I don't know what to do.

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It's good to see that maybe you found some help. The weed thing (cutting back) is really important, even if it is only temporary. They can't possibly help you-certainly not diagnose you-when they don't know what is YOU and what is the effect of the drugs-even if it means smoking more cigs to get through it.

You should tell your mom whatever she wants to hear just to get her off your back-your an adult and it's for your sanity. You seem like the kind of person that has a really good heart. Me, on the other hand, I have almost always been very defiant, so I am trying to post with caution. When I was in high school I hung out with punkers. My mom realized that if she didn't cut me some slack, she wasn't ever going to see me again, and that is the only reason that we still have a relationship today. After high school, I hung out with bikers, junkies, strippers, etc, etc, etc, so I guess I never really had to deal with people looking down at me or questioning my future , so I can't completely relate to that aspect. Ironically, I think my defiance has been my best survival and coping skill.

I know everyone's biochemistry is different but alcohol has a VERY depressing effect on my mental state (and my physiology in general, especially since I switched to my current anti-depressant). For myself I cut back on alcohol first before weed if I feel that the consumption is getting out of control.

My psychiatrist put me on an 8 week abstinence group program last year. She wanted to do it so that she could get a better diagnosis out of me (she settled with a generalized anxiety disorder). It was really helpful, even though I wasn't planning on abstaining from all drugs and alcohol when it was over. The people there could relate to me and my addictive ways and we all shared personal experiences so we got pretty close while there. I also got a better understanding of why I turn to substance abuse (any kind of abuse, really) and what I can try to do differently. It also made me more aware of myself, if that makes any sense.

I wonder what kind of group treatment they're talking about. I hate groups (the chemical dependency group was an exception), but I got put on a waiting list (took 4 months...) for a Life Skills class. I still didn't really like the group aspect but the people there had interesting things to say on occasion because they came from different perspectives, so that part was beneficial. We learned a LOT about human behavior and how to change your own behavior and thoughts and reactions. I would definitely recommend something like that, if that's what they're offering. If you're not really into it, maybe you could give it a try for a while and see what you think. Make it an unofficial science experiment!

I definitely felt awkward around those people, even at the end (it lasted about 8 weeks also), but the education I got was really helpful. I hope there's something like that for you there.

I was going to go to another group therapy about cognitive behavior and changing the way you react to things (esp. emotionally) but I didn't like it. There were too many people in that one for me. I should have given it a shot anyway but I chickened out after the first meeting.

I don't know why they can't do online group therapy sessions

It will likely take longer to get you an appointment, but I would suggest meeting with a 1 on 1 therapist to begin with and work up to the group thing.. they try to do the group thing because it's less taxing on their meagre resources.. even though in my experience it's way less helpful to the people they are trying to treat than it is to the clinics budget.


You definitely need to cut down on all your substances since they won't be able to accurately determain what is really you and what are those substances and try to find some sort of medication or regimine which could help you.. also a lot of psychiatric meds react badly to psychotropics (pot), Alchohol and stimulants like nicotine..

I can't be too picky since I don't have income so I will at least give it a try. I think I do get to talk 1 on 1 with someone first, but I'll find out I guess. And I know I have to cut down which I don't really look forward to since having more apparent symptoms sucks for me. Also to be honest I can try and cut down and I am sure I can cut down some but I don't know about totally quitting everything...if I attempted that alcohol or cigarettes would be the first to go. So i suppose I have to be honest about that so they are careful what they prescribe me...because I don't want to take a hit or drink a beer and end up dead because of a bad reaction. I've already cut down on alcohol since I cant really afford it anyways...I got drunk today but I wasn't the one who bought the alcohol.

Oh I understand entirely, what you are describing is almost exactly like the program that exists here that I used to go to. They can and will assign you a 1 on 1 therapist if you don't think you can handle the group thing. But at the same time, the group thing I found was often more helpful, especialyl since so many of the problems we suffer are social in origin.

I don't think any of the reactions would kill you, it just keeps the psychiatric drugs from working as well.. it's very very important that whatever they perscribe you, you take for at least 2 months so it has ample time to try and re-jigger your brain chemistry.

Also, I dunno if you have been diagnosed or not, but you need to make sure they know you feel you are on spectrum. Another thing is, if your family has a history of diabetes, make sure they know that too, as a lot of anti-pychotics and psychiatric drugs can cause an onset of diabetes in those w ho are easily predisposed to getting it.

I would take something for 2 months provided it doesn't start effecting me negatively in 3 and 1/2 weeks like the Prozac did I am not sure I even want to know what mental state I would be in after 2 months of that. considering I was hearing people whispering about me and thought everyone was conspiring against me and started flipping out I figure I'd be psychotic if I kept taking that. And there is no diabetes I know of so I don't think that is an issue. But yeah I still don't want something that would react to badly with alcohol or cannabis since I am not sure I can or totally want to give both of those up.

Yeah I can see how auditory hallucinations would be a concern, and should be brought up with your doctor as soon as possible should they occur..

Another thing is, if your family has a history of diabetes, make sure they know that too, as a lot of anti-psychotics and psychiatric drugs can cause an onset of diabetes in those who are easily predisposed to getting it.

I don't know why they can't do online group therapy sessions

I'm so happy for you that you called! You should definitely push yourself to go! Don't worry about being around other people because remember they said that the people would have similar issues as you, everybody else will be feeling the same thing. I did group therapy and on the first day everybody was so uncomfortable and shy but after they we all became friends because we all had something in common. Good Job!

I would take something for 2 months provided it doesn't start effecting me negatively in 3 and 1/2 weeks like the Prozac did I am not sure I even want to know what mental state I would be in after 2 months of that. considering I was hearing people whispering about me and thought everyone was conspiring against me and started flipping out I figure I'd be psychotic if I kept taking that. And there is no diabetes I know of so I don't think that is an issue. But yeah I still don't want something that would react to badly with alcohol or cannabis since I am not sure I can or totally want to give both of those up.

Marijuana can definitely make you feel extremely paranoid so maybe that had something to do with it if you were on it at the time.