Hey Twitch,
Check this out:
Use of street drugs (including LSD,methamphetamine,marijuana/hash/cannabis) and alcohol have been linked with significantly increased probability of developing psychosis and schizophrenia. This link has been documented in over 30 different scientific studies (studies done mostly in the UK, Australia and Sweden) over the past 20 years. In one example, a study interviewed 50,000 members of the Swedish Army about their drug consumption and followed up with them later in life. Those who were heavy consumers of cannabis at age 18 were over 600% more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia over the next 15 years than those did not take it. (see diagram below). Experts estimate that between 8% and 13% of all schizophrenia cases are linked to marijuana / cannabis use during teen years. Many of these research studies indicate that the risk is higher when the drugs are used by people under the age of 21, a time when the human brain is developing rapidly and is particularly vulnerable....Researchers in New Zealand found that those who used cannabis by the age of 15 were more than three times (300%) more likely to develop illnesses such as schizophrenia. Other research has backed this up, showing that cannabis use increases the risk of psychosis by up to 700% for heavy users, and that the risk increases in proportion to the amount of cannabis used (smoked or consumed). Additionally, the younger a person smokes/uses cannabis, the higher the risk for schizophrenia, and the worse the schizophrenia is when the person does develop it. Research by psychiatrists in inner-city areas speak of cannabis being a factor in up to 80 percent of schizophrenia cases.
Thats from schizophrenia.com
Now, from wikipedia:
No official studies have been conducted on its effects on humans.[24] Though its effects are not well documented, extremely large doses may cause negative effects that are generally not noted in marijuana users, such as increased agitation and vomiting.[25] Professor John W. Huffman who first synthesised many of the cannabinoids used in synthetic cannabis is quoted as saying, "People who use it are idiots."[24] "You don't know what it's going to do to you."[26] A user who consumed 3 g of Spice Gold every day for several months showed withdrawal symptoms, similar to those associated with withdrawing from the use of narcotics. Doctors treating the user also noted that his use of the product showed signs associated with addiction.[27] One case has been reported where a user, who had previously suffered from cannabis induced recurrent psychotic episodes, suffered reactivation of their symptoms after using Spice. Psychiatrists treating him have suggested that the lack of an antipsychotic chemical, similar to cannabidiol found in natural cannabis, may make synthetic cannabis more likely to induce psychosis than natural cannabis.[28]
Got it?
If not, read that shit again.
Marijuana has been STRONGLY linked to the development of schizophrenia and other psychosis. Synthetic cannabis may be MORE likely to cause this problem, but it simply hasn't been widely studied yet.
So what is schizophrenia?
The truth is, they don't know for sure.
Common symptoms of classic schizophrenia include thinking other people are always looking at you/talking about you. Also having conversations with yourself is considered a classic symptom.
But these are by no means the end all.
The list of symptoms is quite long and varied.
It is generally associated with a feeling of detachment from reality.
Your physical body may not feel normal.
Your vision and hearing may be altered.
The outside world can seem very unreal, even dreamlike.
Think of schizophrenia as a title for a large collection of brain malfunctions that are not well understood.
Some scientists think it is caused by 'too much dopamine' or a 'heightened sensitivity' to it. They reach this conclusion because they can detect an increase of dopamine activity.
New research has suggested that serotonin also plays a role.
That makes two vast neurotransmitter systems, BOTH of which you are messing around with, that are linked to a vast array of poorly understood disorders.
My theory is that the body is over-producing dopamine by releasing cortisol, a stress hormone. There is enough dopamine globally, but it is not reaching the pathways that so desperately need it. So the body keeps on pushing and pushing.
Bad schizophrenia eventually leads to loss of brain volume. Within 5 years, some sufferers are rendered retarded.
I'm not trying to scare you, but to warn you of how serious this is.
Many schizophrenics do recover.
The later in life you are diagnosed, the better your outcome is likely to be. Young teenagers are at the highest risk of serious complications.
A sudden onset of symptoms is better than a slow drawn out slide down hill.
Also, the fact that you are aware of the problem is also a good sign.
Suggestions:
STOP SMOKING NOW.
The longer you continue, the greater your long term risk is.
If you feel worse when you don't smoke, then you are experiencing withdrawal.
This is confirmation that it has messed with your brain chemistry.
It is a signal being sent to your higher brain to tell you its time to stop.
The withdrawal may get worse before it gets better.
You should count on several weeks of feeling like shit.
You may become even more distant from life and reality.
It is critical that you do this anyways. Nobody can save you but you.
Once you have made it past the first few days of withdrawal, I have another suggestion that will make a HUGE difference in how you feel:
Exercise.
Take it from somebody who knows...
I have been in recovery from MDMA abuse for six months.
I have felt detached from the external world. Other people didn't seem real anymore. My emotions were absent. My body felt like it belonged to a 90 yr. old man.
Even though I couldn't imagine being capable of doing ANY exercise, even though my body didn't want to listen to me, I FORCED myself.
I have to say, it really works.
Every single day I exercise. And every single day it makes me feel a little better.
The benefits don't always show up in the first day, but after a few days in a row, I PROMISE you, life will feel a lot more real.
The body can do wonderful or terrible things for the brain.
Make better choices, bro.
Start eating healthy. Take vitamins and fish oil.
And sweat. Do whatever you can, even if its only 10 minutes a day.
Do it the next day. Don't stop working out.
You can have a LOT more influence on this problem than you might think right now. You already reached out for advice.
I hope this helps you understand it better.
If you need more help, find a doctor.
Stay away from benzos and SSRIs. Both can cause long-term problems all on their own. Temporary use is ALL they are good for. OK?
Good luck, bro.
