"Move a muscle, change a thought."
A brisk 30-minute walk does wonders — as long as you don't collapse on the couch afterwards, with a bowl of potato chips and some insane crap on the teevee
^That's interesting, clearly I must be as fit as a fiddle, as I can't stand the hippie drug, a poor man's alcohol IMCO. Good for students with not much dough.
If I was suffering from depression, a good dose of MDMA in the right circumstances would likely be just the ticket that exploded.
So you fall into the camp that the psychoactive effects of cannabis are inherently benign? I live in a country where you can buy it over the counter and believe me, one look at the denizens in a coffee shop is enough to inform you that it ain't that good or healthy.
The problem with violence and alcohol in the UK, it is cultural and would exist with whatever drugs where legal. I've experienced violent people on cannabis, the same with alcohol of course, to a much greater extent, but that's because it's widely available and acceptable. I've seen less with MDMA, in fact, I've never seen anyone get violent on it.
^Good point. I also note that the younger generation is turning away from lager and beer, perhaps, as we're not all working in manual occupations the glucose rich blurry delights of beer are no longer that interesting?
The trouble with constant weed use is that you become addicted. Not in the same sense as smack or drink but it can cause a real problem with ones ability to cope with everyday things if you run out when your stress level seems to tip at the slightest problem. I used to smoke not far of an oz a week for many years. I smoked all day at work and during the evening, though I'd say after the first J of the day the drug really didn't seem to have much of an effect. For sure by 5pm it was just a fuzzy speed like buzz. During this time I can't remember dreaming much. I do remember it enhanced my football and cricket playing and I'd love nothing more than running 5km everyday, which kinda goes against being the stereo typical stone head image. I also remember I ate some proper shite and had quite a few crashes in cars, nothing major. Just minor bumps.
I'd say it takes about a week for the craving to stop. I'll take the odd toke still, at a party. I buy a gram maybe twice a year and hate myself when I smoke the first J from it but really look forward to getting home from work and smoking one the next day. When its gone its gone. If you can keep it under check its ok. I'm not sure its a good idea to have coffee shops. Maybe not for me anyway.
^
A good friend of mine used to be a daily all-day smoker too. And he also ran miles per day. It always struck me as odd; as you say, not really the stereotypical stoner behavior. Plus he maintained a regular job. Being in the haze was just his typical demeanor. He's not like that anymore and I don't even know if he partakes at all.
I smoked a lot in college and medical school. Then life just sort of took over and I don't anymore, except when time and circumstances are right, which is seldom. Now that I'm sixty, what I have noticed about all my friends who never stopped smoking is that once the conversation gets beyond a certain speed or altitude they just can't keep up, get repetitive, or fall back on old chestnuts.
Coincidentally, the slang term for being stoned in Panama is "trabado", or stuck.
Last edited by 4F Hepcat (2015-04-07 08:04:11)
I just get really annoying and talkative if I'm around other people in a social setting, and highly animated with hands gesturing and arms waving and I'll become overly enthusiastic about the most mundane things ever. I mean... generally speaking; it has nothing to do with substance abuse.
^^^"He did like vodka too in later life, mind you, never more than two or three before a meal. And never a drink before 6.30PM, good advice."
Hmmmm, from my experience of alcoholics, setting yourself out a timetable and rules in which to drink by is a sure sign that behind closed doors, when you're alone, you're polishing off a bottle of vodka before breakfast.
Using drugs or booze is not the way to heal your mind.
Rules are good when it comes to booze: never mix the grape with the grain, or never open that second bottle of wine, or have more than three drinks before a meal - this all makes sense to me, but I get what you are saying.
I agree as well: drugs are not going to remedy a bad situation i.e. working in a dead-end job on the line in a car factory, or no job at all. In such a circumstance, depression is a reasonable human response and anti-depressants are not the answer.
I think you hit the nail on the head Hep.. drugs, drink, over eating, over spending..all mask something deeper..the exception being people who are hiding or coping with trauma and or clinical depression ...that really can be very destructive..depression due to the enviroment youre in whether it be a combination of poor diet, stress, unhappy relationships.. I believe that people willing to be honest and able to reflect on themselves can probably sort that out without legal or illegal assistance.. saying that if you can function and dont burden people around you...do what the hell you like..
There is a thinking where people are just expected to take a shit life and be happy with it (standard British working class approach).. but thats not the way we are drugs are given out for people to cope with lives that typically see stress and worry grind them into a depression..is that really the lives would should be living..most people would benefit from simpler lives imo.
Last edited by Bop (2015-04-08 11:20:15)