from using coping skills and scheduling to deal with symptoms.

I agree with everything said. It is individual. Sometimes it helps, other times it doesn't. Depends on mood. When I am stable it is fine. When depressed it is fine. When manic, I was hoping it would relax me. It doesn't always do that. It sometimes revs me up.

[Imah]

NO - TERRIBLE.

My personal experience, causes delusions - or makes delusions stronger. It only a way to divert attention away from reality and doesn't cause reality to get clearer (even though at the time it seems like it is).