Many therapists know that their clients struggle with anxiety. Not that I've done this, or am considering, but I'm just curious. Are they not supposed to see/treat a client who comes into a session stoned? Would they throw you out? I realize this is a controversial topic, and I see it as no different than taking a Xanax before session. I mean...as long as it's not dramatically impairing you, to the point where you are downright stupid.

Though, I do think therapy is conducted best, absolutely, when you're in your complete right mind. I just wonder if other people have done this, or what opinions are.

[HazelGirl]

Some wouldn't be okay with it because it gets in the way of how you are feeling and responding. They're not getting the "real you" and so they can't help you the best.

Originally Posted by HazelGirl

Some wouldn't be okay with it because it gets in the way of how you are feeling and responding. They're not getting the "real you" and so they can't help you the best.

Though, for those with crippling anxiety, wouldn't it help them be more "real" when otherwise they might have been holding back? I feel it again depends on the person, situation, therapist, etc, I guess? Nevertheless, I do realize it is indeed an illegal substance, at least in CA.

[Yogix]

I came to session high once. And she didn't notice, but I ended up blabbing it during the session. She told me that we would not conduct therapy if I came in high. She said it nicely and she let me continue that session. But that was the warning for the following

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Originally Posted by Yogix

I came to session high once. And she didn't notice, but I ended up blabbing it during the session. She told me that we would not conduct therapy if I came in high. She said it nicely and she let me continue that session. But that was the warning for the following

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Do they say that because they have to? Or is it just what is considered "right?" Again, I know that it would be difficult to conduct therapy with some individuals who might be "impaired."

[Yogix]

Her reasoning was that she wanted me to function at my best capacity and work through my anxiety together rather than try to eliminate it before. She said I won't always have drugs so she wanted me to work on this with her. She was a bit disappointed in me.

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[Leah123]

Originally Posted by winenot3

Though, for those with crippling anxiety, wouldn't it help them be more "real" when otherwise they might have been holding back? I feel it again depends on the person, situation, therapist, etc, I guess? Nevertheless, I do realize it is indeed an illegal substance, at least in CA.

Nah, the anxiety is part of the real person, and it very much needs to be seen and experienced by the therapist to help the client. Sneaking around anxiety is... of dubious benefit.

I can understand how relieving it might feel... and how anti-anxiety meds are a choice many make along with recreational substance use, but... no, I don't think they make a person more authentic exactly.

[monkeybrains21]

I wish I could. I'm always so angry sometimes I feel T might not realize how I danger she can be. I fight very hard to contain the anger, she backs up sometimes I think realizing what might happen. If I had a bud before it would be highly unlikely I would even think of my aggression. It's a part of me and I have done it in the past to contain that wild aggression but I got way too paranoid and started dissociating very badly. I hallucinated and everything. Not due to pot but due to my frame of mind. I was in a very bad place at that time.

[RTerroni]

I wouldn't recommend it, but I don't think that anyone should be smoking joints .

[healingme4me]

Is it ok to have a nip, before walking in? If both impair you from operating a vehicle(where it's legal to smoke it, has their own breathalyzer style test)..stands to reason, a person on mj, isn't the same as a person on xanax or clonopin or any other anxiety med...

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[stopdog]

The one I see actually suggested I try having a drink or a toke or two before coming in because of anxiety. I never did because I seriously do not think it safe to therapy in an impaired state. The woman also told me that people come in to therapy appointments stoned all the time. She did not seem to think it a big deal.

[Yoda]

I agree with healingme4me that smoking weed impairs driving.

My personal experience after smoking weed was it affected my ability to make business phone calls.

I'd say don't get stoned if you are doing anything requiring alertness more than watching Spongebob Squarepants.

[sailorboy]

My thought on this are long and complicated but without knowing you or your drug use I would just suggest you talk about why you want to with your T. I had a fantasy that T and I got stoned. We talked about it. It helped us both understand where it came from.

[junkDNA]

when i was a teenager and in therapy i would go high on weed, tripping on acid, or after doing a lot of opiates. it frustrated the therapist and i feel now that its just not respectful

[Mike_J]

I know my therapist would prefer that I come to my sesssions unimpaired, but if I had arranged for a ride and wasn't driving, I'm pretty sure she would conduct a session if I wasn't totally baked out of my mind. And if I lived in Colorado or Washington I might give it a try, but seeing that I don't, it's just an interesting concept to me.

[nottrustin]

When patient's come into our hospital they are NOT considered a reliable source of information if they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol...we also discourage self medicating with with them because it frequently creates other psych issues.

[Petra5ed]

Winenot, yeah tried that thinking it might help with my anxiety, I also thought it might help me to open up and feel more in touch with my emotions and deeper thoughts. My plan was to not say anything to my T so I wouldn't be judged for it, and I felt relaxed all the way up until I got there and suddenly felt very weird and anxious, kind of like a kid waiting to see the principal. I fessed up immediately and wasn't "reprimanded" or anything, actually my T made me feel better about it. Even herbally relaxed, I was my usual anxious self still during the session, did have some concentration lapses as well, but on the positive side I also managed to open up a little bit more (although that could have been motivated by me wanting pot to be the solution). My T didn't tell me not to do it again, but I actually felt so uncomfortable I decided not to. Then a couple months later I was very anxious at home hours before therapy so I decided to try it again, but just a little wee bit, haha. So I did, and I didn't mention it to my T this time, I really felt it wasn't noticeable. Around 15 minutes in my T asked me if I had hit the MJ before coming so I confessed. Since then I've not tried it again and have no plans to. When he caught me essentially the second time my T also asked that I not.

Originally Posted by RTerroni

I wouldn't recommend it, but I don't think that anyone should be smoking joints .

I totally agree with this. You should use a vape! I used to smoke doobs, but not anymore, no more tar for these lungs.

[Ike McCaslin]

Smoke 'em if you got 'em. Use a vaporizer if possible and don't drive under the influence. If the T can't handle it, it's their problem. If you don't tell them, they probably won't notice.

[lostwonder]

I've done it a few times. He never noticed, and I didn't mention it.

I know my former therapist would just deal with it, not kick anyone out.

[teamcure]

I have. It was because of anxiety with my trauma work. But I got paranoid and was thinking that she knew the whole time. Either she knew and she didn't do anything or I'm a very good actress. Lol.. Yeah, I would not recommend it either.

I don't think it would be a good idea. I do have crippling anxiety though and have taken an ativan before therapy. I don't think it makes me not be "real" whatever that means. I am unable to function in therapy sometimes because of the anxiety being so high. It helps me work and focus and function. I wish it wasn't that way, but it is.

[tametc]

Originally Posted by stopdog

The one I see actually suggested I try having a drink or a toke or two before coming in because of anxiety. I never did because I seriously do not think it safe to therapy in an impaired state. The woman also told me that people come in to therapy appointments stoned all the time. She did not seem to think it a big deal.

I just got this image of your therapist as Bette Midler in "What Women Want".

[elliemay]

This is all frightening to me. How do you guys get to therapy? Public transportation? I'm all about mitigating anxiety, just please don't drive. Your relief may be putting a lot of people (including yourself) at risk.

And please please please let's not argue over whether marijuana impairs one's ability to drive. It does.

Just be safe above all else.

[lostwonder]

Originally Posted by elliemay

This is all frightening to me. How do you guys get to therapy? Public transportation? I'm all about mitigating anxiety, just please don't drive. Your relief may be putting a lot of people (including yourself) at risk.

And please please please let's not argue over whether marijuana impairs one's ability to drive. It does.

To be completely frank, I had been toking since I was a child. I have a child now so I no longer do so, but there was a very long period in my life that I did not do anything without smoking. I am sure that it hindered my ability to drive to an extent, but I was able to pass my driving exam to receive my dl while stoned. I have never been in an accident and only recived one speeding ticket (I was sone cold sober). I do not for a single second believe that blanket statements like this are true.