Do You Self Medicate?
For a long time people have been telling me that when someone needs medication for an anxiety disorder, and they will not go to the doctor to get one, they self medicate with marijuana and alcohol. Here is a nice little selection from Univ. of Oregon.
It’s quite common for people to seek unhealthy ways to cope with anxiety. Needing to get to “get a buzz” in order function at a party is only one example. Substance, shopping, eating, sexual and other addictions often mask deeper discomforts and distress. Activities that in moderation can be quite pleasurable become problematic when they are compulsive and preclude other ways of finding release and comfort. If you think that you may be “self-medicating” in this way, it would be important to raise this with your counselor.
I liked the start, “unhealthy ways” of dealing with anxiety. When you look at some of the medications out there, pot and booze almost seem tame by comparison. However, that’s the trick of both substances: they only seem to make things better. From the Power and Control Blog I found this
Natural molecules similar to an active ingredient in marijuana play a part in helping the brain clear fearful memories and keep them from being permanently debilitating.
“Helping the brain clear fearful memories.” So perhaps in judicious amounts it’s alright, right? Well, the first problem is that Cannabis in every form is illegal. And there are a multitude of problems that can go along with a pot smoking habit. And alcohol is not a bit better, even though it is legal.
Isn’t that interesting that alcohol is legal but marijuana is not. It certainly has nothing to do with the threat to the roadways by crazed potsmokers. No, it’s the drunks that kill on roads. Sure, it makes sense, make legal the substance that helps us kill each other on the roads, or in bar fights, etc.
I am not defending Pot against Liquor, what I am doing is saying that for those who self medicate they are in between the rock and hard place. If they can’t afford good mental health care, and who can? Then they are forced either into the public clinics where you have to let go of any pretense of pride, or you can just smoke a joint and have a beer or twenty.
So the question remains, do you self medicate? What? You want me to answer that? Not on your life buddy.
