t encouraging self-medication

I don't really disagree with what you're saying, except the bolded part: it is really hard to kick a dependency, and someone already in therapy probably has enough stuff to deal with already. So maybe the deoendency should be avoided in the first place.

I'm not clear on whether the OP's therapist knows about the increase in use, but it sounds like the OP is already concerned about it. The therapist covering her rear with "in moderation" won't help the OP at this point. She could help by teaching other coping mechanisms.

My T has talked to me about ayahuasca, just saying that it,has been found to help people with PTSD. I've joked about wanting to smoke marijuana when I have her a huge sage smudging stick. It reminded both of us of marijuana. She seemed to think it would be quite relaxing.

And yet nobody bats an eye when a T (or doc) advocates the use of synthetic antidepressants, which are known to increase suicidal impulses among many other horrors and are toxic to most organs and systems of the body.

We truly live in an Orwellian world.

And why is up to a T or even a doctor to condone or condemn cannabis use? The internet is full of info if one cares to research the plant for themselves. There is evidence for usefulness with anxiety, depression, pain, insomnia, and much more… even a groundswell of anecdotal evidence for efficacy in treating cancer.

If we limit ourselves to only what the dominant medical system sanctions and recommends, we will all be prescription drug addicts with declining health.

My opinion will never be popular nor will I ever change my mind. There are MANY things in this world that are natural that I will NEVER consume nor are they healthy. There are MANY natural things if consumed that will kill you so that argument holds no water for me. Through my work, I see daily the negative impact marijuana has on people especially those who have mental illness. For something that is not suppose to be addictive, people go to great lengths to obtain and use it. So many people say it is the only thing that works for them as their lives are falling apart because of their use and mental illness. If it works so well for people why do they end up hospitalized.

As far as medications go: there ARE options that are non addictive but of course they also don't work for people who want their ativan and mj..

I don't think anyone is trying to get someone who does not want to use non-prescription drugs to do so. If you don't want to smoke pot, don't do it.
I see clients -those who have never used pot or alcohol - with all sorts of horrible side effects from the forced psych drugs they have had foisted upon or injected into them. The drugs are used more to make the client more manageable for the institution rather than to actually help the client in any way.

More manageable or assist them in seeing reality. In my state without a court order medications can't be force unless a patient is in immediate danger to themselves or others. Otherwise it requires a rather lengthy court proceeding to get forced medications. We have had people kill family member who are so drugged out on MJ who are psychotic because they don't take their medications. It takes about 3 months to get the court order to force medications.

Like I said, I know many will never agree...

Did you want your therapist to tell you to stop?

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Maybe if you don't want to be doing it so much, you could directly ask her for other coping methods? It's not so clear to me from what you wrote that she understood you were looking for other ways to cope.

My therapist seems really chilled out about pot - he's told me that he regards moderate use about the same as social drinking. I don't use it, but if I did I can't imagine that he'd get very heated up about it. But I also don't see it as his place to comment on my life choices in that way, so I wouldn't place much stock in his either encouraging or discouraging it.

In my state - it goes much quicker to force drugs on people - only a few days. Rarely is the real goal to help them see "reality."
I have had more clients end up kill themselves after being given anti-depressants than those who have harmed family members.
I understand you and I will never agree. Every so often I win a case and can keep someone from the druggings. Marijuana alone has never been something I have had a client have as a problem. Problems have arisen when clients have used marijuana and their psych drugs.

I did not read OPs version as being the therapist encouraging it - just not discouraging it.

It would be unusual for my therapist to give advice such as this. And in terms of harmful behavior, if that is perceived to be the case here, my therapist would not show much interest. I don't like mind-altering substances much, but have other self-destructive behaviors...but he doesn't judge. We talk about them and understand the origin, process emotions, etc., but he would not say "vivo, I'm concerned because you drive too fast on the highway". He respects my autonomy. Come to think of it, my last T was the same way.

But a part of me WISHES he would be concerned about such things and try to be sort of the father I never had.

This is an interesting topic, so i want to add-I think weed is safer than many of the psychiatric drugs. And can be a lot easier to get and cheaper. Psychiatrists don't even take insurance in some cities, turning people away. How are these people supposed to get treated for mental illness?

And I would say even for those who could afford it, the side effects could be less and weed is much safer than many drugs. Antipsychotics are some that are way overprescribed for non-psychotic people, and research shows in much greater frequency for school-age, poor children. This is causing childhood obesity and diabetes or other long-term damage. Weed can be better than antipsychotics.

Something like only 30% of people benefit from antidepressants, so I wouldn't condemn people for seeking controlled substances or taking illegal drugs to self-medicate. Ativan, for example, is a cheap and effective drug that goes directly to the specific receptors targeted, unlike many anti depressants which are dirty drugs that just blast the brain with 'chemical activity' to see what sticks. So this drug can be much better for some to take as needed. Only a small percentage have addiction problems. And so many of the drugs just suck-they don't work! What is wrong with people seeking out non-regulating substances if they work better? Just because something is legal does not mean it is effective. Just look at the 'alternative' market for herbs and remedies.

Not only that, but in my experience many people needing psychiatric drugs come from abusive households-their parents just don't take them to a doctor, so they turn to illegal drugs to self medicate for mental health issues. I read a lot here about being taken to doctors and therapists as children or teenagers, but there are many of us whose parents did not take us to doctors either due to neglect or poverty, and self-medication is how children have adapted to cope with the world. It's a different world for some. Sorry, couldn't hold back.

good question

I notice people are referring to cannabis as "mind altering". Certainly can be. But there are strains and ingestible products that are NOT mind altering. Often the ratio of THC to CBD determines this. High CBD typically means little or no psychoactive effect, while high THC is the opposite.

Antidepressants etc are considered "medications" but really they are "drugs". Cannabis is considered a "drug" but is actually a "medication". See what I did there?

As I said I know many will disagree with me .... If MJ is working for you and you are happy have at it. I have a different opinion and just give the other side of the issue.

I didnt see anything wrong with your opinion or stating it like anyone else, just wanted to respond to the shi$#y judgey statement you made about people who don't make the choices you agree with:

Just giving my professional opinion. Like I said, everybody needs to do what works for them.

I think it is a good thing the OPs therapist did not act in a judgmental fashion.
I have found some people who work in the hospital wards or institutions often treat clients badly and are very judgmental. Nurse Ratched types are not uncommon. It is usually fun to cross-examine them. I have not found the average therapist is going to get all that worked up about some pot use.

OP - do you want to stop smoking?

I don't want to stop smoking altogether. I want to do it just for recreational use. I don't want to smoke so much because of the need to self-medicate. I don't know what else to do though. It isn't really a bad thing to do but I can see where I could use even more and that I don't want. t seemed to dismiss my concerns about my usage and wasn't interested in exploring other avenues to help me cope.

Thanks for all the replies.

Relieved, have you ever thought about doing something like restorative or gentle yoga? I've sometimes used alcohol as a way of relieving my anxiety and I was really surprised to realize how much yoga helped with that! It was really amazing to find out that there was this whole other thing I could do that was really healthy. Another thing you could try is guided meditations - there are lots of them online.

I am willing to try anything. I am a klutz so I don't know how yoga will be but I'm going to try it anyway. This is good advice. Thank you.

Great! I like this guy's stuff as well. Easy meditations- you can just start listening to them and see if you like them
Christopher Germer, PhD, author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion; clinical psychologist specializing in the application of Buddhist psychology and meditation to alleviate difficult emotions in psychotherapy and everyday life.

I'd really watch the type of yoga class you try out- very beginner ones are good, but definitely look for ones labeled "gentle" as well. And think about trying out different teachers- they really vary!

Marijuana can be absolutely addictive. Most do not develop a physical dependence, but psychological marijuana addiction is not at all uncommon in the area where I practice. I see no harm in recreational marijuana use most of the time. I see medical benefits for marijuana for specific conditions. But marijuana is not an across the board treatment for every condition.

Daily marijuana use affects memory and motivation. How is that going to benefit someone with clinical depression?

Topical preparations...those can be really beneficial for people. Edibles have a place. Smoking a joint....that does plenty of damage to the lungs. So even if it is helping mental health it can affect physical health.

I am a big fan of meditation, qigong breathing and yoga. I suggest, if money is an issue, that you can look for free classes or opportunities for those things. I go to a yoga studio that offers a basics class once a week for a donation of whatever you can afford, and some of our local farmer's markets have tai chi, yoga, and qigong outdoor free classes.

You can buy a vaporizer and use that in place of smoking. This reportedly eliminates most of the harmful effects of smoking, because there is no combustion.

Re: depression, seems to me there is no clear answer yet, but certainly some evidence that it helps. Example:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...tric-disorders