Mental Health Corner
- Thread starter kazza94x
- Start date
If my post seemed off in any way, that was never my intention. I made an effort to express that I hold the page owner and the moderators in high regard. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and emotions openly, and for acknowledging what I had to say. Standing up for those dealing with ptsd, mental health, personality disorders etc is something I will never stop doing, and my hope is that it leaves a mark on the world before my time comes x
I appreciate that, and thanks for bringing up the labels I use. What I had in mind was the connection between GLP-1 and mental health — specifically that GLP-1 drugs can at times make mental health problems worse. When I realized reta was leaving me feeling numb, I felt very strongly that there was nowhere to go except an "off topic" thread.
This is not meant to detract from anyone getting support from a psychologist, gp or psychiatrist, and I would not suggest the corner serve as a spot for guidance beyond what relates to the GLP and mental health experience.
As far as I know, every cause is welcome here too. I watch people talk about all sorts of things quite openly, yet with MH a stigma seems to appear — like above, where personality disorders get treated as dangerous even though that has been shown inaccurate repeatedly. I wasn't trying to upset anybody or create something simply because I hold a qualification and have a diagnosis of my own; it came from experience and from what I've learned on this forum that a space like this could help the community.
Hi Zippity, this is exactly the kind of thing I had in mind. Somewhere we can talk about glp and the way it impacts our mental health. Many individuals prefer to keep their usage private from their doctors, and I believe this space could be valuable for feeling reassured that you're not by yourself in the glp community while dealing with worsened symptoms or new MH symptoms. I went ahead and created a section in the chronic conditions area, if that works.
Something I feel is worth bringing up here—and I've brought it up in a few other threads already—is how tirz has affected my Body Focused Repetitive Disorder (compulsive skin picking, which falls under OCD and is also linked to trichotillomania)…my symptoms have dropped a lot, and that was a big plus I never saw coming. Between that and the weight loss, this drug has changed my life in ways I didn't anticipate. The obsessive thoughts are still there, but they're far weaker now and my appearance isn't suffering because of them anymore. Huge boost to my confidence!
That's amazing!! Once you quit tirz, do you figure these gains will stick around, or has tirz become a permanent fixture for you?
OCD is something I deal with too, and putting my face out there is something I really dislike, but I get the sense that now is the moment to be brave. Your self-assurance and sharp mind are qualities I truly adore. The manner in which you break things down and express yourself is simply next level
You're way too nice, honestly!! Hugs! Your new avatar is great—sweet face, and that cat looks sweet too! Good for you for putting yourself out there!kazza94x said:
That's amazing!! Once you quit tirz, do you figure these gains will stick around, or has tirz become a permanent fixture for you?
OCD is something I deal with too, and putting my face out there is something I really dislike, but I get the sense that now is the moment to be brave. Your self-assurance and sharp mind are qualities I truly adore. The manner in which you break things down and express yourself is simply next level
If I quit taking it, I doubt the symptom relief would hold up. During PMS, a lot of the urges tirz keeps in check—food, binging, sugar/salt cravings, skin picking—get stronger, so I figure my hormones are partly overriding what the medicine does to the obsessive side of my brain. Following that logic, I'm fairly sure everything would return if I stopped. But I intend to stay on this for life. Off meds, I have almost no control over wanting food, and given all the benefits—heart-related and beyond—plus no real drawbacks for me beyond what a bit of Mag07 handles, there's no reason to quit.
The one urge that doesn't rise with my cycle is wanting alcohol, which has remained really low ever since I started tirz. I think I could keep that up without tirz, mainly because drinking has shifted in society and around me. In grad school—when I drank daily for the alcohol's effects, not to socialize—we used it to handle stress and unwind fast, but that setting is behind me. Not drinking is very in style, and NA choices are easy to find everywhere. Also, with cannabis legal in my state and lots of others, there are other ways (better and healthier, based on data from the early legal states) to relax.
Aww, thanks so much! Yep, that's my tiny Ivy — she's 1 and a half and a total menace lol.HouseCat said:
You're way too nice, honestly!! Hugs! Your new avatar is great—sweet face, and that cat looks sweet too! Good for you for putting yourself out there!kazza94x said:
That's amazing!! Once you quit tirz, do you figure these gains will stick around, or has tirz become a permanent fixture for you?
OCD is something I deal with too, and putting my face out there is something I really dislike, but I get the sense that now is the moment to be brave. Your self-assurance and sharp mind are qualities I truly adore. The manner in which you break things down and express yourself is simply next level
If I quit taking it, I doubt the symptom relief would hold up. During PMS, a lot of the urges tirz keeps in check—food, binging, sugar/salt cravings, skin picking—get stronger, so I figure my hormones are partly overriding what the medicine does to the obsessive side of my brain. Following that logic, I'm fairly sure everything would return if I stopped. But I intend to stay on this for life. Off meds, I have almost no control over wanting food, and given all the benefits—heart-related and beyond—plus no real drawbacks for me beyond what a bit of Mag07 handles, there's no reason to quit.
The one urge that doesn't rise with my cycle is wanting alcohol, which has remained really low ever since I started tirz. I think I could keep that up without tirz, mainly because drinking has shifted in society and around me. In grad school—when I drank daily for the alcohol's effects, not to socialize—we used it to handle stress and unwind fast, but that setting is behind me. Not drinking is very in style, and NA choices are easy to find everywhere. Also, with cannabis legal in my state and lots of others, there are other ways (better and healthier, based on data from the early legal states) to relax.
I've got 3 more fur babies, but there's no way they'd all squeeze into the picture lol.
That insight is great — you're really tuned in to your body and you know precisely which things set off which reactions. That level of self awareness is remarkable.
I'm on yaz for pelvic congestion syndrome, so I don't get pms or a period, though cravings still pop up now and then. Mostly sugary drinks lol
Wow, do you have any idea what pulls you toward alcohol M? Is it the stress you brought up, or something else? Sorry if I'm prying. No pressure to answer.
Cannabis is definitely a solid option when you want something to relax with. I tried some while on reta and it ended up making me hungry, so I hope that doesn't hit you the same way. With legalisation, hopefully there'll be more strains to pick from, so you can go with whatever suits you rather than settling for whatever the local dealer happens to have.
Getting to this level of self-understanding took years. Along the way, I had support from doctors and mental health providers, instructors in yoga, clergy (although I don't believe in God, I deeply value what faith can teach and the strength it gives people), practices like visualization and mindfulness, plus a handful of trips to an ashram nearby.kazza94x said:
Aww, thanks so much! Yep, that's my tiny Ivy — she's 1 and a half and a total menace lol.HouseCat said:
You're way too nice, honestly!! Hugs! Your new avatar is great—sweet face, and that cat looks sweet too! Good for you for putting yourself out there!kazza94x said:
That's amazing!! Once you quit tirz, do you figure these gains will stick around, or has tirz become a permanent fixture for you?
OCD is something I deal with too, and putting my face out there is something I really dislike, but I get the sense that now is the moment to be brave. Your self-assurance and sharp mind are qualities I truly adore. The manner in which you break things down and express yourself is simply next level
If I quit taking it, I doubt the symptom relief would hold up. During PMS, a lot of the urges tirz keeps in check—food, binging, sugar/salt cravings, skin picking—get stronger, so I figure my hormones are partly overriding what the medicine does to the obsessive side of my brain. Following that logic, I'm fairly sure everything would return if I stopped. But I intend to stay on this for life. Off meds, I have almost no control over wanting food, and given all the benefits—heart-related and beyond—plus no real drawbacks for me beyond what a bit of Mag07 handles, there's no reason to quit.
The one urge that doesn't rise with my cycle is wanting alcohol, which has remained really low ever since I started tirz. I think I could keep that up without tirz, mainly because drinking has shifted in society and around me. In grad school—when I drank daily for the alcohol's effects, not to socialize—we used it to handle stress and unwind fast, but that setting is behind me. Not drinking is very in style, and NA choices are easy to find everywhere. Also, with cannabis legal in my state and lots of others, there are other ways (better and healthier, based on data from the early legal states) to relax.
I've got 3 more fur babies, but there's no way they'd all squeeze into the picture lol.
That insight is great — you're really tuned in to your body and you know precisely which things set off which reactions. That level of self awareness is remarkable.
I'm on yaz for pelvic congestion syndrome, so I don't get pms or a period, though cravings still pop up now and then. Mostly sugary drinks lol
Wow, do you have any idea what pulls you toward alcohol M? Is it the stress you brought up, or something else? Sorry if I'm prying. No pressure to answer.
Cannabis is definitely a solid option when you want something to relax with. I tried some while on reta and it ended up making me hungry, so I hope that doesn't hit you the same way. With legalisation, hopefully there'll be more strains to pick from, so you can go with whatever suits you rather than settling for whatever the local dealer happens to have.
My relationship with alcohol has several sides. One thing I appreciate is how it quiets my mind — I tend to overthink constantly — and it makes social situations much easier, particularly when shyness kicks in or I'm feeling overstimulated. Stress is another area where I've leaned on it, for the same reason: it turns down the volume on my brain and those nagging prefrontal cortex thoughts. That said, it's a poor strategy for handling stress, especially given that some of my worst choices ever happened when I was tipsy or drunk — seriously bad decision territory!
Part of my pull toward alcohol is cultural too. My dad's side is Irish American and strongly tied to Irish Catholic identity, and drinking plays a massive role in that culture — possibly even more than among people actually in Ireland, judging by how wildly we celebrate St. Patty's Day! For example, getting alcohol in Ireland during Holy Week isn't easy, but in the US, almost nobody cares except the very devout. Historically, my family get-togethers involved a lot of drinking. These days it's less so, now that my Gen Z cousins are all old enough and the older generations are more focused on aging healthily. My father-in-law (WASP) is really into wine, and sharing his favorite vintages is how he expresses affection.
When I'm tipsy, I get nothing done — chatting and occasionally darts is about all I can manage! And if depression has me in its grip, alcohol barely registers. Perhaps that's because it's a depressant, so there's nowhere further down for it to push me when I'm already at the bottom! That's just my own theory, no science or evidence behind it.
Legalization has been a wonderful thing! Dispensary staff are incredibly well-informed! There's such a range of strains and ways to consume. With my digestion slowed by GLP-1s (on top of my already slow metabolism), edibles take foreeeever to kick in now, but drinks like the sodas hit me just as fast as they do anyone else. Before tirz, I never experienced munchies, but perhaps because I eat so much less these days, cannabis flips on the hunger and craving switches more? Not sure, but I make sure to stay hydrated to fight off that "put things in your mouth right now please!" urge and keep slow-to-eat snacks around me — in-shell sunflower seeds, light popcorn, that kind of thing. Stuff that encourages nibbling instead of scarfing. It doesn't happen every time, but far more often than it used to.
Honestly, your post was such a great read — and I don't mean that in any strange way, it's just that the amount of knowledge you shared is amazing. I'm with you on alcohol being more common in some cultures than others. Being Indigenous Australian myself, my family feels a pull toward it, but it doesn't appeal to me at all since it gives me leg cramps lolHouseCat said:
Getting to this level of self-understanding took years. Along the way, I had support from doctors and mental health providers, instructors in yoga, clergy (although I don't believe in God, I deeply value what faith can teach and the strength it gives people), practices like visualization and mindfulness, plus a handful of trips to an ashram nearby.kazza94x said:
Aww, thanks so much! Yep, that's my tiny Ivy — she's 1 and a half and a total menace lol.HouseCat said:
You're way too nice, honestly!! Hugs! Your new avatar is great—sweet face, and that cat looks sweet too! Good for you for putting yourself out there!kazza94x said:
That's amazing!! Once you quit tirz, do you figure these gains will stick around, or has tirz become a permanent fixture for you?
OCD is something I deal with too, and putting my face out there is something I really dislike, but I get the sense that now is the moment to be brave. Your self-assurance and sharp mind are qualities I truly adore. The manner in which you break things down and express yourself is simply next level
If I quit taking it, I doubt the symptom relief would hold up. During PMS, a lot of the urges tirz keeps in check—food, binging, sugar/salt cravings, skin picking—get stronger, so I figure my hormones are partly overriding what the medicine does to the obsessive side of my brain. Following that logic, I'm fairly sure everything would return if I stopped. But I intend to stay on this for life. Off meds, I have almost no control over wanting food, and given all the benefits—heart-related and beyond—plus no real drawbacks for me beyond what a bit of Mag07 handles, there's no reason to quit.
The one urge that doesn't rise with my cycle is wanting alcohol, which has remained really low ever since I started tirz. I think I could keep that up without tirz, mainly because drinking has shifted in society and around me. In grad school—when I drank daily for the alcohol's effects, not to socialize—we used it to handle stress and unwind fast, but that setting is behind me. Not drinking is very in style, and NA choices are easy to find everywhere. Also, with cannabis legal in my state and lots of others, there are other ways (better and healthier, based on data from the early legal states) to relax.
I've got 3 more fur babies, but there's no way they'd all squeeze into the picture lol.
That insight is great — you're really tuned in to your body and you know precisely which things set off which reactions. That level of self awareness is remarkable.
I'm on yaz for pelvic congestion syndrome, so I don't get pms or a period, though cravings still pop up now and then. Mostly sugary drinks lol
Wow, do you have any idea what pulls you toward alcohol M? Is it the stress you brought up, or something else? Sorry if I'm prying. No pressure to answer.
Cannabis is definitely a solid option when you want something to relax with. I tried some while on reta and it ended up making me hungry, so I hope that doesn't hit you the same way. With legalisation, hopefully there'll be more strains to pick from, so you can go with whatever suits you rather than settling for whatever the local dealer happens to have.
My relationship with alcohol has several sides. One thing I appreciate is how it quiets my mind — I tend to overthink constantly — and it makes social situations much easier, particularly when shyness kicks in or I'm feeling overstimulated. Stress is another area where I've leaned on it, for the same reason: it turns down the volume on my brain and those nagging prefrontal cortex thoughts. That said, it's a poor strategy for handling stress, especially given that some of my worst choices ever happened when I was tipsy or drunk — seriously bad decision territory!
Part of my pull toward alcohol is cultural too. My dad's side is Irish American and strongly tied to Irish Catholic identity, and drinking plays a massive role in that culture — possibly even more than among people actually in Ireland, judging by how wildly we celebrate St. Patty's Day! For example, getting alcohol in Ireland during Holy Week isn't easy, but in the US, almost nobody cares except the very devout. Historically, my family get-togethers involved a lot of drinking. These days it's less so, now that my Gen Z cousins are all old enough and the older generations are more focused on aging healthily. My father-in-law (WASP) is really into wine, and sharing his favorite vintages is how he expresses affection.
When I'm tipsy, I get nothing done — chatting and occasionally darts is about all I can manage! And if depression has me in its grip, alcohol barely registers. Perhaps that's because it's a depressant, so there's nowhere further down for it to push me when I'm already at the bottom! That's just my own theory, no science or evidence behind it.
Legalization has been a wonderful thing! Dispensary staff are incredibly well-informed! There's such a range of strains and ways to consume. With my digestion slowed by GLP-1s (on top of my already slow metabolism), edibles take foreeeever to kick in now, but drinks like the sodas hit me just as fast as they do anyone else. Before tirz, I never experienced munchies, but perhaps because I eat so much less these days, cannabis flips on the hunger and craving switches more? Not sure, but I make sure to stay hydrated to fight off that "put things in your mouth right now please!" urge and keep slow-to-eat snacks around me — in-shell sunflower seeds, light popcorn, that kind of thing. Stuff that encourages nibbling instead of scarfing. It doesn't happen every time, but far more often than it used to.
Wine is definitely loved out there lol, I can't stand the stuff and maybe that's the reason I'm single
Really interesting point. I suppose when someone is already deeply depressed, a depressant couldn't push them any lower — that is, assuming they aren't someone who deals with ideations or those kinds of thoughts.
That sounds incredible, you have cannabis soda? Wait, what?
Over here us Aussies still have to get it from the local dealer haha and gummies are nowhere to be seen.So with a gummie, does it creep up on you later and leave you confused? Sorry, in my head it's this super delayed thing where you're in the middle of something important and suddenly you're high
You're so creative!! Do you like pistachios?
Pistachios are a favorite of mine!…plus Australian Indigenous shows and films, for example Black Comedy and Wrong Kind of Black (any recommendations?)kazza94x said:
Honestly, your post was such a great read — and I don't mean that in any strange way, it's just that the amount of knowledge you shared is amazing. I'm with you on alcohol being more common in some cultures than others. Being Indigenous Australian myself, my family feels a pull toward it, but it doesn't appeal to me at all since it gives me leg cramps lolHouseCat said:
Getting to this level of self-understanding took years. Along the way, I had support from doctors and mental health providers, instructors in yoga, clergy (although I don't believe in God, I deeply value what faith can teach and the strength it gives people), practices like visualization and mindfulness, plus a handful of trips to an ashram nearby.kazza94x said:
Aww, thanks so much! Yep, that's my tiny Ivy — she's 1 and a half and a total menace lol.HouseCat said:
You're way too nice, honestly!! Hugs! Your new avatar is great—sweet face, and that cat looks sweet too! Good for you for putting yourself out there!kazza94x said:
That's amazing!! Once you quit tirz, do you figure these gains will stick around, or has tirz become a permanent fixture for you?
OCD is something I deal with too, and putting my face out there is something I really dislike, but I get the sense that now is the moment to be brave. Your self-assurance and sharp mind are qualities I truly adore. The manner in which you break things down and express yourself is simply next level
If I quit taking it, I doubt the symptom relief would hold up. During PMS, a lot of the urges tirz keeps in check—food, binging, sugar/salt cravings, skin picking—get stronger, so I figure my hormones are partly overriding what the medicine does to the obsessive side of my brain. Following that logic, I'm fairly sure everything would return if I stopped. But I intend to stay on this for life. Off meds, I have almost no control over wanting food, and given all the benefits—heart-related and beyond—plus no real drawbacks for me beyond what a bit of Mag07 handles, there's no reason to quit.
The one urge that doesn't rise with my cycle is wanting alcohol, which has remained really low ever since I started tirz. I think I could keep that up without tirz, mainly because drinking has shifted in society and around me. In grad school—when I drank daily for the alcohol's effects, not to socialize—we used it to handle stress and unwind fast, but that setting is behind me. Not drinking is very in style, and NA choices are easy to find everywhere. Also, with cannabis legal in my state and lots of others, there are other ways (better and healthier, based on data from the early legal states) to relax.
I've got 3 more fur babies, but there's no way they'd all squeeze into the picture lol.
That insight is great — you're really tuned in to your body and you know precisely which things set off which reactions. That level of self awareness is remarkable.
I'm on yaz for pelvic congestion syndrome, so I don't get pms or a period, though cravings still pop up now and then. Mostly sugary drinks lol
Wow, do you have any idea what pulls you toward alcohol M? Is it the stress you brought up, or something else? Sorry if I'm prying. No pressure to answer.
Cannabis is definitely a solid option when you want something to relax with. I tried some while on reta and it ended up making me hungry, so I hope that doesn't hit you the same way. With legalisation, hopefully there'll be more strains to pick from, so you can go with whatever suits you rather than settling for whatever the local dealer happens to have.
My relationship with alcohol has several sides. One thing I appreciate is how it quiets my mind — I tend to overthink constantly — and it makes social situations much easier, particularly when shyness kicks in or I'm feeling overstimulated. Stress is another area where I've leaned on it, for the same reason: it turns down the volume on my brain and those nagging prefrontal cortex thoughts. That said, it's a poor strategy for handling stress, especially given that some of my worst choices ever happened when I was tipsy or drunk — seriously bad decision territory!
Part of my pull toward alcohol is cultural too. My dad's side is Irish American and strongly tied to Irish Catholic identity, and drinking plays a massive role in that culture — possibly even more than among people actually in Ireland, judging by how wildly we celebrate St. Patty's Day! For example, getting alcohol in Ireland during Holy Week isn't easy, but in the US, almost nobody cares except the very devout. Historically, my family get-togethers involved a lot of drinking. These days it's less so, now that my Gen Z cousins are all old enough and the older generations are more focused on aging healthily. My father-in-law (WASP) is really into wine, and sharing his favorite vintages is how he expresses affection.
When I'm tipsy, I get nothing done — chatting and occasionally darts is about all I can manage! And if depression has me in its grip, alcohol barely registers. Perhaps that's because it's a depressant, so there's nowhere further down for it to push me when I'm already at the bottom! That's just my own theory, no science or evidence behind it.
Legalization has been a wonderful thing! Dispensary staff are incredibly well-informed! There's such a range of strains and ways to consume. With my digestion slowed by GLP-1s (on top of my already slow metabolism), edibles take foreeeever to kick in now, but drinks like the sodas hit me just as fast as they do anyone else. Before tirz, I never experienced munchies, but perhaps because I eat so much less these days, cannabis flips on the hunger and craving switches more? Not sure, but I make sure to stay hydrated to fight off that "put things in your mouth right now please!" urge and keep slow-to-eat snacks around me — in-shell sunflower seeds, light popcorn, that kind of thing. Stuff that encourages nibbling instead of scarfing. It doesn't happen every time, but far more often than it used to.
Wine is definitely loved out there lol, I can't stand the stuff and maybe that's the reason I'm single
Really interesting point. I suppose when someone is already deeply depressed, a depressant couldn't push them any lower — that is, assuming they aren't someone who deals with ideations or those kinds of thoughts.
That sounds incredible, you have cannabis soda? Wait, what?
So with a gummie, does it creep up on you later and leave you confused? Sorry, in my head it's this super delayed thing where you're in the middle of something important and suddenly you're high
You're so creative!! Do you like pistachios?
While alcohol has no effect on me during deep depression, other people are a different story. What I do know is that using it over the long term can worsen depression. And heavy abuse may result in “wet-brain,” an entirely separate, deeply upsetting and disabling condition that carries a significant depression component. Still, in my case it’s like “nowhere to go but down…hold on, already at the sub-basement level! You just wasted 4 beers!”
With an edible, I typically notice the effects about 30 min later than most people do, thanks to the tirz. If I’m home and take one by myself, I’ll frequently forget I took it until “Oh, yeah!” hits. Not confusion, just a pleasant surprise! Other times I won’t feel anything at all (high doses are what I need, and they’re expensive, so to be considerate of others I’ll take only a “regular” amount, which hardly affects me…so edibles aren’t my go-to.) I always set aside that time, so it never kicks in while I’m doing anything more important than watching TV or playing a game.
Haha, count yourself lucky that “wine goggles” don’t hit you when you’re out, about and hoping to flirt…you’re sparing yourself a lot of frogs!
Yes, absolutely—nothing beats them for flavor!HouseCat said:
Pistachios are a favorite of mine!…plus Australian Indigenous shows and films, for example Black Comedy and Wrong Kind of Black (any recommendations?)kazza94x said:
Honestly, your post was such a great read — and I don't mean that in any strange way, it's just that the amount of knowledge you shared is amazing. I'm with you on alcohol being more common in some cultures than others. Being Indigenous Australian myself, my family feels a pull toward it, but it doesn't appeal to me at all since it gives me leg cramps lolHouseCat said:
Getting to this level of self-understanding took years. Along the way, I had support from doctors and mental health providers, instructors in yoga, clergy (although I don't believe in God, I deeply value what faith can teach and the strength it gives people), practices like visualization and mindfulness, plus a handful of trips to an ashram nearby.kazza94x said:
Aww, thanks so much! Yep, that's my tiny Ivy — she's 1 and a half and a total menace lol.HouseCat said:
You're way too nice, honestly!! Hugs! Your new avatar is great—sweet face, and that cat looks sweet too! Good for you for putting yourself out there!kazza94x said:
That's amazing!! Once you quit tirz, do you figure these gains will stick around, or has tirz become a permanent fixture for you?
OCD is something I deal with too, and putting my face out there is something I really dislike, but I get the sense that now is the moment to be brave. Your self-assurance and sharp mind are qualities I truly adore. The manner in which you break things down and express yourself is simply next level
If I quit taking it, I doubt the symptom relief would hold up. During PMS, a lot of the urges tirz keeps in check—food, binging, sugar/salt cravings, skin picking—get stronger, so I figure my hormones are partly overriding what the medicine does to the obsessive side of my brain. Following that logic, I'm fairly sure everything would return if I stopped. But I intend to stay on this for life. Off meds, I have almost no control over wanting food, and given all the benefits—heart-related and beyond—plus no real drawbacks for me beyond what a bit of Mag07 handles, there's no reason to quit.
The one urge that doesn't rise with my cycle is wanting alcohol, which has remained really low ever since I started tirz. I think I could keep that up without tirz, mainly because drinking has shifted in society and around me. In grad school—when I drank daily for the alcohol's effects, not to socialize—we used it to handle stress and unwind fast, but that setting is behind me. Not drinking is very in style, and NA choices are easy to find everywhere. Also, with cannabis legal in my state and lots of others, there are other ways (better and healthier, based on data from the early legal states) to relax.
I've got 3 more fur babies, but there's no way they'd all squeeze into the picture lol.
That insight is great — you're really tuned in to your body and you know precisely which things set off which reactions. That level of self awareness is remarkable.
I'm on yaz for pelvic congestion syndrome, so I don't get pms or a period, though cravings still pop up now and then. Mostly sugary drinks lol
Wow, do you have any idea what pulls you toward alcohol M? Is it the stress you brought up, or something else? Sorry if I'm prying. No pressure to answer.
Cannabis is definitely a solid option when you want something to relax with. I tried some while on reta and it ended up making me hungry, so I hope that doesn't hit you the same way. With legalisation, hopefully there'll be more strains to pick from, so you can go with whatever suits you rather than settling for whatever the local dealer happens to have.
My relationship with alcohol has several sides. One thing I appreciate is how it quiets my mind — I tend to overthink constantly — and it makes social situations much easier, particularly when shyness kicks in or I'm feeling overstimulated. Stress is another area where I've leaned on it, for the same reason: it turns down the volume on my brain and those nagging prefrontal cortex thoughts. That said, it's a poor strategy for handling stress, especially given that some of my worst choices ever happened when I was tipsy or drunk — seriously bad decision territory!
Part of my pull toward alcohol is cultural too. My dad's side is Irish American and strongly tied to Irish Catholic identity, and drinking plays a massive role in that culture — possibly even more than among people actually in Ireland, judging by how wildly we celebrate St. Patty's Day! For example, getting alcohol in Ireland during Holy Week isn't easy, but in the US, almost nobody cares except the very devout. Historically, my family get-togethers involved a lot of drinking. These days it's less so, now that my Gen Z cousins are all old enough and the older generations are more focused on aging healthily. My father-in-law (WASP) is really into wine, and sharing his favorite vintages is how he expresses affection.
When I'm tipsy, I get nothing done — chatting and occasionally darts is about all I can manage! And if depression has me in its grip, alcohol barely registers. Perhaps that's because it's a depressant, so there's nowhere further down for it to push me when I'm already at the bottom! That's just my own theory, no science or evidence behind it.
Legalization has been a wonderful thing! Dispensary staff are incredibly well-informed! There's such a range of strains and ways to consume. With my digestion slowed by GLP-1s (on top of my already slow metabolism), edibles take foreeeever to kick in now, but drinks like the sodas hit me just as fast as they do anyone else. Before tirz, I never experienced munchies, but perhaps because I eat so much less these days, cannabis flips on the hunger and craving switches more? Not sure, but I make sure to stay hydrated to fight off that "put things in your mouth right now please!" urge and keep slow-to-eat snacks around me — in-shell sunflower seeds, light popcorn, that kind of thing. Stuff that encourages nibbling instead of scarfing. It doesn't happen every time, but far more often than it used to.
Wine is definitely loved out there lol, I can't stand the stuff and maybe that's the reason I'm single
Really interesting point. I suppose when someone is already deeply depressed, a depressant couldn't push them any lower — that is, assuming they aren't someone who deals with ideations or those kinds of thoughts.
That sounds incredible, you have cannabis soda? Wait, what?
So with a gummie, does it creep up on you later and leave you confused? Sorry, in my head it's this super delayed thing where you're in the middle of something important and suddenly you're high
You're so creative!! Do you like pistachios?
While alcohol has no effect on me during deep depression, other people are a different story. What I do know is that using it over the long term can worsen depression. And heavy abuse may result in “wet-brain,” an entirely separate, deeply upsetting and disabling condition that carries a significant depression component. Still, in my case it’s like “nowhere to go but down…hold on, already at the sub-basement level! You just wasted 4 beers!”
With an edible, I typically notice the effects about 30 min later than most people do, thanks to the tirz. If I’m home and take one by myself, I’ll frequently forget I took it until “Oh, yeah!” hits. Not confusion, just a pleasant surprise! Other times I won’t feel anything at all (high doses are what I need, and they’re expensive, so to be considerate of others I’ll take only a “regular” amount, which hardly affects me…so edibles aren’t my go-to.) I always set aside that time, so it never kicks in while I’m doing anything more important than watching TV or playing a game.
Haha, count yourself lucky that “wine goggles” don’t hit you when you’re out, about and hoping to flirt…you’re sparing yourself a lot of frogs!
"All my friends are racist" gave me a good laugh. It's great that you like Black Comedy; plenty of us might be white but we still call ourselves "black fulla" lol.
Yeah, I'm familiar with that, and I've witnessed some really severe alcohol-related harm both where I live and through my work.
Haha, 4 beers down the drain lol
Wow, we really are alike—my philosophy is high doses of whatever lol. If the prices are steep, it must be tough to properly relax. I tried edibles on a cruise and felt nothing, which was a letdown, but a thc vape launched me to Mars while I was in the middle of London
No worries—maybe wine would help with the low standards of the people I've dated haha, but frogs paired with wine? Never come across that lol
Appreciate it! I'll give that a look! Pretty much the same situation for me — plenty of folks who are extremely light-skinned and Black, and even when they've got blonde hair and freckles, they still claim that identity. And "black fulla" is a phrase I really like too, no clue why, it just feels warm! Sort of like saying "we're all mates!"kazza94x said:
Yes, absolutely—nothing beats them for flavor!HouseCat said:
Pistachios are a favorite of mine!…plus Australian Indigenous shows and films, for example Black Comedy and Wrong Kind of Black (any recommendations?)kazza94x said:
Honestly, your post was such a great read — and I don't mean that in any strange way, it's just that the amount of knowledge you shared is amazing. I'm with you on alcohol being more common in some cultures than others. Being Indigenous Australian myself, my family feels a pull toward it, but it doesn't appeal to me at all since it gives me leg cramps lolHouseCat said:
Getting to this level of self-understanding took years. Along the way, I had support from doctors and mental health providers, instructors in yoga, clergy (although I don't believe in God, I deeply value what faith can teach and the strength it gives people), practices like visualization and mindfulness, plus a handful of trips to an ashram nearby.kazza94x said:
Aww, thanks so much! Yep, that's my tiny Ivy — she's 1 and a half and a total menace lol.HouseCat said:
You're way too nice, honestly!! Hugs! Your new avatar is great—sweet face, and that cat looks sweet too! Good for you for putting yourself out there!kazza94x said:
That's amazing!! Once you quit tirz, do you figure these gains will stick around, or has tirz become a permanent fixture for you?
OCD is something I deal with too, and putting my face out there is something I really dislike, but I get the sense that now is the moment to be brave. Your self-assurance and sharp mind are qualities I truly adore. The manner in which you break things down and express yourself is simply next level
If I quit taking it, I doubt the symptom relief would hold up. During PMS, a lot of the urges tirz keeps in check—food, binging, sugar/salt cravings, skin picking—get stronger, so I figure my hormones are partly overriding what the medicine does to the obsessive side of my brain. Following that logic, I'm fairly sure everything would return if I stopped. But I intend to stay on this for life. Off meds, I have almost no control over wanting food, and given all the benefits—heart-related and beyond—plus no real drawbacks for me beyond what a bit of Mag07 handles, there's no reason to quit.
The one urge that doesn't rise with my cycle is wanting alcohol, which has remained really low ever since I started tirz. I think I could keep that up without tirz, mainly because drinking has shifted in society and around me. In grad school—when I drank daily for the alcohol's effects, not to socialize—we used it to handle stress and unwind fast, but that setting is behind me. Not drinking is very in style, and NA choices are easy to find everywhere. Also, with cannabis legal in my state and lots of others, there are other ways (better and healthier, based on data from the early legal states) to relax.
I've got 3 more fur babies, but there's no way they'd all squeeze into the picture lol.
That insight is great — you're really tuned in to your body and you know precisely which things set off which reactions. That level of self awareness is remarkable.
I'm on yaz for pelvic congestion syndrome, so I don't get pms or a period, though cravings still pop up now and then. Mostly sugary drinks lol
Wow, do you have any idea what pulls you toward alcohol M? Is it the stress you brought up, or something else? Sorry if I'm prying. No pressure to answer.
Cannabis is definitely a solid option when you want something to relax with. I tried some while on reta and it ended up making me hungry, so I hope that doesn't hit you the same way. With legalisation, hopefully there'll be more strains to pick from, so you can go with whatever suits you rather than settling for whatever the local dealer happens to have.
My relationship with alcohol has several sides. One thing I appreciate is how it quiets my mind — I tend to overthink constantly — and it makes social situations much easier, particularly when shyness kicks in or I'm feeling overstimulated. Stress is another area where I've leaned on it, for the same reason: it turns down the volume on my brain and those nagging prefrontal cortex thoughts. That said, it's a poor strategy for handling stress, especially given that some of my worst choices ever happened when I was tipsy or drunk — seriously bad decision territory!
Part of my pull toward alcohol is cultural too. My dad's side is Irish American and strongly tied to Irish Catholic identity, and drinking plays a massive role in that culture — possibly even more than among people actually in Ireland, judging by how wildly we celebrate St. Patty's Day! For example, getting alcohol in Ireland during Holy Week isn't easy, but in the US, almost nobody cares except the very devout. Historically, my family get-togethers involved a lot of drinking. These days it's less so, now that my Gen Z cousins are all old enough and the older generations are more focused on aging healthily. My father-in-law (WASP) is really into wine, and sharing his favorite vintages is how he expresses affection.
When I'm tipsy, I get nothing done — chatting and occasionally darts is about all I can manage! And if depression has me in its grip, alcohol barely registers. Perhaps that's because it's a depressant, so there's nowhere further down for it to push me when I'm already at the bottom! That's just my own theory, no science or evidence behind it.
Legalization has been a wonderful thing! Dispensary staff are incredibly well-informed! There's such a range of strains and ways to consume. With my digestion slowed by GLP-1s (on top of my already slow metabolism), edibles take foreeeever to kick in now, but drinks like the sodas hit me just as fast as they do anyone else. Before tirz, I never experienced munchies, but perhaps because I eat so much less these days, cannabis flips on the hunger and craving switches more? Not sure, but I make sure to stay hydrated to fight off that "put things in your mouth right now please!" urge and keep slow-to-eat snacks around me — in-shell sunflower seeds, light popcorn, that kind of thing. Stuff that encourages nibbling instead of scarfing. It doesn't happen every time, but far more often than it used to.
Wine is definitely loved out there lol, I can't stand the stuff and maybe that's the reason I'm single
Really interesting point. I suppose when someone is already deeply depressed, a depressant couldn't push them any lower — that is, assuming they aren't someone who deals with ideations or those kinds of thoughts.
That sounds incredible, you have cannabis soda? Wait, what?
So with a gummie, does it creep up on you later and leave you confused? Sorry, in my head it's this super delayed thing where you're in the middle of something important and suddenly you're high
You're so creative!! Do you like pistachios?
While alcohol has no effect on me during deep depression, other people are a different story. What I do know is that using it over the long term can worsen depression. And heavy abuse may result in “wet-brain,” an entirely separate, deeply upsetting and disabling condition that carries a significant depression component. Still, in my case it’s like “nowhere to go but down…hold on, already at the sub-basement level! You just wasted 4 beers!”
With an edible, I typically notice the effects about 30 min later than most people do, thanks to the tirz. If I’m home and take one by myself, I’ll frequently forget I took it until “Oh, yeah!” hits. Not confusion, just a pleasant surprise! Other times I won’t feel anything at all (high doses are what I need, and they’re expensive, so to be considerate of others I’ll take only a “regular” amount, which hardly affects me…so edibles aren’t my go-to.) I always set aside that time, so it never kicks in while I’m doing anything more important than watching TV or playing a game.
Haha, count yourself lucky that “wine goggles” don’t hit you when you’re out, about and hoping to flirt…you’re sparing yourself a lot of frogs!
"All my friends are racist" gave me a good laugh. It's great that you like Black Comedy; plenty of us might be white but we still call ourselves "black fulla" lol.
Yeah, I'm familiar with that, and I've witnessed some really severe alcohol-related harm both where I live and through my work.
Haha, 4 beers down the drain lol
Wow, we really are alike—my philosophy is high doses of whatever lol. If the prices are steep, it must be tough to properly relax. I tried edibles on a cruise and felt nothing, which was a letdown, but a thc vape launched me to Mars while I was in the middle of London
No worries—maybe wine would help with the low standards of the people I've dated haha, but frogs paired with wine? Never come across that lol
Haha, meaning the fairytale line about having to kiss plenty of frogs before a prince shows up. Nobody's keen on waking up beside the frog, let alone marrying one!kazza94x said:
Yes, absolutely—nothing beats them for flavor!HouseCat said:
Pistachios are a favorite of mine!…plus Australian Indigenous shows and films, for example Black Comedy and Wrong Kind of Black (any recommendations?)kazza94x said:
Honestly, your post was such a great read — and I don't mean that in any strange way, it's just that the amount of knowledge you shared is amazing. I'm with you on alcohol being more common in some cultures than others. Being Indigenous Australian myself, my family feels a pull toward it, but it doesn't appeal to me at all since it gives me leg cramps lolHouseCat said:
Getting to this level of self-understanding took years. Along the way, I had support from doctors and mental health providers, instructors in yoga, clergy (although I don't believe in God, I deeply value what faith can teach and the strength it gives people), practices like visualization and mindfulness, plus a handful of trips to an ashram nearby.kazza94x said:
Aww, thanks so much! Yep, that's my tiny Ivy — she's 1 and a half and a total menace lol.HouseCat said:
You're way too nice, honestly!! Hugs! Your new avatar is great—sweet face, and that cat looks sweet too! Good for you for putting yourself out there!kazza94x said:
That's amazing!! Once you quit tirz, do you figure these gains will stick around, or has tirz become a permanent fixture for you?
OCD is something I deal with too, and putting my face out there is something I really dislike, but I get the sense that now is the moment to be brave. Your self-assurance and sharp mind are qualities I truly adore. The manner in which you break things down and express yourself is simply next level
If I quit taking it, I doubt the symptom relief would hold up. During PMS, a lot of the urges tirz keeps in check—food, binging, sugar/salt cravings, skin picking—get stronger, so I figure my hormones are partly overriding what the medicine does to the obsessive side of my brain. Following that logic, I'm fairly sure everything would return if I stopped. But I intend to stay on this for life. Off meds, I have almost no control over wanting food, and given all the benefits—heart-related and beyond—plus no real drawbacks for me beyond what a bit of Mag07 handles, there's no reason to quit.
The one urge that doesn't rise with my cycle is wanting alcohol, which has remained really low ever since I started tirz. I think I could keep that up without tirz, mainly because drinking has shifted in society and around me. In grad school—when I drank daily for the alcohol's effects, not to socialize—we used it to handle stress and unwind fast, but that setting is behind me. Not drinking is very in style, and NA choices are easy to find everywhere. Also, with cannabis legal in my state and lots of others, there are other ways (better and healthier, based on data from the early legal states) to relax.
I've got 3 more fur babies, but there's no way they'd all squeeze into the picture lol.
That insight is great — you're really tuned in to your body and you know precisely which things set off which reactions. That level of self awareness is remarkable.
I'm on yaz for pelvic congestion syndrome, so I don't get pms or a period, though cravings still pop up now and then. Mostly sugary drinks lol
Wow, do you have any idea what pulls you toward alcohol M? Is it the stress you brought up, or something else? Sorry if I'm prying. No pressure to answer.
Cannabis is definitely a solid option when you want something to relax with. I tried some while on reta and it ended up making me hungry, so I hope that doesn't hit you the same way. With legalisation, hopefully there'll be more strains to pick from, so you can go with whatever suits you rather than settling for whatever the local dealer happens to have.
My relationship with alcohol has several sides. One thing I appreciate is how it quiets my mind — I tend to overthink constantly — and it makes social situations much easier, particularly when shyness kicks in or I'm feeling overstimulated. Stress is another area where I've leaned on it, for the same reason: it turns down the volume on my brain and those nagging prefrontal cortex thoughts. That said, it's a poor strategy for handling stress, especially given that some of my worst choices ever happened when I was tipsy or drunk — seriously bad decision territory!
Part of my pull toward alcohol is cultural too. My dad's side is Irish American and strongly tied to Irish Catholic identity, and drinking plays a massive role in that culture — possibly even more than among people actually in Ireland, judging by how wildly we celebrate St. Patty's Day! For example, getting alcohol in Ireland during Holy Week isn't easy, but in the US, almost nobody cares except the very devout. Historically, my family get-togethers involved a lot of drinking. These days it's less so, now that my Gen Z cousins are all old enough and the older generations are more focused on aging healthily. My father-in-law (WASP) is really into wine, and sharing his favorite vintages is how he expresses affection.
When I'm tipsy, I get nothing done — chatting and occasionally darts is about all I can manage! And if depression has me in its grip, alcohol barely registers. Perhaps that's because it's a depressant, so there's nowhere further down for it to push me when I'm already at the bottom! That's just my own theory, no science or evidence behind it.
Legalization has been a wonderful thing! Dispensary staff are incredibly well-informed! There's such a range of strains and ways to consume. With my digestion slowed by GLP-1s (on top of my already slow metabolism), edibles take foreeeever to kick in now, but drinks like the sodas hit me just as fast as they do anyone else. Before tirz, I never experienced munchies, but perhaps because I eat so much less these days, cannabis flips on the hunger and craving switches more? Not sure, but I make sure to stay hydrated to fight off that "put things in your mouth right now please!" urge and keep slow-to-eat snacks around me — in-shell sunflower seeds, light popcorn, that kind of thing. Stuff that encourages nibbling instead of scarfing. It doesn't happen every time, but far more often than it used to.
Wine is definitely loved out there lol, I can't stand the stuff and maybe that's the reason I'm single
Really interesting point. I suppose when someone is already deeply depressed, a depressant couldn't push them any lower — that is, assuming they aren't someone who deals with ideations or those kinds of thoughts.
That sounds incredible, you have cannabis soda? Wait, what?
So with a gummie, does it creep up on you later and leave you confused? Sorry, in my head it's this super delayed thing where you're in the middle of something important and suddenly you're high
You're so creative!! Do you like pistachios?
While alcohol has no effect on me during deep depression, other people are a different story. What I do know is that using it over the long term can worsen depression. And heavy abuse may result in “wet-brain,” an entirely separate, deeply upsetting and disabling condition that carries a significant depression component. Still, in my case it’s like “nowhere to go but down…hold on, already at the sub-basement level! You just wasted 4 beers!”
With an edible, I typically notice the effects about 30 min later than most people do, thanks to the tirz. If I’m home and take one by myself, I’ll frequently forget I took it until “Oh, yeah!” hits. Not confusion, just a pleasant surprise! Other times I won’t feel anything at all (high doses are what I need, and they’re expensive, so to be considerate of others I’ll take only a “regular” amount, which hardly affects me…so edibles aren’t my go-to.) I always set aside that time, so it never kicks in while I’m doing anything more important than watching TV or playing a game.
Haha, count yourself lucky that “wine goggles” don’t hit you when you’re out, about and hoping to flirt…you’re sparing yourself a lot of frogs!
"All my friends are racist" gave me a good laugh. It's great that you like Black Comedy; plenty of us might be white but we still call ourselves "black fulla" lol.
Yeah, I'm familiar with that, and I've witnessed some really severe alcohol-related harm both where I live and through my work.
Haha, 4 beers down the drain lol
Wow, we really are alike—my philosophy is high doses of whatever lol. If the prices are steep, it must be tough to properly relax. I tried edibles on a cruise and felt nothing, which was a letdown, but a thc vape launched me to Mars while I was in the middle of London
No worries—maybe wine would help with the low standards of the people I've dated haha, but frogs paired with wine? Never come across that lol
That gave me a good chuckle lol. My guess is it traces back to the colonisation era. You're my black fulla friend !HouseCat said:
Appreciate it! I'll give that a look! Pretty much the same situation for me — plenty of folks who are extremely light-skinned and Black, and even when they've got blonde hair and freckles, they still claim that identity. And "black fulla" is a phrase I really like too, no clue why, it just feels warm! Sort of like saying "we're all mates!"kazza94x said:
Yes, absolutely—nothing beats them for flavor!HouseCat said:
Pistachios are a favorite of mine!…plus Australian Indigenous shows and films, for example Black Comedy and Wrong Kind of Black (any recommendations?)kazza94x said:
Honestly, your post was such a great read — and I don't mean that in any strange way, it's just that the amount of knowledge you shared is amazing. I'm with you on alcohol being more common in some cultures than others. Being Indigenous Australian myself, my family feels a pull toward it, but it doesn't appeal to me at all since it gives me leg cramps lolHouseCat said:
Getting to this level of self-understanding took years. Along the way, I had support from doctors and mental health providers, instructors in yoga, clergy (although I don't believe in God, I deeply value what faith can teach and the strength it gives people), practices like visualization and mindfulness, plus a handful of trips to an ashram nearby.kazza94x said:
Aww, thanks so much! Yep, that's my tiny Ivy — she's 1 and a half and a total menace lol.HouseCat said:
You're way too nice, honestly!! Hugs! Your new avatar is great—sweet face, and that cat looks sweet too! Good for you for putting yourself out there!kazza94x said:
That's amazing!! Once you quit tirz, do you figure these gains will stick around, or has tirz become a permanent fixture for you?
OCD is something I deal with too, and putting my face out there is something I really dislike, but I get the sense that now is the moment to be brave. Your self-assurance and sharp mind are qualities I truly adore. The manner in which you break things down and express yourself is simply next level
If I quit taking it, I doubt the symptom relief would hold up. During PMS, a lot of the urges tirz keeps in check—food, binging, sugar/salt cravings, skin picking—get stronger, so I figure my hormones are partly overriding what the medicine does to the obsessive side of my brain. Following that logic, I'm fairly sure everything would return if I stopped. But I intend to stay on this for life. Off meds, I have almost no control over wanting food, and given all the benefits—heart-related and beyond—plus no real drawbacks for me beyond what a bit of Mag07 handles, there's no reason to quit.
The one urge that doesn't rise with my cycle is wanting alcohol, which has remained really low ever since I started tirz. I think I could keep that up without tirz, mainly because drinking has shifted in society and around me. In grad school—when I drank daily for the alcohol's effects, not to socialize—we used it to handle stress and unwind fast, but that setting is behind me. Not drinking is very in style, and NA choices are easy to find everywhere. Also, with cannabis legal in my state and lots of others, there are other ways (better and healthier, based on data from the early legal states) to relax.
I've got 3 more fur babies, but there's no way they'd all squeeze into the picture lol.
That insight is great — you're really tuned in to your body and you know precisely which things set off which reactions. That level of self awareness is remarkable.
I'm on yaz for pelvic congestion syndrome, so I don't get pms or a period, though cravings still pop up now and then. Mostly sugary drinks lol
Wow, do you have any idea what pulls you toward alcohol M? Is it the stress you brought up, or something else? Sorry if I'm prying. No pressure to answer.
Cannabis is definitely a solid option when you want something to relax with. I tried some while on reta and it ended up making me hungry, so I hope that doesn't hit you the same way. With legalisation, hopefully there'll be more strains to pick from, so you can go with whatever suits you rather than settling for whatever the local dealer happens to have.
My relationship with alcohol has several sides. One thing I appreciate is how it quiets my mind — I tend to overthink constantly — and it makes social situations much easier, particularly when shyness kicks in or I'm feeling overstimulated. Stress is another area where I've leaned on it, for the same reason: it turns down the volume on my brain and those nagging prefrontal cortex thoughts. That said, it's a poor strategy for handling stress, especially given that some of my worst choices ever happened when I was tipsy or drunk — seriously bad decision territory!
Part of my pull toward alcohol is cultural too. My dad's side is Irish American and strongly tied to Irish Catholic identity, and drinking plays a massive role in that culture — possibly even more than among people actually in Ireland, judging by how wildly we celebrate St. Patty's Day! For example, getting alcohol in Ireland during Holy Week isn't easy, but in the US, almost nobody cares except the very devout. Historically, my family get-togethers involved a lot of drinking. These days it's less so, now that my Gen Z cousins are all old enough and the older generations are more focused on aging healthily. My father-in-law (WASP) is really into wine, and sharing his favorite vintages is how he expresses affection.
When I'm tipsy, I get nothing done — chatting and occasionally darts is about all I can manage! And if depression has me in its grip, alcohol barely registers. Perhaps that's because it's a depressant, so there's nowhere further down for it to push me when I'm already at the bottom! That's just my own theory, no science or evidence behind it.
Legalization has been a wonderful thing! Dispensary staff are incredibly well-informed! There's such a range of strains and ways to consume. With my digestion slowed by GLP-1s (on top of my already slow metabolism), edibles take foreeeever to kick in now, but drinks like the sodas hit me just as fast as they do anyone else. Before tirz, I never experienced munchies, but perhaps because I eat so much less these days, cannabis flips on the hunger and craving switches more? Not sure, but I make sure to stay hydrated to fight off that "put things in your mouth right now please!" urge and keep slow-to-eat snacks around me — in-shell sunflower seeds, light popcorn, that kind of thing. Stuff that encourages nibbling instead of scarfing. It doesn't happen every time, but far more often than it used to.
Wine is definitely loved out there lol, I can't stand the stuff and maybe that's the reason I'm single
Really interesting point. I suppose when someone is already deeply depressed, a depressant couldn't push them any lower — that is, assuming they aren't someone who deals with ideations or those kinds of thoughts.
That sounds incredible, you have cannabis soda? Wait, what?
So with a gummie, does it creep up on you later and leave you confused? Sorry, in my head it's this super delayed thing where you're in the middle of something important and suddenly you're high
You're so creative!! Do you like pistachios?
While alcohol has no effect on me during deep depression, other people are a different story. What I do know is that using it over the long term can worsen depression. And heavy abuse may result in “wet-brain,” an entirely separate, deeply upsetting and disabling condition that carries a significant depression component. Still, in my case it’s like “nowhere to go but down…hold on, already at the sub-basement level! You just wasted 4 beers!”
With an edible, I typically notice the effects about 30 min later than most people do, thanks to the tirz. If I’m home and take one by myself, I’ll frequently forget I took it until “Oh, yeah!” hits. Not confusion, just a pleasant surprise! Other times I won’t feel anything at all (high doses are what I need, and they’re expensive, so to be considerate of others I’ll take only a “regular” amount, which hardly affects me…so edibles aren’t my go-to.) I always set aside that time, so it never kicks in while I’m doing anything more important than watching TV or playing a game.
Haha, count yourself lucky that “wine goggles” don’t hit you when you’re out, about and hoping to flirt…you’re sparing yourself a lot of frogs!
"All my friends are racist" gave me a good laugh. It's great that you like Black Comedy; plenty of us might be white but we still call ourselves "black fulla" lol.
Yeah, I'm familiar with that, and I've witnessed some really severe alcohol-related harm both where I live and through my work.
Haha, 4 beers down the drain lol
Wow, we really are alike—my philosophy is high doses of whatever lol. If the prices are steep, it must be tough to properly relax. I tried edibles on a cruise and felt nothing, which was a letdown, but a thc vape launched me to Mars while I was in the middle of London
No worries—maybe wine would help with the low standards of the people I've dated haha, but frogs paired with wine? Never come across that lol
Haha, meaning the fairytale line about having to kiss plenty of frogs before a prince shows up. Nobody's keen on waking up beside the frog, let alone marrying one!kazza94x said:
Yes, absolutely—nothing beats them for flavor!HouseCat said:
Pistachios are a favorite of mine!…plus Australian Indigenous shows and films, for example Black Comedy and Wrong Kind of Black (any recommendations?)kazza94x said:
Honestly, your post was such a great read — and I don't mean that in any strange way, it's just that the amount of knowledge you shared is amazing. I'm with you on alcohol being more common in some cultures than others. Being Indigenous Australian myself, my family feels a pull toward it, but it doesn't appeal to me at all since it gives me leg cramps lolHouseCat said:
Getting to this level of self-understanding took years. Along the way, I had support from doctors and mental health providers, instructors in yoga, clergy (although I don't believe in God, I deeply value what faith can teach and the strength it gives people), practices like visualization and mindfulness, plus a handful of trips to an ashram nearby.kazza94x said:
Aww, thanks so much! Yep, that's my tiny Ivy — she's 1 and a half and a total menace lol.HouseCat said:
You're way too nice, honestly!! Hugs! Your new avatar is great—sweet face, and that cat looks sweet too! Good for you for putting yourself out there!kazza94x said:
That's amazing!! Once you quit tirz, do you figure these gains will stick around, or has tirz become a permanent fixture for you?
OCD is something I deal with too, and putting my face out there is something I really dislike, but I get the sense that now is the moment to be brave. Your self-assurance and sharp mind are qualities I truly adore. The manner in which you break things down and express yourself is simply next level
If I quit taking it, I doubt the symptom relief would hold up. During PMS, a lot of the urges tirz keeps in check—food, binging, sugar/salt cravings, skin picking—get stronger, so I figure my hormones are partly overriding what the medicine does to the obsessive side of my brain. Following that logic, I'm fairly sure everything would return if I stopped. But I intend to stay on this for life. Off meds, I have almost no control over wanting food, and given all the benefits—heart-related and beyond—plus no real drawbacks for me beyond what a bit of Mag07 handles, there's no reason to quit.
The one urge that doesn't rise with my cycle is wanting alcohol, which has remained really low ever since I started tirz. I think I could keep that up without tirz, mainly because drinking has shifted in society and around me. In grad school—when I drank daily for the alcohol's effects, not to socialize—we used it to handle stress and unwind fast, but that setting is behind me. Not drinking is very in style, and NA choices are easy to find everywhere. Also, with cannabis legal in my state and lots of others, there are other ways (better and healthier, based on data from the early legal states) to relax.
I've got 3 more fur babies, but there's no way they'd all squeeze into the picture lol.
That insight is great — you're really tuned in to your body and you know precisely which things set off which reactions. That level of self awareness is remarkable.
I'm on yaz for pelvic congestion syndrome, so I don't get pms or a period, though cravings still pop up now and then. Mostly sugary drinks lol
Wow, do you have any idea what pulls you toward alcohol M? Is it the stress you brought up, or something else? Sorry if I'm prying. No pressure to answer.
Cannabis is definitely a solid option when you want something to relax with. I tried some while on reta and it ended up making me hungry, so I hope that doesn't hit you the same way. With legalisation, hopefully there'll be more strains to pick from, so you can go with whatever suits you rather than settling for whatever the local dealer happens to have.
My relationship with alcohol has several sides. One thing I appreciate is how it quiets my mind — I tend to overthink constantly — and it makes social situations much easier, particularly when shyness kicks in or I'm feeling overstimulated. Stress is another area where I've leaned on it, for the same reason: it turns down the volume on my brain and those nagging prefrontal cortex thoughts. That said, it's a poor strategy for handling stress, especially given that some of my worst choices ever happened when I was tipsy or drunk — seriously bad decision territory!
Part of my pull toward alcohol is cultural too. My dad's side is Irish American and strongly tied to Irish Catholic identity, and drinking plays a massive role in that culture — possibly even more than among people actually in Ireland, judging by how wildly we celebrate St. Patty's Day! For example, getting alcohol in Ireland during Holy Week isn't easy, but in the US, almost nobody cares except the very devout. Historically, my family get-togethers involved a lot of drinking. These days it's less so, now that my Gen Z cousins are all old enough and the older generations are more focused on aging healthily. My father-in-law (WASP) is really into wine, and sharing his favorite vintages is how he expresses affection.
When I'm tipsy, I get nothing done — chatting and occasionally darts is about all I can manage! And if depression has me in its grip, alcohol barely registers. Perhaps that's because it's a depressant, so there's nowhere further down for it to push me when I'm already at the bottom! That's just my own theory, no science or evidence behind it.
Legalization has been a wonderful thing! Dispensary staff are incredibly well-informed! There's such a range of strains and ways to consume. With my digestion slowed by GLP-1s (on top of my already slow metabolism), edibles take foreeeever to kick in now, but drinks like the sodas hit me just as fast as they do anyone else. Before tirz, I never experienced munchies, but perhaps because I eat so much less these days, cannabis flips on the hunger and craving switches more? Not sure, but I make sure to stay hydrated to fight off that "put things in your mouth right now please!" urge and keep slow-to-eat snacks around me — in-shell sunflower seeds, light popcorn, that kind of thing. Stuff that encourages nibbling instead of scarfing. It doesn't happen every time, but far more often than it used to.
Wine is definitely loved out there lol, I can't stand the stuff and maybe that's the reason I'm single
Really interesting point. I suppose when someone is already deeply depressed, a depressant couldn't push them any lower — that is, assuming they aren't someone who deals with ideations or those kinds of thoughts.
That sounds incredible, you have cannabis soda? Wait, what?
So with a gummie, does it creep up on you later and leave you confused? Sorry, in my head it's this super delayed thing where you're in the middle of something important and suddenly you're high
You're so creative!! Do you like pistachios?
While alcohol has no effect on me during deep depression, other people are a different story. What I do know is that using it over the long term can worsen depression. And heavy abuse may result in “wet-brain,” an entirely separate, deeply upsetting and disabling condition that carries a significant depression component. Still, in my case it’s like “nowhere to go but down…hold on, already at the sub-basement level! You just wasted 4 beers!”
With an edible, I typically notice the effects about 30 min later than most people do, thanks to the tirz. If I’m home and take one by myself, I’ll frequently forget I took it until “Oh, yeah!” hits. Not confusion, just a pleasant surprise! Other times I won’t feel anything at all (high doses are what I need, and they’re expensive, so to be considerate of others I’ll take only a “regular” amount, which hardly affects me…so edibles aren’t my go-to.) I always set aside that time, so it never kicks in while I’m doing anything more important than watching TV or playing a game.
Haha, count yourself lucky that “wine goggles” don’t hit you when you’re out, about and hoping to flirt…you’re sparing yourself a lot of frogs!
"All my friends are racist" gave me a good laugh. It's great that you like Black Comedy; plenty of us might be white but we still call ourselves "black fulla" lol.
Yeah, I'm familiar with that, and I've witnessed some really severe alcohol-related harm both where I live and through my work.
Haha, 4 beers down the drain lol
Wow, we really are alike—my philosophy is high doses of whatever lol. If the prices are steep, it must be tough to properly relax. I tried edibles on a cruise and felt nothing, which was a letdown, but a thc vape launched me to Mars while I was in the middle of London
No worries—maybe wine would help with the low standards of the people I've dated haha, but frogs paired with wine? Never come across that lol
Right, I get it now, and nope, no more frogs for me
I'm holding out for a prince 
reta-stacker
Explorer
I get where you're coming from. Discussing whether peps have helped or hurt someone's emotional and mental state doesn't clash with how the group works—same as talking about peps' effects on overall health and wellness (weight, inflammation, skin health, hearing, sight, body composition, tumour growth, etc), which is exactly what makes this group so useful. Still, setting up a corner for just 1 specific category of conditions could end up splitting the group by medical condition. With the parsing that already goes on, the mods likely have a hefty load as it is.