Marijuanna Effects.?

Question

I used to smoke weed in moderation, but I used it sort of in a "meditation" way.

Anyway, my friend smokes & gets very quiet & distant. She begins to believe that everyone around her is talking about her and when someone says something (that has nothing to do with her), she will seriously start tripping. At one point, she even believed that someone was going to come shoot her, so she moved her bedroom upstairs to avoid someone coming by her window to kill her.

Everything has seemed to calm down a bit, but on occasion, she still gets paranoid and that some feeling overcomes her. She confides in me and tells me that at times when she's high she can't seperate reality from fantasy. She says she hates it. I ask her why she doesn't quit, and she says cause she believes that it will all just go away.

She hasn't been the same since. Even when she's sober she seems as though she's living in some kinda fear.

What should I do? She's 18 so it's not like I can tell her parents.

Answer 1

Sometimes, when a person already has emotional/mental problems smoking pot will make those problems worse or even push them over the "edge" into full fledged mental illness. Be a friend to her and urge her strongly to stop using the pot. She may be suffering an anxiety disorder or even more seriously, paranoia disorder. If the symtoms continue help her to find a doctor or counselor. And yes, you can tell her parents, anonymously if you feel you need to. Even after the age of 18 parents still care what happens to their children and can still help influence their behavior. Telling her parents is better than going to her funeral.

Answer 2

There's nothing you can do for her now. Be there for her to talk to and encourage her to get help from her Doctor (who cannot tell her parents because of the patient confidentiality act). She's more than likely suffering from panic disorder and needs to get this under control. It's great that she has you to talk to but she does need some sort of professional help with this. There is nothing that you can say that will help her through and it's not for the lack of trying on your part. It's obvious you're a good friend and that you care for her but unless she WANTS help to overcome these fears, there's nothing more than you can do.
If you feel that she is endangering her life, than you NEED to tell her parents. Even though you think her parents will freak out on her, they'll help her and they'll get over the fact that she's smoked pot. It's not a huge deal and I'm sure that they're understanding enough to get over it soon enough. What IS important here is her life and if youre too afraid to say anything for fear of losing your friend, you're sadly mistaken. It could actually be that your hurting her more than helping.
I couldn't imagine how I'd feel if something happened to her when there was something I could have done to stop it.
I hope you do the right thing.
Good Luck to you! :o)

Answer 3

The paranoia that your friend exhibits is much like what I have seen in other people when the pot they smoked was laced with PCP. Other than that, your friend may have some type of persecution complex or could even be a paranoid personality that is just normally under very tight control and with the use of canibinoids her control may have slipped too much for her to get it back. At any rate, if her paranoia is strong enough that it is causing her to change her lifestyle it may be time to seek professional help for her. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Hi Emily,
Great question.
So many people now adays think that using weed has no lasting side effects. That is so wrong!!

Some professional Doctors and researchers report onset of anxiety and panic disorder after just one use of weed in some cases. It is clear that your friend has developed some paranoid personality characteristics from using weed. It is imparitive that she stops using weed immediately and now she needs to go see a Psych if these symptoms persits for longer than 4 days

Answer 5

I used to smoke a BUTTLOAD of weed. Probably a Q a day. One day it seemed like the whole world was after me. The true fact of the matter is, you don't need it. It's an escape mechanism. If I had to do it all over again I would have never done it in the first place. Moderation is fine, if you can truely do it. I'm not sold that anyone can. Please tell your friend to grab a slice of life! REAL LIFE IS HARD! You can do what your supposed to do (stay f-dup and work your *** off to do it). Or become part of the future.

Answer 6

First off, continuing to smoke pot will not help. It won't just "go away" suddenly. If she honestly believes that, then she should stop smoking now before she kills anymore of her brain cells.

If she keeps smoking, it will eventually lead to other drugs. Everyone says that they will stop if they get addicted, but that's not the way it works. Eventually, she'll want something a little stronger so she can relax more. I've seen someone very close to me die. It may have "just" been pot, but it lead to other drugs. It will probably be the same for your friend if you don't help her. If my friend wouldn't listen to me, I would tell the cops on her -any- day if I thought it would save her life.

Answer 7

my best friend started acting like that.
and at times i got paranoid too
and i made myself stop
and found other thigns to focus myself on.
you should try and talk to her and tell her
how much its gonna keep getting worse if she doesnt stop soon.
or see if theres like a deeper meaning or reasoning for why she smokes.

ah i kno that might not help you alot
but i hope things work out
=/

Answer 8

THC is not that powerful of a compound even though it does stimulate paranoia is some. my guess would be that she has some underlying mental issues that are being antagonized by the mj

Answer 9

Yes you can tell her parents. They need to know what is going on in their daughter's life. They can get the help that she needs.

Answer 10

She needs to quit. She is one of the people that pot affects in an adverse manner.