I read the below informaiton and found it very interesting. My boyfriend smokes marijuana and I HATE it because I feel like it alters his personality, as in, when he's high, it's not the "real" him that I'm dealing with. Since I take antidepressants, am I being a hypocrit? Is my being on antidepressants comparable to him smoking marijuana as far as altering personality?
"The underlying principle behind its workability is actually no different than any other drug used to alter mood, be it prescription or recreational. It alters the natural chemical operation of the brain to induce a false state that suppresses the underlying trauma or psychological condition."
2007-06-04 04:46:54 · 10 answers · asked by Here_for_what 3 in Health ➔ Mental Health
No, they are not in the same class. Anti-depressants don't alter your personality, they help your mood. And they are not used to make you high and they don't make you high. Marijuana does make one high and is used for that purpose.
2007-06-04 05:07:34 · answer #1 · answered by Andee 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well according to the doctor that suggested I smoke Marijuana for my anxiety attacks rather than take the antidepressants that were giving me bad side effects, they are the same thing. Plus I feel much better these days, so in my opinion it is better than the medication.
When I was on antidepressants my personality was altered for a couple of years, my family and friends all noticed the difference and said I seemed calmer than before but they could tell I wasn't completely there, I kept spacing out randomly and had multiple other bad side effects including fainting. Now as per my doctor's direction whenever I feel an anxiety attack coming on, I smoke one and it will calm me down and alter my personality for few hours, then I'm myself again for the rest of the time. My family and friends all say I seem much more like myself, happier, and more focused, and all they know is that I changed medications.
How long have you been on medication? Has your boyfriend ever even met the "real" you?
I'm not suggesting that you stop your medication, you are what you make yourself. He chooses to be someone who smokes and you choose to be someone on medication, so let him do what works for him and you do what works for you.
2007-06-04 14:50:41 · answer #2 · answered by Mira 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it's true, except that antidepressants are prescribed and therefore socially acceptable forms of medication. Of course, some will argue that depression is caused by a physical ailment, but this is simply untrue and if these people were to actually look beyond the Zoloft commercial they would know better.
I would argue that antidepressants are far more dangerous than marijuana use especially since marijuana doesn't cause suicidal tendencies or impulsive behavior.
2007-06-04 04:51:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
some differences here, being depressed is an altered state of consciousness, it is NOT a normal state of mind. Antidepressants serve to replace missing neurochemicals so that you can attain a normal thought pattern and thereby have the ability to work out the issue that cause the depressed state. Antidepressants do not suppress anything, they allow normal function.
Use of marijuana, a known DEPRESSANT, abnormally alters what would be normal function. Yes, it changes personality, yes it alters brain chemistry, and yes it does these things to the point that the person is no longer capable of thinking or acting NORMALLY.
So the difference here is you are striving to be NORMAL, while he is trying to escape normality and reality and self medicate into a state of apathy. This is not likely to change, suggest you find someone that wants to be healthy.
2007-06-04 04:56:02 · answer #4 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
It has been my beliefe that marijuana, like alcohol, is a depressant. My younger brother used to reason with me that he preferred smoking dope as opposed to taking his antidepressants - didn't fly with me. And recall those recent studies that smoking pot could lead to psychotic episodes...that would be my brother. He has since learned that illegal substances aren't the way to go and has such a better disposition these days. He hasn't even taken his antidepressants in several months.
2007-06-04 04:59:53 · answer #5 · answered by Sunidaze 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No......I am chronically depressed with panic disorder and I'm on SS Disability for it. You need anti-depressants because they restore the Chemical Imbalances in your brain. Marijuana does make you feel good for awhile and helps you to eat!!!! I HAD a friend who smokes and sometimes I would smoke with him, just to have that "Good" feeling, but he wouldn't leave me alone to enjoy it. (He just wanted sex). I don't see him anymore. Good Luck and be true to yourself.
2007-06-04 05:27:28 · answer #6 · answered by maryjane 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
no you are trying to not be depressed, and marijuana is a depressant lol, and yours are legal and his are not, yours is used to correct a problem and his is just creating them as you see here, your not being a hypocrite
2007-06-04 04:51:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
antidepressants are far worst go to www.antidepressantsfacts.com they are poison.
2007-06-04 07:15:16 · answer #8 · answered by beachy 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
grass is illegal
but paxil has side effects
2007-06-04 04:50:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I do both for differant reasons. Yes...it is the same.
2007-06-04 04:55:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋