Questions About Depression

NavetG8r

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I wonder how well it works for incurable headaches? :scratchhead:

I honestly don't know. Most of my research has gone towards MS and muscle spasm relief. I have heard if you need headache relief, that when it comes to cannabis, it's actually kind of the opposite of what you'd think. Most people who use cannabis as medicine lean to the Cannabis Indica side of the genetic pool because Indica strains are the ones that usually give a body high, or relaxing effect. When it comes to headaches, it seems (according to what little study I've done) Sativa strains are more effective. Bart may or may not have more input on that subject. I can't remember if he's mentioned exactly why he uses cannabis. So my advice would be, if you're interested in testing to see if it helps with headaches, try a Sativa leaning strain and see how that works for you, or whoever you're asking for.

I'd be more concerned with the incurable part to be honest. I mean what are we talking about here? Incurable suggests there's nothing to be done to fix the issue causing the headaches, and that would worry me greatly. I'd seek another opinion if I were you, or whoever you're asking for.
 

GatorBart

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I honestly don't know. Most of my research has gone towards MS and muscle spasm relief. I have heard if you need headache relief, that when it comes to cannabis, it's actually kind of the opposite of what you'd think. Most people who use cannabis as medicine lean to the Cannabis Indica side of the genetic pool because Indica strains are the ones that usually give a body high, or relaxing effect. When it comes to headaches, it seems (according to what little study I've done) Sativa strains are more effective. Bart may or may not have more input on that subject. I can't remember if he's mentioned exactly why he uses cannabis. So my advice would be, if you're interested in testing to see if it helps with headaches, try a Sativa leaning strain and see how that works for you, or whoever you're asking for.

I'd be more concerned with the incurable part to be honest. I mean what are we talking about here? Incurable suggests there's nothing to be done to fix the issue causing the headaches, and that would worry me greatly. I'd seek another opinion if I were you, or whoever you're asking for.
Yep, Indica good for body buzz and sleeping. Sativa good for uplifting spirits, uncontrolled laughing, and eventually.................... sleeping.
That being said, if you're looking at edible :bandit:, I think most edibles give more of a body buzz than head buzz, but that's just me. I have to eat a lot of :bandit: to get the effects smoking :bandit: does for me.
Like Nav says, :bandit: would not be my choice to battle a headache, but if I had to choose I'd choose Sativa. When I have a headache I take 4 Ibuprofin or 2 Alleve, along with some :bandit:, but because I :bandit:. :lol:
I have no medical reason to use :bandit:, other than it helps relieve the stress of the day. So instead of a stiff drink when I get home, I light up. Less calories and I like the effect better than what alcohol does for me. Now if it's Friday after work, I'm having some :bandit: and a nice IPA to go with it when I get home (synergy).
 

NVGator

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The gentleman who taught the program was a certified counselor and he told me during that time that depression medication is to get the depressed person up out of bed and to a counselor, not to cure the depression. The counseling is what helps the depressed person, not the medication.
Spot on.

I may be wrong on this, but the chemical imbalance is in the serotonin level of the depressed persons brain. The serotonin levels are low and most depression medicine raises those levels. Serotonin maintains the mood balance, and when it's low, mood drops and depression sets in.
There are also chemicals in the depression medications that blocks some parts of the brain from feeling remorse, or bad, about decisions/choices that are made. This may be why people on these meds have suicidal thoughts. It's also what helps them get to the out of bed state to talk with someone.
Very true as well.
 

bradgator2

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I think there has always been a stigma or embarrassment talking about any kind of mental problems. Thankfully, people are more open to talk about it now. At least a little.

This a truly great organization:
https://www.nami.org/
 

Lake Gator

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Anyhow, I would appreciate what you all can share.

My wife suffers from depression. Hers is hereditary. Her mother whom I never met suffered from it as well. In fact, her 4 siblings all have mental illness ranging from depression with obsessive compulsive behavior to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. (Dealing with bipolar and schizo is an adventure I wish on no one.)

Our family doctor is a UF grad, undergraduate and med school. His specialty is internal medicine. During my annual physical I asked him what I, as the husband of someone who suffers from depression, can do to help my wife with her condition. His response:
  1. Understand that depression is real, as real as a broken leg. It is not just a state of mind rectified by simply taking a more glass half-full approach to life.
  2. There is no cure. One treats with medication and counseling. There will be good days and bad days.
  3. There are multiple symptoms associated with depression and different meds to treat each.
  4. The efficacy of meds may change for the worse over time. It is a constant regimen of trial and error seeking best results.
My wife and I have been married 39 years despite me not knowing her family's mental health history prior to proposing...not that it would have mattered cuz it wouldn't have. But I sometimes picture that poster of the grizzled old cowhand on a cattle drive speaking to himself, "There's a few things they didn't tell me about this outfit when I first signed on."
 

Concrete Helmet

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This is what I can relate to. I still have about seven years before I'm fully vested in my school retirement. Of course, we have some other funds, but when thinking about the time left until I can fully retire without penalty, with less than ideal health and two kids in college, I feel the stress Bart talks about. If I dwell on it, I find myself getting more angry than ever feeling down or like I'm faced with an insurmountable task. The anger comes from not having been able to put aside as much as I feel like I should have throughout my marriage and working years. I eventually calm down and realize we are in better shape than I am imagining. I had a pretty meager upbringing, but I really didn't know that we didn't have anything, so I never learned to worry much about those kind of things. I saved that for the teenage years ;). But again, I really remember anger more than anything like a depressed state.
You sound a lot like my father, and as of late me also......I think it's a man thing but make sure you keep it in check. In may father's case he became angry a good bit of the time and couldn't stay away from work after retiring for 5 -6 months. He had a massive stroke at 78 years old while getting ready for work at 4.45AM one morning. He didn't really need the money as we suspected he had stashed away quite a bit over the years.....we were shocked after his passing to find out exactly how much he had saved.... Problem is he never really seemed to enjoy himself over the last 10 years or so. Never went out to eat, hadn't taken my mother on vacation in almost 20 years, and drove POS cars that were hardly safe.....Just didn't make sense to me then, although at soon to be 53 I will say I'm starting to have some anxiety about getting completely debt free....
 

Concrete Helmet

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Yep, Indica good for body buzz and sleeping. Sativa good for uplifting spirits, uncontrolled laughing, and eventually.................... sleeping.
That being said, if you're looking at edible :bandit:, I think most edibles give more of a body buzz than head buzz, but that's just me. I have to eat a lot of :bandit: to get the effects smoking :bandit: does for me.
Like Nav says, :bandit: would not be my choice to battle a headache, but if I had to choose I'd choose Sativa. When I have a headache I take 4 Ibuprofin or 2 Alleve, along with some :bandit:, but because I :bandit:. :lol:
I have no medical reason to use :bandit:, other than it helps relieve the stress of the day. So instead of a stiff drink when I get home, I light up. Less calories and I like the effect better than what alcohol does for me. Now if it's Friday after work, I'm having some :bandit: and a nice IPA to go with it when I get home (synergy).
Bart do you have glaucoma? A friend of mine ;) who does tried weed a while back after not using for about 10 years or so because it's supposed to be good for lowering eye pressure. The friend said that some of the feelings were similar as before but noticed a nagging "guilty" feeling and that the effects were shorter than he remembered. He said the stuff smelled potent but looked a little different than the red haired mini Christmas trees that he was used to smoking in the past....Any thoughts?
 

cover2

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You sound a lot like my father, and as of late me also......I think it's a man thing but make sure you keep it in check. In may father's case he became angry a good bit of the time and couldn't stay away from work after retiring for 5 -6 months. He had a massive stroke at 78 years old while getting ready for work at 4.45AM one morning. He didn't really need the money as we suspected he had stashed away quite a bit over the years.....we were shocked after his passing to find out exactly how much he had saved.... Problem is he never really seemed to enjoy himself over the last 10 years or so. Never went out to eat, hadn't taken my mother on vacation in almost 20 years, and drove POS cars that were hardly safe.....Just didn't make sense to me then, although at soon to be 53 I will say I'm starting to have some anxiety about getting completely debt free....
I hear you. I think part of my angry times are related to a weekly Dexamethasone dose. The day after the dose I usually get mad about several little things that get big all of a sudden. But, I gotta have it for maintenance. The other anger I mentioned is higher than it should be because the thoughts that trigger them come when I just randomly think about work, retirement, etc. With what I've experienced medically in my 50's, a stroke would just be the icing! I need to get a grip, so to speak!
 

Concrete Helmet

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I hear you. I think part of my angry times are related to a weekly Dexamethasone dose. The day after the dose I usually get mad about several little things that get big all of a sudden. But, I gotta have it for maintenance. The other anger I mentioned is higher than it should be because the thoughts that trigger them come when I just randomly think about work, retirement, etc. With what I've experienced medically in my 50's, a stroke would just be the icing! I need to get a grip, so to speak!
Wow, sorry to hear of your medical troubles. I'm no expert when it comes to meds but anytime you alter the chemical make up of your body with medication there's a chance it causes the reaction.....How's your diet? Are you able to exercise any? I'm no poster child for fitness but notice if I'm angry or feeling a little blah a good long ride on my exercise bike or even a long walk and some stretching seems to tame the beast.....maybe endorphins? I've also noticed myself to be more "moody" during periods of inactivity(not getting regular exercise)....
 

Lake Gator

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I hear you. I think part of my angry times are related to a weekly Dexamethasone dose. The day after the dose I usually get mad about several little things that get big all of a sudden. But, I gotta have it for maintenance. The other anger I mentioned is higher than it should be because the thoughts that trigger them come when I just randomly think about work, retirement, etc. With what I've experienced medically in my 50's, a stroke would just be the icing! I need to get a grip, so to speak!

Not sure it applies here but the first sign of worsening depression was wife's uncontrollable random outbursts of intense anger. I seriously considered divorce. One day she self-realized her behavior as not normal. A doctor put her on Prozac with immediate effect. I actually told her it was like meeting the girl I married for the first time again.
 

cover2

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Just got back to work after a month and a half recovering from surgery from a perforated colon (wound up losing my spleen in the process). Felt terrible, no energy, for most of that time. Meds were mixed up from hospitalists. Got them straight and felt better immediately. Just now getting back to exercising as I can. Have to have another surgery (resection) in a couple of weeks hopefully, so I'm anticipating another inactive spell, but maybe not as long. Didn't really feel down as much as pissed that I wasn't recovering as quickly as I thought. Still thinking I'm a young athlete I guess. Really pissed when I found that the med screw up really slowed the process. But as the Duke once remarked, and I'm glad I can adopt this mentally, " any day above ground is a good day!"

Diet has been pretty good and surgery has made me pay closer attention to not only what I eat, but tolerable amounts. I usually eat the right things, but if we're eating out or I'm having a few beers with the meal, I can easily overindulge. The combination of eating better, being able to exercise more, and accepting my recent change has helped my temper. But I still get pissed when I have to go to the myriad of doctors appointments for follow ups. I hate to miss work because I seem to always return to an avalanche!
 

Concrete Helmet

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Just got back to work after a month and a half recovering from surgery from a perforated colon (wound up losing my spleen in the process). Felt terrible, no energy, for most of that time. Meds were mixed up from hospitalists. Got them straight and felt better immediately. Just now getting back to exercising as I can. Have to have another surgery (resection) in a couple of weeks hopefully, so I'm anticipating another inactive spell, but maybe not as long. Didn't really feel down as much as pissed that I wasn't recovering as quickly as I thought. Still thinking I'm a young athlete I guess. Really pissed when I found that the med screw up really slowed the process. But as the Duke once remarked, and I'm glad I can adopt this mentally, " any day above ground is a good day!"

Diet has been pretty good and surgery has made me pay closer attention to not only what I eat, but tolerable amounts. I usually eat the right things, but if we're eating out or I'm having a few beers with the meal, I can easily overindulge. The combination of eating better, being able to exercise more, and accepting my recent change has helped my temper. But I still get pissed when I have to go to the myriad of doctors appointments for follow ups. I hate to miss work because I seem to always return to an avalanche!
My friend your body has been to war recently and rarely do people return from war without a little baggage....physically and mentally Your personality seems like you're a lean forward and get r done type of guy so I see where the anger, more irritation probably, comes from. You're ready to get back on the road to recovery but the upcoming surgery is looming because you know it will slow you down and you're viewing it as a setback....you're ready to be out of that place and be back to what you're normally doing. I get all this because I hate taking a step backward and with my quick temper I can go off at the drop of a dime.

Try taking a little time for yourself everyday. No wife, no kids, no work....I do this by exercising or sitting in the pool, but if you can't exercise maybe find some menial task that requires almost no attention or concentration. Raking leaves, sweeping the porch or some other light physical/no mental activity. It doesn't have to take long, maybe just 15-20 minutes a day and see if it helps to reset your emotions. I can't speak for anyone else but it works for me and I've dealt with a bad temper/anger for most of my life. I think you'll be fine once you're back up to speed physically though.
 

Swamp Donkey

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There is lots of anecdotal evidence out there that cannabis .
I'm surprised it took this long for Nav to pimp his green.

Bart may or may not have more input on that subject. I can't remember if he's mentioned exactly why he uses cannabis.
LOL. The Weed Doc is asking for a consult from a specialist.
 

stephenPE

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At the most stressful time of life (self-inflicted) I found that wking out hard (45 min.) each day did wonders.......also gave me lots more energy. And prayer helped, too.
 

GatorBart

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Bart do you have glaucoma? A friend of mine ;) who does tried weed a while back after not using for about 10 years or so because it's supposed to be good for lowering eye pressure. The friend said that some of the feelings were similar as before but noticed a nagging "guilty" feeling and that the effects were shorter than he remembered. He said the stuff smelled potent but looked a little different than the red haired mini Christmas trees that he was used to smoking in the past....Any thoughts?
Different growers, different strains, different growing/curing methods, give different results. I recommend trying all kinds to see what works best. :bandit:
 

GatorBart

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At the most stressful time of life (self-inflicted) I found that wking out hard (45 min.) each day did wonders.......also gave me lots more energy. And prayer helped, too.
I try to work out for about 40-45 minutes every day around lunch time - lucky that my workplace has a gym for employees. Definitely makes me feel better and sleep more soundly.
 

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