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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TF on October 9, 2003, at 2:03:41
Has anyone had the feeling in the course of your depression that you're on some sort of street drug (i.e. marijuana)? This has been a huge source of paranoia for me, because many of my symptoms coincide with those that a marijuana addict might get (Although, I've never touched a joint in my life, and not even sure what cannabis smells like). I think my brother might be smoking weed in the house, but I can't really see any smoke. I just smell this sickeningly-sweet residual oroma when I'm coming in from outside soemtimes, or when I'm in my room (strangely, after smelling it in my room, when I walk around the rest of the house there's no smell.)
My big question is (if he does smoke in the house, or in the basement) if this kind of exposure can damage my brain? And what kind of time table I'm looking at for long term damage/exposure.
Could this scent be a psychosomatic delusion brought on by getting myself worked up on finding a cause for my mental defficiency? I've noticed my mother's mental capacity has dropped as well, and this is what worries me. We're beginning to share unfavorable (absentminded) mannerisms with my brother. Could it be bad genes just beginning to show up after turning 21 (i'm 22 now)?
Also, does anyone know if there's a way to test for marijuana at such a low rate of exposure? My brother will never admit to smoking weed, much less in the house (I've confronted him on it many times), so testing is really my only hope. I can't very well remove myself from the environment, and I fear there's already long term damage. Will the effects of marijuana show up on an MRI, or will my now slightly lower than average brain power (I was once very bright) come off as normal?
Posted by JonW on October 9, 2003, at 7:45:31
In reply to question on cannibis, posted by TF on October 9, 2003, at 2:03:41
It seems highly unlikely that you've been affected by cannabis in any way.
As to whether or not your brother is smoking... Does he have bloodshot eyes? Does he use visine? Do his clothes smell different lately? Any changes in appetite? Is he very secretive about some phone calls? These can be clues, but certainly don't necessarily mean he's smoking weed.
Jon :)
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on October 9, 2003, at 8:30:20
In reply to question on cannibis, posted by TF on October 9, 2003, at 2:03:41
> My big question is (if he does smoke in the house, or in the basement) if this kind of exposure can damage my brain? And what kind of time table I'm looking at for long term damage/exposure.
-----------If you can't even see any smoke, I can safely say that you're not likely to be experiencing anything from potential marijuana exposure. It'd be like getting drunk if someone misted you with whiskey. Even if you were in a room with someone smoking pot, you would only feel placebo effects (generated by your own anxiety about it).
If you've never smoked marijuana, you typically don't feel much of anything the first time you do (and that's assuming you inhaled several times from a pipe/cigarette). I've never heard of anyone getting stoned if they weren't trying to do so.
Do you have an evaluation from a psychiatrist yet as to why you feel mentally deficient?
Posted by TF on October 9, 2003, at 12:12:02
In reply to Re: question on cannibis » TF, posted by Eddie Sylvano on October 9, 2003, at 8:30:20
I haven't had an evaluation just yet. That's scheduled for october 21st. I've just been having brain foggish symptoms for the past year that have only seemed to get worse. I know it's not a good idea, but it's natural for me to try and figure out where they're coming from, in hopes that they can be taken away/cured. I've been through alot of possibilities, and that should serve as a hint that i'm a bit of a psychosomatic.
Thanks for the reassurance though... I feel kinda silly now. As long as it doesn't affect me, I couldn't care less what my brother does...
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on October 9, 2003, at 15:00:54
In reply to Re: question on cannibis, posted by TF on October 9, 2003, at 12:12:02
> I haven't had an evaluation just yet. That's scheduled for october 21st. I've just been having brain foggish symptoms for the past year that have only seemed to get worse. I know it's not a good idea, but it's natural for me to try and figure out where they're coming from, in hopes that they can be taken away/cured. I've been through alot of possibilities, and that should serve as a hint that i'm a bit of a psychosomatic.
-------------That sounds similar to me. I was exhausted, muddled mind, digestive pains for a long time (2 years) before I was diagnosed with depression. Somatic complaints are the number 1 reason that people go to their doctors when they're depressed, and docotrs don't usually pick up on the depression because they focus on the physical area of complaint. I had 2 years of horrible digestive tests, went to 4 doctors, cost my HMO $25K, gave up, and then 30 minutes with a psychiatrist (and a prescription for Remeron) fixed it. I thought I might have a terminal illness or something, but no, just depressed.
This is the end of the thread.
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