How can you tell if your marijuana use has gotten out of hand or if you are addicted? I haven't found any discussions on this though I am new to this forum and may not be looking in the right place. Thanks.
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Hoosier,
I was going to echo what Deepfried said. I knew that I had an issue with my drinking when I realized that after a shitty day, I'd turn to wine/booze in an effort to make it all disappear. I'd do it more often than not--not because I enjoyed the drinking but because it was masking the pain.
Hope this helps..and welcome to this awesome place.
--Broken
I was going to echo what Deepfried said. I knew that I had an issue with my drinking when I realized that after a shitty day, I'd turn to wine/booze in an effort to make it all disappear. I'd do it more often than not--not because I enjoyed the drinking but because it was masking the pain.
Hope this helps..and welcome to this awesome place.
--Broken
The sensible part of my brain tells me that Deepfried is perfectly correct - but the part of me that wants to numb, forget, check out, take a rest, delay thinking and all those avoidance things - keeps wanting to take things to numb.
If you are doing it to avoid facing up to things or are using it too often (daily??) to avoid reality - then that is a problem. You have to ask yourself why are you doing it.
If you are doing it to avoid facing up to things or are using it too often (daily??) to avoid reality - then that is a problem. You have to ask yourself why are you doing it.
Hoosier -
That is a tough but good question to be thinking through. Are there specific reasons why you are concerned? You don't have to share if it is not helpful to you.
*Take everything I say lightly and with a grain of salt.* I'm no expert or anything and my own personal experiences probably skew my perspective on when something is a problem or not.
When I was a college health intern, one thing I heard an addiction medicine doctor say over and over to students wondering if alcohol or other things were a problem for them, was "can you stop and still handle life as well as you feel like you do using it?" If not, then it is probably a problem. He then would explain that this is a question more for people to ask others in relationship with the person because self-denial (for everyone struggling with anything) can color our own perspectives. Another question he would ask, "Are there negative consequences from using it and yet you still use it anyhow?" If yes, especially if the person finds it hard to stop despite those negative consequences, then he actually would say, "that would be the definition of addiction" and say that applies to all kinds of things (like even video games, porn, or etc.)
Like others have said, using it to numb out emotions or escape is another sign it is a problem.
A problem with a substance is often a sign of other issues - like overwhelming pain (in my case, pain that generations of my family tried to numb out with substance use/abuse. It didn't do crap to help any of us deal with our stuff - instead we all developed crappy ways of dealing with stuff and sort of functioned "well enough" because the alcohol kept my grandfathers and father ok "enough." My brother and I haven't become addicted to drugs, but we have found other things to numb out pain we didn't know how else to deal with.
My father was "fuctional" for a long time, but never dealt with his "stuff," he never learned how to. Not even as an adult. Substance use and escaping and numbing out tends to get in the way of dealing with things and healing. My father has lived with pain that has just built up for decades. Never dealing with that pain caused more problems in his life than just what the alcohol did - he actually became a nice guy when drinking, "happy", but then off it, his relationships and ability to manage were awful. And so he would be drawn back to drinking and never dealing with things... and thus the cycle started once again... More pain built up, and just having that pain build up lead to more messed up actions and relationships in his personal life and thus more pain... so much pain that recently has become a rather emotional alcoholic and is unable to handle his professional life even. (He lost it at work and lost his job as COO of a company he helped build.)
Substance use (including using food or other stuff) works for short term relief, but numbing out in any way tends to lead to flooding for many people, myself included.
So yeah, bc of my own stuff, seeing food and alcohol and other addictions in my and my family, I probably have a skewed perspective from too much experience. When I think about if something is a problem for me, I think about if it is helping me deal with my stuff and learn how to handle relationships and stress of life better?
Maybe the most important question is when do you think it is a problem for you? I live in an area where it is legal for medical use. I think some people probably can use it in good ways, and I think some outright abuse it and are addicted, and some, while maybe they are not addicted, it numbs out stuff in a way that isn't healthy or helps them where they want to go in life. A lot like how some people can drink and be ok, and some are out of control alcoholics, and some people it just isn't helping them heal and deal with stuff and do what they want to do in life.
Sorry to ramble on and if none of this is helpful.
~ jd
That is a tough but good question to be thinking through. Are there specific reasons why you are concerned? You don't have to share if it is not helpful to you.
*Take everything I say lightly and with a grain of salt.* I'm no expert or anything and my own personal experiences probably skew my perspective on when something is a problem or not.
When I was a college health intern, one thing I heard an addiction medicine doctor say over and over to students wondering if alcohol or other things were a problem for them, was "can you stop and still handle life as well as you feel like you do using it?" If not, then it is probably a problem. He then would explain that this is a question more for people to ask others in relationship with the person because self-denial (for everyone struggling with anything) can color our own perspectives. Another question he would ask, "Are there negative consequences from using it and yet you still use it anyhow?" If yes, especially if the person finds it hard to stop despite those negative consequences, then he actually would say, "that would be the definition of addiction" and say that applies to all kinds of things (like even video games, porn, or etc.)
Like others have said, using it to numb out emotions or escape is another sign it is a problem.
A problem with a substance is often a sign of other issues - like overwhelming pain (in my case, pain that generations of my family tried to numb out with substance use/abuse. It didn't do crap to help any of us deal with our stuff - instead we all developed crappy ways of dealing with stuff and sort of functioned "well enough" because the alcohol kept my grandfathers and father ok "enough." My brother and I haven't become addicted to drugs, but we have found other things to numb out pain we didn't know how else to deal with.
My father was "fuctional" for a long time, but never dealt with his "stuff," he never learned how to. Not even as an adult. Substance use and escaping and numbing out tends to get in the way of dealing with things and healing. My father has lived with pain that has just built up for decades. Never dealing with that pain caused more problems in his life than just what the alcohol did - he actually became a nice guy when drinking, "happy", but then off it, his relationships and ability to manage were awful. And so he would be drawn back to drinking and never dealing with things... and thus the cycle started once again... More pain built up, and just having that pain build up lead to more messed up actions and relationships in his personal life and thus more pain... so much pain that recently has become a rather emotional alcoholic and is unable to handle his professional life even. (He lost it at work and lost his job as COO of a company he helped build.)
Substance use (including using food or other stuff) works for short term relief, but numbing out in any way tends to lead to flooding for many people, myself included.
So yeah, bc of my own stuff, seeing food and alcohol and other addictions in my and my family, I probably have a skewed perspective from too much experience. When I think about if something is a problem for me, I think about if it is helping me deal with my stuff and learn how to handle relationships and stress of life better?
Maybe the most important question is when do you think it is a problem for you? I live in an area where it is legal for medical use. I think some people probably can use it in good ways, and I think some outright abuse it and are addicted, and some, while maybe they are not addicted, it numbs out stuff in a way that isn't healthy or helps them where they want to go in life. A lot like how some people can drink and be ok, and some are out of control alcoholics, and some people it just isn't helping them heal and deal with stuff and do what they want to do in life.
Sorry to ramble on and if none of this is helpful.
~ jd
I just have noticed that I am getting high a lot more though its not really interfering with my work or other things. I feel better able to cope with my day if I have a hit from time to time. I have talked with T about my usage and she wants me to cut back. I have often had months where I don't use at all so I don't feel addicted, I just like using it. I also like drinking my Mountain Dew and find it harder to give that up. Wasn't sure if I was just rationalizing my usage or what. I will keep a closer eye on it and see when and why I am using it to see if I am avoiding things. I am not getting wasted or anything and I don't drink very much, if at all. Hard to find information about pot addiction or overuse.
I figured I'd chime in here. I have been smoking since I was about 15 or 16 years old. That would be about 37 years. I used to drink alot but when I found weed it was much easier to get and I didn't get sick. So it has been a part of my life forever. I also did coke and speed for quite a while. I guess you can say I'm an addict.
Point is, I see nothing wrong in smoking weed. If it is used in moderation and helps, why not? On the other hand, if you're like me, using to cope with life, then it is probably an addiction. How bad? Well, I have a great job, people who trust me and look up to me, good partner and family with grandkids and I function everyday. Emotionally, I'm a mess but know one knows that but me and a few close friends. If it ever got out that I was an addict with an active addiction, I would lose everything, including me. So I am in hiding. Do you want this for yourself? Do you feel like this? If so, I encourage you to stop and get help for it. It can be a disaster.
Point is, I see nothing wrong in smoking weed. If it is used in moderation and helps, why not? On the other hand, if you're like me, using to cope with life, then it is probably an addiction. How bad? Well, I have a great job, people who trust me and look up to me, good partner and family with grandkids and I function everyday. Emotionally, I'm a mess but know one knows that but me and a few close friends. If it ever got out that I was an addict with an active addiction, I would lose everything, including me. So I am in hiding. Do you want this for yourself? Do you feel like this? If so, I encourage you to stop and get help for it. It can be a disaster.
Smiley: Thanks for your comments. Do you think your marijuana use has contributed to your depression? I have been looking at studies of this and nothing seems difinitive. I do use it to cope along with many other coping tools (exercise, meditation, etc.) but my T sugggests that it is contributing to my remaining depressed. I don't want to give up something I enjoy and use for self-soothing though I am willing to try to see if it lessons my depression. I have stopped for months at a time (and nearly two years after I had my baby) before and didn't notice any change in my moods for the most part. I have been struggling with depression since college in the 80's. I didn't start smoking on a regular basis until after law school so I just am confused about whether my use is a negative.
I'm sure that smoking all the time doesn't help the depression, however, i know for myself that if I didn't smoke I would be more of a mess trying to cope. The only one who knows if smoking is detrimental to you, is you. If you are feeling like it is then you should stop for a while and see how things go. I did stop for a couple of years and felt ok. I did still have depression bouts so I don't think the weed had anything to do with it for me. Like I said, only you can tell if it is harming you really.
quote:Originally posted by Hoosier:
How can you tell if your marijuana use has gotten out of hand or if you are addicted? Thanks.
Pot can be addictive just like alcohol, there are those who deny this, i know a couple of pot addicts and the addiction is real. Yes, there too is a twelve step program for pot addiction, here is Marijuana Anonymous' website:
http://marijuana-anonymous.org
Answer the 12 questions about who is a MJ addict and you might find your answer.
The 12 questions asking are you an MJ addict are at this site. It is part of a forum for MJ addicts.
http://forum.marijuana-anonymo...-a-marijuana-addict/
http://forum.marijuana-anonymo...-a-marijuana-addict/
Weed is a depressant. Depression is not treated with a depressant, it is like drinking alcohol to treat depression. It doesn't work. The problem is still there when you come down from the high.
This is true - unless you just don't come down!
Written like a true addict. I hope you find recovery soon.
I guess I asked for that one. Never said I wasn't an addict. Doesn't really matter though.
It is what it is.
It is what it is.
Your life does matter. And you deserve better.
That's a matter of opinion. Mine doesn't matter all that much and they tell me that you can't live by other people's opinions of you. So I'm stuck in the middle. I'm not really complaining about my life. I have a good job, a good partner, grandkids, dogs and cats, some friends, what could I possibly have to complain about? I should be happy. I'm not. When you have been smoking as long as I have, it becomes part of you. Without it I would probably be dead right now. It keeps me just a little calmer than I normally am. Of course it has its drawbacks too. I understand that. I haven't done any other drugs in many years. Actually just went back to this about a year ago. So, I do know the outcomes and the conflicts. I just don't think it matters that much. Whether I live or die, whether I'm an addict or not, It all comes out the same. 
What made you pick up again, pot I mean?
(((smiley)) I value you. Thinking of you..
When I picked up again, I was having some major issues with my partner, money, her adult kids, just life in general. I have always liked smoking weed and figured I could go back again without issues. We all know what happens when you pick up - you don't want to put it back down. I try to limit myself and I do to a point. I have a good job and I work all the time so I'm functioning.
Thanks Cat!
Functioning is not living. If you are serious about stopping using, there is a lot of support to help you quit, there is even a 12 step program, Marijuana Anonymous. I have found forums for people trying to quit as well, you do not have to do this alone and you deserve to be happy. Start living life on life's terms, you will be a better person because of it.
quote:Originally posted by smiley:
When I picked up again, I was having some major issues with my partner, money, her adult kids, just life in general. I have always liked smoking weed and figured I could go back again without issues. We all know what happens when you pick up - you don't want to put it back down. I try to limit myself and I do to a point. I have a good job and I work all the time so I'm functioning.