Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
I've been doing some research and I think I've found something that might work for me. I found some articles that said some strains of marijuana does help people with bipolar disorder. It's natural and locally grown for the most part. I live in Oregon so there are marijuana dispensaries all over the place. I told my son about this and he didn't like the idea. It's not his decision to make. It's my brain, my body and my life and I'm tired of suffering.
This isn't something I will go into blindly, I will do a lot of research. I'm sure my current psychiatric nurse practioner wouldn't go for this. I asked her last about using marijuana and she said it was too dangerous. I would be good to have a pdoc closer to where I live. I've been trying to find a mental health professional who prescribes medical marijuana but haven't found anyone yet. I think what I need to do go to a nearby dispensary and ask someone there and other questions.
I'm not going to go around stoned out of my gourd all the time. I would us the recommended amount to stablize my moods.
May this be the answer I'm looking for.
-
Ever since I stopped doing therapy because of insurance, I've been feeling that old tense and irritable sense of anxiety and stress. I hate that. I was making so many strides and changes during therapy, my therapist would acknowledge all of my progress and accomplishments, and I miss that reassurance. Today I thought about it, and I made those changes! She would always tell me that I chose to...
-
In all it's splendid colour!!I'm up for a very short time I hope...It's too early for me but I always seem to have these early awake times where I'm not quite ready to get upAnother chore day for me as I didn't get done all I wanted to yestetdayI hope that your day is blessed...xo
On the natural thing, actually lithium is natural. It occurs in the form we take it in vast quantities.
Alot of people here have said it makes them more paranoid. I quoted the thing from the UK's psychiatrists that said few people realised the dangers of using it when they are bipolar / schizophrenic.
As you say, it's your choice.
There aren't too many medical professionals at this point with a license to prescribe it... However there are well informed dispensaries... at least here there are....
As Irish wrote there are many forms for it.... A friend of mine takes it for the tremors from Parkinson's and it's the only thing that's worked for him thus far.....He takes it in the form of chocolate ... It doesn't make him stoned and helps him to sleep ... He can't take it from a regular pot plant as that makes him paranoid and stoned and he hated it
http://www.bing.com/search?q=Medical+Marijuana+and+Psychiatric+Disorders&FORM=QSRE2
The cost can also be quite expensive. In CT, a friend had to pay 350.00 to get the proof of her ptsd so her dr. would prescribe Med. Marijuana and then to obtain from the dispensary, she also had to pay for obtaining marijuana. Good Luck~
"A 2011 review of phytocannabinoid-terpenoids (light sensitive weed terpenes) in the British Journal of Pharmacology found that limonene was useful in treating depression. Linalool and myrcene were more useful in treating anxiety. But anxiety and depression can often go hand-in-hand. SSRI's are useful for both anxiety and depression. Why not weed?"
Because weed also includes a bunch of other things, doesn't it? This kind of selective picking of science drive me crazy.
And even if it were correct - we are bipolar, not unipolar depressives. That's why many anti-depressents don't work for us.
Anyway, you might find this more balanced and useful
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/problemsdisorders/cannabis.aspx
That's just my reaction. I know pot can make you feel really cozy and silly too - but for me I think it would be more of an out of control experience.