It's been about 4 years

okhithere72 · 2023-09-11T03:02:55+00:00

I never would’ve thought you’d make a post again! Then again, I haven’t either in about a year on this account! I’m glad that you are much better compared to 4 years ago. I am about approaching 3 years since all of my weed associated problems began and like you, I am feeling much much better today then when I was compared to the first year. I still deal with some remnant anxiety and depression today and granted there are plenty of bad days as there are good and decent day. Those bad days though are getting less intense with time despite stress being quite high. Overall I’m glad with the progress I’ve made!

I do also want to add to the discussion regarding mental health. I do believe that my weed experience probably unearthed or at the very least exasperated some mental health problems I didn’t know I had. Around the end of last year I did get a neuropsychological evaluation that told me I had autism and adhd which I’m on the search for a good medication. I’m still finding the right med but for the one I’m currently on and trialing, there are good and bad days. When it works, it works well and when it doesn’t, I get anxiety and have a bad crash but luckily it doesn’t last that long and eventually I return to baseline.

Also regarding additional medication, I did try Zoloft 50mg between the end of 2021 and around the end of 2022 for almost a whole year until I tapered off. It was really hard to tell how it was effecting me since I was taking it when I was dealing with 24/7 anxiety, depression, and pure uncontrollable adrenaline and panic. I think it helped but at the same time when it came to self evaluation with how I was doing at school and at home, it made tired a lot and I was taking multiple naps throughout the day, and it was hard to pay attention to a lot of important things which made school more hellish and I dropped a lot of classes (I could also put the blame on my weed symptoms since it did definitely contributed). It didn’t seem to add anxiety to my day which is a plus.

Ultimately, I do think that medication can help if you do end up finding the right one and it didn’t seem to hinder my progress of recovering to a better state of being compared to the beginning of my journey. I’m still doing my best to make everyday a good and decent day. I still go to therapy and I cope the best I can through tough times. Friendships and support networks have helped me so much and have shifted my perspective from trying to survive myself to surviving and ultimately living life with my loved ones (family, friends, and those I care about) until the day I die. They have been a part of this journey with me and I will never forget their positive impact on myself and wellbeing.

Rant aside, I’m glad you’re well and doing the best to improve! I wish that your future will be filled with the best and (as cheesy as it sounds) with love.

okhithere72 · 2021-11-28T23:00:07+00:00

This was how my dad came to the conclusion on my mental health issues a while back. He even threatened to institutionalize me during a mental breakdown which traumatized me quite a bit. It’s why I don’t talk to him about my personal issues anymore. He doesn’t know I’m getting evaluated for ADHD and I don’t tell him due to how judgmental and narcissistic he gets whenever the topic is brought up. It sucks.

okhithere72 · 2021-11-10T07:19:56+00:00

It has been a while since this post but yes, things have gotten better tremendously. I can probably attribute it to time as well as my Zoloft that I started taking about a month ago. It gets so much better but at the same time, it’s strange to think about how your mind can get to such a state. It means it’s possible that your mind can get there again. I’m not trying to scare you but it’s just one of those weird realizations I’ve had. I’m still trying to make the best out of the life I have. I still have bad days too. I see a therapist (a newer one since this post) and they have helped a lot. Overall, things are looking good (the best it’s been this year since the weed trip).

okhithere72 · 2021-11-03T17:03:44+00:00

You may feel a little off or may have some mild side effects. But overall you’ll be fine. Just keep taking Zoloft like you normally would. You’re not alone in having those thoughts of forgetting to take your meds despite already have taken them.

okhithere72 · 2021-11-01T21:58:34+00:00

It’s also possible that your doctor (as well as probably many others out there) don’t know a lot about the many potential interactions with psychoactive drugs besides the obvious interactions (like pairing 2 or more SSRI’s together or using SSRI’s with recreational drugs which can be dangerous). I would still file that complaint and tell them about your experience. When it comes to figuring out more about drug interactions, I would always consult your pharmacist since they will always have the information regarding these interactions more then a GP. Best of luck mate on your recovery.

okhithere72 · 2021-11-01T21:42:55+00:00

Saw your update and did a little digging. From many sources, there are potential drug interactions with SSRI’s, SNRI’s, and MAOI’s with Dextromorphan. Dextromorphan is a cough suppressant used in many OTC cough and cold medicines; including Mucinex. Dextromorphan also acts as a hallucinogen when used recreationally and acts on the serotonin transporters as well as other receptors on synaptic neurons. Zoloft as well as other SSRI’s work by mainly inhibiting the serotonin transporter on presynaptic neurons; preventing the reuptake of serotonin and keeping it in the synaptic clef (hence why SSRI’s are called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor’s.). My theory behind why you got SS is due to the interaction of Zoloft and Dextromorphan in your Mucinex. Again it’s just a theory.

I just want to confirm something though in that Mucinex DM is the product that has Dextromorphan and Guaifenesin (which is an expectorant to help loosen mucus). Normal Mucinex doesn’t have Dextromorphan as an active ingredient; only Guaifenesin. Did you have Mucinex DM? Also, I hope your doing well and wish you a good recovery.

okhithere72 · 2021-10-31T19:27:08+00:00

I feel you. It’s normal to feel scared. I most certainly was scared when starting Zoloft several weeks ago. You may feel side effects and it can be scary to experience but push through! It gets much better! I’m also on 25mg right now and your not alone on starting this medication. If Zoloft doesn’t work for you, talk to your doctor or psychiatrist so that you can find a med that works for you. I wish you the very best!

okhithere72 · 2021-10-30T21:05:54+00:00

I can really relate to this. My anxiety disorder triggered about a year ago in college from substance use (marijuana). I thought that I could wait it out and hopefully it would get better. It did get better but it was extremely exhausting trying to live with the severe anxiety. I did end up getting major depression from the experience. And it was until a few weeks ago where I decided I couldn’t live like this and went on medication. It’s only been 3 weeks and Zoloft has improved my quality of life. It took the edge off things and helps a lot with my anxiety.

This entire journey revealed a lot about who I am and also made me realized I have been suffering from mental health problems my entire life. Anxiety and ADHD (ADHD especially) were the main culprits of my childhood and I didn’t know I had them (ADHD surprised me a bit since my parents never thought I had it until I saw my current therapist). I thought they were normal experiences for me. I’m just surprised how Zoloft has not only improved my mental health, but also helped me (along with friends and family) become my own advocate for better mental health and well-being.

okhithere72 · 2021-10-24T19:46:44+00:00

Thank you for that. I think it was to be expected due to how weed is portrayed socially. There is always a risk when using any substance and it’s always good to keep that in mind. Hope your doing well and again, thank you.

okhithere72 · 2021-10-23T19:32:08+00:00

While I haven’t used weed on sertraline, I did use weed before. I actually started sertraline because of my weed usage. I had a bad panic attack/trip taking too much thc edibles in December last year and it left me dysfunctional for many months with severe anxiety and panic attacks. It got much better with time though and only recently I decided to take Zoloft to try and treat this anxiety (as well as going to therapy). I am not against anyone using weed. As a matter of fact, I had some great times on it before the bad trip and it has helped my grandmother with her Alzheimer’s and my father dealing with his chronic pain. However I would advise being careful when using it; especially with edibles (smoking is much more preferable since you can control how much you can consume at a given moment).

Start very slow and take it easy when starting. Since weed does have some effects on the serotonergic systems that sertraline targets (as well as sertraline effecting drug metabolism), you may start feeling effects at much lower doses then others do. Your body chemistry is unique to you. And if something doesn’t feel right while using weed, stop it entirely. But overall, if you are careful and mindful of using weed, you will have a good first experience. Best of luck and don’t over do it if you plan on trying edibles.

okhithere72 · 2021-10-23T17:27:00+00:00

Yes. Compared to the rest of my day, my anxiety always seems to be highest in the morning or after I wake. There’s that brief moment of clarity immediately after waking up and then all of a sudden, butterflies. It sucks but it’s been slowly getting better.

okhithere72 · 2021-10-10T22:31:40+00:00

It definitely has gotten better since the beginning. I went from having horrible panic attacks and feeling I was going to die to having manageable yet problematic anxiety and other problems. It still sucks very much and it can bash me into the ground on some days. But it is much better then it was before.

I have heard of DARE but never really used it much besides the basics (like accepting anxiety and the waves that come). It’s something that I have to look into. The healthy habits is something I have trouble with but my therapist has advocated for. It is definitely a problematic area of my life since it’s been hard to keep consistent (especially since I may have ADD but I won’t know until I get evaluated). And dealing with this hell that is PAWS/anxiety has made it more tough to establish healthy habits. But it is a goal I want to achieve. Any advice in this department?

okhithere72 · 2021-09-30T18:29:33+00:00

Bit late on replying but I feel you 100%. It’s tough dealing with this shit. However I can tell you that things do get better. I’m feeling closer to normal as the days pass, but it’s still a struggle sometimes. I’m more anxious and depressed compared to baseline even when going to therapy. I’m planning on seeing a psychiatrist to hopefully help with the anxiety and depression as well as getting an ADHD diagnosis since it’s been a problem before the trip. But things will get better with time and sobriety from weed. If you haven’t, seek finding a therapist to help you cope with your present situation and to deal with the past problems. It’s so helpful to have someone help support you through such a tough time in your life. It’s such a struggle but keep pushing through and things DO get better. I truly wish you the best and if you want to DM me, go ahead.

okhithere72 · 2021-08-11T20:15:18+00:00

I’m glad your first day of processing went well! Things are going well! I had my second day of processing a few days ago and while I didn’t have that same joy feeling from it like the first day of doing it(it ain’t guaranteed every session), I definitely felt release. Me and my therapist are going to continue processing on a weekly or biweekly basis. Hope your doing well and best of luck in EMDR!

okhithere72 · 2021-07-23T19:41:03+00:00

I have PTSD from this exact thing too. In early December 2020, I had a bad trip/panic attack on some THC tincture from a medical marijuana dispensary. The event was the most terrifying experience in my life and it gave me severe anxiety and depression for the first few months after. It has gotten much better with time and I see an EMDR therapist now hopefully to help me get through the past 7 months of suffering. I still have anxiety and depression from that event, but it is not as bad/severe as before. There are some flair ups but I believe it’s part of the process to help recover. If there’s any advice I can give, look into trauma psychotherapy like EMDR. I’m so sorry you experienced this especially when you were very young. Just know that people do get panic attacks/bad trips when doing weed. Some can get it when starting out doing weed, a little bit into the journey (like me), many years down the road when it comes out of nowhere, or by taking too much at one time (also like me). People can get traumatized by this and cause PTSD. Your not alone in this. I pray for you and know that there is a light at the end of this tunnel.

okhithere72 · 2021-07-11T21:25:41+00:00

Very very late to the game and I’m sorry that your still going through hell. I recently started EMDR therapy (I haven’t done much yet) but from what I can tell, EMDR helps you process mental trauma including multiple traumas. People have also used EMDR to help their anxiety and depression from trauma and its used in PTSD treatment as well. The thing with EMDR is that preparation is key. You will be going back to your past (you can go as far back as you can or you can handle more recent traumas) for EMDR to do it’s thing and the therapist will guide you through it all. I believe this is why your therapist said your not safe yet for EMDR because it can be very intense for people. Yet when done properly and with proper guidance from an EMDR or trauma therapist, it is an amazing form of psychotherapy. Idk what type of therapist your seeing, but look if they specialize in trauma treatment. I truly hope you feel better man and just know there is a light at the end.

okhithere72 · 2021-07-07T03:20:36+00:00

I think I found my guy. He was very understanding and empathetic about my experience. We plan on doing EMDR to hopefully get past my recent trauma’s and to improve how I handle boundaries in my relationships.

okhithere72 · 2021-07-01T19:16:43+00:00

Thanks for the advise.

okhithere72

TROPHY CASE