Thread: Psychiatric Marijuana Use?

I have a friend who has a social disorder called social anxiety disorder or social phobia. He told me about this theory of his. Basically, he thinks smoking marijuana aggravates his disorder. In fact, he's convinced of it. If he is correct, what does that say about marijuana?

For one, it says a lot of people who have had a bad experience from smoking marijuana might have mental disorders.

It also says, marijuana can be used in therapy to more quickly and accurately determine what a patient's disorder is, and how much the prescribed medication helps. Provided it aggravates every disorder out there. Otherwise, of course, it would have limited usefulness.

Let's assume marijuana aggravates every disorder. Why would it do so? If I remember correctly, marijuana injects the brain with a shot of a particular chemical. I don't remember the name of the chemical, but i'm pretty sure it starts with an 'A'. Is it possible this chemical acts as a sort of 'volume' knob? Meaning, if you add to this chemical, it will do things like aggravate a mental disorder. If you remove some of it, it will lessen the disorder. If this chemical is responsible, it means we could use something more specialized and precise than marijuana.

I can't say whether he's correct, but because of how beneficial it would be if he is, it is definitely something worth researching further.

Originally Posted by Jonesy

I have a friend who has a social disorder called social anxiety disorder or social phobia. He told me about this theory of his. Basically, he thinks smoking marijuana aggravates his disorder. In fact, he's convinced of it. If he is correct, what does that say about marijuana?

For one, it says a lot of people who have had a bad experience from smoking marijuana might have mental disorders.

It also says, marijuana can be used in therapy to more quickly and accurately determine what a patient's disorder is, and how much the prescribed medication helps. Provided it aggravates every disorder out there. Otherwise, of course, it would have limited usefulness.

Let's assume marijuana aggravates every disorder. Why would it do so? If I remember correctly, marijuana injects the brain with a shot of a particular chemical. I don't remember the name of the chemical, but i'm pretty sure it starts with an 'A'. Is it possible this chemical acts as a sort of 'volume' knob? Meaning, if you add to this chemical, it will do things like aggravate a mental disorder. If you remove some of it, it will lessen the disorder. If this chemical is responsible, it means we could use something more specialized and precise than marijuana.

I can't say whether he's correct, but because of how beneficial it would be if he is, it is definitely something worth researching further.

Ive spoken to alot of people about this myself

Firstly anxiety isnt a mental illness but a learnt pschological response, mental illness's are usually chemically imbalances rather than learnt, anxiety is very similar to phobias and can be unlearnt


secondly marijuana cannot cause illness's(to my knowledge) but speed up and enhance a patients proneness to the illness in question

eg a patient who has the potential to get say anxiety, can have the anxiety episode because of the drug, rather than it causing it in a person with no suseptability(spelling) to getting it

scizophrenia is also linked to marijuana but that doesn't cause it, but can bring it to the surface in some people

I guess if you stuff yourself full of enough shit sooner or later you'll screw something up.

I don't think you've assumed enough things... if you want to get this one published, assume atleast 20 more things.....

everyone reacts differently to weed, nuff said

Originally Posted by Jonesy

I have a friend who has a social disorder called social anxiety disorder or social phobia.

First of all, it is all in his mind. 'Social disorders' are very silly (I'm not trying to be rude). Things like meditation and working with others can work these issues out provided the individual wants to. If they don't want to than, well, some doctors will prescibe drugs. Anyways, what I am getting at is I don't think we need another excuse to use hallucinogenic drugs. The fact that your friend is doing drugs may be contributing to this 'disorder' you speak of.

There is no volume knob on mental disorders. No switch that makes them worse. Everything in a person's life contributes to whatever the problem is. I strongly hope that marijuana is not used in diagnoses. I think it would be very irresponsible of the doctors. I am sure it can make the problems worse though!! The best thing to do is to just say NO!! If you can't stop doing drugs you definitely can't change your social issues.

Originally Posted by captaincaveman

Firstly anxiety isnt a mental illness but a learnt pschological response, mental illness's are usually chemically imbalances rather than learnt, anxiety is very similar to phobias and can be unlearnt

AGREED!!! I think I basically said everything you said but in a diferent way. I kinda didn't read what you said before I wrote. oops.

Originally Posted by DaBOB

Originally Posted by captaincaveman

Firstly anxiety isnt a mental illness but a learnt pschological response, mental illness's are usually chemically imbalances rather than learnt, anxiety is very similar to phobias and can be unlearnt

AGREED!!! I think I basically said everything you said but in a diferent way. I kinda didn't read what you said before I wrote. oops.

no problem :wink:


Yeah tell your friend to knock it on the head, theres no positives to come out from it at all, regular users use excuses for it all the time. "it helps me relax", "helps me sleep", "helps me be creative", but it doesn't :-D

Originally Posted by captaincaveman

"it helps me relax", "helps me sleep", "helps me be creative", but it doesn't :-D

Do you speak from experience?

Originally Posted by MacGyver1968

Originally Posted by captaincaveman

"it helps me relax", "helps me sleep", "helps me be creative", but it doesn't :-D

Do you speak from experience?

fraid so, when i was a young lad. i dabbled(alot) as did all my peers, exept they carried on and i didn't. I grew out of it all :-D

I guess it must affect some people differently. All through my 20's, I was a SERIOUS pot-head. I eventually had to give it up to get a real job, since most drug-test. I don't know about it making you more creative, but it definately relaxed me, and helped me go to sleep. After I quit, I had some significant insomnia troubles, since my body was so used to having a depressant in it at bedtime....but that was just me.

Originally Posted by MacGyver1968

I guess it must affect some people differently. All through my 20's, I was a SERIOUS pot-head. I eventually had to give it up to get a real job, since most drug-test. I don't know about it making you more creative, but it definately relaxed me, and helped me go to sleep. After I quit, I had some significant insomnia troubles, since my body was so used to having a depressant in it at bedtime....but that was just me.

yeah i didn't want to get to the point of needing one before i did certain things, eg before something stressful or to sleep etc. never a good way to be :-D