You may not be an addict, but thinking like this is characteristic of addicts. The kind help they need does not come in a pill.
Some of the essential oils have therapeutic effects, but, of course, many have negative effects...which is to expected of EVERY chemical you ingest. Each chemical has different faces, just like people. You think anything is totally good for your body? Well, by jolly, that's good news! Then only ingest good foods and you're health will improve! But really, you'll see, after your health fails to change very much, that what you thought were healthy supplements weren't so healthy after all.
Thinking like this is characteristic of addicts? Look, we understand your concern. You don't want to lose another mind to marijuana. Have you ever considered that some people have enough self-discipline to use pot only on Friday/Saturday nights, and that they really don't need to be called an addict or lectured? Also, keep in mind we're not talking about methamphetamine here. No conclusive link between cannabis use and neuronal death has been established, yet.
G'day. I'm a recent (ab)user of the leaf - daily for almost five years, regular for 15 years, always in evenings after work and before bed during the week but constant (wake and bake...) on weekends. Stumbled on Longecity looking for information on Choline supplementation. Will i use again in the future? Less than 10% chance. I have not enjoyed the feeling for several months and now view it as a prolonged "angry young man" phase through which I've passed. I'm also aware that when I smoke I disconnect to the "Fortress of Solitude" and that's counter-productive to my life goals. I started using as a result of anxiety but I have constructive ways to manage that now.
You've both made some very valid points, I hope passion does not turn this to flame wars and trump measured deliberation. I am following this thread with keen interest.
Dasheenster, I agree with Luminosity (respectfully) that this type of thought pattern is characteristic of the addict's mind but i will admit it could me my prejudice and having thought this way in the past.
Luminosity, I also agree with Dasheenster that if one can manage use and use Fri/Sat night and not touch the stash during the week then this is not abuse. I used to be that way with cigarettes - I bought a pack of 20 driving downtown to go nightclubbing, would smoke freely while partying and then I would toss the pack out of the window of the car on the off ramp when I got back to the 'burbs. I would not smoke during the week.
My goals were initially twofold:
1. mitigate effects of long-term use
2. manage any potential mood issues from quitting
I am intrigued by Piracetam and will continue to delve into the threads on creating a stack and may try this eventually.
Effects I have observed in the last 10 days:
1) better sleep - dreams are becoming more lucid and regular and I wake up feeling refreshed.
2) less anxiety - I am prone to anxiety and I know this is something of which I must be mindful. I've learned to manage it with CBT.
3) improved short term memory - Can't remember having walked into a room and forgotten what I'm there for since i stopped ;-) This was becoming more noticeable over the last few months, fueling my anxiety... My concentration has improved as well.
4) more sociable - I am better able to relate to people. I went through group IPT 6 years ago and this is helping as well.
Thanks very much to all of you for erudite - and even the impassioned ;-) posts. I have found something of interest in almost every post in this thread. Kinda quick for a first post, i hope I have not broken any forums rules.
(now, this newbie is back to researching choline supplementation to mitigate and reverse the effect of pot smoking on short term memory).