yes thanks ill try my best. all i want is that NORMAL feeling again and not having to worry about my mood all day. the only thing that sucks is that school is over soo soon and because ive had this issue over the last few weeks, im simply not able to enjoy the beginning of summer the way i used to.
Beginning of summer started 2 days ago hon!! :-) So you are able to still enjoy the beginning of summer!!!
Hi whoopdaeg,
The summer just came and you have a lot of time to enjoy it. Try to hang out with your friend as much as you can, try to socialze with people. Meet new friend. Find your self a girlfriend (if you are male :-), don't remember that I've read anywhere in your posts) If you have some relatives in other city, try to visit them, to experience new stuff. Sometimes it is nice to go from home for month or so.
Some people have problem when bed weather is out there and it stays for several days. Do you think that your depression could be related to this?
Hang in there and stay positive, there is no need to think about suicide, that is something that you just need to forget.
The summer just came and you have a lot of time to enjoy it. Try to hang out with your friend as much as you can, try to socialze with people. Meet new friend. Find your self a girlfriend (if you are male :-), don't remember that I've read anywhere in your posts) If you have some relatives in other city, try to visit them, to experience new stuff. Sometimes it is nice to go from home for month or so.
Some people have problem when bed weather is out there and it stays for several days. Do you think that your depression could be related to this?
Hang in there and stay positive, there is no need to think about suicide, that is something that you just need to forget.
I can tell you that throughout your life you will probably have to monitor your mood! It's just part of being an adult, and I know it sucks, but we all go through it and it's not that big a deal. You get used to it. ANd you also find easier ways to cheer yourself up too. So stay positive if you can. It makes things easier! :)
Hi whoopdawg, I haven't seen you post in a bit, I want to know if you're doing okay? I hope you've been so busy out having fun that you haven't had a chance to post but if you could, just let us know how you're doing! Thanks :-)
hey guys, sorry its takin me soo long to respond i just havent logged on to this site in a while. the good news is i am feeling a lot better, these severe depressive episodes are gone. the only thing i still go through is i am just somewhat depressed that i had to go through that time, because normally i would have nothing to worry about right now because its summer! but since i did have this problem i just worry that these episodes are gonna come back. like if i were to explain how i feel on a scale of 1 to 5 on mood, 1 being severely depressed and 5 being very normal, i would say my life has been a steady 3 and 4 lately. tomorrow will be exactly a month from when i first started getting these mood swings. the first week had been the absolute worst. then it got better from there and i'd say for the last 3 weeks have been good, im just not able to enjoy summer the way i used to :-( . well i know that there are 2 good mood chemicals which are seratonin and dopamine. i feel as if the last time i smoked weed which was about a month ago (like 5 days before the mood swings) somehow the THC got in my brain and messed up these neurotransmitters, like maybe it blocked them or something, is that even possible. a lot of my friends are still smoking and its making me miss how much fun i would have when i was high, i only smoked about once a week so it wasn't even a bad thing. everything back then was so normal, i could do anything and not worry about it. now i feel like i have to think about what i do before i do it because i have to think about if i'll be happy or not doing it. i really have an urge to smoke again because i just want to go back to my old lifestyle, where i was happy, but my happiness wasnt from the weed, that was just something to do that was a blast. i was planning on smoking for the first time since these mood swings tomorrow, but im just SOOO worried that the weed caused the mood swings and that if i smoke ill go back to those depressed episodes again. i feel like its going to mess up my neurotransmitters and not let me have be happy when i come down. but that urge is so strong because smoking was so much fun and i really need a good laugh. also i was thinking that if i'm high, i can sit down and convince myself to get over this phase and convince myself to be normal again, cuz i feel like when im high i learn life lessons and it makes me a better person overall. i just want some intake on whether or not that would be a good idea to smoke or not. as of now i feel like it would be, the only thing holding me back is that im afraid it will make me depressed again!! some suggestions please!!!
NO DOPE!!!! OK? Dope is a depressent, since you are doing so well - and good for you by the way - then why would you want to chance it? If you smoked again and all of a sudden WHAM you are back to the way you were before - you would feel even worse wouldn't you? So it's not worth it, you said yourself "I have nothing to worry about right now..." So you don't need it at ALL!! Stay off it OK? It's just a lifestyle change thats not healthy. Sitting around smoking up and playing videogames or just staying in and being high, that's not the life you want is it? So keep ENJOYING the summer naturally OK? Good luck hon!
Hi whoopdog, I have to weigh in on this with bambi here. If you're just now getting better and not having depression and anxiety, smoking pot will just make you depressed and anxious again. Trust me, I've got friends who have been there and it's not a good idea. Other than that, how are you doing? Thanks for updating us and I hope to hear from you again really soon!
hey guys, im sooo sorry, but i ended up taking a hit that night before i got a chance to read these replies. however, its been like 6 days and i still feel pretty good, no different than i have before i took that hit. still its just everyday ill get these mini episodes of depression. im just wondering when this is all goin to end, IF it will. i havent felt 100% myself since june 5, the day this ALL started. the closest i have been to feeling completely normal was only like 1 day and i felt about 80% normal. also everyday i find myself worrying about this depression, worrying if, and when these episodes will come back. the past month and a half of my life has been a total mess of anxiety, depression and just me not feeling me.
Hi hon: If you spend your life worrying what MIGHT happen, you will miss out on what IS happening!! Ups and downs are part of life, and you just have to be able to descern what is a normal bummer day or something more. You have to embrace the GOOD days and not focus on the not so greaat. As you will start really focusing on the negative. A week or so ago you were giving advice on how to kick this out. So just focus on that. IF it becomes overwhelming then talk to your doctor. But I doubt at your age he will do anything chemical for you. And no matter what you say hon, taking a hit IS a depressent, you - along with EVERY other pot smoking teenager out there XD - says "Oh this isn't a depressent for me, I feel SO good on it!!!!!" So all we can say is IT ISN'T!!!! The only thing that makes your brain feel good is Seratonin and Melatonin, and those aren't found ANYWHERE in MJ!!!! No matter what any 14 - 24 year old says LOL ;-) XD So don't focus on the past or trying to feel like 100% because life isn't about being 100%! IF you can get to 70 - 80 then that's a good day!! I know we've talked about you being negative about things right? I just want you to enjoy the summer and STOP sitting in someones basement or bedroom and smoking up! Because I tell you hon, IT WILL make you down. My 17 year old son, is still friends with his "stoner friends" but he doesn't hang around with them because "It brings him down!" It's just the lifestyle isn't it? So go do womthing that increases your seratonin - such as exercise and that WILL help you I guarantee it!
well when i gave the percentages of how "normal" i felt. i meant 100% as completely normal, which was how i felt everyday of my life before this started. so even on a day when a girl broke up with me, i was SOOOOO SADD, but on the normal scale i was still 100% percent. the percentages dosent have to do with how good i feel, its how NORMAL i feel. i just dont feel normal anymore. i was thinking to myself, is there any chance that this is caused by some sort of blockage in my brain that is blocking either of those two body chemicals to make me feel good. thats the only possible thing i can think of, maybe on that last time i smoked about a month and a half ago, some thc particles created a blockage that didnt let my neurotransmitters play their role. what i want so badly is just an explination of WHAT is happening inside me making me feel like this and HOW it happened. im going to the phsychiatrist on wednesday morning and HOPEFULLY he can figure out the absolute problem and let me know how to get rid of it.
I understand hon! It is called seratonin! That's the chemical that makes you feel "balanced and at ease" So it might be that you are actually low in seratonin. There are many natural ways of getting enough of it. Below I looked up eskimo.com and found the following natural advice for increasing your seratonin and tryptophan levels.
Serotonin levels can be altered through consumption of food, vitamins, sunlight or through exercise.
Food
Tryptophan is synthesized into serotonin, so eating adequate amounts of protein is important to serotonin production.
Carbohydrates are also important for serotonin production, since they will trigger the release of insulin into the blood stream. Insulin clears all the amino acids from the blood, except tryptophan. When competing amino acids are out of the way, tryptophan can flood the brain, where it's converted to serotonin. Healthy carbohydrate-rich foods include whole-grain breads and crackers, whole-grain pasta, rice, cereal and fruit.
Chocolate is also known to elevate serotonin levels.
Vitamins
Folic acid, B vitamins and Vitamin C all play a role in serotonin production. Most all of the vitamins are used in some way in neurotransmitter production. Individuals with chronic mental illness tend to have vitamin deficiencies. It's difficult to know if the mental illness is caused by vitamin deficiency or if the poor eating habits of the mentally ill cause the vitamin deficiency (yet another chicken or the egg problem).
Exercise
The most effective way to raise serotonin levels naturally is with vigorous exercise. Studies have shown that serotonin levels are raised with increased activity and the production of serotonin is increased for some days after the activity. Serotonin also plays a part in the "runner's high".
The down side of this increased serotonin production, is that because serotonin causes sleepiness, it also may cause exercise fatigue. To obtain the right balance between the sense of well being and the exercise fatigue, it is advisable to eat carbohydrates before exercise.
Drugs that increase serotonin levels
In general many chemicals and drugs affect the action of neurotransmitters across the synapse. When an anesthesiologist puts you to sleep they use a chemical that blocks the action of neuro-transmitters at their synapse. The brain grinds to a halt and you lose consciousness.
One of the most widely used drugs that can affect neurotransmitters is caffeine. Caffeine inhibits the enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This results in increased activity between the nerves in the brain leading to alertness and energy. If the drug is overused it will lead to so much mental activity that it becomes difficult to sleep and difficult to think clearly. It may even lead to hallucinations.
Following are some fairly commonly used drugs that affect serotonin levels.
Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors (SSRI's)
It is widely believed that low serotonin levels lead to depression. Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil are members of an antidepressant drug family called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's). SSRIs slow down the process of returning the serotonin from the synapse to to the sending neuron. This means serotonin remains in the vicinity of the receptors for a longer period of time, so it is more likely that enough will build up to set off the impulse in the receiving neuron.
SSRIs allow the body to make the best use of reduced amounts of serotonin. After awhile, natural serotonin levels will rise again, and the SSRI can be reduced and withdrawn.
Like I said before, your psychiatrist will probably not put you on any Prozac or Zoloft because they have been proven to cause deeper depression and even increased rates of suicide in people under 20! So if you can ask a local health food store too and you can find natural remedies. And they DO work hon! Also St. Johns Wart is a good one, BUT it can have side affects.
So check these out and GET SOME FRESH AIR AND SUN!!!! XD
Serotonin levels can be altered through consumption of food, vitamins, sunlight or through exercise.
Food
Tryptophan is synthesized into serotonin, so eating adequate amounts of protein is important to serotonin production.
Carbohydrates are also important for serotonin production, since they will trigger the release of insulin into the blood stream. Insulin clears all the amino acids from the blood, except tryptophan. When competing amino acids are out of the way, tryptophan can flood the brain, where it's converted to serotonin. Healthy carbohydrate-rich foods include whole-grain breads and crackers, whole-grain pasta, rice, cereal and fruit.
Chocolate is also known to elevate serotonin levels.
Vitamins
Folic acid, B vitamins and Vitamin C all play a role in serotonin production. Most all of the vitamins are used in some way in neurotransmitter production. Individuals with chronic mental illness tend to have vitamin deficiencies. It's difficult to know if the mental illness is caused by vitamin deficiency or if the poor eating habits of the mentally ill cause the vitamin deficiency (yet another chicken or the egg problem).
Exercise
The most effective way to raise serotonin levels naturally is with vigorous exercise. Studies have shown that serotonin levels are raised with increased activity and the production of serotonin is increased for some days after the activity. Serotonin also plays a part in the "runner's high".
The down side of this increased serotonin production, is that because serotonin causes sleepiness, it also may cause exercise fatigue. To obtain the right balance between the sense of well being and the exercise fatigue, it is advisable to eat carbohydrates before exercise.
Drugs that increase serotonin levels
In general many chemicals and drugs affect the action of neurotransmitters across the synapse. When an anesthesiologist puts you to sleep they use a chemical that blocks the action of neuro-transmitters at their synapse. The brain grinds to a halt and you lose consciousness.
One of the most widely used drugs that can affect neurotransmitters is caffeine. Caffeine inhibits the enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This results in increased activity between the nerves in the brain leading to alertness and energy. If the drug is overused it will lead to so much mental activity that it becomes difficult to sleep and difficult to think clearly. It may even lead to hallucinations.
Following are some fairly commonly used drugs that affect serotonin levels.
Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors (SSRI's)
It is widely believed that low serotonin levels lead to depression. Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil are members of an antidepressant drug family called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's). SSRIs slow down the process of returning the serotonin from the synapse to to the sending neuron. This means serotonin remains in the vicinity of the receptors for a longer period of time, so it is more likely that enough will build up to set off the impulse in the receiving neuron.
SSRIs allow the body to make the best use of reduced amounts of serotonin. After awhile, natural serotonin levels will rise again, and the SSRI can be reduced and withdrawn.
Like I said before, your psychiatrist will probably not put you on any Prozac or Zoloft because they have been proven to cause deeper depression and even increased rates of suicide in people under 20! So if you can ask a local health food store too and you can find natural remedies. And they DO work hon! Also St. Johns Wart is a good one, BUT it can have side affects.
So check these out and GET SOME FRESH AIR AND SUN!!!! XD
thank you for all those suggestions, i just want this gone for good. i want to feel normal again and feel myself and not have anything to worry about. the past month and a half has just felt like this nightmare for me. i hope theres something that can bring me up for good and take my mind off this whole thing because the fact that i have had this experience with this depression makes me worry that it will come back.
Well, that's always a possibility that it could come back! Not to scare you or anything but taking a pill won't make it magically go away. You are going to have to work on it! But I think that you are a very strong person and that you have been doing really well, so you really shouldn't waste your time worrying about it. So long as you take care of yourself and your mood, you should be fine. Just make sure that you're always checking in with yourself and not getting too upset or stressed and you should be just fine. Keep me posted on how you're doing okay?
ok everyone, went to the phychiatrist today, he said i have a "textbook" example of clinical depression, he put me on zoloft 25mg a day, hopefully it works, well see what happens