Robbed of Emotion

[desolated000]

Hi, swim's gone about 2 weeks without any weed, where as normally he's been smoking about once every other day for a few months. Ever since he ran out, he just hasn't felt happy, nothing excites him anymore. His house could catch fire and he douts he would care. Now, I know this sounds like addiction, but he's gone the 2 weeks without any other withdrawl symptoms, he's been eating well and all that. Perhaps it's all in his head? Anyway he just wants to know if anyone else has gone through this and knows anything that could help.

[Nature Boy]

SWIM knows what would help...weed!

Is SWIY off weed by choice or by force? If SWIY can smoke weed and it keeps him "happy", then why not? If that's not the case he's just gonna have to deal with it. He's just caught by the system by not being allowed to smoke weed that would otherwise keep him happy as weed is a reliable, non-addictive anti-depressant for many. Tough luck dude.

Get out there and vote!!

[bewilderment]

Swim usually gets depressed without weed as well, but she is biologically prone to depression as it is. However, her emotions go really wonky whenever there is no pot. She doesn't have interest in much and instead of a lack of emotion, she is usually quite emotional but in a negative way. But, this is usually also because she has been self-medicating depression with weed instead of her prescription meds which she doesn't like taking. So, she usually has to go back on the antidepressant when she knows she's not going to be able to smoke much. Psychological addiction is still a powerful thing. Also, I was researching the effects of cannabis on neurochemistry just recently and started this thread: http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20668

Since it does seem to have effects on some mood-affecting neurotransmitters it is likely that habitual use of weed could possibly cause some neurotransmitter depletion after one stops using so it would make sense. And, yeah, is swiy not smoking by choice or because of a situation?

Best advice is just to keep yourself occupied even if you don't want to do something, just do it and try not to think of weed.

[desolated000]

I stopped by force, I ran out and can't get in with a dealer, that's coming to an end soon though I hope.

I'm normally bored this time of year, it being the summer and Im home all day weed made doing nothing fun. So now that I know being bored can be fun I guess I feel extra bored now that the fun has dissapeared, making boring seem boring-er. Do you think this is the likely reason?

Reputation Comments on this post:

You need to learn to use SWIM instead of I for your sake

[podge]

swim has just gone two days without weed and he has had trouble sleeping, very strange vivid dreams when he does manage to find sleep and he is finding it difficult to feel happy.it will pass though.swim doesnt worry about it and swiy shouldnt either.swiy should go out and play sports or do some something non weed related to get swiys mind off it.weed makes people happy but no one should have to rely on weed to make them happy. it will pass....dont worry.

[Nagognog2]

It has been noted in some observations that if one is perpetually stoned during adolesence, and then abruptly stops being stoned after this period of life - one loses their initial reference point. One started when emotions were running rampage due to hormones etc. Then when one stops being high, one expects (physiologically, as well as psychologically) the same feelings to surface. When they don't - one gets freaked out. This will pass as one re-adjusts to what is now "normal."

If the monkey really wants to feel some good, old emotions - the monkey could try a bottle of liquor while sitting through a nice movie. Like Schindler's List.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good advice

[Creeping Death]

Go outside, play basketball.

[Bajeda]

Originally Posted by Nagognog2

It has been noted in some observations that if one is perpetually stoned during adolesence, and then abruptly stops being stoned after this period of life - one loses their initial reference point. One started when emotions were running rampage due to hormones etc. Then when one stops being high, one expects (physiologically, as well as psychologically) the same feelings to surface. When they don't - one gets freaked out. This will pass as one re-adjusts to what is now "normal."

If the monkey really wants to feel some good, old emotions - the monkey could try a bottle of liquor while sitting through a nice movie. Like Schindler's List.

Swim agrees completely. He remembers the first time he had to abruptly quit to evade certain legal problems that hurt his friends and had to start smoking tobacco just to have something to smoke! He also started drinking heavily and was depressed for a time.

Now swim has no problem quitting for a month or two at a time when necessary and then coming right back to smoking (still smoking every day even) with only a few problems (they don't last long).

[desolated000]

Hmm, swim has resorted to other substances, but doesnt use them any more than normally. Even though he hates the way ciggerettes make him feel, he still smokes one whenever he can steal one.

[respect]

mind is over nature it doesnt matter why he is feeling shitty he should just try to feel happy and do his best with life

[Bajeda]

Originally Posted by respect

mind is over nature it doesnt matter why he is feeling shitty he should just try to feel happy and do his best with life

Its a bit harder than how you say it. Or actually alot harder to be exact.


Mind is part of nature, and certain things in nature can influence mind, and make mind not be as balanced as it used to.


So in any case, there is somewhat of a point that can be made with the quoted statement. Just try doing things that will make you happier. See if you can meet any cute girls, or try some new hobbies/sports. Windsurfing is great, as is skateboarding. You could pick up tennis, badmiton, ping-pong, etc. Find something to do to keep you occupied and possibly in a good mood. The less you think about it the better you will feel.

Getting out of a rut is a long arduous process, but if you make enough effort (and have some lucky breaks perhaps) you can get through it. Make some new friends, or a girlfriend, get some new hobbies, and try to make the summer better.


* And Respect - Try to make an actually useful post next time. Yours wasn't especially helpful.

[Alfa]

The fact that smoking weed has such a grasp on SWIY would be enough reason for SWIM to quit. If SWIY did not have such depression before his weed use, then SWIY can make a likely guess that the depression is caused by withdrawel from weed. If this is so after only 2 months of use, then it would be wisest if SWIY would stop using weed altogether.

Although drugs generaly behave the same ways in the human body, they do affect people in different ways, because different persons have a different chemical balance/make up and a different character.

Bottom line: if this is drug induced depression, then it is temporary and will ware off like all(non damage related) drug effects do.

[bewilderment]

Originally Posted by desolated000

Hmm, swim has resorted to other substances, but doesnt use them any more than normally. Even though he hates the way ciggerettes make him feel, he still smokes one whenever he can steal one.

I don't know what the other substances are, but considering that most drugs do affect the neurotransmitters involved in mood then these other drugs could also be contributing. Perhaps before, swiy used marijuana to ease any sort of hangover and/or crash and doesn't have that option anymore. Swim finds the comedown and hangover with many drugs difficult without weed. If you don't mind, what are the other substances?

Also, do you suspect that you have had nondrug related depression in the past? Or even drug-related depression that lasted for extended amounts of time? If so, then perhaps the marijuana was just serving as an antidepressant and swiy didn't realize it and now is out and the depression which was being masked is coming to surface. Either that or as I said, the marijuana has just depleted some of the chemicals in the pleasure center, it'll go away with time. If the depression has lasted this long then I'd also sugggest that swiy cut down a bit when swiy does begin smoking again.

In any case, as you mentioned, summer is depressing for many. I'm not sure if this is accurate or not (I don't have the time to look up at this exact moment, but I'm pretty sure it's accurate) that there is a higher rate of suicide in the summer. For some reason (just like winter is the nasty season with those with seasonal affective disorder) the summer is just a bad time for some people. However, this may be more related to those with bipolar rather than depression as mania seems more prevalent during the summer in those which suffer from bipolar and many of these people go into mixed states during this time where they're depressed and actually do (unlike many depressed people) have the energy to commit suicide due to the manic aspect. But, I'm just depressive (although I've considered it could be something a little different, but this has always been my "diagnonsense") and I find summer to be rather hard unless there is something particularly exciting going on.

Anyway, hope things start looking up for you soon. Good luck!

[Nature Boy]

In SWIM's opinion most people who get melodramatic after suddenly quitting weed have absolutely no reason to do so. SWIM may get a bit edgy if he doesn't have his daily smoke but it passes. Get over it.

[desolated000]

Wow, thanks everyone for all the interest, I bet this topic has helped alot of people. But honestly, I don't think my problem is as serious as your making it out to be.

This is what I think my case is:
During the summer there is nothing to do all day, so I would smoke weed often to make doing nothing seem fun. During school, I only smoke during the weedend and maybe a few times before school. Now Im out of weed and feel extra bored because Im used to the regular boring being fun, so everyday monotany seems extra plain. Today I worked at my grandparents, and I swear I felt happiness come back to me. I started having converstations in my head again, and laughing at everyday life. I think just having something to do rejuvenated me. So I should be fine when I get some more weed, or I get something to do.


I think all of your idea's are valid also, I just don't think they apply to me in this particular case. Thanks for all the support.

[Trebor]

When Swim goes without weed (which is often) he likes to try new things like writing and joing a website which deals with a wide range of drug-related subjects.

[zipoo]

[QUOTE=bewilderment]In any case, as you mentioned, summer is depressing for many. I'm not sure if this is accurate or not (I don't have the time to look up at this exact moment, but I'm pretty sure it's accurate) that there is a higher rate of suicide in the summer. For some reason (just like winter is the nasty season with those with seasonal affective disorder) the summer is just a bad time for some people. However, this may be more related to those with bipolar rather than depression as mania seems more prevalent during the summer in those which suffer from bipolar and many of these people go into mixed states during this time where they're depressed and actually do (unlike many depressed people) have the energy to commit suicide due to the manic aspect. But, I'm just depressive (although I've considered it could be something a little different, but this has always been my "diagnonsense") and I find summer to be rather hard unless there is something particularly exciting going on."

Pehaps it's why "april is teh crulest month of all" t. s eliot the wasteland

[eltimmy]

Yea, just need that ol' dopamine to reach normal functioning again. Get some exercise!

[Bajeda]

I just read an article about the endocannabinoid system and its functions. The system has many functions but this article (came with the American Medical News issue just out I think) focused on its relation to the digestive system. The endocannabinoid system helps with insulin and energy consumption functions as well as making people want to eat. The researchers found that while fasting certain cannabinoid receptors were more active while after eating they were much less active in certain ways. A possible explanation for the depressive and lethargic feelings swiy is experiencing may be that the foreign cannabinoids (not only THC) ingested from smoking cannabis have caused a shift in the production levels of endogenous cannabinoids which could make swiy not eat as much as he needs or possibly may give him problems with his insulin levels or other systems that help with energy expenditure which would lead to him being tired and depressed.


This is all speculation of course as little is known still about the interactions between foreignly introduced cannabinoids and the endogenous cannabinoid system, and I am referencing the article from memory as I forgot to bring it home with me.

Still, theres alot of interesting stuff out there about the interactions between the cannabinoids found in marijuana and the human body. I better check out the cannabis section of the file archive. I have alot of reading to do!

Reputation Comments on this post:

excellent post...very informative

[bewilderment]

Originally Posted by Bajeda

I just read an article about the endocannabinoid system and its functions. The system has many functions but this article (came with the American Medical News issue just out I think) focused on its relation to the digestive system. The endocannabinoid system helps with insulin and energy consumption functions as well as making people want to eat. The researchers found that while fasting certain cannabinoid receptors were more active while after eating they were much less active in certain ways. A possible explanation for the depressive and lethargic feelings swiy is experiencing may be that the foreign cannabinoids (not only THC) ingested from smoking cannabis have caused a shift in the production levels of endogenous cannabinoids which could make swiy not eat as much as he needs or possibly may give him problems with his insulin levels or other systems that help with energy expenditure which would lead to him being tired and depressed.


This is all speculation of course as little is known still about the interactions between foreignly introduced cannabinoids and the endogenous cannabinoid system, and I am referencing the article from memory as I forgot to bring it home with me.

Still, theres alot of interesting stuff out there about the interactions between the cannabinoids found in marijuana and the human body. I better check out the cannabis section of the file archive. I have alot of reading to do!

That's quite interesting. If you're interested in the pharmacology of marijuana then you should check out the thread I started here: http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/sho...780#post175780

Also, regarding cannabis dependence: It seems that withdrawal symptoms similar to that in opiate-addicts present themselves in animals who are given cannabis/cannibinoids over long-periods of time and then given a cannibinoid antagonist to induce immediate withdrawal. According to some, it is the long half-life of cannibinoids that makes it so there are seemingly no physical withdrawal symptoms. However, I have also read that chronic cannabis smokers generally metabolize cannabis much more quickly than more infrequent users and would thus be more likely to experience withdrawal symptoms according to how quickly the cannabis is metabolizing out of their system.