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Marijuana addiction

so I know a lot of ppl don't think weed is addictive or detrimental but I ended up having to take school off for a semester to go to rehab because it got way out of control. I was smoking about an oz every week and since I'm bipolar it's very detrimental to my mental health and mood stability. I went to rehab and was able to do 30 days sober but as soon as I got out I started struggling again and I haven't made it more than 6 days since (5 months ago) sober even though I go to therapy multiple times a week, do step work and go to meetings. I don't know why I have such an issue with weed as alcohol or Xanax has never been an issue. Has anyone else been struggling with this or have any tips ?
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4898964 tn?1381257899
I think what I was saying was not understood.  Probably through my own communication though so whatever.  What Weaver said is on the money and much more exact, as he actually has Bi-polar.  Seriously though, the OP is blowing the pot way out of proportion and creating a massive mental obstacle that just doesn't need to be.  The issue is Bi-polar.

I'm not saying keep smoking, I'm pretty sure that was clear, but I forget people are sensitive on here.  What I was saying is that look at the self medicating, work on Bi-polar.  There is hardly what you would call a proper withdrawal from pot, you should never have to go to rehab.  Rehab is for drugs that have an actual withdrawal.  
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Yes it does have withdrawal symptoms. Night sweats, changes in appetite, mood swings, lack of concentration etc. You may not experience these symptoms but most users experience at least one and often more.
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We can get addicted to anything, as drug use is merely a symptom, not the root of the issues. I am bipolar as well, so that adds a whole other wrench in the recovery game. There has been no method nor program that has helped me, it has been a combination of things touching ever aspect of my life. Now, my drug of choice is opiates, so there is the stronger physical addiction, but cannabis also has mild withdrawal symptoms, compared to most drugs. With bipolar, mild is a relative term. It is not the physical addiction you are battling, at 30 days you were past all that, it is the mental addiction and self-medicating of bipolar, or that's what I was doing.

So, why does cannabis feel so attractive. The way it works on the cerebral cortex, cannabis alters one's ability to filter stimuli. For example, you are riding a bike down Broadway, in NYC. You don't need nor want to notice every detail, you brain filters out anything not necessary for safety and survival. The guy selling the bread across the street might not even be noticed, while the brain emphasizes the big bus coming up behind you. Cannabis has a hallucinogenic affect on the filter of perception. That is why one might have a fleet of numerous ideas, or may fixate on one thing, totally distracted by anything else. Over time, the filtering process is dependent on cannabis and without it, the world becomes too much stimuli to filter out.

The other way to change and filter my mind, is with CBT. Cognitive Behavior Therapy is helpful in bipolar and addiction, and pretty much anyone who wants to change their way of thinking. I don't know what kind of therapist you see, but I hope they are knowledgeable about bipolar. I don't think I could treat them separately, for they seem to be woven together, not knowing what is the greater influence. In my experience, bipolar was what made the addiction so bad. 12 step was not enough to work on my bipolar, it actually triggered me into a psychotic state. I had to get real personal and real specific in my recovery of bipolar, if I was ever going to stay off drugs.

Never stop seeking answers, doors open for those who knock.
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Hi. I can empathize with you. Marijuana is addictive and can cause devastating effects to individuals as well as families. My husband was a chronic Marijuana smoker and it caused massive issues in our marriage.  The Marijuana eventually led to cocaine in the last 6 months (or so that is what he said) of our marriage. I really struggled for a long time given him an ultimatum (I.e. stop smoking or we are done) over the Marijuana as I continually heard messages of 'it's just weed' around me. But, he lied to me before our marriage when I asked him point blank if he did drugs and he said no. So like other drugs Marijuana users also lie and manipulate and control. Eventually I had to get real about my situation.  I have a chronic Marijuana smoking husband who is habitually checked out, is not responsible, lies and hides and manipulates and is not trustworthy. All of these are deal breakers for me....not just the drugs. When I found the cocaine in November it was easy to kick him out but I was on the verge just before and solely due to ' just marijuana'. I do not care what others say either. I have lived with a marijuana abuser and I can tell you from first hand experience that the results are just the same.

Congratulations on taking control of your life. I wish you much peace and joy and strength on your journey.
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Avatar universal
Hi:

I totally disagree with jethro733.   Marijuana is not the same as it once was.   We're seeing pot with as much as 30% THC in it.  There haven't been a lot of  long term studies on pot, but the ones that HAVE been done show a definite withdrawal syndrome.

The human mind can get addicted to anything.   Also, an ounce a week is a lot of weed.    Marijuana produces profound physical and mental changes on the body...you need to address your addiction in therapy, and I"d strongly suggest a 12 step support group, like AA, NA, Smart Recovery, etc,

Good luck honey.

My best,
Robin
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