November 9, 2023 • 42 mins
The final episode in the Cannabis and Bipolar series. Join me as I discuss potential risks, benefits, and even strains that relate to bipolar disorder.
People suffer every day with symptoms of bipolar disorder with no relief from medications, and many have turned to cannabis as a symptom reducer. Let's examine these symptoms and relief options.
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Episode Transcript
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Hello and welcome to Bipolar Thoughts. My name is Stephen and I'll be your host.
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Okay so this is episode three of Understanding Cannabis and Bipolar Disorder. In the last couple
of episodes we've gone over a lot and in this episode I kind of wanted to I think we're gonna
be gearing it down a little bit running up to the end of this. And so in this one we're gonna
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talk about understanding cannabis, CBD and bipolar disorder, some strains that kind of help with
bipolar supposedly help with bipolar disorder, different consumption methods, some risks,
some concerns, some effects, reliefs, symptoms, just a bunch of different stuff. So let's jump
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right into it. It is well documented that bipolar disorder is commonly associated with
substance use disorders with cannabis being the most commonly abused drug. Some bipolar
patients report cannabis use to relieve both manic and depressive symptoms and stated that it was
more effective than conventional drugs or help to relieve the side effects of those medications.
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Also medical cannabis was associated with better neurocognitive functions in these patients. So
this was after a study that I had read or one of the studies that I had read about medical marijuana
and cannabis use in patients with bipolar disorder. So as a corollary smoking cannabis
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acted to alleviate mood related symptoms and at least a subset of bipolar patients. When evaluating
the effects of on both mood and neuropsychological performance, Seger et al. found that smoking
cannabis may result in partial alleviation of clinical symptoms in the short term. However,
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when two patients diagnosed with bipolar type one, which is what I have, were treated with CBD
initial oral dose of 600 milligrams reaching 1200 milligrams a day, no effect in attuning,
attunuating, may be it was reported. Moreover, cannabis might also cannabis use might also
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worsen the occurrence of manic symptoms in those diagnosed with bipolar disorder and might be
associated with an increased risk of onset pneumatic symptoms. So here's the thing. I don't,
I can't tell if it affects me in as far as like a manic episode. I don't think it does. For to be
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fair, though, let me say this. There's indica and sativa and hybrids. Indicas are what you would
consider like they put you into couch. That's, you know, they it's you're hungry, happy, sleepy.
That's what that is. Sativa is more of a body high and more of a mental high and sometimes
euphoric, but it's more of a, it's like your uplifter. It gets you motivated, it gets you going
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through the day. You know, your hybrid is kind of, it's a mix between the two. So in, it can lean
one way be more indica dominant or sativa dominant. But it's, people like to say it's like the best
of both worlds. I say it kind of depends on which way it leans, whether it's, you know, sativa or
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indica dominant. If it's indica for me, indica, that's all I smoke because I'm already such a
high strong person. And because I have manic episodes frequent enough that indica seems to be
the only thing that kind of really helps me out of that out. I mean that along with my medications
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and other things that I have to take, but outside of that, it seems to be the only thing that has
helped, especially when it comes to like sleep or food, you know, I'm a smaller guy, but even
whenever I was able to, you know, put on weight and I did for a little while, it was mostly because
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of the types of CBD that I was smoking at the time. I mean, I had the munchies like fucking crazy,
and I was eating constantly. I don't know. I think too much stress is kind of what's going on
right now. And that's why I'm not gaining weight the way that I should. I also have some other
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medical issues that could be going on. So that might be what's what that is. But anyway, let's get
back into it. So understanding cannabis, CBD and bipolar disorder. Marijuana and bipolar disorder
have always had a complicated relationship. While some scientists applaud the therapeutic
potential for cannabis and bipolar disorders, some argue it may make symptoms worse. Scientific
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claims aside, some medical marijuana patients who use medical cannabis to treat treat bipolar
disorder symptoms have reported positive results, especially for symptoms like depression and mania.
Some others find that CBD or marijuana strange with balanced CBD content can alleviate their
symptoms. Certain studies show that cannabis can worsen bipolar disorder symptoms. However,
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other research suggests that cannabis can improve some symptoms of bipolar such as
attention and memory while negatively affecting others. For example, the substance has associations
with higher levels of manic and depressive episodes. So again, it's this is going to go back and
forth and back and forth. It some of them say it's good. Some people say it's bad. Some people say
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it can help with manic episodes and depressive episodes. And some people say it can make them
worse or even push you into one. I'm going to say it now and I'll say it probably again later on.
I would talk to a medical provider, a professional, someone who can help you break down whether or
not CBD or cannabis period is a good thing for you. And if they tell you it's not and you feel
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like it might be, talk to somebody else. Never take just one opinion and at face value. If you
feel like there's other other opinions that more align with what you want or you feel go for those,
you know, get another opinion. So many people with bipolar disorder can use cannabis to manage and
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treat their symptoms. Anecdotally, many report reports claim that the substance is beneficial,
although the scientific evidence remains unclear. The cannabis plant comprises more than 500
chemical compounds. These include Delta 9 THC, which is what you would normally think of as like
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weed, like street weed. That's what Delta 9 is. There's a ton of shit, but that's what like weed
is, is Delta 9. And cannabinoidal CBD, which are the most well known for these of these cannabinoids.
THC is responsible for the high that many people associate with cannabis use, while CBD is gaining
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popularity as an alternative treatment for numerous conditions, including some mental health issues.
It is also worth noting that many studies investigating the effect of cannabis on bipolar
disorder have focused on the use of THC and not necessarily on CBD, which to me kind of makes
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sense. To me, it makes sense that THC would give you some more negative effects, some more adverse
effects as opposed to just straight CBD. THC can come along with those like paranoia feelings or
just the different things that can affect you negatively. When it comes to smoking THC or
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cannabis, CBD doesn't generally have that psychoactive effect. And so generally, not all the
time, because everybody's body is different, but most of the time with CBD, it's used more for
stomach problems, arthritis, and they're starting to look at mental health disorders. But so far,
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it's proven to work for a plethora of other things that reside in the body. And that's mostly
because your body has more cannabinoid receptors than it does any other receptors in the body.
Meaning it makes it easier for THC and CBD, all cannabinoids really to attach themselves to those
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receptors, making it easier for your body to respond to them, if that makes sense. Probably
didn't explain that properly. And some scientists says out there probably going to go,
you're fucking moron. And you're probably right. So this was what I found to be kind of the most
interesting because I didn't think that there was going to be as much information as there is
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about the different types of strains that you can use for mood disorders, specifically,
like bipolar disorder. So one, a few of the strains are Blue Dream, which is a well balanced
hybrid strain. It's a lot of for its uplifting and euphoric effects. Sour diesel, it's a sativa
dominant strain, known for its invigorating and energizing effects. So Blue Dream, it may offer
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mood stabilization and relief from anxiety for bipolar patients. It's a sour diesel, maybe
beneficial for those experiencing depressive symptoms, providing a boost in energy and overall
mood. OG Kush, a popular indica dominant strain, cherished for its relaxing and stress relieving
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properties in bipolar, it may manage anxiety and sleep disturbances during depressive episodes.
Blackberry Kush, it's an indica sought after forced potential to alleviate chronic pain and
promote relaxation for bipolar's experience and pain alongside mood swings. The strain may offer
dual benefits. So Blackberry Kush is sounds pretty good. Boba Kush, another indica renowned for
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its tranquilizing effects and potential to aid with sleep disturbances for bipolar's facing sleep
disorder. Disruption during depressive and manic episodes Boba Kush may be well worth considering.
Maui Waoui, a classic sativa strain celebrated for its uplifting and creative effects. It may
be valuable for bipolar patients seeking relief from fatigue and low energy levels during depressive
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episodes. Green Crack, it's a potent sativa strain known for its energizing and focus
in enhancing properties. It may alleviate symptoms of fatigue and lethargy during depressive episodes.
I have tried quite a few of these. In fact, I would say I probably tried most of these. I
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haven't, I can't say that I've actually like paid attention to the strains and how they made me
feel like the effects of them. I do, I keep a journal of different things like in the podcast
audio you won't be able to see this but like in the video you see like all the carts and different
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things that I you know I try I try to keep up a little journal of it you know and shows like
you know how it made me feel what it you know what was in it the different combinations so you
know like THCA, Delta 6, THC terpenes, CBD, CBN you know different things like that and try to
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that way I can kind of keep track of like what what works and what doesn't work. I haven't as
far as flour is concerned I haven't really put too much effort into keeping track of that. In
fact I just started yesterday I bought a gram of Granddaddy perp and so far what I've noticed with
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it was that it was it was relaxing. I have a really high tolerance for pretty much everything so it
was nice to find that after maybe a bowl or two I was it did kind of help relax. The first bowl
there was like a decent little head change and then after that it was just kind of like a mellowed
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mellowed feel so that was I mean that was just Granddaddy perp. I'm I'm playing on getting all of
these if not more and some of the other ones that that I've found because these aren't all the
different strains these are just a few of the ones that I found there's tons of them Granddaddy
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perp being one of them but as I start to continue and grow my flour and my diary on the flour or
journal on the flour what do you want to call it I'll probably do another episode over like specific
strains or something like that at some point right now I just kind of wanted to give you like a
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little break out of a few of the different kind of strains that can help and what they kind of kind
of help with. OG Kush is another Indica chairs for its relaxing and stress relieving properties for
people with bipolar it can help manage anxiety and sleep disturbances and depressive episodes.
Blackberry Kush another Indica seed so that seems to be a really popular strain is that for people
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with bipolar disorder it seems that Indica seems to be the one that really helps the most I think
for depressive episodes I think maybe hybrids or sativas might be a little bit better because again
it gives you that uplifting euphoric feeling whereas the Indica's kind of give you that like
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bring you back down. I don't think that they'll necessarily throw you into a depressive phase
but that's not a guarantee I don't ever want to guarantee anything because I'm not a medical
professional and so I'm just a guy with a microphone known for its tranquilizing effects and the
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potential to aid with sleep disturbances so most of these seem to be dealing with sleep
disturbances. Maui Waoi a classic sativa strain celebrated for its uplifting and creative effects
that may be valuable for bipolar patients seeking relief from fatigue and low energy levels during
depressive episodes and then finally green crack as a potent sativa strain also known for its
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energizing and focus enhancing properties it may help alleviate symptoms of fatigue and lethargy
during depressive episodes. While using cannabis for bipolar management different consumption
methods can impact how quickly and intensely the effects are felt smoking and vaping offer rapid
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onset while edibles and tinctures may take longer to kick in but provide longer lasting
effects. Starting with the low dosage and gradually moving upwards is recommended to
find the optimal dose. Monitoring monitoring and tracking the effects of cannabis use are
essential to ensure its effectiveness and identity to any adverse reactions.
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Duh. Risk and concerns. There may have been numerous studies on the link between bipolar
disorder and cannabis or there have been. The studies feature in a 2017 review from
alcohol and drug abuse institute the report found the link between cannabis use on the
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following health issues developing bipolar at an earlier age longer or worse manic episodes
higher likelihood of suicidal attempts rapid cycling or quickly shifting from manic to depressive
modes suicidal ideation in people who are heavy users of THC so the rapid cycling or quickly
shifting from manic to depressive episodes I feel like that's where I am I feel like I used to be
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before I got medicated before I started being on like when I was self-medicating that was one
thing but now that I'm actually on the medications I'm supposed to be taking I found
that I feel like I cycle quicker used to I would have a long manic phase and then a long
depressive phase and then I'd even out for a little while or what I thought was even and then it
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would teeter back and forth between manic and depressive and but they were longer periods
you know a month two months of you know of mania you know a month and a half two months of
depression you know and if now I feel like it's way more rapid it's it's definitely like a
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like last night I felt lethargic and like I just did not give a shit about anything in the world
and then this morning I wake up and I don't want to say motivated but I'm not I guess the day
hasn't hit me yet so I'm not like feeling shitty or I don't know how to explain that but it hasn't
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hit me yet to where I've hit that depressive episode and I might not I might be fucking great
all day long but I know yesterday I felt great when I woke up and then by the afternoon I was
lethargic I just legitimately did not care about anything you know I was sitting in class and I
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think that might have been what triggered it is I was sitting in class I don't want to say is what
triggered it but it definitely amplified it I was sitting in class at the end you know for my
second class of the day last class of the day and I opened up I had a bottle of Coke and I opened
it up and it spewed all over me my laptop all over everything and I was fucking living because
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it can't lose my laptop clothes I don't give shit I'll be wet but I can't lose my laptop so I ended
up having to leave class I could come home and put my laptop in rice which I don't think it got
that bad there's my shift key is a little sticky but other than that I think everything else worked
out okay I just want a total fucking tangent and lost completely where I was but yeah I think I
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think the rapid-cycling thing is definitely a I don't want to say common but it happened for me I
think that's what what has happened for me I can't say whether I developed it at an earlier age
because I believe that I mean I wasn't diagnosed until I was 30 years old but I think that at an
early young age I had it and it was I think it was obvious but nobody knew to look for it so it
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wasn't obvious to two people like I think looking back on it now it's it's easy to say it was obvious
that I had it but nobody knew what it looked like nobody knew what it was and so nobody knew to question
it so anyway let's see the report also highlighted a 2015 source which found that people with
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bipolar disorder who used cannabis were less likely to go into remission for their condition than
those who did not in addition an older study from 2011 found that people with bipolar disorder who
engaged in problematic cannabis use had higher levels of disability and more manic depressive
and psychotic episodes or symptoms the limited data suggests cannabis may have some positive
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effects on some people with bipolar disorder by offering relief from varying symptoms a positive
influence on daily outlook short-term relief of symptoms no cognitive impairment and see
it says like this is about bipolar disorder and the effects of cannabis on bipolar disorder but
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everything that's been listed can happen to anybody that doesn't have bipolar disorder any
every single one of them can have short-term relief from symptoms of stomach issues you know
anxiety or sleep problems or you know and anybody all kind of different things they use it for
chemotherapy you know you don't have to have bipolar to have cancer you know and having a
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positive day influence on a daily you know on daily outlook like again you don't have to have
bipolar disorder to be feeling shitty and then smoke a joint and feel better like that you don't
have to have bipolar disorder for that to happen so again a lot of these symptoms I feel like it's
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like again yes this is about bipolar disorder but every bit of this has the same consequences for
anybody who doesn't have bipolar disorder so I just I kind of say that to keep to say keep that in
mind that just because you have bipolar disorder and you use cannabis doesn't make you like a drug
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addict or a weird person or a bad person or anything like that because or and if it you know I
don't know what I'm trying to say here other than like it happens to everybody it's not just like
these symptoms and these like the positive and the negative don't just happen to people with bipolar
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it happens to everybody it or it could potentially happen to anybody so just keep that in mind that
you're not the only one if you're feeling like some of these symptoms you know maybe for you maybe
they're not you know your type of symptoms but either way just know that you're not the only one
out there feeling like that so relief from varying symptoms the effects of THC in the body may depend
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on many factors such as dose frequency personality and how much you take it smoked or ingested for
example this is why people some people smoke cannabis who smoked cannabis may bring on some
euphoric and excite excitation I don't know why that word looks so weird excitement while other
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for others the effects include relaxation and sedation I think again that kind of goes into
what again like what they said you know personality has a lot to do with it and again whether you're
smoking a sativa or an indica for example 2005 research review indicated that THC could reduce
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anxiety symptoms in some doses but could have the opposite effect in higher doses the same review
indicated that pharmacy pharmacological properties of THC that could be therapeutic for some people
with bipolar such as improvement in mood antidepressant effects hypnotic effects and low toxicity
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I think that low toxicity don't quote me on this but I feel like to me that means you have a high
tolerance to it like for me I can't smoke the same string constantly because like over and over and
over and over I have to switch pretty frequently because it I get used to shit way too easy my
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anxiety medicine is a pain in the ass because I can only take it so much before my body gets
used to it that I have to go like two or three days a week you know if not more without taking
my anxiety medicine just so that whenever I do take it again I actually get the benefits from it
it's either that or I have to abuse it and take more than what I'm supposed to which I'm not gonna
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do you know so I ended up have I end up having to suffer for like a week you know or longer depending
on how long I'm out of my anxiety medicine and that can cause like just not having that anxiety
medicine can throw me into a depressive state you know not because I'm out of my medicine but
because I'm like because I don't have my medicine to counteract all the things like anxiety which
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can help throw me into the repressive phase so I don't know older anecdotal information also
suggests that some people find smoking cannabis beneficial for treating some of their bipolar
symptoms specifically this report from 1998 based on limited case studies found these effects
relief from prescription medication on medication side effects relief from manic symptoms including
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rage decreased need for medications improvement in depressive symptoms so we talked about a lot
of the negative shit talked about a lot of the problem with things that could go wrong now I want
to talk about some of the positive effects in 2015 a study a study suggests that cannabis use is
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associated with more positive emotions in some people with bipolar disorder the result of the
study may study have few limitations though for one the study the sample consisted of only 24
participants all also those participants who examine experience subsequent positive effects after
using cannabis were already feeling well and not experiencing severe bipolar symptoms at the moment
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short-term relief symptoms in 2016 a published source that explored the effect of cannabis use
on mood and neuropsychological performance of people living with bipolar disorder the preliminary
evidence suggested that people with bipolar disorder who also smoked cannabis experienced
relief from other symptoms within four hours specifically cannabis smoking cannabis was
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associated with decreased experience in emotions such as anger depression tension or stress higher
levels of vigor were also reported after cannabis use among people living with bipolar disorder
also researchers did not find any additional cognitive deficits or impairment among cannabis
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smokers compared to non smokers who also have bipolar disorder so that I love that actually
that it basically it doesn't make you stupid like everybody says it does like it doesn't affect
your cognitive abilities the way that it says that it does or at least there's research that says
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that it doesn't so let's talk about that the no no cognitive and cognitive impairment along the
same lines a 2020 review published in psychiatric research didn't find any conclusive evidence
regarding the effects of cannabis use on the cognitive function of people with bipolar disorder
of the six studies reviewed most indicated cannabis use with the bipolar disorder wasn't
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directly linked to significant cognitive impairment among those six studies one did
suggest cannabis use was associated with worse overall cognition however the author authors
noted that the scope of knowledge in this field is still limited and additional research is needed
so positive effects not all the studies into the effects of cannabis on bipolar disorder have
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been negative a small 2016 study asked people with a condition to rate their feelings after
using the substance within four hours of using the drug people and they say drug I don't hate
that word but whatever people reported the following less anger less tension less depression and
higher energy levels again I think that depends on what what strain and whether it's a TV indica
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or hybrid that really makes the hugest difference and if you don't know then the best thing I can
tell you to do is start off with an indica at night or in the evening time and see how that
makes you feel try a sativa in the morning and see how that makes you feel and then experiment
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with that try you know switch it around try an indica in the morning and a sativa at night
see how that or I would never suggest actually to try a sativa at night because it probably is
going to keep you up so I would try a sativa in the afternoon if you're going to try a sativa
that's not in the morning and you know I would say indica be careful with your indica is in
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the morning because like for me with the razodone and my anxiety medicine and limo gene by the
time I take all that and I smoke it can it can make me really sleepy which can be really dangerous
because if you have to drive and you're really sleepy sometimes that happens to me and I'm
fighting sleep trying to drive and that's not that's not a good thing at all other studies
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suggest that cannabis can improve brain function and people with bipolar disorder an older study
from 2010 which looked at 133 people with with the condition stated that the participants who
use cannabis had improved reasoning speed attention and memory evidence suggests cannabis may may
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use may have a negative impact on symptoms of bipolar disorder many researchers suggest that
people with bipolar disorder should exercise caution when considering using cannabis either
for recreational or medical purposes in 2017 a review from the alcohol and drug abuse Institute
examined related studies and reported that cannabis use for bipolar disorder was often linked to
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increased likelihood of symptoms and psychosis of psychosis such as hallucinations and delusions
never had any of that I have never once been so stoned that I had a hallucination I've never
met anyone who was so stoned they had a hallucination and I've been pretty stoned and seen
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some pretty stoned people off of just cannabis I've never experienced that increase in the
frequency of mood episodes with the average being four episodes in one year I would say
unless you're rapid cycling like like I feel like I have been then you can have many episodes
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throughout the year but again cannabis could be the reason why I'm you know rapidly cycling
it I don't know but I'm not gonna give it up because all the other positive effects
that I have of it from it increase likelihood of suicidal thoughts or attempts maybe not
for me I have those without cannabis there were years that I didn't smoke and it didn't
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affect whether I had suicidal thoughts or not I'm bipolar I have suicidal thoughts and
it just it happens more severe symptoms during episodes of mania or depression decreased chances
of a long-term remission increased likelihood of experience and challenges and task performance
and earlier onset of symptoms of bipolar disorder symptoms of psychosis refers to altered perceptions
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of ortho examples are hallucinations and delusions in some cases cannabis use has been associated
with higher chances of experiencing these symptoms in the general population a 2019 study for
example found that to that daily use of cannabis was linked to higher chance of psychotic disorder
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results also indicated that people you who used highly high potency cannabis concentrations
of 10% TSE or more were up to six times more likely to experience symptoms of psychosis
bipolar related research has also suggested that cannabis use is associated with a greater
risk greater rate of psychosis and people living with bipolar disorder as well as more
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frequent hospitalizations and longer mood episodes a 2021 study also suggests that cannabis
use particularly among young adults living with bipolar disorder and mood other mood
disorders may lead to a higher chance of self-harm psychiatric hospitalization mental health
emergency visits a 2010 study found that people who had both cannabis use disorder and bipolar
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disorder also presented with higher levels of disability higher rates of symptoms of
psychosis and more frequent manic and depressive episodes that I feel like I could identify
with a little bit more I just don't think I agree with cannabis use disorder I don't
I don't know that I feel like that's a real thing don't say that it's not I'm not saying
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that you can't be addicted to cannabis I'm just saying I've never met anybody who was
who couldn't just stop smoking at some point you know it's not like quitting drinking you
know or quitting heroin not to say or take away from it or say anything like that all
I'm saying is that it's for me the comparison between heroin and cannabis is fast like you
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can't really compare the two and so I just feel like saying cannabis use disorder it
bothers me other effects of cannabis use cannabis use has been linked to many health
effects in general population some ways cannabis use may affect your body and brain and include
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by it can infect your brain by increased chance of heart disease when smoked memory impairment
increased challenges in attention coordination and reflexes chances of experiencing anxiety
depression and paranoia so here's the thing about that you can't if you have only bipolar
then this may affect you this way but I had ADHD and bipolar and some other stuff but
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those are the two main things and I'm gonna have those you know attention problems or
court coordination and reflexes isn't really that big of a deal but my attention I can't
blame that on CBE or cannabis it's because I have ADHD my anxiety and depression that
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I could say come from all kind of different places paranoia I think is a learned reflex
or it's learned habit from years of I don't know how to say it's not abuse but a broken
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heart I guess is the easiest way to say it I used to fall in love really easily and I
would put my trust in people that I definitely shouldn't have put my trust in and then I
would get hurt and eventually it's now led to a problem where I am paranoid about friends
people my girlfriend pretty much everybody or everything and paranoia is kind of a harsh
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word for it it's I wouldn't necessarily say paranoid is so much as it is just like anxious
worry about things that either I don't have control over or things that I do have control
over but won't into I don't want to say chicken or scared but that's best thing I can say
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too scared to do anything about it anyway if you live with bipolar disorder many treatment
options are still available to you traditional bipolar treatments include the use of medications
medications talk therapy and self help methods common prescriptions may include mood stabilizers
anti psychotics anti convulsions and anti depressants talk therapy may include psycho
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education cognitive behavioral therapy which I'm currently going through and working on
right now family focused therapy interpersonal and social rhythm therapy dialectical behavioral
therapy self care strategies for bipolar disorder may include mood tracking and journaling
and that's if you can keep up with it I have tried and it's it's not easy establishing
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daily routines again challenging for people with bipolar because or at least for me because
it's it's just challenging I don't know why or how to say that but it's it's challenging
because it's like you especially I think if you have ADHD I think it makes it harder because
you go through like you start you start these routines and then you you know you're like
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oh yes I'm gonna start this routine I'm gonna do it every morning it's gonna be a morning
routine morning habit and you do it for three or four days and then you wake up and you're
having a shitty morning or you just tired didn't sleep very well and then your morning
routine goes to shit and then the next morning you you just don't do it again you know and
you just you fall into that slump um sticking to treatment plans even when feeling better
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I mean I would say duh just do that anyway creating a safety plan for crisis situation
that's always that's always helpful I found that for me having a support system and I
mean when I say a support system I don't mean just a couple of friends that you can call
I mean like actually people who really give a shit whether or not you are doing okay you
know I have my mom you know my mom and dad I have my family I can call but they're right
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now they're 30 minutes away they look 30 minutes away not that far but if I was in a real crisis
I need to have somebody who's close who could get to me before I could get to me my girlfriend
is one of them and there's several friends that live you know within a few you know a
few miles of here that could easily get to me quickly if I needed that help so I think
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having a crisis situation a crisis plan is I think that's actually really important support
groups as the next thing you know it's kind of what I was hinting on is having those those
support groups is really going to make a huge difference because there's so many times that
I felt like I was alone didn't have anybody to talk to didn't have I held so much stuff
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in and it only made things worse so having people to talk to and having people that you
can go to the support view is critical and then stress relief activity so just find some
things that make you happy and things that you'd like to do these studies are consistently
(39:30):
find that those with bipolar disorder have amongst the highest rates of marijuana use
of those with mental illness so people with BP or BD people with bipolar disorder they
they abbreviate it as BD on here and I don't like I don't like that because it's so close
to BPD which you would think is bipolar disorder and it's not it's fucking see my brain's done
(40:01):
anyway borderline personality disorder that's what BPD is Jesus Christ that was difficult
anyway so we're about to wrap it up here um this episode has been way fucking longer than I thought
it was going to be um it was a lot of information I didn't think that it was going to take this long
to record and once I cut out some of the pauses it might might shorten up a little bit but still
(40:26):
this is a 41 minute fucking episode that's long um potential use for there's a potential for cannabis
to induce manic or depressive episodes while I was looking for information on this the results
are varied there is some evidence that shows that cannabis can help and or hinder symptoms of
bipolar disorder um interactions with bipolar medications again I couldn't find solid information
(40:50):
on how cannabis may interact with medications so again I suggest talking to a medical professional
that are going to be the best ones to help you figure out a should you try it be how you should
try it you know and see how much you should try you know they'll be able to be able to help you
figure all those things out um that's do your own research besides talking to a medical professional
(41:17):
to your own research and figure out what's best for you look for the different especially if you're
going to start trying to look for strains that are going to help alleviate some of the symptoms
like first identify the symptoms that you need to you need help with and then start identifying
the strains that might help with those those uh those symptoms and then work from there um
(41:41):
um I've been an avid cannabis user and advocate for 20 plus years now um it's something I believe
very heavily and passionately about um I think that even if it's I think that it's
the use of of it is beneficial not just for people with mental health disorders but also
(42:07):
just for people in general most people are dicks and if you smoked a joint you wouldn't be a dick
it's pretty fucking simple um that being said just remember that you know you're not alone in this
if you you know have any questions or if there's anything that you're wanting to know
(42:31):
um you can always email me uh reach out to me I don't uh will respond to everybody um
and also seek medical professional um that's probably the number one thing I can tell you
to do um and with that being said just remember that you don't have to sit in the dark alone
Hello and welcome to Bipolar Thoughts. My name is Stephen and I'll be your host.
(00:10):
Okay so this is episode three of Understanding Cannabis and Bipolar Disorder. In the last couple
of episodes we've gone over a lot and in this episode I kind of wanted to I think we're gonna
be gearing it down a little bit running up to the end of this. And so in this one we're gonna
(00:35):
talk about understanding cannabis, CBD and bipolar disorder, some strains that kind of help with
bipolar supposedly help with bipolar disorder, different consumption methods, some risks,
some concerns, some effects, reliefs, symptoms, just a bunch of different stuff. So let's jump
(00:59):
right into it. It is well documented that bipolar disorder is commonly associated with
substance use disorders with cannabis being the most commonly abused drug. Some bipolar
patients report cannabis use to relieve both manic and depressive symptoms and stated that it was
more effective than conventional drugs or help to relieve the side effects of those medications.
(01:24):
Also medical cannabis was associated with better neurocognitive functions in these patients. So
this was after a study that I had read or one of the studies that I had read about medical marijuana
and cannabis use in patients with bipolar disorder. So as a corollary smoking cannabis
(01:46):
acted to alleviate mood related symptoms and at least a subset of bipolar patients. When evaluating
the effects of on both mood and neuropsychological performance, Seger et al. found that smoking
cannabis may result in partial alleviation of clinical symptoms in the short term. However,
(02:07):
when two patients diagnosed with bipolar type one, which is what I have, were treated with CBD
initial oral dose of 600 milligrams reaching 1200 milligrams a day, no effect in attuning,
attunuating, may be it was reported. Moreover, cannabis might also cannabis use might also
(02:28):
worsen the occurrence of manic symptoms in those diagnosed with bipolar disorder and might be
associated with an increased risk of onset pneumatic symptoms. So here's the thing. I don't,
I can't tell if it affects me in as far as like a manic episode. I don't think it does. For to be
(02:49):
fair, though, let me say this. There's indica and sativa and hybrids. Indicas are what you would
consider like they put you into couch. That's, you know, they it's you're hungry, happy, sleepy.
That's what that is. Sativa is more of a body high and more of a mental high and sometimes
euphoric, but it's more of a, it's like your uplifter. It gets you motivated, it gets you going
(03:11):
through the day. You know, your hybrid is kind of, it's a mix between the two. So in, it can lean
one way be more indica dominant or sativa dominant. But it's, people like to say it's like the best
of both worlds. I say it kind of depends on which way it leans, whether it's, you know, sativa or
(03:34):
indica dominant. If it's indica for me, indica, that's all I smoke because I'm already such a
high strong person. And because I have manic episodes frequent enough that indica seems to be
the only thing that kind of really helps me out of that out. I mean that along with my medications
(03:55):
and other things that I have to take, but outside of that, it seems to be the only thing that has
helped, especially when it comes to like sleep or food, you know, I'm a smaller guy, but even
whenever I was able to, you know, put on weight and I did for a little while, it was mostly because
(04:19):
of the types of CBD that I was smoking at the time. I mean, I had the munchies like fucking crazy,
and I was eating constantly. I don't know. I think too much stress is kind of what's going on
right now. And that's why I'm not gaining weight the way that I should. I also have some other
(04:40):
medical issues that could be going on. So that might be what's what that is. But anyway, let's get
back into it. So understanding cannabis, CBD and bipolar disorder. Marijuana and bipolar disorder
have always had a complicated relationship. While some scientists applaud the therapeutic
potential for cannabis and bipolar disorders, some argue it may make symptoms worse. Scientific
(05:03):
claims aside, some medical marijuana patients who use medical cannabis to treat treat bipolar
disorder symptoms have reported positive results, especially for symptoms like depression and mania.
Some others find that CBD or marijuana strange with balanced CBD content can alleviate their
symptoms. Certain studies show that cannabis can worsen bipolar disorder symptoms. However,
(05:27):
other research suggests that cannabis can improve some symptoms of bipolar such as
attention and memory while negatively affecting others. For example, the substance has associations
with higher levels of manic and depressive episodes. So again, it's this is going to go back and
forth and back and forth. It some of them say it's good. Some people say it's bad. Some people say
(05:50):
it can help with manic episodes and depressive episodes. And some people say it can make them
worse or even push you into one. I'm going to say it now and I'll say it probably again later on.
I would talk to a medical provider, a professional, someone who can help you break down whether or
not CBD or cannabis period is a good thing for you. And if they tell you it's not and you feel
(06:14):
like it might be, talk to somebody else. Never take just one opinion and at face value. If you
feel like there's other other opinions that more align with what you want or you feel go for those,
you know, get another opinion. So many people with bipolar disorder can use cannabis to manage and
(06:35):
treat their symptoms. Anecdotally, many report reports claim that the substance is beneficial,
although the scientific evidence remains unclear. The cannabis plant comprises more than 500
chemical compounds. These include Delta 9 THC, which is what you would normally think of as like
(06:56):
weed, like street weed. That's what Delta 9 is. There's a ton of shit, but that's what like weed
is, is Delta 9. And cannabinoidal CBD, which are the most well known for these of these cannabinoids.
THC is responsible for the high that many people associate with cannabis use, while CBD is gaining
(07:18):
popularity as an alternative treatment for numerous conditions, including some mental health issues.
It is also worth noting that many studies investigating the effect of cannabis on bipolar
disorder have focused on the use of THC and not necessarily on CBD, which to me kind of makes
(07:39):
sense. To me, it makes sense that THC would give you some more negative effects, some more adverse
effects as opposed to just straight CBD. THC can come along with those like paranoia feelings or
just the different things that can affect you negatively. When it comes to smoking THC or
(08:01):
cannabis, CBD doesn't generally have that psychoactive effect. And so generally, not all the
time, because everybody's body is different, but most of the time with CBD, it's used more for
stomach problems, arthritis, and they're starting to look at mental health disorders. But so far,
(08:29):
it's proven to work for a plethora of other things that reside in the body. And that's mostly
because your body has more cannabinoid receptors than it does any other receptors in the body.
Meaning it makes it easier for THC and CBD, all cannabinoids really to attach themselves to those
(08:51):
receptors, making it easier for your body to respond to them, if that makes sense. Probably
didn't explain that properly. And some scientists says out there probably going to go,
you're fucking moron. And you're probably right. So this was what I found to be kind of the most
interesting because I didn't think that there was going to be as much information as there is
(09:15):
about the different types of strains that you can use for mood disorders, specifically,
like bipolar disorder. So one, a few of the strains are Blue Dream, which is a well balanced
hybrid strain. It's a lot of for its uplifting and euphoric effects. Sour diesel, it's a sativa
dominant strain, known for its invigorating and energizing effects. So Blue Dream, it may offer
(09:42):
mood stabilization and relief from anxiety for bipolar patients. It's a sour diesel, maybe
beneficial for those experiencing depressive symptoms, providing a boost in energy and overall
mood. OG Kush, a popular indica dominant strain, cherished for its relaxing and stress relieving
(10:04):
properties in bipolar, it may manage anxiety and sleep disturbances during depressive episodes.
Blackberry Kush, it's an indica sought after forced potential to alleviate chronic pain and
promote relaxation for bipolar's experience and pain alongside mood swings. The strain may offer
dual benefits. So Blackberry Kush is sounds pretty good. Boba Kush, another indica renowned for
(10:29):
its tranquilizing effects and potential to aid with sleep disturbances for bipolar's facing sleep
disorder. Disruption during depressive and manic episodes Boba Kush may be well worth considering.
Maui Waoui, a classic sativa strain celebrated for its uplifting and creative effects. It may
be valuable for bipolar patients seeking relief from fatigue and low energy levels during depressive
(10:52):
episodes. Green Crack, it's a potent sativa strain known for its energizing and focus
in enhancing properties. It may alleviate symptoms of fatigue and lethargy during depressive episodes.
I have tried quite a few of these. In fact, I would say I probably tried most of these. I
(11:17):
haven't, I can't say that I've actually like paid attention to the strains and how they made me
feel like the effects of them. I do, I keep a journal of different things like in the podcast
audio you won't be able to see this but like in the video you see like all the carts and different
(11:41):
things that I you know I try I try to keep up a little journal of it you know and shows like
you know how it made me feel what it you know what was in it the different combinations so you
know like THCA, Delta 6, THC terpenes, CBD, CBN you know different things like that and try to
(12:05):
that way I can kind of keep track of like what what works and what doesn't work. I haven't as
far as flour is concerned I haven't really put too much effort into keeping track of that. In
fact I just started yesterday I bought a gram of Granddaddy perp and so far what I've noticed with
(12:30):
it was that it was it was relaxing. I have a really high tolerance for pretty much everything so it
was nice to find that after maybe a bowl or two I was it did kind of help relax. The first bowl
there was like a decent little head change and then after that it was just kind of like a mellowed
(12:54):
mellowed feel so that was I mean that was just Granddaddy perp. I'm I'm playing on getting all of
these if not more and some of the other ones that that I've found because these aren't all the
different strains these are just a few of the ones that I found there's tons of them Granddaddy
(13:15):
perp being one of them but as I start to continue and grow my flour and my diary on the flour or
journal on the flour what do you want to call it I'll probably do another episode over like specific
strains or something like that at some point right now I just kind of wanted to give you like a
(13:36):
little break out of a few of the different kind of strains that can help and what they kind of kind
of help with. OG Kush is another Indica chairs for its relaxing and stress relieving properties for
people with bipolar it can help manage anxiety and sleep disturbances and depressive episodes.
Blackberry Kush another Indica seed so that seems to be a really popular strain is that for people
(14:00):
with bipolar disorder it seems that Indica seems to be the one that really helps the most I think
for depressive episodes I think maybe hybrids or sativas might be a little bit better because again
it gives you that uplifting euphoric feeling whereas the Indica's kind of give you that like
(14:22):
bring you back down. I don't think that they'll necessarily throw you into a depressive phase
but that's not a guarantee I don't ever want to guarantee anything because I'm not a medical
professional and so I'm just a guy with a microphone known for its tranquilizing effects and the
(14:43):
potential to aid with sleep disturbances so most of these seem to be dealing with sleep
disturbances. Maui Waoi a classic sativa strain celebrated for its uplifting and creative effects
that may be valuable for bipolar patients seeking relief from fatigue and low energy levels during
depressive episodes and then finally green crack as a potent sativa strain also known for its
(15:07):
energizing and focus enhancing properties it may help alleviate symptoms of fatigue and lethargy
during depressive episodes. While using cannabis for bipolar management different consumption
methods can impact how quickly and intensely the effects are felt smoking and vaping offer rapid
(15:28):
onset while edibles and tinctures may take longer to kick in but provide longer lasting
effects. Starting with the low dosage and gradually moving upwards is recommended to
find the optimal dose. Monitoring monitoring and tracking the effects of cannabis use are
essential to ensure its effectiveness and identity to any adverse reactions.
(15:50):
Duh. Risk and concerns. There may have been numerous studies on the link between bipolar
disorder and cannabis or there have been. The studies feature in a 2017 review from
alcohol and drug abuse institute the report found the link between cannabis use on the
(16:11):
following health issues developing bipolar at an earlier age longer or worse manic episodes
higher likelihood of suicidal attempts rapid cycling or quickly shifting from manic to depressive
modes suicidal ideation in people who are heavy users of THC so the rapid cycling or quickly
shifting from manic to depressive episodes I feel like that's where I am I feel like I used to be
(16:36):
before I got medicated before I started being on like when I was self-medicating that was one
thing but now that I'm actually on the medications I'm supposed to be taking I found
that I feel like I cycle quicker used to I would have a long manic phase and then a long
depressive phase and then I'd even out for a little while or what I thought was even and then it
(16:59):
would teeter back and forth between manic and depressive and but they were longer periods
you know a month two months of you know of mania you know a month and a half two months of
depression you know and if now I feel like it's way more rapid it's it's definitely like a
(17:25):
like last night I felt lethargic and like I just did not give a shit about anything in the world
and then this morning I wake up and I don't want to say motivated but I'm not I guess the day
hasn't hit me yet so I'm not like feeling shitty or I don't know how to explain that but it hasn't
(17:47):
hit me yet to where I've hit that depressive episode and I might not I might be fucking great
all day long but I know yesterday I felt great when I woke up and then by the afternoon I was
lethargic I just legitimately did not care about anything you know I was sitting in class and I
(18:08):
think that might have been what triggered it is I was sitting in class I don't want to say is what
triggered it but it definitely amplified it I was sitting in class at the end you know for my
second class of the day last class of the day and I opened up I had a bottle of Coke and I opened
it up and it spewed all over me my laptop all over everything and I was fucking living because
(18:36):
it can't lose my laptop clothes I don't give shit I'll be wet but I can't lose my laptop so I ended
up having to leave class I could come home and put my laptop in rice which I don't think it got
that bad there's my shift key is a little sticky but other than that I think everything else worked
out okay I just want a total fucking tangent and lost completely where I was but yeah I think I
(19:01):
think the rapid-cycling thing is definitely a I don't want to say common but it happened for me I
think that's what what has happened for me I can't say whether I developed it at an earlier age
because I believe that I mean I wasn't diagnosed until I was 30 years old but I think that at an
early young age I had it and it was I think it was obvious but nobody knew to look for it so it
(19:28):
wasn't obvious to two people like I think looking back on it now it's it's easy to say it was obvious
that I had it but nobody knew what it looked like nobody knew what it was and so nobody knew to question
it so anyway let's see the report also highlighted a 2015 source which found that people with
(19:52):
bipolar disorder who used cannabis were less likely to go into remission for their condition than
those who did not in addition an older study from 2011 found that people with bipolar disorder who
engaged in problematic cannabis use had higher levels of disability and more manic depressive
and psychotic episodes or symptoms the limited data suggests cannabis may have some positive
(20:16):
effects on some people with bipolar disorder by offering relief from varying symptoms a positive
influence on daily outlook short-term relief of symptoms no cognitive impairment and see
it says like this is about bipolar disorder and the effects of cannabis on bipolar disorder but
(20:39):
everything that's been listed can happen to anybody that doesn't have bipolar disorder any
every single one of them can have short-term relief from symptoms of stomach issues you know
anxiety or sleep problems or you know and anybody all kind of different things they use it for
chemotherapy you know you don't have to have bipolar to have cancer you know and having a
(21:02):
positive day influence on a daily you know on daily outlook like again you don't have to have
bipolar disorder to be feeling shitty and then smoke a joint and feel better like that you don't
have to have bipolar disorder for that to happen so again a lot of these symptoms I feel like it's
(21:22):
like again yes this is about bipolar disorder but every bit of this has the same consequences for
anybody who doesn't have bipolar disorder so I just I kind of say that to keep to say keep that in
mind that just because you have bipolar disorder and you use cannabis doesn't make you like a drug
(21:47):
addict or a weird person or a bad person or anything like that because or and if it you know I
don't know what I'm trying to say here other than like it happens to everybody it's not just like
these symptoms and these like the positive and the negative don't just happen to people with bipolar
(22:07):
it happens to everybody it or it could potentially happen to anybody so just keep that in mind that
you're not the only one if you're feeling like some of these symptoms you know maybe for you maybe
they're not you know your type of symptoms but either way just know that you're not the only one
out there feeling like that so relief from varying symptoms the effects of THC in the body may depend
(22:30):
on many factors such as dose frequency personality and how much you take it smoked or ingested for
example this is why people some people smoke cannabis who smoked cannabis may bring on some
euphoric and excite excitation I don't know why that word looks so weird excitement while other
(22:55):
for others the effects include relaxation and sedation I think again that kind of goes into
what again like what they said you know personality has a lot to do with it and again whether you're
smoking a sativa or an indica for example 2005 research review indicated that THC could reduce
(23:17):
anxiety symptoms in some doses but could have the opposite effect in higher doses the same review
indicated that pharmacy pharmacological properties of THC that could be therapeutic for some people
with bipolar such as improvement in mood antidepressant effects hypnotic effects and low toxicity
(23:38):
I think that low toxicity don't quote me on this but I feel like to me that means you have a high
tolerance to it like for me I can't smoke the same string constantly because like over and over and
over and over I have to switch pretty frequently because it I get used to shit way too easy my
(23:59):
anxiety medicine is a pain in the ass because I can only take it so much before my body gets
used to it that I have to go like two or three days a week you know if not more without taking
my anxiety medicine just so that whenever I do take it again I actually get the benefits from it
it's either that or I have to abuse it and take more than what I'm supposed to which I'm not gonna
(24:26):
do you know so I ended up have I end up having to suffer for like a week you know or longer depending
on how long I'm out of my anxiety medicine and that can cause like just not having that anxiety
medicine can throw me into a depressive state you know not because I'm out of my medicine but
because I'm like because I don't have my medicine to counteract all the things like anxiety which
(24:50):
can help throw me into the repressive phase so I don't know older anecdotal information also
suggests that some people find smoking cannabis beneficial for treating some of their bipolar
symptoms specifically this report from 1998 based on limited case studies found these effects
relief from prescription medication on medication side effects relief from manic symptoms including
(25:14):
rage decreased need for medications improvement in depressive symptoms so we talked about a lot
of the negative shit talked about a lot of the problem with things that could go wrong now I want
to talk about some of the positive effects in 2015 a study a study suggests that cannabis use is
(25:36):
associated with more positive emotions in some people with bipolar disorder the result of the
study may study have few limitations though for one the study the sample consisted of only 24
participants all also those participants who examine experience subsequent positive effects after
using cannabis were already feeling well and not experiencing severe bipolar symptoms at the moment
(25:58):
short-term relief symptoms in 2016 a published source that explored the effect of cannabis use
on mood and neuropsychological performance of people living with bipolar disorder the preliminary
evidence suggested that people with bipolar disorder who also smoked cannabis experienced
relief from other symptoms within four hours specifically cannabis smoking cannabis was
(26:22):
associated with decreased experience in emotions such as anger depression tension or stress higher
levels of vigor were also reported after cannabis use among people living with bipolar disorder
also researchers did not find any additional cognitive deficits or impairment among cannabis
(26:43):
smokers compared to non smokers who also have bipolar disorder so that I love that actually
that it basically it doesn't make you stupid like everybody says it does like it doesn't affect
your cognitive abilities the way that it says that it does or at least there's research that says
(27:03):
that it doesn't so let's talk about that the no no cognitive and cognitive impairment along the
same lines a 2020 review published in psychiatric research didn't find any conclusive evidence
regarding the effects of cannabis use on the cognitive function of people with bipolar disorder
of the six studies reviewed most indicated cannabis use with the bipolar disorder wasn't
(27:28):
directly linked to significant cognitive impairment among those six studies one did
suggest cannabis use was associated with worse overall cognition however the author authors
noted that the scope of knowledge in this field is still limited and additional research is needed
so positive effects not all the studies into the effects of cannabis on bipolar disorder have
(27:49):
been negative a small 2016 study asked people with a condition to rate their feelings after
using the substance within four hours of using the drug people and they say drug I don't hate
that word but whatever people reported the following less anger less tension less depression and
higher energy levels again I think that depends on what what strain and whether it's a TV indica
(28:17):
or hybrid that really makes the hugest difference and if you don't know then the best thing I can
tell you to do is start off with an indica at night or in the evening time and see how that
makes you feel try a sativa in the morning and see how that makes you feel and then experiment
(28:43):
with that try you know switch it around try an indica in the morning and a sativa at night
see how that or I would never suggest actually to try a sativa at night because it probably is
going to keep you up so I would try a sativa in the afternoon if you're going to try a sativa
that's not in the morning and you know I would say indica be careful with your indica is in
(29:07):
the morning because like for me with the razodone and my anxiety medicine and limo gene by the
time I take all that and I smoke it can it can make me really sleepy which can be really dangerous
because if you have to drive and you're really sleepy sometimes that happens to me and I'm
fighting sleep trying to drive and that's not that's not a good thing at all other studies
(29:33):
suggest that cannabis can improve brain function and people with bipolar disorder an older study
from 2010 which looked at 133 people with with the condition stated that the participants who
use cannabis had improved reasoning speed attention and memory evidence suggests cannabis may may
(29:54):
use may have a negative impact on symptoms of bipolar disorder many researchers suggest that
people with bipolar disorder should exercise caution when considering using cannabis either
for recreational or medical purposes in 2017 a review from the alcohol and drug abuse Institute
examined related studies and reported that cannabis use for bipolar disorder was often linked to
(30:16):
increased likelihood of symptoms and psychosis of psychosis such as hallucinations and delusions
never had any of that I have never once been so stoned that I had a hallucination I've never
met anyone who was so stoned they had a hallucination and I've been pretty stoned and seen
(30:37):
some pretty stoned people off of just cannabis I've never experienced that increase in the
frequency of mood episodes with the average being four episodes in one year I would say
unless you're rapid cycling like like I feel like I have been then you can have many episodes
(30:58):
throughout the year but again cannabis could be the reason why I'm you know rapidly cycling
it I don't know but I'm not gonna give it up because all the other positive effects
that I have of it from it increase likelihood of suicidal thoughts or attempts maybe not
for me I have those without cannabis there were years that I didn't smoke and it didn't
(31:26):
affect whether I had suicidal thoughts or not I'm bipolar I have suicidal thoughts and
it just it happens more severe symptoms during episodes of mania or depression decreased chances
of a long-term remission increased likelihood of experience and challenges and task performance
and earlier onset of symptoms of bipolar disorder symptoms of psychosis refers to altered perceptions
(31:52):
of ortho examples are hallucinations and delusions in some cases cannabis use has been associated
with higher chances of experiencing these symptoms in the general population a 2019 study for
example found that to that daily use of cannabis was linked to higher chance of psychotic disorder
(32:12):
results also indicated that people you who used highly high potency cannabis concentrations
of 10% TSE or more were up to six times more likely to experience symptoms of psychosis
bipolar related research has also suggested that cannabis use is associated with a greater
risk greater rate of psychosis and people living with bipolar disorder as well as more
(32:35):
frequent hospitalizations and longer mood episodes a 2021 study also suggests that cannabis
use particularly among young adults living with bipolar disorder and mood other mood
disorders may lead to a higher chance of self-harm psychiatric hospitalization mental health
emergency visits a 2010 study found that people who had both cannabis use disorder and bipolar
(33:00):
disorder also presented with higher levels of disability higher rates of symptoms of
psychosis and more frequent manic and depressive episodes that I feel like I could identify
with a little bit more I just don't think I agree with cannabis use disorder I don't
I don't know that I feel like that's a real thing don't say that it's not I'm not saying
(33:23):
that you can't be addicted to cannabis I'm just saying I've never met anybody who was
who couldn't just stop smoking at some point you know it's not like quitting drinking you
know or quitting heroin not to say or take away from it or say anything like that all
I'm saying is that it's for me the comparison between heroin and cannabis is fast like you
(33:52):
can't really compare the two and so I just feel like saying cannabis use disorder it
bothers me other effects of cannabis use cannabis use has been linked to many health
effects in general population some ways cannabis use may affect your body and brain and include
(34:12):
by it can infect your brain by increased chance of heart disease when smoked memory impairment
increased challenges in attention coordination and reflexes chances of experiencing anxiety
depression and paranoia so here's the thing about that you can't if you have only bipolar
then this may affect you this way but I had ADHD and bipolar and some other stuff but
(34:39):
those are the two main things and I'm gonna have those you know attention problems or
court coordination and reflexes isn't really that big of a deal but my attention I can't
blame that on CBE or cannabis it's because I have ADHD my anxiety and depression that
(35:04):
I could say come from all kind of different places paranoia I think is a learned reflex
or it's learned habit from years of I don't know how to say it's not abuse but a broken
(35:26):
heart I guess is the easiest way to say it I used to fall in love really easily and I
would put my trust in people that I definitely shouldn't have put my trust in and then I
would get hurt and eventually it's now led to a problem where I am paranoid about friends
people my girlfriend pretty much everybody or everything and paranoia is kind of a harsh
(35:52):
word for it it's I wouldn't necessarily say paranoid is so much as it is just like anxious
worry about things that either I don't have control over or things that I do have control
over but won't into I don't want to say chicken or scared but that's best thing I can say
(36:13):
too scared to do anything about it anyway if you live with bipolar disorder many treatment
options are still available to you traditional bipolar treatments include the use of medications
medications talk therapy and self help methods common prescriptions may include mood stabilizers
anti psychotics anti convulsions and anti depressants talk therapy may include psycho
(36:38):
education cognitive behavioral therapy which I'm currently going through and working on
right now family focused therapy interpersonal and social rhythm therapy dialectical behavioral
therapy self care strategies for bipolar disorder may include mood tracking and journaling
and that's if you can keep up with it I have tried and it's it's not easy establishing
(37:03):
daily routines again challenging for people with bipolar because or at least for me because
it's it's just challenging I don't know why or how to say that but it's it's challenging
because it's like you especially I think if you have ADHD I think it makes it harder because
you go through like you start you start these routines and then you you know you're like
(37:29):
oh yes I'm gonna start this routine I'm gonna do it every morning it's gonna be a morning
routine morning habit and you do it for three or four days and then you wake up and you're
having a shitty morning or you just tired didn't sleep very well and then your morning
routine goes to shit and then the next morning you you just don't do it again you know and
you just you fall into that slump um sticking to treatment plans even when feeling better
(37:57):
I mean I would say duh just do that anyway creating a safety plan for crisis situation
that's always that's always helpful I found that for me having a support system and I
mean when I say a support system I don't mean just a couple of friends that you can call
I mean like actually people who really give a shit whether or not you are doing okay you
know I have my mom you know my mom and dad I have my family I can call but they're right
(38:23):
now they're 30 minutes away they look 30 minutes away not that far but if I was in a real crisis
I need to have somebody who's close who could get to me before I could get to me my girlfriend
is one of them and there's several friends that live you know within a few you know a
few miles of here that could easily get to me quickly if I needed that help so I think
(38:48):
having a crisis situation a crisis plan is I think that's actually really important support
groups as the next thing you know it's kind of what I was hinting on is having those those
support groups is really going to make a huge difference because there's so many times that
I felt like I was alone didn't have anybody to talk to didn't have I held so much stuff
(39:09):
in and it only made things worse so having people to talk to and having people that you
can go to the support view is critical and then stress relief activity so just find some
things that make you happy and things that you'd like to do these studies are consistently
(39:30):
find that those with bipolar disorder have amongst the highest rates of marijuana use
of those with mental illness so people with BP or BD people with bipolar disorder they
they abbreviate it as BD on here and I don't like I don't like that because it's so close
to BPD which you would think is bipolar disorder and it's not it's fucking see my brain's done
(40:01):
anyway borderline personality disorder that's what BPD is Jesus Christ that was difficult
anyway so we're about to wrap it up here um this episode has been way fucking longer than I thought
it was going to be um it was a lot of information I didn't think that it was going to take this long
to record and once I cut out some of the pauses it might might shorten up a little bit but still
(40:26):
this is a 41 minute fucking episode that's long um potential use for there's a potential for cannabis
to induce manic or depressive episodes while I was looking for information on this the results
are varied there is some evidence that shows that cannabis can help and or hinder symptoms of
bipolar disorder um interactions with bipolar medications again I couldn't find solid information
(40:50):
on how cannabis may interact with medications so again I suggest talking to a medical professional
that are going to be the best ones to help you figure out a should you try it be how you should
try it you know and see how much you should try you know they'll be able to be able to help you
figure all those things out um that's do your own research besides talking to a medical professional
(41:17):
to your own research and figure out what's best for you look for the different especially if you're
going to start trying to look for strains that are going to help alleviate some of the symptoms
like first identify the symptoms that you need to you need help with and then start identifying
the strains that might help with those those uh those symptoms and then work from there um
(41:41):
um I've been an avid cannabis user and advocate for 20 plus years now um it's something I believe
very heavily and passionately about um I think that even if it's I think that it's
the use of of it is beneficial not just for people with mental health disorders but also
(42:07):
just for people in general most people are dicks and if you smoked a joint you wouldn't be a dick
it's pretty fucking simple um that being said just remember that you know you're not alone in this
if you you know have any questions or if there's anything that you're wanting to know
(42:31):
um you can always email me uh reach out to me I don't uh will respond to everybody um
and also seek medical professional um that's probably the number one thing I can tell you
to do um and with that being said just remember that you don't have to sit in the dark alone
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