by Kevin I’ve been a marijuana addict for about 12 years and I’m 28 years old. It seems like my drug use has changed my brain chemistry inducing stress, delusions, anger, foggy thoughts, terrible memory, paranoia and social angst. I have no interest in things I used to enjoy. It feels like it’s getting worse and it’s making my drug use worse as well. I find myself struggling to think clearly, even after a few days without it.
When I was around 20, I had a grand-mal seizure and was told I developed epilepsy. The neurologist was told of my frequent marijuana use. I was told it has to do to with a binge drinking issue, too. I think my brain was damaged in the 4 seizures I’ve had. To top it off they put me on a terrible drug called Depekote which basically poisoned me and I had to go see a specialists at the Mayo Clinic and was changed over to a new drug called Lamotrigine.
Will I ever come back from this mental breakdown?
I still feel terrible and don’t know if it’s from the pot smoking, or damage from the seizures and or the medication they prescribed, or a combination. There are times I feel better but they are few and far between. Maybe my next move will be to see a psychiatrist.
There’s no way to fix your brain once it’s damaged. Most marijuana smokers are in denial and suffer in silence, they defend the drug that’s changing their mood and personality and way of thinking. I see it all the time, trying to defend legalizing pot comparing it to alcohol. Believe me they’re both bad for you. I’ve been smoking it for a long time and I’m pretty sure I will never be the same.
Don’t do marijuana or other drugs. It’s not worth it.
Reply to Kevin: Please only see a psychiatrist who is certified in addictions treatment. Then look to enter rehab treatment that specializes in marijuana addiction. You write well, so some of your mental faculties are still strong. You don’t want to lose any more memory or clarity to your thinking. See the American Society of Addiction Medicine to find an addictions treatment. Clear up the addiction for six months and then see if the underlying mental health issues remain. Drug use makes mental health issues very difficult to treat.
