Cannabis

[isin13955]

The only time in my life that I have felt free, at least temporarily, from A&D was in my teens/20s when I smoked hash at least on a weekly basis. Now at the age of 64 I wish I had easy access to my old friend!

[kenster1]

I smoked it for years but it became addictive and sometimes dangerous to get gave it up along with everything else and never looked back.as soon as I get a whiff from neighbours I feel dizzy.

[isin13955 in reply to kenster1]

I believe the stuff we had 40/50 years ago wasn’t like what is around nowadays but I might be wrong.

[kenster1 in reply to isin13955]

yeah who knows what your getting some guy up here was growing it in his flat using chemicals and his whole house went up,

[Misty-Loves-Tea]

Hi Iain - isin13955

At the risk "of throwing a spanner in the works" why oh why, if you are 64, have you not actually dealt with the underlying problems long ago (Anxiety/Depression) and explored via counselling especially as it is clearly affecting you so badly?!

I've taken time to read through (all) of your posts before replying, and there is a theme .........

.......... Keeping things bottled up; suppressing your feelings (you say you find it difficult to talk about your problems F2F); passive aggressive behaviour (towards your wife); not talking/communicating to family/wife (you say you had not spoken to your cousin for years and indeed your wife had never met her); or taking responsibility for, or exploring, your role/part to play in things!

Sadly, the effects of Anxiety and Depression, especially if accompanied by high levels of stress, can leave one feeling overwhelmed even by small things (as your perspective is altered by your mental distress), and it can often be that in a marriage, the day-to-day responsibilities by default, then fall to the other spouse (e.g. your Wife) and so she too becomes very much affected by your A & D so it's a vicious circle!

I note in one post you say how your wife asks who's on the phone ........ you seem to interpret this negatively ....... An alternative explanation might be she is taking an interest and trying to open communication with you, or be confused as to why you can chat with others and not with her! The bottom line is you won't know unless you break the patterns of behaviour you have got in to, of avoiding, and start really talking to those in your life that matter!

If face to face talking feels too much to start with, why not sit down and write to your wife or at least write your feelings down ........ it will give you a starting point to begin moving forwards!

I would suggest you explore personal counselling and then, once it's completed, after a short break, perhaps both have couples counselling. Check with your GP if the surgery can refer your this, or if you have Employee Counselling Service at work or via Health Care Policy.

If not, the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) has a great website where you can source appropriate support. BACP.co.uk

I make no apologies if this is straight talking (please know it is well intended) ......... I hope it will help kick-start you on the right track out of your depression!

Good luck

Misty

[isin13955 in reply to Misty-Loves-Tea]

Wow, so many assumptions! But thank you for your reply x

[hypercat54 in reply to Misty-Loves-Tea]

Great reply Misty

[isin13955 in reply to hypercat54]

Amateur psyche based on spurious assumptions and very little else, possibly dangerous. Ten out of ten for length!

[Misty-Loves-Tea in reply to isin13955]

Actually isin13955, I am a fully qualified, senior practitioner. Hence a considered, detailed reply having thoroughly read all your posts.

My reply was genuine and sent with the best intentions to try and help you & shed a little light on alternatives ......

However, you are obviously free to dismiss as you choose!

[isin13955 in reply to Misty-Loves-Tea]

You don’t know the first thing about me!

[Hidden]

Breaks my heart we all,in this world cannot be free to try something that may help us.

Ive been using medical marijuana since 2006 n for me personally its saved my life with all my mega med issues.

For me..it stops my Episodes,makes my pain tolerable,n puts me in a better headspace.

Cant say its for everyone,but we should all have a choice to see.

It doesnt cure ur ailment,but it helps u live life with what u have.

[Silentrider60]

Hi,

My name is Janet and I live in Nevada. Before weed was legal, and living in Calif. I use to smoke a lot back then and really enjoyed skunk weed. It really got me pretty buzzed and got my stress levels down and was and still is great for my PTSD. And now that I am 62 I still enjoy smoking it. My daughter got me on wax which I can get higher THC higher then weed alone, so now since I suffer with bone pain it really helps and still keeps stress down fromy chronic pain. So now I take 90 grams of THC and found that it really works better than taking dangerous medicine from Doctors. And I blessed to have it legal in my state. Hope you can get the help you need to better you. Janet

[isin13955 in reply to Silentrider60]

Thanks Janet, legalisation will come to the U.K. eventually when the supply of illegal drugs to our politicians dries up, although that’s probably just a pipe dream!

[Sasical]

Well, my experience is quite the opposite as it was precisely weed that set off my mental health problems and I can also say from my stay in a drug rehab center that the amount of mental health problems that are caused by weed is quite scary, I was lucky in that I didn't develop schizophrenia but many did.

So, all I can say is...each to their own but I would never ever recommend it.

[isin13955 in reply to Sasical]

As you say each to their own. How long ago did your dreadful experiences happen? I think the stuff that is around these days is very different from what there was 40/50 years ago.

[Hidden]

They are getting clever with the stuff these days. It is being sold or in some places scripted for many different health concerns where some properties have been removed etc. I personally not tried the stuff, even on script.

i AM A GOOD BOY REALLY

Mind I feel a beer and a dram seems to hit the mark

BOB

[isin13955 in reply to Hidden]

Oh I have the beer and dram one day a week, Saturday. I meditate for 20 minutes in the evening and morning and find that alcohol is not good for that. I give myself one night off as most of the time I would rather meditate than drink.

[Hidden]

I have a Beer and dram three times a week or so it relaxes me, I meditate when I am stressed or Chronic Pain. The stuff goes down well when I do not take any NARCS.

We all have our coping skills, tomorrow I will be summer pruning fruit trees so will need too watch what I am doing

BOB