[joshwendt]

does weed help with social anxiety/depression?
and how do I find someone that sells it in my area? (it,s still illegal in my country,so I dont know how to go about buying it)

[vonmoxie]

I don't think it anything special for depression, and while it could help with some generalized aspects of anxiety, such as making waiting for a bus a lot less stressful, it can actually have a pretty negative effect where social anxiety is concerned. People can have different reactions, but there's strong potential for it to make a person more socially anxious and even paranoid, in some very unsettling ways. I wouldn't count on it turning out to be a reliable treatment either for social anxiety or for depression, and wouldn't suggest risking your legal integrity over it either. Once that's gone you can't get it back.

[Umbral_Seraph]

To my knowledge to date no medical study has found any mental health benefits associated with marijuana use. Many studies also find it generally makes anxiety and depression worse, as well as elevating your risk for developing schizophrenia.

[avlady]

i suggest if you're schitzophrenic, don't use it. i am, and tried it a few times and was so parinoid i couldn't talk or walk. my husband uses it and says it helps with his stress level, as he is a very high functioning individual and gets stressed out alot.

[Random]

When I was younger I did it and it seemed to help my anxiety/social anxiety quite a bit. The downside was it helped so much that things I had been able to cope with just fine before suddenly then I wanted more marijuana and pretty soon it basically was any minor stress at all I would be crabby if I didnt have it to soothe. So very short term? It helped me but in the long term? I was much worse off.

[Thrubeingcool13]

Depends allot upon your surroundings and mood going in...let's face it....our surroundings play a huge role in how we feel. If you happen to find uplifting cannabis I would suggest finding a safe place that will allow you to focus on yourself for awhile...try yoga

[emwell]

Originally Posted by joshwendt

does weed help with social anxiety/depression?
and how do I find someone that sells it in my area? (it,s still illegal in my country,so I dont know how to go about buying it)

In my state Medical is legal.
It is like any other medication, only harder to get.
Fluoxetine wicked helps with my OCD yet someone else might go apeshit on it.
Every one can be so different when it comes to Meds.
I would talk to your Doctor.

[ChipperMonkey]

Street grade......I say forget it. You have no idea what strain it really is and what it's possibly laced with. Your symptoms could skyrocket. Even if it works once, you have no idea if you're getting the same stuff each time. Not worth the risk IMHO.

Yes, but make sure the marijuana is 100% cannabidiol (CBD). No THC.

CBD is effective for seizures, anxiety disorders, and it even mimics anti-psychotics.

Since obtaining 100% CBD marijuana will probably be impossible for you, I suggest looking into ejuice for vaping.

I am NOT a physician, so this is simply my personal opinion.

I would be careful with using it if you're depressed. Marijuana is a downer and downers generally make you more depressed.

[coyotee]

I spent way too much time smoking weed 5-10 times a day for years and it lead me nowhere. Like you my problems before I started were anxiety and depression.

Sometimes under the right conditions it would act like a stress reducer. But sometimes, just as often, it had the complete opposite effect and aggravated anxiety. And it can be hard to tell which way you'll swing - even in a safe comfortable environment you can randomly get horribly paranoid.

It is terrible for depression. It might mask the symptoms of depression when you're high but that usually fuels further depression when you're sober - so you constantly have to stay high to feel ok... and the depression builds and builds and builds.

I actually do believe SOME people can benefit from light use. But if you already have depression and anxiety, marijuana is NOT the right drug for you, even in moderation, you are just completely the wrong candidate. Depressed and anxious individuals are more likely to become dependent on that high.

Marijuana is psychologically addictive but not physically addictive - but people really don't realize how extremely psychological of a part it can play. The brain is an extraordinarily powerful organ. It can even send pain signals to various parts of your body and you can easily convince yourself that you physically need pot. You wont die if you quit but it also won't be easy.

[coyotee]

Originally Posted by kindness

Yes, but make sure the marijuana is 100% cannabidiol (CBD). No THC.

CBD is effective for seizures, anxiety disorders, and it even mimics anti-psychotics.

Since obtaining 100% CBD marijuana will probably be impossible for you, I suggest looking into ejuice for vaping.

I am NOT a physician, so this is simply my personal opinion.

Oh yea, CBD wont get you high. As much as I had a horrible experience with weed, I am 100% pro legalization of the plant. It's incredible how many ailments it can cure now when used responsibly.

[capricorn1975]

Originally Posted by joshwendt

does weed help with social anxiety/depression?
and how do I find someone that sells it in my area? (it,s still illegal in my country,so I dont know how to go about buying it)

I smoke Marijuana for my anxiety and it relaxes me and makes me in a better mood. Helps me with my back pain too. I'm not sure about the laws and how to get it in Australia. Good luck in your search.

[capricorn1975]

Originally Posted by coyotee

Oh yea, CBD wont get you high. As much as I had a horrible experience with weed, I am 100% pro legalization of the plant. It's incredible how many ailments it can cure now when used responsibly.

I also wish it would be legalized. And yes it's very therapeutic.

[capricorn1975]

Originally Posted by Umbral_Seraph

To my knowledge to date no medical study has found any mental health benefits associated with marijuana use. Many studies also find it generally makes anxiety and depression worse, as well as elevating your risk for developing schizophrenia.

I disagree. Pot gets a bad rap. It works for me.

My psychiatrist has asked me to consider it. (medical marijuana is legal here) But frankly, I wouldn't even have a clue what to do with it.

[AncientMelody]

Originally Posted by capricorn1975

I disagree. Pot gets a bad rap. It works for me.

The adverse effects of pot have been downplayed by proponents of its use. Fine it works for you, but scientific evidence has NOT shown it to be beneficial for mental health. For some severe pain cases, loss of appetite, and some chronic illnesses, yes it can be very beneficial medically. Chronic use is typical where I live and I've seen plenty of lives wasted by the drug.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by rcat

My psychiatrist has asked me to consider it. (medical marijuana is legal here) But frankly, I wouldn't even have a clue what to do with it.

Why were you asked to consider it? There are a lot of possibly negative side effects. Did your psychiatrist mentioned this? It's legal where I live but I already know from experience it has a lot of bad side effects such as long term can actually increase depression. Can result in loss of motivation, and body dysmorphia. Can induce paranoia. Not good to drive on it, or do much of anything but sleep! THC remains in the body's fat cells, and detox is a long process. I am sometimes tempted because in the short run it can bring relief (it definitely does help with back stiffness), but I would say the long term effects are such I would not go near it.

[brownhare]

I have a really odd reaction to weed in that it makes me hyper stimulated and a lot worse in terms of calm. I knocked it on the head years ago.
However I have friends who swear by it and they say that Indica strains are the ones that create calm and tranquillity and that Sativa strains are the ones that make a person trippy and very 'up'
This might explain why I didn't get on with it as I was smoking UK Sativa grown hydro and optimised for maximum hit.
I would proceed legally and cautiously with advice from someone who really knows their weed.
I had some very nasty panic attacks from it and that was why I left it alone.
I think be careful to choose the right people to help you explore this avenue and make sure you have a safe space and safe people in case it goes South.
Best wishes BHx

[DechanDawa]

I would approach it with the same caution as is now used around benzodiazepines.

[jacky8807]

Originally Posted by DechanDawa

Why were you asked to consider it? There are a lot of possibly negative side effects. Did your psychiatrist mentioned this? It's legal where I live but I already know from experience it has a lot of bad side effects such as long term can actually increase depression. Can result in loss of motivation, and body dysmorphia. Can induce paranoia. Not good to drive on it, or do much of anything but sleep! THC remains in the body's fat cells, and detox is a long process. I am sometimes tempted because in the short run it can bring relief (it definitely does help with back stiffness), but I would say the long term effects are such I would not go near it.

Honestly you could say the same about psych meds which actually have been proven in studies to do a lot of damage. Not true for weed
If you compared the studies but didn't know the names..you would run from psych meds
Tylenol is the leading cause of liver failure every year
Don't even look at what food you are eating ..yikes! That's a convo for another time
So I don't smoke weed but I have seen many ppl benefit from it.

[jacky8807]

And can up your chances for developing schizophrenia... I need the link to those facts. Worsen yes cause no

[cakeladie]

In my country it's legal but you have to have a doctors note and you can't get it from an ordinary doctor you have to go to a "special doctor". Now you can order it on line and have it delivered

I have never tried it and more then likely never will but I know people who have tried it. It helps with seizures sleeping and pain. You can smoke it get it in oil or are you ready for this you can get it in butter and bake it into something. Or buy cookies, brownies or even Rice Krispy treats. I have a friend who made peanut butter balls with it.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by jacky8807

Honestly you could say the same about psych meds which actually have been proven in studies to do a lot of damage. Not true for weed
If you compared the studies but didn't know the names..you would run from psych meds
Tylenol is the leading cause of liver failure every year
Don't even look at what food you are eating ..yikes! That's a convo for another time
So I don't smoke weed but I have seen many ppl benefit from it.

I don't take psycho meds for reasons you stated. I don't take benzos or even over-the-counter meds but rarely. I do use herbs such as valerian, passion flower, and rhodiola. I use herbal teas such as chamomile. There are now clinical studies citing negative side effects of marijuana. At the very least it can be addictive. I have never heard of any case where a long time user easily came off of marijuana. In this way it should have the same warnings now associated with benzos.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by cakeladie

In my country it's legal but you have to have a doctors note and you can't get it from an ordinary doctor you have to go to a "special doctor". Now you can order it on line and have it delivered

I have never tried it and more then likely never will but I know people who have tried it. It helps with seizures sleeping and pain. You can smoke it get it in oil or are you ready for this you can get it in butter and bake it into something. Or buy cookies, brownies or even Rice Krispy treats. I have a friend who made peanut butter balls with it.

Country?