Question about mental health....

[Question]

I am a perfectly healthy, sound of mind 18 year old. Both my father and my mother have a sister each with quite serious mental conditions. I'm not too sure on the specifics of their actual conditions but from what I can tell one of them is seriously depressed and the other is delusional and paranoid.

My question is this - would it be a bad idea for me to experiment with drugs like cocaine and MDMA? Are there any drugs I should stay right clear of? Sometimes when smoking weed I get intense paranoia, and occasionally morbid thoughts, but for the most part I'm pretty mentally stable. Does that make a difference?

I've just seen first hand how these conditions can fuck a life up, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing I've just shat all over my psyche just to get a lil fucked up.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Cyc]

Yes, it would be a very, very bad idea for you to explore alternate realities before you get out of the danger zone, which is the age where mental illness onset is most prevalent. You are just at the lower cusp right now. Medical literature seems to indicate most problems developing in late teens and early 20s. During this time, you're playing with fire. I would especially hazard against MDMA and anything in the psychedelic family.

With a family history of mental illness, the later you start experimenting, the better. You need to build up a solid, reality-based frame of reference and in my experience, that normally doesn't cement itself until your metabolism starts to slow down a little.

 

[Question]

riiiightt. well that fucking sucks 8) what about coke then?

 

[Doomed2pain]

Boooooo coke even worse.

 

[Question]

really? fuck can anybody explain why that is??

 

[J.Wallace]

When it comes to asking users if you should stay away from drugs, you're gonna hear a whole lot of insincere answers. We may be here telling you to stay away, but who are we kidding when we're all users ourselves. You don't seem very set on taking our advice either, but I don't know you so I'm not judging...

Bottom line, you're gonna do what you wanna do, life is like that even if we're too stubborn to admit it. My family has had mental health issues, and I've even experienced some myself before I even started doing drugs, yet I continued to explore everything I could get my hands on. Yet, my life is more or less the same as before, except I've put chemicals into my body.

The best thing you can do, is know what you're taking and or doing, and be well aware of how it affects people. Be smart, be safe, and be careful. As long as you know what you're doing, are conscious of what's going on around you, and you're careful with the amount you are doing, you should be fine. In my experience, I'd like to believe damage doesn't occur until I reach a point when I notice it affecting me negatively. In that case, you stop for a while, thus preventing any damage that might have been done, or at the very least stopping any more damage from being done. I know this isn't a fool proof plan by no means, but it's worked for me and I'm doing just fine (I think...ha!)

I think the biggest thing when it comes to mental health and drugs, is allowing yourself time to become aware of any negative changes occurring. It's so easy to find a chemical, get a shit ton of it then do it slowly day after day, only to come to the end and not realize how badly it's actually affecting you. When I started taking Tramadol, I found a whole bottle and did the whole bottle in an entire week or two, with no time in between uses to get a feel for the drug. When I stopped, little did I realize how much it was actually affecting me. So, just take you're time, space apart doses or highs, and take it slow. Problems won't arise out of nowhere all at once, it will generally take some time, thus allowing you time, if you take it, to realize any problems you might be facing. Moderation is key!

 

[Doomed2pain]

I'm no longer a user but have mental health problems due to my health, I stopped coke long before but I have seen what it has done to people who used for a long time. I'm not trying to be a kill joy, but if mental health problems are present in the genes it isn't really wise especially with the reaction to weed. That's all

 

[Question]

really appreciate the answers so far, thanks a lot guys.

so what you're saying is...the risks aren't all that high unless i do a lot of it? so it's just a bad idea to binge?

can anybody give me an idea of how much higher my risks are compared to somebody with no predisposition to mental disorders?

i just really need to know where to stand with this shit

 

[paranoid android]

riiiightt. well that fucking sucks 8) what about coke then?

Coke has a habit of turning people into psychos who only live for cocaine and is most likely far worse then psychedelics in triggering mental illness. Hell it turns people who have no mental illness into complete nut jobs so if you have any predisposition to mental illness it's bound to tip the scales a little. Fuck knows it triggers it in me enough.

I am 29 and have had some form of mental illness my whole life but i was not diagnosed with bipolar disorder until i was 24 i think. I have used most drugs under the sun at some point or another and some are far worse then others in triggering an episode. Alcohol would be the worst for me by far but coke would be a close second.

 

[Doomed2pain]

The risks are high even if you did it occasionally. Do you know if your aunt's ever used drugs or drank alot? That will give you a better idea you see.

 

[paranoid android]

Oddly enough beyond a few cases of anxiety disorders and depression there is not alot of diagnosed mental illness in my family. But you have to look at the fact that back in the bad old days not alot of people went to psychiatrist voluntarily. So just because someone was not diagnosed with a mental disorder does not mean they didn't have it. In my family alcohol and drug addiction (namely coke/crack) is rampant and alot of behavior just got blamed on either the effects of the drugs themselves or the after effects. Of course they could have been trying to mask whatever they had wrong with them in the first place.

 

[Doomed2pain]

No one in my family is diagnosed with anything serious.

My mum is very stress but that is her temperament, she was ill for a while when I was a kid but that was because of my sisters drug habits and my dad running away with my now step mother after he had an affair for a long time. I was 6.

But no, they have never really been anything like this. But again my all started when my crps started. Apart from the dyslexia and add, that was going on since a child but undiagnosed til 2003/4. But as I have a high iq my teachers wouldnt listen when I asked for help.

My dyslexia is bad today from pain so please excuse the typos and grammar mistakes.

Oddly enough beyond a few cases of anxiety disorders and depression there is not alot of diagnosed mental illness in my family. But you have to look at the fact that back in the bad old days not alot of people went to psychiatrist voluntarily. So just because someone was not diagnosed with a mental disorder does not mean they didn't have it. In my family alcohol and drug addiction (namely coke/crack) is rampant and alot of behavior just got blamed on either the effects of the drugs themselves or the after effects. Of course they could have been trying to mask whatever they had wrong with them in the first place.

 

[Question]

The risks are high even if you did it occasionally. Do you know if your aunt's ever used drugs or drank alot? That will give you a better idea you see.

nope, neither of them drink heavily at all, i've probably only seen them drink a handful of times in my entire life, and they'd never been drunk. neither of them have ever really taken drugs either, i think my dads sister might have smoked hash once or twice but that's it.

both of them lived through wars and probably feared for their lives more than once. one of them went through a very messy divorce that ended with her kids being taken away, while being a serb living in croatia in the 90's. i'm sure you can imagine the rest.

 

[Question]

i've never had problems with alcohol, i've done a whole lot of drinking and when it comes to violence under the influence of it i'm quite the pacifist. i'm probably more violent when i'm not drunk, when i've been drinking i just want everybody to get along but when i'm sober i take things much closer to heart

 

[Doomed2pain]

Yes I can my mother is half german and my nana's family were um for want of a word "disposed" of. I think you should research it as thoroughly as you can so that you can judge for yourself what the risk factor is.

I have seen perfectly well people end up with mental health problems from drugs who then used drugs to self medicate for their disorders, once in that state it is a vicious circle of addiction and mental health problems. So yes please please tread carefully and read as much as you possibly can, the more scientific the better.

Hope this helps.

 

[n3ophy7e]

so what you're saying is...the risks aren't all that high unless i do a lot of it? so it's just a bad idea to binge?

You've been given some good advice so far. But it kinda sounds like you're just looking for someone to say "Yes, you're good to go!", to validate what you're wanting to do. (which is totally understandable by the way, us humans need validation of our actions from time to time)

The reality of the situation is that there is ALWAYS a risk when taking illicit substances, for developing mental illness or exacerbating underlying psychological disorders. It's a risk that every drug user needs to take in to consideration. A lot of people don't know or don't care, and use drugs anyway. So it's great that you're not only aware that there could be a risk, but you're actively trying to find out how much of a risk it will be. So, kudos to you for asking about it

So, whilst there is always a small risk for anyone who takes drugs, with some kind of genetic link to mental illness on BOTH sides of your family you really are taking a much bigger risk than someone who has no family history of mental illness. You need to remember that. How much risk, like, as a percentage? I'm not sure. But would it make any difference? Say, if it was maybe 2% increased risk, or 5%, or 20% or 50% increased risk? Would you still decide to do drugs, or NOT to do drugs?

I suspect you're going to experiment with drugs anyway, which is fair enough. You're curious about it, so I doubt anything is going to stop you from at least seeing what all the fuss is about. But with that in mind, PLEASE be careful. Limit your usage to sensible timeframes which will allow your brain to recover between each session, and don't go overboard during each session. Keep yourself generally healthy by adhering to a good diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegies and lean meat, stay well hydrated, get enough sleep each night, and try to get in at least 3-4 exercise sessions per week (but don't exercise while you're taking stimulants e.g. amphetamines, coke etc).

And as others have said, do your own research on any substances you're going to take so that you can make educated decisions about what you are doing to your body and brain. Be sensible

And most importantly, if you at any stage notice any changes in your psychological functioning, any ongoing symptoms of depression, anxiety, hallucinations etc, please STOP taking all recreational substances and see your doctor immediately.

If you ever have any questions about your drug use or any changes that you've noticed in yourself please feel free to ask on here

 

[Doomed2pain]

^^^^^^^^ this times a million. Spot on as always, I always feel slightly retarded after reading your posts lol.

Seriously op listen to these posts and you'll be following the most intelligent and logical advise that you could possibly receive about drugs, mental health and physical health in general.

Please be safe with whatever you choose. I know it all sounds like we are trying to be completely anti drugs but that is not the case when mental health is already a bigger risk to you because of your family history. Something small and seemingly insignificant can set off mental health problems, throw drugs into the mix and it is like mixing volatile chemicals in a nuclear reactor really.

It's brilliant that you are being so mature about this, some people your age cannot even string together an intelligible sentence ( text speak that's all numbers, vowels and that take 50 times longer to read than using full English...) so you should be very proud of yourself.

Let us know what you decide to do please?

 

[herbavore]

I've just seen first hand how these conditions can fuck a life up, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing I've just shat all over my psyche just to get a lil fucked up.

To me, the second half of your sentence contains the answer you are seeking and I would listen to your own intuition on this one.

 

[Question]

You've been given some good advice so far. But it kinda sounds like you're just looking for someone to say "Yes, you're good to go!", to validate what you're wanting to do. (which is totally understandable by the way, us humans need validation of our actions from time to time)

The reality of the situation is that there is ALWAYS a risk when taking illicit substances, for developing mental illness or exacerbating underlying psychological disorders. It's a risk that every drug user needs to take in to consideration. A lot of people don't know or don't care, and use drugs anyway. So it's great that you're not only aware that there could be a risk, but you're actively trying to find out how much of a risk it will be. So, kudos to you for asking about it

So, whilst there is always a small risk for anyone who takes drugs, with some kind of genetic link to mental illness on BOTH sides of your family you really are taking a much bigger risk than someone who has no family history of mental illness. You need to remember that. How much risk, like, as a percentage? I'm not sure. But would it make any difference? Say, if it was maybe 2% increased risk, or 5%, or 20% or 50% increased risk? Would you still decide to do drugs, or NOT to do drugs?

I suspect you're going to experiment with drugs anyway, which is fair enough. You're curious about it, so I doubt anything is going to stop you from at least seeing what all the fuss is about. But with that in mind, PLEASE be careful. Limit your usage to sensible timeframes which will allow your brain to recover between each session, and don't go overboard during each session. Keep yourself generally healthy by adhering to a good diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegies and lean meat, stay well hydrated, get enough sleep each night, and try to get in at least 3-4 exercise sessions per week (but don't exercise while you're taking stimulants e.g. amphetamines, coke etc).

And as others have said, do your own research on any substances you're going to take so that you can make educated decisions about what you are doing to your body and brain. Be sensible

And most importantly, if you at any stage notice any changes in your psychological functioning, any ongoing symptoms of depression, anxiety, hallucinations etc, please STOP taking all recreational substances and see your doctor immediately.

If you ever have any questions about your drug use or any changes that you've noticed in yourself please feel free to ask on here

wow, thanks a lot for the reply. the internet is such a beautiful thing, i'd never be able to get this much honest and accurate information in real life. people just seem to have such ridiculous hidden agendas when it comes to drugs. most people i've spoken to just want to seem like they know what they're talking about, but you can tell how full of shit they are from a mile away.

and to the person who said you all must be coming across as complete anti drug fundamentalists, it's the complete opposite. you're all users, with obviously pretty good levels of experience. this is probably the most reliable information i've ever had about drugs like coke and mdma.

and yeah, i think i basically was waiting for somebody to tell me it would be okay to take whatever drugs i wanted obviously from the feedback i've had so far that isn't going to happen. it sucks, but if that's the way it is i'm glad i didn't have to find out the hard way.

just to get this completely clear - do the mental side effects only really start showing up after prolonged use? i mean, of course i could have some sort of horrible reaction to a drug, but would a few lines or a molly bomb once every couple of months really cause anything disastrous to happen to me?

 

[Doomed2pain]

Anything could trigger mental health Hun, not just drug use. Small everyday stressors, bad sleep, too much work. Anything. You are already more likely to be susceptible so I'd tread as carefully as possible as weed alread affects you badly at times.

Good luck, be careful and make as many educated decisions as you can. It will help in the long run. If your thoughts start to worsen without drug use, see your Dr ASAP!