Can smoking small amounts of marijuana truly worsen depression.?

Question

If a person smokes a small amount (4-5 drags) of marijuana everyday are they truly taking a chance of worsening depression? I am depressed, but do no take prescirption drugs yet. I go to therapy and am trying to make behavioral changes w/o a commitment to any drug. I do however smoke a little pot from time to time. I have read that smoking pot heavily or regulary is a big no-no with depressed individuals. Can 4-5 hits every other day or so be that much of risk?

Because I smoke pot from time to time does not neccasirly define a commitment.
I eat banana's occasionally, but I am not commited to eating them.

I am aware pot can worsen depression. However there must be a proportional difference in the quantities smoked. Maybe not. Can a small amount of pot or for that matter truly have a large enougn negative impact? I am not smoking in leau of medication. I just happen to smoke a little, perhaps a carryover from chemo.
The same way some drink a little wine or have a scotch after work.
Small quanitites.
In moderation.

Why do I do it? Good question.
Why do people have cocktails after work.
Difficult question.
Perhaps to feel a brief moment of "transcendence" from daily life. To unwind. Sure one can unwind w/o weed as much as they can unwind or escape w/o booze, food, sport or sex.

Answer 1

While the study found that those who smoke marijuana for medical reasons were more depressed than other smokers, they were less depressed overall than nonsmokers.

Rather, daily or weekly marijuana users — including those smoking the drug for medical rather than recreational reasons — had fewer symptoms of depression than nonusers. Further, marijuana users were more likely to report positive moods and fewer somatic complaints such as sleeplessness, poor appetite and trouble completing their daily routine, the study stated.

Answer 2

Anything that changes mood rapidly can contribute to depression depending on what causes the depression. It isn't limited to marijuana.

Small amounts of marijuana can contribute to depression. Large amounts of marijuana could put some people in nursing homes as they gain serious mental disorders. So yes, the concept that more would hurt more is true. It really comes down to how the depression is there and effecting your life.

My suggestion is clean yourself up emontionally before smoking again. It is impractical if not foolish to continue taking any uncontrolled medication without doctor's approval in that condition.

Answer 3

Yeah mang. When I'm blazed all the time I usually feel like crap. Not quite depression really but just a dragging feeling overall. If I was depressed to begin with, I imagine this would make it worse. The best thing I find is to only get baked once in awhile- and if you feel like you have to do it every day then at least wait until nighttime because doing the wake and bake thing will make you feel lousy. If you're not always high then it's more fun when you do smoke.

Answer 4

Here's info from the WebMD web site:

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/88/100059.htm

Arcticle: "Smoking pot may interfere with antidepressant medication." by Karen Cameron, RNC

Question:


I'm trying to help a friend in need. He was diagnosed with depression, and I need to know how marijuana and depression are linked together.


Answer:


It is pretty well known that the psychoactive chemicals in marijuana interfere with the balancing process that antidepressants work toward. As you may already know, depression is a biochemical illness -- an imbalance in chemicals in the brain. Those antidepressants help things become better balanced, but they can't do the job nearly as well if one is smoking marijuana. Marijuana contributes to depression and destroys natural sleep. There really is no good reason to continue smoking it.

Answer 5

You are to be commended for getting counseling. It's good that you are trying to find what is good in your life and what is not.

Smoking of any kind injures the lungs and alters the brain's chemistry. But in the case of marijuana, since it is illegal, you cannot be sure if legal or illegal pesticides are used in its growing.So you are exposing yourself to carcinogens (cancer causing agents). And frankly, the FDA and the EPA standards are very low.

Most people who smoke and drink are using these habits to escape a feeling by replacing it with another feeling.It's difficult to stop a habit and an addiction, but you have the power to do it if you want to stop badly enough.

THC is stored in the fat cells of your body, so you may experience "highs" over the next year after you quit smoking and your body slowly releases the THC. That will stop after all of it has left your body.

I wish you luck and health!

Answer 6

The Mexicans call marihuana the "drink of grief." It can intensify whatever feellings you have: good and bad. I would go with something legal, anyway. You'd be suprised just how effective any of the following remedies are for depression (infinitely safer and more sustainable, in fact, than SSRI's and other Pharmaceutical Junk): 1) SAM-e 2) Holy Basil 3) Noni.......all of these do a great job, and are noni-toxic. Unlike drugs they have "side benefits," as well.

Answer 7

I'll give you a short to the point TRUTHFUL answer. But is it what you want to hear?

Yes, pot will interfere with your antidepressants just as alcohol would. In ANY amounts. It also causes severe mood swings.

Staying off pot completely is your best bet, for good. Why? It will get you depressed again.

Answer 8

Smoking pot can have many different effects on people weather or not if that person has depression, the effects could be any where from a relaxing state of mind to a extremely deep depression so it really depends on the person.

Answer 9

yes!!! marijuana may not make you depressed when your smoking it but after a while your body become addicted to it and you can get really depressed, feel like you have nothing to live for, and you will end up probally trying some other drug to make yourself fell better. If you smart and want somerhing out of life then you will never smoke again.My ninteen year old son who has a girl friend that loves him a newborn baby and a family that loves him and would and has helped him is not enough to make him stop smoking, and he gets depressed when he dont have it and has threated suicide. He has every thing to look forward to if he would just stop . He is even ganna go to jail because he cant stop and pass a drug test. He cant get a job because he cant pass a drug test, he cant take care of his baby, and is going to lose him because of child protected service .he couldnt respect his family and not bring drugs into our home and the little kids find it laying around where he got stoned and forgot where he left it. he has stolen from all his famliy , friends and strangers so he could buy him a bag. And so now because of his decision to smoke dope he will end up in jail or worst so what do you think ?? yea pot will end up making you more depressed than you have ever been sooner or later. To get rid of the depression ask GOD to come into your life and forgive for your sins,Repent dont do it again,and ask GOD to take the deression away from you and if you have faith and believe he will save you!!!!!! I know this from experience i was the biggest alcoholic and was addicted to pain pills and smoked pot . And one day i relized what I was doing wasnt making me happy and i prayed , got saved and now my whole life has changed 100% for the best. The Lord blesses me everyday. I pray for my son every night , and I know god will answers my prayers when the time is right. I bet that you have someone that loves you and dont want to see you depressed. Go get them up sunday am and go to church . If you already do go to church, and are still depressed then your in the wrong church . Go to a church where the holy ghost is and I GAuRENTEE YOU WANT BE DEPRESSED NO MORE. YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN SO HIGH AS WHAT YOU CAN GET FROM HIM THERE IS NO HIGH THAT CAN COMPARE. I know this is probally more than you wanted to know but my heart is breaking tonight over my son, and ijust want to say stop while you can before its too late; sometime tomarrow never come. jdenney Now from a nurses opion and not a sad mom,s You can go to your docter and get some antidepressant that will probally help . some depression comes from a chenical imbalance in the brain and with the right medicine you could be better in about 2-3 weeks after it has got into your system but if you do start them dont ever just stop them cold turky. You have to be tapered off. stopping suddenly could make you more depressed and even suicidal. jdenney LPN

Answer 10

It depends on the source of the depression, and everyone is different. Whether it is genetics, body chemistry or as a result of past experiences would all play a role in determining if this is right for you. I have heard of people that get relief from cannabis, however at this time the main risk is a legal one.